Compare the2025 Subaru OutbackVS 2025 GMC Terrain

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 GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Subaru Outback has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Terrain doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

The Outback’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Terrain doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Outback and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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 Terrain has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Outback’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Outback has a standard 150-amp alternator (190-amp - Outback XT). The Terrain’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC 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 GMC With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than GMC.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 18 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The Outback 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (182 vs. 175) than the Terrain FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Outback 2.5i’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (182 vs. 175) than the Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 85 more horsepower (260 vs. 175) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 203) than the Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 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 Terrain doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

The Outback has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Outback has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 15.6 gallons).

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

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 Terrain are solid, not vented.

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 Terrain; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Outback has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Outback flat and controlled during cornering. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain (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 Terrain (9.5 vs. 5.8 inches).

The Outback has .1 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear legroom, 3.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Terrain.

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

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Terrain with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 29.8 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 63.5 cubic feet).

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

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Terrain’s (2700 vs. 800 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Terrain AWD is only 1500 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 Terrain. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 25% lower rating, GMC is ranked 20th.

The Outback’s standard front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Terrain’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically. The Outback Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx Edition’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches.

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

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Terrain doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

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 Terrain offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Subaru Outback and GMC Terrain offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Outback offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Terrain’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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

The Subaru Outback outsold the GMC Terrain by over two to one during 2023.