You Need To See These 5 Calculations If You’re On The Fence

The 2025 Subaru Crosstrek and 2025 Subaru Outback are both compelling choices if you’re looking for a family adventure vehicle, and both start at under $30,000. The Outback can cost as much as $42,910 in its highest trim, while the Crosstrek’s most expensive model is around $10k cheaper than that. The thing is, despite their different positions within the Subaru stable, there’s some notable price overlap between these two model ranges, particularly around the $30,000 mark. This begs the question: if you’re about to make that spend, which machine returns the higher return on your investment?

Subaru

Subaru is the car making division of the Japanese transport company, Subaru Corporation, and it’s one of the largest in the world. It was founded in 1953, preceded by the Nakajima Aircraft Company, and today manufactures vehicles known for their boxer engines, symmetrical all-wheel drive systems, and pedigreed history.

Founded: 15 July 1953
Founder: Chikuhei Nakajima
Headquarters: Ebisu, Shibuya, Japan
Owned By: Subaru Corporation
Current CEO: Atsushi Osaki

The answer to that question depends on a multitude of factors, but to help you make a more informed decision, let’s dive into six of the most important (and surprising) factors.

Comparison between the Crosstrek and Outback is based on on-paper specifications supplied by the manufacturer, as well as time spent behind the wheel.

What’s Happening With the Crosstrek and Subaru Outback In 2025

The Crosstrek, starting at $25,810, is Subaru’s entry-level crossover, now in its third generation, which was introduced in 2023. It’s known for its affordability, versatility, and fuel efficiency, making it a strong competitor against the Mazda CX-30, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Kia Seltos.

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The Outback has a higher starting price at $29,010, but it offers a more spacious and refined experience, as it’s a litte larger. Currently in its sixth generation (which debuted in 2019), the Outback competes with mid-size SUVs like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and Hyundai Tucson.

While a base Outback costs about $3,200 more than a base Crosstrek, the price difference narrows considerably when comparing trim levels above the entry-level spec. The Crosstrek Premium ($27,060) is only $1,950 less than the base Outback, but the Crosstrek Sport ($29,610) is just $400 more than the Outback Premium ($29,210). In terms of similarities, both models run the latest suite of Subaru’s EyeSight safety system, now with improved cameras and processing that enable new and more powerful functionalities, along with a wider field of view.

But if you’re considering buying one of these models, this is what you need to consider first:

The Outback Tows 80% More For The Same Money

Around our $30,000 price point, both Crosstrek and Outback models you’ll be considering will run the 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine (182 hp and 178 lb-ft). This engine was first available to Crosstrek shoppers in 2021 on a few grades, and now powers most of the third-generation Crosstrek lineup. While the base-model Crosstrek still runs a 2.0-liter boxer engine (152 hp and 145 lb-ft), all other model grades now run the 2.5-liter instead.

That same 2.5-liter engine has also been the Outback’s base engine for some years, and will power the lower-tier Outback you’re considering, too. Higher-end Outback models not included in this comparison are powered by a slightly downsized but turbocharged 2.4-liter engine, generating 260 h and 277 lb-ft of torque, in case you’re wondering. To recap, the 2.5L four-cylinder engine is both the Outback’s standard engine and the Crosstrek’s up-level engine (which is standard on all models other than the Crosstrek Base).

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That leads into our next point: towing. Both the Crosstrek and Outback can tow 3,500 lbs when equipped properly – with the Wilderness package (Crosstrek), or with the up-level BOXER TURBO engine (Outback). With standard engines on board, as is the case here, the Crosstrek can tow a maximum of 1,500 lbs, while the Outback running the same engine can tow 2,700. That’s an 80% advantage in towing capacity for the same money by choosing the Outback. Even if you’re not towing anything now, this extra capability can come in handy if you need it a few years down the line.

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The Outback Has 64% More Cargo Space For The Same Money

When it comes to cargo space, the 2025 Subaru Outback delivers 32.6 cubic feet with the rear seats flipped upright for use, and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The smaller 2025 Subaru Crosstrek delivers 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space with its rear seats flipped up for use, and 54.7 when they’re folded down.

Translation? The Outback has a 64% cargo space advantage over the Crosstrek when the rear seats are up, and a 38% cargo space advantage when the rear seats are folded down.

More Room For Your Passengers, Especially In The Rear Seats

At our $30,000 mark, the Crosstrek delivers 99 cubic feet of passenger volume, with the Outback delivering 107.5 cubes. That means the Outback has 9 percent more passenger volume for the same money, but there’s much more to it when it comes to specifics.

On headroom, the Outback has a solid lead. Comparing moonroof-equipped models, the Outback’s front headroom measurement (39.1 inches) beats the Crosstrek’s (37.8 inches) by 1.3 inches. That’s 3% more front headroom for your dollars in the Outback. The same goes for rear headroom, where the Outback (39.1 inches) leads the Crosstrek (38 inches) by 1.1 inches or 3 % once again.

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Add in the Outback’s much better outward sightlines for rear-seat passengers, and it stacks up nicely as the better choice for rear-seat comfort. When it comes to legroom, the smaller Crosstrek leads the larger Outback up front by a marginal 0.1-inch, with 42.9 inches compared to the Outback’s 42.8. Rear legroom tips the scales far in the other direction however, with the Outback’s rear legroom (39.6 inches) leaving the Crosstrek’s (36.5 inches) in the dust. For the same money, that 3.1 inch difference means the Outback turns in nearly 9% more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

Front shoulder room in the Outback measures 58.1 inches, 1.3 inches greater than the Crosstrek’s 56.8 inches for a 2% advantage. In the rear, the Outback offers 57.4 inches of shoulder room to the Crosstrek’s 55.3, giving the Outback 2.1 inches or 4% more rear shoulder room for the same spend.

Your Dog Will Like the Outback Better

If you’re a Subaru person, there’s a good chance you’re a dog person, too. If that’s the case, your four-legged pride-and-joy will likely be happiest in the Outback.

Specifically, the cargo floor length is significantly higher in the Outback, especially with the rear seats folded. The longer, flatter floor is joined by a longer, flatter roof that rides tall, further back along the Outback’s body and without the space-eating downward rear slope of the Crosstrek’s roof. In a nutshell, the Outback’s cargo space is longer, taller, and more consistently shaped (like a box). That makes it easier for canines to lounge, hang out, and jump in and out with ease.

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The other thing to consider here is the drive. There’s a solid chance your pup won’t mind the sportier, busier and more responsive ride of the Crosstrek, though more nervous canine travellers might find the softer, calmer, and more relaxing-to-drive Outback a more comfortable choice.

The Outback Only Uses A Little More Gas

Despite considerable advantages in space, size, towing capacity and flexibility for families, the Outback only uses marginally more gas than the smaller Crosstrek. The EPA rates the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek with 2.5-liter engine for 27/33/29 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. The Outback with the same engine does 26/32/28 mpg. It’s also worth noting that the Outback has a larger fuel tank capacity: 18.5 gallons to the Crosstrek’s 16.6 gallons, which means you can go 518 miles on a full tank in the Outback, and 481 miles in the Crosstrek.

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For the average driver, annual fuel costs in the Crosstrek come to $1,550, while the Outback costs just $50 more per year, according to the EPA. Most will find that the slight Outback’s worse fuel economy isn’t a deal breaker in lower-end of the lineup.

Conclusion: Sealing The Deal

For buyers who want to spend as close to $30k on a new family adventure vehicle,the numbers suggest that the Outback in one of the base trims is the better deal when it comes to space for people and their things, for capability in terms of towing, and versatility. Both feature cloth upholstery and a similar feature count at this price point; doing the math suggests the bigger Subaru is your best buy.

Sources: EPA, Subaru