2020 Subaru Outback MPG
The 2020 Subaru Outback gets 23–26 mpg in the city and 30–33 on the highway (26–29 combined), across the 2 versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive, at 29 mpg combined. At the other end, the 2.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive manages 26 mpg combined, 3 mpg less. That is 1 mpg better than the best gasoline 2019 version (28 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outback AWD | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 26 | 33 | 29 | Regular · 308 g CO₂/mi |
| Outback AWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 23 | 30 | 26 | Regular · 343 g CO₂/mi |
2020 Subaru Outback fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2020 Subaru Outback costs about $2,250 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (29 mpg combined), or roughly 15 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (26 mpg combined) comes to about $2,510 a year, $260 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2020 Subaru Outback specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2020 Subaru Outback: 2.4 L 4-cyl turbo and 2.5 L 4-cyl. It came with a CVT, with all-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Small Sport Utility Vehicle" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 1 |
| 2.5 L | 4 | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2020 Subaru Outback problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 901 owner complaints about the 2020 Subaru Outback.
Visibility/wiper is the most-reported area (27% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (23%) and forward collision avoidance (6%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 127 complaints a year: about as many as the 2019 (128 a year) and more than the 2021 (49 a year).
That ranks 2nd of 17 Subaru Outback model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 901, 19 mention a crash, 7 a fire and 4 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 313 | 27% |
| Electrical system | 261 | 23% |
| Unknown or other | 152 | 13% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 73 | 6% |
| Visibility | 71 | 6% |
| Engine | 49 | 4% |
| Power train | 49 | 4% |
| Lane departure | 24 | 2% |
| Structure | 21 | 2% |
| Air bags | 19 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 16 | 1% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 1% |
| Steering | 14 | 1% |
| Back over prevention | 10 | <1% |
| Wheels | 5 | <1% |
| Seats | 4 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | <1% |
| Suspension | 3 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 2 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | <1% |
| Equipment | 1 | <1% |
| Firerelated | 1 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 1 | <1% |
| Parking brake | 1 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
I am on my third windshield in les than a year. The tiniest pebble will crack the windshield, or sudden changes to weather has now caused a stress crack. Seems to be poor weight distribution on the design. …
9/20/26 my 2020 Subaru Outback experienced repeated electrical failures followed by loss of power-steering assistance. The underlying failed component is unknown. The vehicle is parked and available for inspection. …
I was parking my car slowly until it suddenly accelerated. I hit a wall and car got totaled.
2020 Subaru Outback recalls
The 2020 Subaru Outback has been the subject of 6 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 24V227000 from March 2024, concerns air bags.
Power train accounts for 2 of the 6 campaigns, more than any other area.
21V955000 · December 9, 2021 · Power train
Problem: A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide.
20V766000 · December 10, 2020 · Back over prevention
Problem: The August 2020 over-the-air software update may have timed out without completing the installation, corrupting the data, and causing the rearview display to shutoff intermittently. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: The intermittent loss of the rearview image reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software and, if necessary, replace the Cockpit Control Module, free of charge.
19V664000 · September 18, 2019 · Hydraulic service brakes
Problem: The brake pedal mounting bracket may have a missing or insufficiently tightened bolt.
Risk: A missing or loose bolt may cause the brake pedal mounting area to deform over time, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal mounting bracket hardware and replace the hardware or brake pedal assembly, as necessary, free of charge.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Outback years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24V227000 | March 22, 2024 | Air bags | 2020–2022 |
| 22V485000 | July 8, 2022 | Power train | 2020–2021 |
| 21V587000 | July 29, 2021 | Gasoline fuel system | 2018–2020 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2020 Subaru Outback; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Subaru Outbacks can be compared fairly. Among other 2020 models in the EPA's small sport utility vehicle class, the 2020 Nissan Rogue (29 mpg), 2020 Subaru Forester (29 mpg) and 2020 Chevy Equinox (28 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 28 | 919 | 91 | 4 |
| 2018 | 28 | 816 | 90 | 3 |
| 2019 | 28 | 1,036 | 128 | 3 |
| 2020 | 29 | 901 | 127 | 6 |
| 2021 | 29 | 298 | 49 | 4 |
| 2022 | 29 | 465 | 92 | 4 |
| 2023 | 28 | 89 | 22 | 2 |
Every Subaru Outback model year compared →
Similar 2020 models
FAQ
Is the 2020 Outback a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2020 Subaru Outback has 127 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (2nd most of 17 model years), 6 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 29 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2020 Outback problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are visibility/wiper (313), electrical system (261) and forward collision avoidance (73). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2020 Outback have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Outback get?
The EPA rates the versions at 26–29 mpg combined (23–26 city, 30–33 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Outback per year?
About $2,250 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,510 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).