Is the Subaru Outback expensive to maintain?

The Outback costs $607/year to maintain — $86 above the compact segment average of $521. Repair frequency of 37% is above the class average of 30%. Reliability score of 7 is below the class average of 8. Major repair probability of 12% is slightly above the 11% norm. Above-average cost and repair profile across all metrics.

What is the best year for a Subaru Outback?

The 2023 Outback is the strongest used pick — 84 complaints, 10/10 NHTSA safety score, 9 severe issues. Strongly avoid 2018-2020, which generated 799, 1,025, and 889 complaints respectively, driven by widespread oil consumption and EyeSight system issues. The 2021-2022 range remained elevated. 2023 marks the clear turning point.

How much does Subaru Outback insurance cost?

Outback insurance averages about $1,964/year — roughly $164/month. One of the lower insurance rates in the compact class despite above-average maintenance costs.

Is the Subaru Outback or Honda Passport cheaper to maintain?

The Honda Passport is $86/year cheaper — $521 versus $607 for the Outback. The Passport also has a higher reliability score (8 vs. 7) and lower repair frequency (28% vs. 37%). The Outback's differentiators are its standard AWD and wagon body style, which are meaningful depending on use case.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Subaru Outback?

The 2018-2020 generation's documented complaint history makes extended warranty strongly recommended for those model years. Major repair probability of 12% and repair frequency of 37% are both above compact class averages. For 2023 and newer, the profile improves considerably — but the Outback's overall cost premium makes a repair fund or warranty worth planning for.

Kia Soul vs Subaru Outback

Two compact SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Kia Soul based on your priorities for this class.

Buy the Subaru Outback based on your priorities for this class.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Kia Soul	Subaru Outback
Annual maintenance	—	$607
5-year total cost	—	$3,035
Reliability score	—	7 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	—	12%
Cargo space	—	—
Starting price (new)	—	$34,995
Best years to buy	—	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Kia Soul	Subaru Outback
RepairPal score	—	7 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	0winner	287.6
Years to avoid	None identified	2018, 2019, 2020
Value retained · 3 yr	—	79.2%
Value retained · 5 yr	—	61.4%
Value retained · 7 yr	—	48.8%

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Kia Soul	Subaru Outback
Engine	—winner	8.1%
Electrical	—winner	18.7%
ADAS	—winner	7.0%
Brakes	—winner	4.0%
Steering	—winner	3.6%
Fuel system	—winner	1.3%
Tires/Wheels	—winner	1.0%
Glass/Windows	—winner	26.3%
Airbags	—winner	5.4%
Lighting	—winner	3.3%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Kia Soul	Subaru Outback
Avg annual premium	$2,445	$1,964winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

$607/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →