Subaru Outback Wilderness

[Alloy]

I'm 60 now & I have found that any auto company is only as good as its dealerships service people. You can easily find people to badmouth every single brand out there. You can also find people who swear by them. Service is everything. They fix the mistakes made during design and during assembly. If I didn't have competent people to service my vehicle, it wouldn't matter what make it was, it would just be an exercise in futility that would be greatly frustrating.

We also have had 4 Subarus over the years. Our dealer is awesome. But we have also dealt with shady, unscrupulous Subaru dealers as well. It's no fun. I was thinking that if I ever get rid of our ZR2 diesel, a Outback Wilderness may be in our future.

The problem here is Subaru can't recruit / maintain the techs because there isn't enough service work. The oldest tech at the Subaru we got our Outdoors XT from was 26yo. We had the issue of the headlights being too high due to the weight of the full size spare and were told the headlight can't be adjusted. Ended up adjusting them myself.

 

[MiamiC70]

2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R “Wilderness v1.0”
Just saying…

 

[Dougnuts]

I just drove a Wilderness for a week in SLC & Park City, Utah.

I daily drive a 2015 3.6R, so keep that in mind during this review. I thought I would come back from this week ready to upgrade, but that is not what transpired.

I loved the way it looked (ours was white), but immediately, all 4 of us disliked the soft, porpoising ride, particularly with our luggage in back. We also found the torque surge from turbo lag, coupled with the CVT, to be atrocious. And by that, I mean it was an absolute dealbreaker for me.

The CVT was generally very good, with crisp and quick responses. However, there were many times (40+) that I would give it just enough throttle, and hold the pedal at that point, that it would quickly go to about 2400RPM, the turbo would spool, and everyone’s head would get thrown back. In manual mode, it was less pronounced, but still there. The only way to avoid it was with a very light right foot, which basically kept it out of boost.

On the highway, and at altitude, it had plenty of power, but I was always aware that I was driving a 4 cylinder. I never heard the turbo, but could hear that Subaru flat-4 gargle most of the time. Very thrashy sounding when you’re coming from a similar car that rarely breaks 3k RPMs and is quiet when doing so.

If I owned one, I would immediately get some larger tires (to take some gearing out), overload springs, and dampers with stiffer valving.

 

[displacedtexan]

There are a few brands that have been hit and miss for quality...and Subaru is definitely one of them. I'm glad that some people have success with their Soobs, but the problems are many, and they are documented well. It's one of those things like Kia engines. Loads of people know they go boom...yet people keep buying them.

In Subaru's case, it's the aggressive marketing that has so many people loving them even after another CVT failure under warranty. Optics matter...ask a Tesla fan.

I've heard so much about Subaru reliability issues...

Between my parents, my wife, and my circle of friends I bet we've gone through 35+ Subaru vehicles.

Zero significant issues. Including several that were modified.

 

[MiamiC70]

36k not a single issue

 

[perterra]

92,000 no issues

 

[calicamper]

The problem here is Subaru can't recruit / maintain the techs because there isn't enough service work. The oldest tech at the Subaru we got our Outdoors XT from was 26yo. We had the issue of the headlights being too high due to the weight of the full size spare and were told the headlight can't be adjusted. Ended up adjusting them myself.

The two top auto group owned brands out west are Toyota and Subaru. As such tech pay went to crap, as did tech skill, sales ie perceived model availability and prices shot up, garbage services sold by service sales staff shot through the roof.

Its why after 28yrs of Toyota’s and 18yrs of Subarus I don’t own either one today. Will never own either brand again. I have two pre covid fords which have been superior to the Subarus in quality. And superior to the Toyotas in performance and service needs/cost.
Next vehicles will likely be direct sale from the maker no more Dealer BS especially today for me.

 

[utherjorge]

I'm excited that you three have been able to own without issues. Those are outliers, though. Facts are what they are.

 

[Jupiter58]

I'm excited that you three have been able to own without issues. Those are outliers, though. Facts are what they are.

121000 on my 2010 2.5 before I traded on my f150. Never an issue. Oil, tires, gas, and other scheduled maintenance. I know a dozen or so people with similar stories so there are many more with no issues than there are with issues in my personal experience.

 

[vintageracer]

Next vehicles will likely be direct sale from the maker no more Dealer BS especially today for me.

Good luck with that as most every states Franchise Laws will ensure that will never happen!

 

[Regcabguy]

There are a few brands that have been hit and miss for quality...and Subaru is definitely one of them. I'm glad that some people have success with their Soobs, but the problems are many, and they are documented well. It's one of those things like Kia engines. Loads of people know they go boom...yet people keep buying them.

In Subaru's case, it's the aggressive marketing that has so many people loving them even after another CVT failure under warranty. Optics matter...ask a Tesla fan.

My friend was a Subaru tech for a while. He's Mexican American and uses the term La Basura for Subaru's. You can do the translation.

 

[calicamper]

Good luck with that as most every states Franchise Laws will ensure that will never happen!

Already done by multiple Auto Makers. What makes you think Red States who claim to be anti GOV meddling in Business will force old Auto Makers out of business in their states? The states that have fought Tesla and others are basically a non factor in the Auto sales business anyway. Those people will just need to travel across state lines to buy a vehicle ?

 

[utherjorge]

My friend was a Subaru tech for a while. He's Mexican American and uses the term La Basura for Subaru's. You can do the translation.

It's exactly what it is. Pallets of trannies and what not shipped out each week to dealers and repair hops around the country...is what it is as well.

 

[RiverCityDave]

Man, this entire forum just degenerates into BS so fast. I used to enjoy posting here.

As to the original post -

Got a 22 Wilderness, spend every summer in Colorado, in and around RMNP. Just this last week I drove that vehicle over every kind of terrain imaginable short of full on rock crawling. The reality is, experienced by me, not my brothers wife’s cousin, that it didnt even hiccup, and handled everything I threw at it with aplomb. I agree with the poster above about turbo lag and spool being a bit of an issue at times, which is an odd thing, but it is also the ONLY thing I can complain about. Cobb can take a care of that for you if you’d like. It’s super comfortable on the road, cruises at 90 like its 55, and then I can drive it to a rough enough camp site to make me happy 99% of the time.

What do I know about terrain right? Just another car driver…

Nah, I have a 1994 Landcruiser that has seen every thing Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Arizona can generate, summer and winter, as well as both the east and west coasts, and a few years as a DD here in Texas. The LC has 3” suspension with ICONs, Dobinsons, Delta LCAs, and drops, as well as 4.88s and 35s. I LOVE my LC, but I really, really like the Wilderness too. In fact, I just ordered a 23. The 22 will go to one of my kids. I’m not independently wealthy, I cant afford to spend all my time fixing cars, or paying someone else to, I’m a career Infantryman in the Army, we dont make all that much. I like things that work, and are reliable, and my vehicles are rock solid.

Negatives?
3500 lb towing capacity.
The overhangs are a little long, better on the OBW than other OBs though. (Try hitting approaches at an angle, works 90% of the time, every time).
The suspension IS a little softer than I’d like. Might lean into that on the 23.
It’s better with 255/17s than the 225s it came with.
The aforementioned lag/surge.




If I’d known there were going to be so many Subie haters, I’d have taken some more extreme pics. I was enjoying the seat heaters, the views, and my coffee, sorry. Some of you may even know where this is.



I dont mean to diminish anyones need for acknowlegement of their specific negative experiences, but my experiences have been resoundingly positive. Someone above posted about the CRV, we have one of those in the family too and it is also a decidedly underrated overlander. Since this thread is about OBWs, I’ll stick to that here though.

 

[BLand Cruiser]

Glad to hear the positive comments.