Compare the New Subaru Outback to the Competition

Subaru Outback vs. Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Rogue, and the Mazda CX-5

"The Subaru Outback is a top-notch midsize SUV with a lot to offer!" As true as that statement might be, it's also the sort of thing you could say about any number of SUVs. The market is packed with great options right now, and the team at Tri-City Subaru would be lying if we said there weren't other SUVs out there that could give you a great experience.

What makes the Subaru Outback special? How well it stacks up when you set it alongside its closest competitors. Let's take a look at how the newest Subaru Outback compares to new models like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Rogue, and the Mazda CX-5.

Subaru Outback vs the Hyundai Santa Fe

Performance and Ability

  • The Subaru Outback offers two powertrains: a 182 horsepower 2.5-liter flat-4 and a 260 horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4. The Hyundai Santa Fe, in comparison, offers a 191 horsepower 2.5-liter inline-4 and a 277 horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4.
  • While the Hyundai Santa Fe's powertrains offer more base output, the Subaru Outback outclasses in other ways. The Santa Fe is more casually designed, whereas the Outback has the bearings of an all-terrain model. This includes an 8.7-inch ground clearance - more than you'll get with the Hyundai Santa Fe. Every new Subaru Outback also comes with standard all-wheel-drive, an optional upgrade in the Hyundai model.
  • The Subaru Outback offers a peak fuel economy up to 26 miles per gallon on city streets and 33 miles per gallon on the highway. That's significantly better than the 25/28 miles per gallon you'll get with the Hyundai Santa Fe at its best.

Interior & Features

  • Both the Subaru Outback and Hyundai Santa Fe can seat up to five. The Subaru Outback is around 191 inches long with 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats. The Hyundai Santa Fe is 188 inches long with 36.4 cubic feet of available cargo space behind its rear seats.
  • Both the Subaru Outback and the Hyundai Santa Fe offer impressive standard and optional features. These include coveted media options like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and touchscreen controls. The Outback, however, offers a superior active safety suite in Subaru EyeSight.

Subaru Outback vs. Nissan Rogue

Performance and Ability

  • The Subaru Outback offers two powertrains: a 182 horsepower 2.5-liter flat-4 and a 260 horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4. The Nissan Rogue offers a uniform 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 that's capable of 201 horsepower.
  • Designed as more of a comfortable casual commuter, the Nissan Rogue doesn't hold a candle to the Subaru Outback's impressive all-terrain design. Its ground clearance is only 8.2 inches compared to the Outback's 8.7 inches. You'll also need to pay extra for all-wheel-drive in the Rogue. It comes standard in the Subaru Outback
  • The Subaru Outback offers a peak fuel economy up to 26 miles per gallon on city streets and 33 miles per gallon on the highway. The Nissan Rogue can provide up to 30/37 miles per gallon, which is nice if you can stomach the lower peak performance output.

Interior & Features

  • Both the Subaru Outback and Nissan Rogue can seat up to five. The Subaru Outback is around 191 inches long with 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats. The Nissan Rogue is smaller, measuring only 183 inches long with 36.3 cubic feet of available cargo space behind its rear seats.
  • The Subaru Outback and the Nissan Rogue both come with rock-solid standards and an impressive suite of optional equipment. These include advanced media controls and, of course, an impressive active safety equipment lineup. Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite provides a solid lineup of standard assistance features. It doesn't compare, however, to the advanced technology backing up the Outback's Subaru Eyesight safety package.

Subaru Outback vs. Mazda CX-5

Performance & Ability

  • The Subaru Outback offers two powertrains: a 182 horsepower 2.5-liter flat-4 and a 260 horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4. The Mazda CX-5 can come with a 187 horsepower 2.5-liter inline-4 and a 227 horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4.
  • The Mazda CX-5 offers only 7.5 inches of ground clearance, significantly less than the 8.7 offered by the Subaru Outback. It does make up for it somewhat, however, with standard all-wheel-drive, something you also get with the Subaru Outback.
  • The Subaru Outback can deliver up to 26 miles per gallon city streets and 33 miles per gallon on the highway. The Mazda CX-5, at its best, can provide up to 24 miles per gallon on city streets with 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

Interior & Features

  • The Subaru Outback and Nissan Rogue are both comfortable five-seat SUVs. The Subaru Outback is around 191 inches long with 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats. The Mazda CX-5, in comparison, is 180.1 inches long with only 30 feet of available cargo space behind the rear seats.
  • The Subaru Outback and Mazda CX-5 both offer solid feature suites, but there are some who would say that the Mazda SUV is more upscale with its features. That being said, both models offer impressive standard media suites, complete with touchscreen controls, media apps like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and top-of-the-line safety collections.

Which New SUV is Right for Me?

While it's true that new models like Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Rogue, and the Mazda CX-5 are excellent options in their own right, their driving packages don't stack up to the overall value and versatility of the Subaru Outback.

Are you a Rochester or Dover driver interested in learning more? Contact the sales team at Tri-City Subaru today! Our Somersworth, NH dealership can set you up with a test drive in a new model that you're sure to love. We take pride in our status as a resource for drivers in the Berwick, ME area and more.

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