Should you buy a Subaru Outback Mk3 (2003-2009)?

If you have found the third-generation Subaru Outback for sale while searching for a 4x4 family estate car, it can be an excellent choice. You might have been considering a used Volvo XC70 or an Audi A6 Allroad, both of which can run up some pretty awful repair bills and are notoriously complex to diagnose; by comparison the Subaru’s robust, proven mechanical all-wheel-drive, characterful petrol boxer engine and secure handling are an extremely safe bet.

Not everything is perfect. Subarus can rust and look shabby even without their appeal for drivers in salty, muddy locations, and the diesel is terrible. The 3.0 six-cylinder petrol is a different sort of terrible, in that it’s so lovely and intoxicating to drive you’ll find yourself visiting the fuel pumps far too often.

With good specialist support, lots of enthusiastic forums, and plenty of knowledge on tap from owners around the world buying and running the Subaru Outback Mk3 is easy for the enthusiastic owner. Once you’ve experienced an Outback on good tyres in winter, you’ll probably become an enthusiast yourself.

What we like

Neat handling and secure grip, unpretentious attitude (even the six-cylinder models), still has frameless doors and a dash of character, but more refinement than previous generations.

What we don’t like

Rust is still a problem and these cars are all old enough for it to be terminal, the diesel was disappointing new and a liability used, and the Outback can feel a little bland and plasticky inside against AWD estate rivals.