Subaru is known for reliability. But, unfortunately, not every Subaru among this year’s lineup earned high marks in terms of reliability. In fact, the 2021 Subaru Outback earned pretty average reliability ratings. And while that may not be the worst news in the world, it is pretty disappointing. But does that mean you should pick an alternative to the Subaru Outback instead? Not necessarily.

The 2021 Subaru Outback earned disappointing reliability ratings from Consumer Reports

Reliability ratings are a mixed bag for the Subaru Outback. Between 2010 and 2013, Consumer Reports gave the Outback a three out of five reliability rating. The 2014 Subaru Outback received a slightly higher rating of four out of five. However, it wasn’t until the 2019 model that the Subaru Outback was able to earn a perfect predicted reliability rating.

Unfortunately, the Subaru Outback was unable to hold on to that perfect reliability rating. In 2020, Consumer Reports gave the Outback a rating of three out of five. And the 2021 Subaru Outback? It also earned a three out of five predicted reliability rating.

Consumer Reports was diligent enough to highlight the Subaru Outback’s potential troublespots, which includes its power equipment and in-car electronics. So, if you do wind up sticking with this year’s model, you’ll know what to look out for. 

J.D. Power gave the 2021 Subaru Outback a slightly higher reliability rating

The 2021 Subaru Outback did earn slightly higher reliability ratings from J.D. Power. While the Outback earned a fairly average rating from Consumer Reports, J.D Power gave it a ‘Great’ quality and reliability rating. It’s worth keeping in mind, however, that ‘Great’ isn’t the highest rating the Outback could have earned. So, while it may be a higher score than the one it earned from Consumer Reports, it’s still not a perfect score. 

Check out these alternative options to the 2021 Subaru Outback

If you’re a stickler for reliability and just can’t get over the Outback’s frustratingly average reliability ratings, there are alternatives to this year’s model. According to Consumer Reports, the 2021 Kia Telluride is a reliable alternative to the Subaru Outback. Unlike this year’s Outback, the Telluride earned a perfect predicted reliability rating. It also aced its road test and earned a five out of five predicted owner satisfaction rating.

And if you aren’t ready to upgrade to a three-row SUV? You might want to consider the 2021 Mazda CX-5 as an alternative to the 2021 Subaru Outback. Much like the Kia Telluride, the CX-5 earned a perfect predicted reliability rating from Consumer Reports. It also earned a ‘Great’ quality and reliability rating from J.D. Power. 

Average reliability ratings don’t have to be a deal-breaker

But if you’re still stuck on the 2021 Subaru Outback? That’s ok too. While there are some great alternatives to the Subaru Outback, its current reliability ratings don’t have to be a deal-breaker. After all, according to Subaru, 97% of Subaru vehicles sold in the last 10 years are still on the road today.