Lease or Buy a Subaru Outback? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Outback Premium costs $14,259 vs about $13,666 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $593, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it.
By the CarWhere Research Team · Manufacturer lease programs, verified CarWhere deals and our depreciation report · Updated daily
Lease for 3 years
| Advertised payment | $285/mo × 36 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $4,284 |
| Total over 36 months | $14,259 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $14,259 |
Subaru's California-region offer on the 2026 Outback Premium, ends November 29, 2026. No acquisition or disposition fee is listed with the offer, so none is added.
Buy, then sell after 3 years
| MSRP | $36,445 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $33,893 |
| Resale at 3 years (−44.5%) | −$20,227 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $13,666 |
| Financed at 0.99% APR, 3 years | $14,433 |
Price = the $36,445 MSRP minus the 7% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Outback (5 verified deals). Finance line: Subaru's 0.99% / 72-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $593 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $174 in favor of leasing.
If you keep it longer
Leasing continuously at the same effective rate vs buying once and selling at year N (resale from our depreciation report; cash purchase).
| Years kept | Lease (continuous) | Buy and sell | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $14,259 | $13,666 | Buy |
| 4 | $19,012 | $15,014 | Buy |
| 5 | $23,765 | $16,509 | Buy |
| 6 | $28,518 | $17,566 | Buy |
| 7 | $33,271 | $19,716 | Buy |
| 8 | $38,024 | $21,319 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $4,284 due at signing + $285 × 35 remaining payments = $14,259 over 36 months. You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $36,445 MSRP minus the 7% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Outback (5 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 55.5% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Subaru Outback — median used-listing price by model year vs the median new price.
- Excluded on both sides: sales tax, registration, insurance, maintenance.
FAQ
Is it better to lease or buy an Outback?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Outback Premium costs $14,259 vs about $13,666 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $593, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Subaru offer ($285/mo for 36 months, $4,284 due at signing); the buy side is the $36,445 MSRP minus the 7% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Outback (5 verified deals), less the 44.5% a 3-year-old Outback loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a Outback lose in value in 3 years?
About 44.5% below the new price at 3 years old, from median used-listing prices vs the median new price in CarWhere's depreciation report (2026-10-25). On this $36,445 MSRP that is a resale value of about $20,227.
How long do you have to keep a Outback for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($13,666 vs $14,259 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the Outback lease-or-buy math?
With Subaru's 0.99% APR for 72 months offer (ends November 29, 2026), financing the full price adds about $767 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $14,433 vs $14,259 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.