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Subaru Outback Estate (2003-2009) running costs and reliability

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Running costs rating: 3 out of 53.0

2008 Subaru Legacy Outback seats folded, maximum boot space

2008 Subaru Legacy Outback seats folded, boot space

2008 Subaru Legacy Outback diesel boxer engine

Written by Richard Kilpatrick Updated: 4 October 2022

Miles per pound (mpp)

Reliable fuel consumption data for comparison purposes is not available for this model.

What is miles per pound?

Fuel economy

A more stringent standard for fuel economy (WLTP) was introduced from September 2017, and this model was not required to undergo that test. Its fuel economy measured under the previous test system was 28 - 48 mpg. However these figures are less likely to be achievable in real world driving and so should never be compared to another car's mpg which was measured under the newer, more realistic WLTP system.

View mpg & specs for any version

The Outback offers reasonable running costs thanks to affordable servicing and group 13 insurance (group 15 on the 3.0-litre models). The petrol engines are quite thirsty though so high mileage drivers will want to look at the diesel which averages 49mpg.

The Outback isn’t particularly green – hardly surprising given that it has permanent four-wheel drive and some powerful petrol engines. The diesel is the cleanest option, emitting 153g/km of CO2 (156g/km in RE trim).

A favourite among those living in rural areas, Subaru has become well known for its reliability and durability. The Outback is very strong and will easily cope with being used as a workhorse.