Compare the2024 Subaru OutbackVS 2024 BMW X4

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 BMW X4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Outback are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable 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 X4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Outback and the X4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, 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 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X4 has not been tested, yet.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Outback 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 83 percent more Subaru dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

The X4’s redline is at 7000 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The Outback has a 6000 RPM redline.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 3 places higher in reliability than BMW.

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (260 vs. 248) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the X4 xDrive30i’s standard 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 X4 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the X4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X4 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Outback higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW X4 (5 to 7). This means the Outback produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X4 every 15,000 miles.

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 X4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

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 X4; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the X4’s (36.1 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X4 (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.5 inches higher than on the X4 (9.5 vs. 8 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the BMW X4.

The Outback has 11.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X4 (109 vs. 97.8).

The Outback has 2.1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4.

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

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 X4 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Outback has a standard rear wiper. The X4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $4450 to $5455 less than the X4 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Outback will be $25519 to $28540 less than for the BMW X4.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Outback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Outback outsold the BMW X4 by almost 17 to one during 2023.