Subaru Outback Cost to Own
By CarWhere Research · Updated
A 2026 Subaru Outback costs about $43,604 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $24,216 (52.3% of the median new price); fuel $12,978 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
5-year total
$43,604
depreciation + fuel + insurance
Depreciation
$24,216
52.3% of new price
Fuel
$12,978
$2,596/yr
Insurance
$6,410
national average
5-year cost-to-own breakdown
Assumptions: 5 years, 15,000 miles a year (75,000 total), bought new. Every line shows its formula and source.
| Line | 5 years | Per year | How it’s calculated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $24,216 | $4,843 | $46,303 median new price (2026) × 52.3% below new for 5-year-old (2021) listings | CarWhere depreciation study |
| Fuel | $12,978 | $2,596 | 75,000 mi ÷ 24 MPG × $4.153/gal regular (median of 3 EPA versions) | EPA × EIA November 2, 2026 |
| Insurance | $6,410 | $1,282 | U.S. average expenditure per insured car (2023) × 5 years. Not specific to the Outback. | NAIC, by state |
| Scheduled maintenance | Not priced | — | Intervals and items from the Subaru schedule below. No manufacturer-published service prices. | Subaru schedule |
| Registration and fees | Varies by state | — | State registration, title and taxes. | State title guides |
| Total | $43,604 | $8,721 | Depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance. Maintenance, repairs and fees not included. | |
Depreciation
New Outbacks list for a median $46,303 (29,776 listings). In CarWhere’s used-market study, 2021 models (5 years old) list 52.3% below that, so a Outback loses about $24,216 in its first five years.
| Model year | Age | Median listing | Below new | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | $22,070 | 52.3% | 999 |
Fuel
The EPA rates the 2026 Outback at 24 MPG combined; 23–27 MPG across 3 EPA-listed versions. At $4.153/gal regular (EIA, week of November 2, 2026), 75,000 miles cost about $12,978, or $2,596 a year.
EPA versions included: Outback AWD, Outback Wilderness AWD.
Insurance
Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year in 2023 (NAIC); see car insurance cost by state for your state’s average.
Is the Outback expensive to maintain?
Subaru's published oil-change interval: 6,000 miles or 6 months. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Subaru doesn't publish service prices.
For repair patterns owners report, see Outback known issues.
Oil changes
Normal: 6,000 miles or 6 months
Severe or special conditions: 3,000 miles or 3 months (repeated short trips, extremely cold weather, repeated towing)
One schedule covers all 2025 Subaru models. It repeats after 120,000 miles/120 months.
| Interval | Items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every 6,000 miles or 6 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| Every 12,000 miles or 12 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| Every 30,000 miles or 30 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| 36,000 miles, then every 30,000 (66k, 96k, 126k) |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| Every 60,000 miles or 60 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| 72,000 miles or 72 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| 137,500 miles or 11 years (first) |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| Severe-condition notes |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
Outback-specific notes
- Covered by the 2025 all-vehicle schedule (CVT)
More Outback research
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a Subaru Outback?
A 2026 Subaru Outback costs about $43,604 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $24,216 (52.3% of the median new price); fuel $12,978 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
Is the Outback expensive to maintain?
Subaru's published oil-change interval: 6,000 miles or 6 months. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Subaru doesn't publish service prices.
Is the Outback expensive to insure?
Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage, and CarWhere doesn't publish model-specific premiums. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year (NAIC, 2023), or $6,410 over 5 years; our state-by-state study shows the average where you live.
How much does a Outback depreciate in 5 years?
In CarWhere's used-market study, 5-year-old Outbacks (model year 2021) list for 52.3% below the median new price of $46,303, about $24,216 of lost value.
How much does a Outback cost to fuel per year?
About $2,596 a year at 15,000 miles, based on the EPA rating of 24 MPG combined; 23–27 MPG across 3 EPA-listed versions and $4.153/gal regular (EIA, week of November 2, 2026).
Sources and method
Formula: 5-year total = depreciation (median new price × % below new at age 5) + fuel (75,000 mi ÷ EPA combined MPG × EIA national price, or kWh/100 mi × EIA residential rate for EVs) + insurance (NAIC national average expenditure × 5). Lines without a citable source are left blank.
- CarWhere car depreciation by model study — CarWhere Research (data as of 2026-10-25)
- Fuel economy data (vehicles.csv) — U.S. EPA / DOE, fueleconomy.gov
- Weekly U.S. retail gasoline and diesel prices — U.S. Energy Information Administration (week of November 2, 2026)
- Auto Insurance Database Report (average expenditure) — NAIC, via CarWhere state study (2023 data)
- 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) — Subaru (opened 2026-11-06)