Subaru is one of the few automakers that equip their SUVs with all-wheel drive as the standard drivetrain across all trims.
That said, the Subaru Outback is an all-wheel drive, off-road-ready, sports utility vehicle featuring an impressively-designed interior that offers sufficient room for passengers and cargo.
About The Subaru Outback
Outback is a nameplate used by Subaru for two different types of vehicles, a wagon, and a hatchback-like SUV. The Outback wagon and Outback SUV are pretty different in design but share quite some things in common.
Production of the Outback wagon and Outback hatchback continued until the fifth generation when Subaru combined both vehicles into a crossover SUV.
So, basically, at the moment, the Subaru Outback is a crossover SUV – slightly shaped like a wagon – with a standard all-wheel drive powertrain.
The sixth-gen Outbacks came with a 2.5L gasoline direct-injection engine, and a turbocharged 2.4L similar engine is available as an option. Altogether, the base model Outback puts out 185hp, and the turbo engine gives you 260hp.
Cars Similar to Subaru Outback
1. Volvo V90 Cross Country
Take the Volvo V90 Cross Country as an alternative for the Subaru Outback’s highest trim (Outback Wilderness). The Volvo V90 Cross Country has a better interior design and more powerful engines to choose from. On the Volvo V90 Cross Country, you get a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine that puts out 295 horsepower.
Actually, the Volvo V90 Cross Country is a wagon; it scoots from 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds. Volvo’s Cross Country line has some of the most powerful off-road wagons in the market.
If you find the V90 to be quite expensive, you can step down to get the V60 and still enjoy the all-wheel drive, high ground clearance, Off-Road mode, Hill Descent Control, and more features as standard options.
2. Audi Allroad
We all know Audi manufactures classy luxury rides; its Allroad wagon series didn’t miss out. The Audi Allroad is a top-rated sporty wagon with a luxurious interior that catches the eye. There’s no way you can compare the interior design of the Outback to that of the Allroad – the Allroad beats the Outback by a wide margin.
Also, the Audi Allroad comes standard with loads of user-friendly technologies. The Allroad wagons are practically built for off-road tours, and that’s why you should consider them an alternative to the Outback. Just like the Volvo Cross Country line, the Allroad has A6 and A4 models – the A6 is the higher model.
3. Toyota Venza
Venza is Toyota’s answer to the wagon family; it is a spacious wagon-like SUV that rivals the Subaru Outback in many aspects.
Production of the Venza SUV halted after the 2015 model year but resumed for the 2021 model year with many changes. The new Venza models come with an all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain only.
While the Toyota Venza is not bigger than the Subaru Outback, it comes with more standard driver-assist and safety techs. Also, by offering a hybrid powertrain, the Toyota Venza saves you more fuel than the Outback. But then, you’d be spending more to buy the Venza, which starts at around $32,000.
4. Volkswagen Golf SportWagen
Starting at $22,000 for the base model, the Golf SportWagen is an ideal alternative to the Subaru Outback. How? This versatile wagon features an upscale interior and massive cargo space; compared to the Outback, Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is better in these aspects.
The SportWagen comes standard with a 170hp four-cylinder engine. However, this wagon has been discontinued, and it never matched the outstanding looks and seemingly luxury interior of the Outback. SportWagen only stands out with its stellar driving dynamics and balance across terrains.
5. Holden Acadia
Holden Acadia (called GMC Acadia in the US) is a crossover SUV built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave. It is a bold-looking, seven-seater vehicle with a lot of space to offer. Acadia challenges the Outback in terms of seating space for passengers and engine performance.
This SUV comes standard with wireless functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine is the standard option, and it is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
6. Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
The Panamera Sport Turismo wagon is a luxury vehicle with a superfluously-furnished interior. This wagon comes in gas-only and plug-in-hybrid powertrains, and it is well-powered.
Whatever powertrain you choose, the Panamera Sport Turismo comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.
Interestingly, the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo comes standard with a 325hp twin-turbo 2.9L V6 engine; there’s an optional 473 horsepower V8 engine. But, well, you’re getting higher fuel efficiency with the base 325hp engine. This full-size luxury car is for everyday tours, and it can go through any path.
7. Mercedes-Benz E-class All-Terrain
If you’re a Mercedes lover, you would want to check out this luxurious full-size wagon/hatchback from the prominent German automobile giant. This luxury family cruiser ride offers much space for passengers and cargo and comes with a Mercedes’ patented AWD system codenamed “4Matic.”
From the name, you can tell that this ride is built to take you through any path. It comes standard with hill descent control to keep the car stable while driving up a hill.
Power comes from a 3.0L i6 turbo engine that churns out 362 horsepower and 369lb-ft of torque. The E-class All-Terrain is fun to drive and provides great comfort.
8. Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Subaru Outback is an off-road monster, so you would want a car that hits through paths like the Outback, and that’s where the Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in.
Jeep Grand Cherokee is a solid SUV built for the toughest driving conditions. It is a very powerful ride – the Outback doesn’t come close to the Grand Cherokee in terms of engine performance.
You will love the infotainment system on the Jeep Grand Cherokee because it seamlessly integrates with any smartphone. If you’re a serious off-roader, you would want to go for the Trailhawk trim, which comes with a supercharged V8 engine that puts out a whopping 707 horsepower.
9. Subaru Forester
If you’re a fan of Subaru, you may want to consider the Forester SUV over the Outback. Like the Outback, the Subaru Forester comes standard with all-wheel drive and offers more headroom.
Forester and Outback have the same cargo capacity, and the standard features are almost equal. However, the Forester is sold at a lower price than the Outback, and it’s an off-roading monster too.
10. Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento is of the super-impressive rides out there; it comes with a luxury-grade interior, an advanced infotainment system, and offers a big cargo space.
This mid-size crossover SUV seats up to seven people in its three-row seats – well spacious. Starting with the 2019 model year, Kia Sorento was redesigned to appear better and integrated more driver-assist techs in base models.
Kia Sorento is a sweet ride overall, built ready for off-road adventures, thanks to the high ground clearance and sturdy drivetrain.
Sorento is the SUV to choose if you need a larger car than the Outback for your big family. Interestingly, the price for the base model Kia Sorento is typically $500 less than that of the Outback for each model year.
11. Toyota Highlander
You may want to choose another Toyota ride over the Subaru Outback. The Toyota Highlander is a three-row premium SUV with plenty of upgrade options for the drivetrain and engine. It comes standard with a six-cylinder engine, which puts out around 295 horsepower for any type of driving.
The Toyota Highlander comes with a plethora of driver assistance features on the base model, this includes forward collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning. With the provision of a third-row bench, the Highlander can seat up to eight passengers; however, it sacrifices cargo space for this.
12. Buick Regal TourX
This saloon-like Outback alternative from General Motors is pretty impressive, and you’d love the design. Buick Regal TourX offers plenty of cargo room and still doesn’t compromise passenger cabin space.
It is a full-size car for the family and has a well-designed interior. For the Regal TourX wagon, you’ll be spending around 29 grand, and that’s pretty cool.
Buick Regal TourX comes standard with a turbo four-cylinder that delivers a whopping 250 horsepower on the base model. Of course, there are optional engine upgrades if you need more power for your driving needs. The Buick Regal TourX is versatile and feels so comfortable to drive every day.
13. Skoda Octavia vRS
Need a faster all-rounder alternative to the Outback? Consider this a perfect choice. The Skoda Octavia vRS is a spacious wagon with tons of room for passengers and cargo. It also comes with an impressive engine on the base model – putting out 227 horsepower with the base 2.0L turbo engine.
Talking of comfort? The Skoda Octavia vRS feels so comfortable to drive, and it comes with a number of driver-assist technologies. More so, you can choose a driving mode and enjoy much better-balanced driving with the Skoda Octavia vRS across different terrains. It is a solid ride, after all.
14. Audi RS6 Avant
Here’s another impressive ride from one of the finest German luxury car manufacturers, Audi. The Audi RS6 Avant is a clean, sweet wagon built for people who love class and luxury. Apparently, this is a luxury ride, so it’s considered an upgrade from the Subaru Outback.
Audi RS6 Avant comes standard with heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, four-zone climate control, and many more for the 2023 model year. Also, it features a powerful 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine that scoots from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, producing 591HP. You don’t want to miss this ride.
15. Ford Escape
How about a Ford product? Yeah, Ford is one of the prominent names in the US automobile market; the company has a ride across all car categories, and the Escape SUV fits in perfectly as a Subaru Outback alternative. The Ford Escape is a superior SUV with impressive reliability and strong build history.
For the 2023 model year, the Ford Escape is offered in 7 trims – all packed with the company’s patented SYNC 4 technology. The base models come standard with front-wheel drive with an optional setup for all-wheel drive.
What’s More?
Listed in this article are the best cars similar to Subaru Outback. Thanks to their powerful engines and drivetrains, these rides can take you through any path.
Some of them come with AWD on the base models, while for some others, it’s an optional configuration. We hope that you find this list helpful.
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