2017 Subaru Outback Gen-5 Long-Term Driver Report Oct 2020
The 2017 Outback: A Driver's Perspective
The author's 2017 Outback exploring backroads
It has been a little over one year and 22,000 miles since I drove my pre-owned 2017 Subaru Outback off the lot. A majority of those miles involved highway driving during my 60-mile round trip commute to downtown Austin and back. This commute meant driving through numerous construction zones and crawling down the road at a snail’s pace. It also meant dealing with less than stellar drivers and construction vehicles that would dart out in front of you without notice! Needless to say, the brakes and blindspot detection was put to good use!
After the first five months, I switched jobs and my commute dramatically changed. While I was putting roughly the same amount of miles on the car, I was able to actually set my cruise control at 65 mph for a good length of this new commute. An alternative route that I discovered takes me down a dirt road that cuts through a huge cattle ranch with a few cattle guards (and cattle) as well as several twists and turns where I get to test the all-wheel-drive (AWD) and stability control.
These varied terrains really gave me a good chance to test out the Outback in true real-world scenarios, although a few times I couldn’t resist going out on a trail or two, just to say I did some true off-roading!
Like anything else, this car has its pros and cons, granted, there are definitely more pros in my book. Since I believe in ending on a happy note, let’s get the cons out of the way.
The Not So Good:
Blindspots: Ok, I will admit this may be more of an issue with my seating position, but there is a huge blind spot at the b-pillar of the car (this would be the post that separates the front and back doors). Although the Outback has anti-collision sensors to flash a yellow warning light on your exterior mirrors, I still find myself occasionally having to make an evasive maneuver when that other car just appears out of nowhere! I now have a couple of convex stick-on mirrors attached to the corners of my exterior mirrors, which help out a lot!
Faux shifting CVT: This is just a personal preference of mine, but a CVT is not supposed to shift! I’ve owned several vehicles with a constant-velocity-transmission (CVT), and while it is odd at first not feeling shifts, I really started getting to like the smooth transition during acceleration. Subaru apparently felt that people needed to feel that their transmission is shifting, so they added some faux shift points in. Completely computer-controlled, it gives you the feeling that you still have an old-school automatic transmission in your car. Once in a great while, if I accelerate slowly enough, it tricks the shift points and it continues on a smooth, shift-free run. On the cool side, it does have paddle shifters that you can manually shift. I’ll admit, it is still fun!
No locking differential: Ok, I know Subarus are not technically designed to do some of the things that 4-Runners and Jeeps are designed to do, but since the engineers at Subaru included gracious ground clearance and the X-Mode, sometimes you cannot resist an unmaintained road after a hard rain. Through most terrain, the Outback goes through without a problem, that is unless you find yourself losing traction while going uphill. Many of the newer Subarus utilize Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD). Without going into a lot of detail, when one wheel spins, the computer applies the brake to the spinning wheel and transfers power to the non-spinning tire.
In theory (and in 99% of driving situations) this is a great solution, but there is something about gravity and a free-spinning wheel. Outbacks have 4-wheel independent suspension, meaning there is not the flex you get that most solid-axle off-road vehicles have. On some really rutted roads, you may find a wheel hanging up in the air. Don’t worry, it looks and feels odd, but it’s fine (at least I hope)!
When this scenario happens, and you are at a dead stop, the AWD and the traction control systems freak out, and you end up just sitting there. Giving gas does absolutely nothing, except make you think you just lost your transmission! If you can back down a little and get a running start, you will usually make it through just fine. Remember, I said usually, but in really rough terrain, you may not be able to just simply back down! If Subaru engineers are reading this, having the ability to lock the differentials sure would be nice! If a Jeep Cherokee can have a locking differential, and Outback should be able to as well!
As you can see, with the exception of the blind-spot, most of the cons with this Outback are just personal preferences. You must also remember the Outback is designed for the path less taken and not the path that requires a winch and recovery boards (even though it may still be fun to try).
A Lot to Like:
Symmetrical AWD: Yes, I know I was just complaining about the AWD system, but in reality, it works great during everyday driving situations. As a trained pursuit driving instructor, I like to safely see what the limits are on this vehicle. When I can do so in a safe environment, I will try to get my car to either understeer or oversteer, which I found it difficult to do compared to other vehicles.
On my gravel road commute home, I was able to get my Outback to go into slight understeer and then a bit of oversteer when I accelerated, but it usually takes a lot of throttle and some maneuvering of the steering wheel to get the rear-end to even attempt to swing-out. When it does, the car seems to load-up and takes off as soon as everything is pointed in the right direction. It is hard to explain, but it is a really cool feeling! (Look at some WRX STi’s doing rally racing, and you’ll get the picture).
Pushing limits on wet pavement, the tires seem to stick to the ground as the AWD system does its job. I’ve driven a bunch of different vehicles over the years with stability control systems, but Subaru has done an excellent job making the two work seamlessly together! Just like anything, if you push it too much, it may exceed the capabilities of what the system was designed to do. Also, tires have a lot to do with traction and stability!
Ride quality: This is not a sports car by any stretch of the imagination, but the overall ride quality is nice and smooth. After all, it is a station wagon when you get down to it! I’m sure if you dropped it 4 inches and added some strut braces and stiffer struts, you could corner much better, but that’s why you buy a WRX STI. As an everyday driver, the ride is not too smooth where you are floating, but not so firm that you feel every single bump. In reality, the Outback shines on the backroads as the suspension absorbs the rocks and ruts while the AWD gives you confidence in maintaining the road.
Room and comfort: At 6’2” and way in excess of the 250 lb mark, I am very comfortable driving the Outback. Back seat passengers say the split-bench is very comfortable, and many like that you can even recline the back seat a few inches for those compelled to nap on road trips. After traveling from Texas to Colorado on my Outback’s maiden voyage, there were no complaints from my passengers (lots of snoring though).
As I write, the 2021 Subaru models are already starting to filter into showrooms at dealerships, meaning my Outback is already 4 years old! Starting in 2020, the Gen 6 Outback was introduced. Although there was a slight refreshing of the Outback in the newest generation, one of the biggest changes was engine choices (or the lack thereof)!
My 2017 Outback has the 3.6R boxer six-cylinder (flat-six) engine, which I would highly recommend to anyone looking to buy a pre-owned Gen 5 outback (2015 to 2019 models). The 4-cylinder boxer that comes standard on Outbacks is very anemic and struggles to try to push around a car that weighs approximately 4,000 lbs. I test drove one a few years ago and passed on buying it strictly because of the lack of power. The first time you try to accelerate with the 4 bangers, you will be wishing you opted for a few extra ponies under the hood!
Luckily for the Gen 6 models, Subaru is equipping new cars with a turbo boxer 4 cylinder that puts out more horsepower and torque than the 3.6R, as well as increased fuel economy! My wife recently purchased a 2021 Subaru Ascent that comes standard with the turbo 4-cylinder (the same that is in all the Outbacks). It has more than enough power to pull the larger Ascent and definitely has more torque!
One of the big questions regarding the 6 cylinder in the Gen 5 Outback is fuel mileage. I average around the 22 mpg range. Keep in mind, I do a lot of stop-and-go driving at work. I’ve squeezed 28 mpg on long road trips, so mileage isn’t too terrible, especially for the larger engine.
A Bit About Tires
I want to take a moment to talk about tires. You see many Outback owners running BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires, and they are absolutely great if you are going to spend time in mud, snow, or country roads. These are the aftermarket tires my car originally came with when I bought it, and I love them, but be forewarned, they are a bit noisy and about twice the weight of most tires. This translates to a little more sluggish handling, slower acceleration, and greater fuel consumption (although I lost about 1 mpg with the KO2 tires).
When my dealer called and said they had found the original factory wheels and tires in their shop, I was more than happy to pick them up and give my KO2s a break. I’ll admit, I felt a bit guilty wearing down the tread on the KO2s when all I was doing was driving on pavement.
The factory tires that I swapped back on are Bridgestone Duelers H/P all season. Looking at the tread on them, and you would immediately say these tires are right at home on the pavement, which they are quite content with. Despite the aggressive tread of most all-terrain tires, the Duelers do a very decent job in mud and snow. I even took them on an off-road trail and they performed better than expected! Once they wear out, the KO2s are going back on, but until then, I’m not complaining about a free set of tires and rims! Other Outback enthusiasts hate the Dueler’s, but I have not had any major issues with them. Would I buy them again, probably not, but for everyday street driving, they are not bad.
Stock wheels and tires for the 2017 Outback Limited
Repairs and Maintenance
My second trip to the dealer was to get my A/C blower motor replaced after it decided to go out. Luckily it waited for the Texas summer to wind down! This was covered under my extended warranty I purchased.
Speaking of which, if you can get a decent deal on an extended warranty, I would opt for it (try to pay cash for any extended warranty and do not roll it into your financing). 20 years ago I would have never bothered with extended warranties, but now, just one major repair can cost thousands of dollars! I ran into that with the pickup truck I traded in for my Outback. It was the first extended warranty I ever bought for a vehicle. 3 days after the dealer warranty ran out, my engine had to be replaced. It would have cost me $7,500, but instead cost me my $100 deductible.
Maintenance: Proper vehicle maintenance is essential for any vehicle, and the Subaru is no exception. The cost of annual maintenance is slightly higher, mainly due to the AWD system. Parts in themselves are not bad, but labor is what gets you in the pocketbook! Compared to the Toyota RAV4 (its closest competitor), the Subaru costs about $100 more annually to own. Keep in mind, these are dealer costs, so if you have a reliable shop in your area, you may be able to save more.
Also, be sure to check your oil level regularly and change your engine oil every 6,000 miles. The horizontally opposed (boxer) engine may run smooth and is reliable, but it consumes a little bit of oil, which is normal and is due to its design. VW, Porsche, and even the Ferrari BB512 have the same issues with limited oil consumption. Unlike an inline or V shaped engine where gravity helps bring the oil down to the pan, the flat boxer engine design causes small amounts of oil to be consumed as it does not all run down to the oil pan as gravity does not work well in a horizontal position. The only time I ever had a low oil light come on is when I went way past the 6,000 mile oil change interval, and was the one and only time I ever had to add oil between oil changes.
Maintenance has been very simple, mainly oil changes and tire rotation. Subaru is going to insist you bring your car to them (as most dealers do), but you can pay about 50% less in labor if you can find a good mechanic. They also have a major service interval between 60,000 and 75,000 miles where they recommend changing spark plugs, brake fluid, flushing the radiator, and everything else they can squeeze out of you.
Don’t get me wrong, these things need to be done, but not necessarily all at once and at the tune of almost $1,000 at one time! Nearly any shop can do a coolant flush or brake flush for a lot cheaper than the dealer. Just make sure you record all of your service and maintenance should a warranty issue ever come up! Since my nearest dealership is a 40 minute drive from me, I use my local Toyota dealer or an independent shop. (Did you know Toyota owns 17% of Subaru)? So far, I’ve had no warranty issues.
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| It was the end of the road due to a washout, but it got us within easy walking distance of the lake! |
If cared for and maintained, Subarus will last you well over 200,000 miles. There are many Outbacks for sale now with nearly 300,000 miles on them and still going strong! All-in-all, I really love my Outback and hope to be able to hand it over to my kids in a few years after they get their driver’s license.
I won't tell you whether the Outback is for you or not, but it suites my purposes well. It is well mannered on and off-road, comfortable, and delivers decent fuel economy and plenty of cargo room. If you are in the market for a pre-owned or new SUV or crossover, I would strongly recommend at least test driving an Outback.
Kayaks and Outbacks go together like PB&J
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