Compare the2025 Subaru OutbackVS 2025 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Both the Outback and the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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, 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.

The Subaru Outback achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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

There are over 66 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Mercedes.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 23 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Outback 2.5i gets better fuel mileage than the E450 All-Terrain (26 city/32 hwy vs. 22 city/31 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Outback XT/Wilderness for maximum performance). The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (18.5 vs. 17.4 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s (36.1 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (8.7 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 3.7 inches higher than on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (9.5 vs. 5.8 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 950 pounds less than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

The Outback Wilderness is 3.8 inches shorter than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, making the Outback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Outback has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Outback’s rear seats recline. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Outback has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 64.6 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 19% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 17th.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call 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 fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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

The Subaru Outback outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by over 9 to one during 2023.