Compare the2022 Subaru OutbackVS 2021 Volvo V60

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Outback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The V60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the V60.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Outback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The V60 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Outback and the V60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Volvo V60:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Outback 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the V60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the V60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 27th in initial quality. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 31st.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 10 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (260 vs. 250) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the V60 T5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the V60 T5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The V60 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The V60 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the V60 (18.5 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The V60 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx Edition XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the V60; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The front and rear suspension of the Outback uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the V60’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a 3.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the V60 (8.7 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 4.1 inches higher than on the V60 (9.5 vs. 5.4 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Volvo V60.

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The V60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Outback a Mid-Size Station Wagon car, while the V60 is rated a Small Station Wagon.

The Outback has 15 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V60 (109 vs. 94).

The Outback has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the V60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Outback’s rear seats recline. The V60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the V60 with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 23.2 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the V60 with its rear seat folded (75.7 vs. 50.9 cubic feet).

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the V60’s in every dimension:

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the V60’s (2700 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo V60 is only 2000 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The V60 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Outback has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Outback (except Base) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The V60 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $45 to $8070 less than the V60 over a five-year period.

The Outback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outback will retain 54.13% to 56.37% of its original price after five years, while the V60 only retains 37.51% to 39.2%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outback is less expensive to operate than the V60 because typical repairs cost much less on the Outback than the V60, including $124 less for a water pump, $280 less for a muffler, $53 less for front brake pads, $14 less for a starter, $186 less for fuel injection, $419 less for a fuel pump and $106 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Outback will be $17212 to $33666 less than for the Volvo V60.

Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Outback as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.