Compare the2023 Subaru OutbackVS 2023 Fiat 500X

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Outback have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Fiat 500X doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 500X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Pre-Collision Braking in the Outback as “Superior.” The 500X scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Outback (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The 500X doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Outback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The 500X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Outback’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 500X and is only available on 500X Sport.

Both the Outback and the 500X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 500X last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Outback 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 77 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outback has a standard 620-amp battery. The 500X’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Outback’s reliability 26 points higher than the 500X.

Engine

The Outback 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (182 vs. 177) than the 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder. The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 83 more horsepower (260 vs. 177) and 67 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 210) than the 500X’s 1.3 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 500X doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Outback 2.5i gets better fuel mileage than the 500X (26 city/32 hwy vs. 24 city/30 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the 500X (18.5 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

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 500X doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Outback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 500X:

	Outback	500X
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.95 inches

The Outback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the 500X are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Outback has larger tires than the 500X (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx 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 500X; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Outback’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the 500X (108.1 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Outback is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 500X.

The Outback Limited handles at .79 G’s, while the 500X pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Outback Wilderness executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the 500X (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the 500X (8.7 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.6 inches higher than on the 500X (9.5 vs. 7.9 inches).

Chassis

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Outback has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The 500X uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

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 500X doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Outback has 17.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (109 vs. 91.7).

The Outback has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom, 2.6 inches more rear hip room and 4.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500X.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Outback’s rear seats recline. The 500X’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Outback is .4 inches lower than the 500X (19” vs. 19.4”). The Outback’s rear step up height is 1.1 inches lower than the 500X’s (18.5” vs. 19.6”).

Cargo Capacity

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 39.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Outback easier. The Outback’s trunk lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the 500X’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the 500X’s in every dimension:

	Outback	500X
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42”/75”	n/a
Max Width	51”	41.3”
Min Width	43.3”	37.8”
Height	32.1”	28.8”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Outback. The 500X doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Outback’s power liftgate can be opened just by holding your hand near the emblem on the trunk, leaving your hands completely free. The Outback’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The 500X doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the 500X’s (2700 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Fiat 500X is only 2000 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the 500X. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Outback Limited/Touring, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The 500X doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Outback Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx Edition’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The 500X’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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 500X doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Outback has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The 500X doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Outback’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 500X’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

The Outback has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The 500X only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The 500X Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Outback’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 500X doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Outback Limited/Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The 500X’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Outback’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The 500X has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Outback and the 500X offer available heated front seats. The Outback Limited/Touring/Onyx XT/Wilderness also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the 500X.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Outback Touring keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 500X doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Outback’s optional (except Base/Premium/Onyx/Wilderness) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The 500X doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Outback has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Outback has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

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 500X doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $45 to $1225 less than the 500X 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 52.14% to 55.07% of its original price after five years, while the 500X only retains 36.13% to 38.37%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outback is less expensive to operate than the 500X because typical repairs cost much less on the Outback than the 500X, including $89 less for a water pump, $41 less for a muffler, $191 less for fuel injection, $138 less for a fuel pump and $209 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 $541 to $6291 less than for the Fiat 500X.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Outback, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Fiat 500X isn't recommended.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Fiat 500X by over 168 to one during 2022.