Compare the2025 Subaru OutbackVS 2025 Toyota Crown Signia

Both the Outback and the Crown Signia 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, lane departure warning systems, 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 Crown Signia has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outback has a standard 620-amp battery. The Crown Signia’s 600-amp battery 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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (260 vs. 240) than the Crown Signia’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Crown Signia:

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 Crown Signia doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Both the Outback and Crown Signia have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Outback has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Outback has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crown Signia (18.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Crown Signia; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the Crown Signia’s (36.1 feet vs. 39.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Crown Signia (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 2.8 inches higher than on the Crown Signia (9.5 vs. 6.7 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 550 pounds less than the Toyota Crown Signia.

The Outback is 3 inches shorter than the Crown Signia, making the Outback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Crown Signia doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Outback has 1 inch more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 7.1 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Crown Signia.

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

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crown Signia with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 25.8 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crown Signia with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 68.8 cubic feet).

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Crown Signia is limited to 2700 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 Crown Signia. 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 Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 26% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 21st.

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 Crown Signia doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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 Crown Signia 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 Crown Signia 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 Crown Signia has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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