Compare the2023 Genesis GV80VS 2023 Subaru Outback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the GV80 and Outback have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The GV80 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Outback’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The GV80 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Outback doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The GV80 offers an optional Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Outback only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The GV80 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Outback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GV80 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Outback and isn't available on the not available.

Both the GV80 and the Outback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Genesis GV80 weighs 560 to 1463 pounds more than the Subaru Outback. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Genesis GV80 is safer than the Subaru Outback:

	GV80	Outback
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	43%

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

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 Genesis GV80 is safer than the Subaru Outback:

	GV80	Outback
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	70	116
Spine Acceleration	26 G’s	51 G’s
Hip Force	458 lbs.	635 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	640 lbs.	674 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the GV80 is 1.6% to 3% less likely to roll over than the Outback.

Warranty

The GV80 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The Outback’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the GV80 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Outback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Outback ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The GV80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Outback’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the GV80 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Outback.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 71 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 3 places higher in reliability than Subaru.

Engine

The GV80 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 118 more horsepower (300 vs. 182) and 135 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 176) than the Outback 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The GV80 2.5T’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (300 vs. 260) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 277) than the Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The GV80 3.5T’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 115 more horsepower (375 vs. 260) and 114 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 277) than the Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the GV80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	GV80	Outback
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.3 MPH	86.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The GV80 has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outback (21.1 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GV80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Outback:

	GV80 2.5T	GV80 3.5T	Outback
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	14.9 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	14.2 inches	14.2 inches	11.8 inches

The GV80 stops much shorter than the Outback:

	GV80	Outback
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GV80 has larger tires than the Outback (265/40R22 vs. 225/65R17).

The GV80’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outback’s standard 65 series tires. The GV80’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Outback Onyx/Limited/Touring’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GV80 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Outback. The GV80’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Outback Onyx/Limited/Touring.

Suspension and Handling

The GV80 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Outback’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GV80 offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Outback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GV80 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Outback doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GV80’s wheelbase is 8.2 inches longer than on the Outback (116.3 inches vs. 108.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GV80 is 4 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Outback.

The GV80 PRESTIGE handles at .86 G’s, while the Outback Wilderness pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GV80 PRESTIGE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Outback Limited (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The GV80 Prestige uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Outback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The GV80 offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Outback can only carry 5.

The GV80 has 31 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Outback (140 vs. 109).

The GV80 has .1 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Outback.

Cargo Capacity

The GV80’s cargo area provides more volume than the Outback.

	GV80	Outback
Third Seat Removed	34.9 cubic feet	32.6 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84 cubic feet	75.6 cubic feet

The GV80’s cargo area is larger than the Outback’s in almost every dimension:

	GV80	Outback
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	15.9”/44.7”/79”	n.a./42”/75”
Max Width	53”	51”
Min Width	41.7”	43.3”
Height	31.1”	32.1”

Pressing a button automatically lowers the GV80’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Outback doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

The GV80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Outback’s (6000 vs. 2700 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The GV80 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Outback uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The GV80 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Outback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The GV80’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Outback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The GV80 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Outback doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the GV80 and the Outback have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the GV80 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outback prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The GV80’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Outback’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GV80 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Outback can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GV80’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Outback’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The GV80’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Outback Premium/Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx.

The GV80 has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Outback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The GV80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Outback.

The GV80 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Outback.

The GV80 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Outback Premium/Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx.

Both the GV80 and the Outback offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the GV80 has available rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Outback doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Genesis GV80 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Outback and isn’t available on the Outback Base.

The GV80 offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Outback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GV80’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Outback doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GV80 second among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Outback isn’t in the top three.

The GV80 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2021. The Outback has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.