Subaru Outback vs Subaru Crosstrek: Compare Crossover SUVs

The 2025 Subaru Outback and 2025 Subaru Crosstrek both channel the same kind of rugged crossover appeal, offering the layout and interior accommodations of a roomy hatchback or wagon, combined with all-weather all-wheel-drive capability and lots of ground clearance.

In both cases, these models offer a lot of value for the money and have a robust set of safety features and strong safety credentials. A lack of high-mpg hybrid options and Subaru’s underwhelming touchscreen infotainment systems remain areas where both of these models arguably can fall short.

Still, these crossovers share Subaru’s core attributes of ruggedness and durability, at an overall price point that’s lower than that of other all-wheel-drive crossovers. With more than a foot of additional length, the Outback takes more of a traditional wagon silhouette to the Crosstrek’s hatchback form—but not every buyer wants bigger. So which of the two comes out on top in this sibling match-up? Read on.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport

Subaru Crosstrek vs. Subaru Outback price and trims

Subaru Crosstrek starts at nearly $27,000 and climbs to nearly $34,000
Outback starts around $30,000 and climbs to about $44,000
Crosstrek Sport starts gets the larger engine for about $30,500
Best picks: Crosstrek Sport, Outback Premium and its many feature upgrades, for about $33,000

How much is a Subaru Crosstrek? Which Crosstrek should I buy?

The Crosstrek and Outback have standard all-wheel drive in common, but they’re offered in a completely different set of trims. Both come with a strong set of driver-assist safety tech, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility (via cable), and a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

The base Crosstrek, for about $27,000 includes dual climate control, 17-inch wheels, and a range of USB-A and USB-C ports. Premium models cost $1,150 more and get CarPlay and Android Auto plus a larger 11.6-inch infotainment system, and an all-weather package can add heated seats and mirrors, a power sunroof, and blind-spot monitors.

The Crosstrek Sport is the standout in the lineup, as they add the larger 2.5-liter engine plus wireless phone charging, a sport cloth interior, and an upgraded version of Subaru’s X-Mode traction system, starting at around $30,500. The Premium or Sport are our picks of the lineup because they add so much more without a huge price premium.

There’s plenty of room to go upscale from there, though. Crosstrek Limited models step up to 18-inch alloy wheels, a power driver seat, and several extra active safety items (blind-spot warnings, active lane control, and rear cross-traffic alert), adding up to around $32,000. Crosstrek Wilderness models are kitted out for the trail in form and function, and they top out the lineup at a cost of nearly $34,000—before the $2,240 Harman Kardon audio package.

2024 Subaru Outback

How much is a Subaru Outback? Which Subaru Outback should I buy?

The 2025 Subaru Outback starts with a base model that, for about $30,000, includes keyless entry, adaptive cruise control with active lane control, LED fog lights, and LED steering-responsive headlights. The base version comes only with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Next-up Premium models cost about $33,000 and add a more vivid 11.6-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a greater array of USB ports, and rear ventilation. Push-button start, a hands-free power tailgate, and an expanded set of safety aids (including rear cross-traffic alerts) can be added for $1,400, and at around $34,000 it’s our value pick of the lineup.

Onyx Edition models start at nearly $38,000 and get a gray two-tone look with black alloy wheels and water-repellent upholstery, plus a heated steering wheel and sunroof among other extras. The Limited, at around $39,000, gets a sunroof, leather upholstery, navigation, and a heated steering wheel. For around $41,000, the Wilderness gets a lifted suspension plus off-road hardware and rugged-looking styling details, while the top-of-the-line Touring adds to the Limited especially plush leather, cooled front seats, and a surround-view monitor.

The Wilderness includes the stronger 2.4-liter turbo engine, which is an option on the Onyx Edition, Limited, and Touring, making them the Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT, and Touring XT, respectively, at a cost of several thousand extra. Top Touring XT models top the lineup out around $44,000.

Advantage: The Crosstrek, if you’re OK with a smaller interior.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

Crosstrek vs. Outback performance and specs

Much of Outback lineup taps a 2.5-liter inline-4 that makes 182 hp and 176 lb-ft
Outback Wilderness and XT models get 2.5-liter turbo-4 at 260 hp and 277 lb-ft
Crosstrek’s base 2.0-liter flat-4 makes 152 hp and 145 lb-ft
Crosstrek Sport on up get 2.5-liter flat-4, at 182 hp and 178 lb-ft

How does the Subaru Crosstrek drive?

The Subaru Crosstrek offers a driving experience that isn’t without tradeoffs. But if getting through rough trails or deep snow is part of your intended use, those tradeoffs are well worth it.

All versions of the Crosstrek have all-wheel drive, all of the time, and their X-Mode includes hill descent control plus a different calibration for traction systems that generally adds more finesse. Sport, Wilderness, Premium models with the larger 2.5-liter engine add a Deep Snow/Mud function that allows more wheelspin whenever it’s advantageous.

Crosstrek Wilderness versions look brawnier and more rugged on the outside, and more importantly they add real off-road capability, with more ground clearance, better approach and departure angles, and serious hardware upgrades including a transmission cooler. They also up the tow rating to 3,500 pounds.

If your driving is mostly on the pavement, the Crosstrek is a little less charming. The base 2.0-liter engine can feel sluggish in highway passing with this model’s CVT automatic, adding up to a 0-60 mph time above nine seconds. Sport, Wilderness, and Premium models are decidedly perkier—and a little more refined in impression, as they’re not as strained in typical daily driving.

Overall, the Crosstrek rides well. Subaru has softened its ride in recent years and added noise insulation, although it doesn’t track especially well on the open road and can still get a little bouncy due to its relatively short wheelbase.

2024 Subaru Outback

How does the Subaru Outback drive?

XT turbo models are quick, but the CVT is a poor match
Outback lineup prioritizes a soft ride over sporty cornering
Wilderness adds ground clearance, off-road driving modes

The Subaru Outback isn’t at all quick—downright slow, some would say—with its base 182-hp flat-4 and CVT automatic. Passing power is in short supply and can require some advance planning with a full load, but given that shortcoming the CVT is paired well with this engine.

Outback XT models step way up to a 260-hp 2.4-liter turbo flat-4 that offers loads of torque at lower revs, but somehow the CVT doesn’t make the most of it, leading to momentary pauses before the combination’s rush of acceleration is delivered.

All Outbacks come with all-wheel drive, but in Wilderness guise there’s 9.5 inches of ground clearance (0.8 inches more than the other models) plus a special version of Subaru’s X-Mode off-road logic adding a low-speed crawl control. Onyx and Wilderness versions add a mode for Dirt and Deep Snow.

The Outback’s clear advantage—especially over the Crosstrek—is that it offers up a more settled, almost luxurious ride quality that holds over a wide range of road surfaces. It’s not one for sporty handling or cornering capability, but family comfort isn’t forgotten for any of the versions in the lineup.

Advantage: Outback for its on-the-road refinement, Crosstrek in its compact Wilderness off-road version

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

Crosstrek vs. Outback fuel economy

Most Crosstreks at 29 mpg combined (27/34 mpg with 2.0-liter, 26/33 mpg with 2.5)
Crosstrek Wilderness drops to 27 mpg combined (25/29 mpg)
Outback gets 22/29/25 mpg with 2.5-liter, 26/32/28 mpg with 2.4 turbo
Outback Wilderness drops to 21/26/23 mpg
Currently no hybrid versions of either

Advantage: The Crosstrek.

2024 Subaru Outback

Crosstrek vs. Outback size and specs

Outback is larger than Crosstrek in every way relating to seating and cargo
Crosstrek has 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space vs. the Outback’s 32.6 cubic feet
Crosstrek has 36.5 inches of rear legroom vs. 39.5 inches in the Outback
Total interior volume is 141.6 cubic feet in Outback, vs. 100.5 inches in the Crosstrek

How big is the Subaru Outback?

At about 191 inches long, the Outback is solidly mid-size by American standards and fits into the form of a roomy station wagon—just one that rides several inches higher than almost anything else you might compare it to. With more rugged design details, and an overall height of 66 or 67 inches, you might liken it more to an SUV.

Inside, the Outback has enough space for four adults to fit in comfort, with the middle seat accommodating enough in a pinch. Rear doors are generous, making it a great car for mounting child seats or making space for pets or grandparents. The wheelbase of around 108 inches helps translate to a long cabin and 109 cubic feet of passenger volume.

Cargo-wise, this is a wagon, with a relatively low load height, considering all the ground clearance, and a maximum cargo length of about 42 inches with the rear seatbacks up or 75 inches with them folded forward. That translates to an official cargo volume of 32.6 cubic feet with the seatbacks up or 75.6 cubic feet with them down.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek

How big is the Subaru Crosstrek?

The Crosstrek is an entire size of vehicle smaller than the Outback—and essentially a compact hatchback given a very high ride height and impressive off-road capability—so it should come as no surprise that the back seat is decidedly smaller. The Crosstrek is about 176 inches long, with a wheelbase of around 105 inches, and it’s about two inches narrower than the Outback and three inches shorter in overall height, even though it has comparable ground clearance. Its cargo floor with the back seat up in place is about 32 inches long—nearly a foot shorter than the Outback’s—and its official cargo volume is 19.9 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks up or 54.7 cubic feet with them folded.

The Crosstrek has a different front seating position than the Outback that may not be as agreeable to taller drivers. It also offers less kneeroom, especially in back, and it’s a little more limited in how easily a third passenger might fit into the middle position.

Advantage: Subaru Outback.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek’s IIHS crash test results

Subaru Crosstrek vs. Subaru Outback safety

Outback and Crosstrek both IIHS Top Safety Picks
Both earn five-star NHTSA overall ratings
Both models include automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control

How safe is the Subaru Crosstrek?

The Crosstrek earns a spot on the IIHS Top Safety Pick list and gets a top five-star rating from the federal government, although there’s a little bit more nuance to sort through.

In updated IIHS ratings for moderate overlap frontal and side impact, the Crosstrek performs at less than the top “good” results—earning, notably, a rating of just “marginal” in the updated moderate overlap category.

Subaru includes a lot of standard driver-assist tech, including automatic emergency braking, but automatic blind-spot monitors and automatic emergency steering are left to upper trims. Outward vision is quite good here, and the thin windshield pillars and door-mounted side mirrors help with urban visibility.

2023 Subaru Outback

How safe is the Subaru Outback?

The Subaru Outback earns the same IIHS Top Safety Pick designation as the Crosstrek, and its “marginal” updated moderate overlap frontal results, but it earns a better “good” in the updated side impact test. Its standard safety feature set is also a bit better, with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and active lane control standard across the lineup, and most trims including rear cross-traffic alerts and blind-spot monitors.

Rearward vision can be a little more challenging, so the optional surround-view camera system can go a long way.

Advantage: Outback has a slight edge.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

2024 Subaru Outback

Outback vs. Crosstrek styling

Outback goes for purpose over prettiness, but it’s a classic shape
Crosstrek looks like it has the hood of a longer car from some angles
Crosstrek is at its buff-hatchback best in brawny Wilderness guise
Interiors are utilitarian, at their best in base or outdoorsy trims

Is the Subaru Crosstrek a good-looking car?

Subaru hasn’t changed the shape of the Crosstrek much in more than a decade, although its design details and cladding have gradually taken on some sportier detailing that look inspired by the performance-oriented WRX. Slots in the wheel-arch molding have been made functional to help cut drag and boost mileage, and roof rails are included in all but the base models.

That said, the Crosstrek’s shape is very conventional: a compact hatchback riding high. It’s at its best in Wilderness guise, where LED fog lights, extra-rugged-looking wheels, a little more body cladding, and a little higher ride height help the design pop.

Inside, don’t expect anything but utilitarian; keep it basic, although the contrast stitching on some versions fits the part.

2023 Subaru Outback

Is the Subaru Outback a good-looking car?

The Subaru Outback punctuates a silhouette that’s recognizable as a rakish family wagon with more ground clearance and loads of rugged body cladding, and it arrives at a look that’s purposeful and actually quite well-balanced—although calling it pretty in any way would be a stretch.

Inside, the Outback tries to head after luxury aspirations in its top-tier Touring model, but it’s actually at its best inside in stylish Onyx or rugged Wilderness form, with the latter subbing in water-repellent fabric that fits right in for with kayaks and Tevas.

Advantage: Outback.

2023 Subaru Outback

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

Which is better: Subaru Crosstrek or Subaru Outback?

Subaru has the market for outdoorsy, all-wheel-drive vehicles cornered. And while the Crosstrek and Outback might seem like similar vehicles across the dealer lot, they’re quite different in size, features, and intended use.

Simply put, the Outback’s better feature set and superior comfort, a slight edge in safety, and available turbo performance altogether earns it an edge in the TCC Rating system over the Subaru Crosstrek, with the Crosstrek landing at a 5.8 out of 10 and the Outback at a 6.7 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Winner: Subaru Outback.

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