2015 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 from North America
Summary:
Utilitarian, reliable, attractive, & thoughtfully designed
Faults:
Exhaust leak from cracked flex joint on passenger side exhaust header joint to catalytic converter that developed at approximately 88,000 miles.
Rear hub bearings (both sides) wore out and became noisy and crunchy at 109,000 miles and had to be replaced. Internet search discovers this to not be unusual for this make & model.
O.E. windshield cracks easily from rocks being hurled from vehicle tires on the freeway. My car is on its third windshield.
No other failures thus far (knock on wood).
General Comments:
This is the first car I’ve bought new. Firstly, let me state: This car is a fantastic performer in blizzards, on ice, bumper deep snow, and steep dirt trails. She will take you most anywhere a four wheel drive will go. I’m no Mario Andretti. However, I’ve been able to keep this here Outback on the freeway in massive snow storms (too many times during the past few years) where I’ve watched Jeeps and 4x4 pickups careen off into snow banks and buried guard rails as I drove past. Doubts? Check out many Subaru Outback off-road videos on YouTube.
I do most all of my own service as I know cars &, sadly, my local dealer service techs are questionable. For a modern car, I find its 2.5 liter, naturally aspirated engine relatively easy to service. The oil filter is mounted on top of the engine, in the front, & out in the open! The CVT fluid has been drained & refilled at 30,000, 90,000 and again at 120,000 miles. I’m now up to 159,600 miles and no additional problems, so far.
The brakes are easy to service & work well. The O.E. brakes wore rapidly (front & rear). Autozone ceramic pads are quiet, work well, and wear much more slowly than O.E. Zero fluid leaks thus far (knocking on wood). This car handles corners really well for an AWD crossover.
The engine has a timing chain instead of a belt. The engine is just a bit noisy, though it always runs superbly. Some road and wind noise is present at highway speeds. I don’t mind the feel of the CVT transmission; whereas, you may. The paddle shifters are a fun novelty feature. The interior is holding up very well though the styling is quite plain.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 30th September, 2019
15th Oct 2019, 03:24
My ‘15 Outback now has 106,000 miles (almost all long freeway) & has had many oil changes. For me, the O.E. Subaru oil filters (the blue ones) give minor seepage around the base of the filter, initially, & then after 1,000 miles or so they just stop weeping.
The Napa Gold filters (part No. 57055, I think), seep, though not terribly, but they don’t stop for the whole 6,000 miles that they’re in place. I can give long answers; sorry about that.
In short, I’ve been staying with the blue O.E. filters, & enjoying a much drier, cleaner, oil filter base/platform.
15th Oct 2019, 03:31
I think I misunderstood what you were asking.
About the filter leaking oil when I remove it, it’s been like this: If I shut off the warm engine and remove the filter within an hour (approximately), dirty oil will run out around the base of the filter & make a mess :-(((. If I wait for more than an hour & unscrew the filter, it won’t have enough oil in it to make a mess :-))).
15th Oct 2019, 03:33
P.S. I love the old slant sixes!
6th Oct 2019, 03:35
Nice review.
Does the oil filter leak when you change it?
The reason I ask is because Chrysler Slant Sixes have the oil filter in a good spot, but it faces with the opening downward. Leaks galore on an oil change ;)