How safe is the Subaru Outback?
Drivers of the 2020–2023 Subaru Outback died at a rate of 27 per million registered vehicle years, 26% lower than the average of 37 for all vehicles. That makes it close to the middle of the pack for driver safety: it ranks 72nd of 129 vehicles, safer than 45% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
Where the Subaru Outback sits among all 129 vehicles
Subaru Outback (bar is the 95% range)Every other ranked vehicleDashed line: average of 37
The rate is based on plenty of data, so this ranking is reliable.
Vehicles ranked near the Subaru Outback
These are the vehicles just above and below it on the all-class ranking. Notice they aren't all the same type: the ranking compares every vehicle against every other one. Ranks use each rate after adjusting for how much data is behind it, so a rate of 0 from a few vehicles can rank below a slightly higher rate from many. Why.
| Rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | Ram 1500 crew cab long bed 4WDPickup · Large | 25 | 46 |
| 70 | Ford Ranger SuperCrewPickup · Small | 26 | 46 |
| 71 | Toyota Tacoma XtraCabPickup · Small | 26 | 45 |
| 72 | Subaru OutbackWagon / minivan · Midsize | 27 | 45 |
| 73 | Subaru XV CrosstrekWagon / minivan · Small | 27 | 44 |
| 74 | Ford Edge 4WDSUV · Midsize | 27 | 43 |
| 75 | Acura RDXLuxury SUV · Midsize | 27 | 42 |
How it compares with other wagons and minivans
Among the 6 wagons and minivans ranked, the Subaru Outback is 4th. The safest wagons and minivans are below. See all wagons and minivans.
| Wagons and minivans rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda OdysseyWagon / minivan · Very large | 11 | 83 |
| 2 | Toyota Sienna hybridWagon / minivan · Very large | 12 | 81 |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza wagonWagon / minivan · Small | 14 | 70 |
| 4 | Subaru OutbackWagon / minivan · Midsize | 27 | 45 |
| 5 | Subaru XV CrosstrekWagon / minivan · Small | 27 | 44 |
Earlier models
In the earlier IIHS study of 2020 models, the Subaru Outback had a driver death rate of 5 (range 0–15) and ranked 6th of 127. The newer rate is higher.
Common questions
Is the Subaru Outback a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Subaru Outback is close to the middle of the pack for driver safety. Its driver death rate of 27 per million registered vehicle years is 26% lower than the average, and it ranks 72nd of 129 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Subaru Outback compare with other wagons and minivans?
It ranks 4th of 6 wagons and minivans. The safest is the Honda Odyssey, with a rate of 11.
Why is this different from the Subaru Outback's crash-test rating?
Crash-test stars only compare vehicles of similar size and weight, so a 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV aren't equally safe. This ranking uses real-world driver death rates, which can be compared across every class.
* Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year.