Subaru Outback vs. Ford Ranger
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Subaru Outback and Ford Ranger contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Subaru Outback and the Ford Ranger.
When comparing the Subaru Outback's and the Ford Ranger's specifications and ratings, the Subaru Outback has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency, interior volume and overall quality score. The Ford Ranger has the advantage in the areas of reliability, resale value and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Subaru Outback's and the Ford Ranger's specifications and ratings, the Subaru Outback is a better car than the Ford Ranger.
Pricing: A used 2025 Subaru Outback ranges from $28,999 to $40,745 while a used 2025 Ford Ranger is priced between $33,363 to $59,999. For a new model, the Subaru Outback's price is between $32,586 and $46,228, with the Ford Ranger priced between $34,425 and $59,705.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Subaru Outback loses 43.3 percent of its value and the Ford Ranger loses 34.9 percent of its value. This means the Ford Ranger retains 8.4 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Subaru Outback.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Subaru Outback is 8.3 out of 10 while the Ford Ranger's quality rating is 7.9 out of 10. This results in the Subaru Outback being ranked 6 out of 19 Best Small SUVs and the Ford Ranger being ranked 4 out of 7 Best Midsize Trucks.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Subaru Outback is 7.8 out of 10. For the Ford Ranger the reliability rating is 8.0 out of 10. This gives the Ford Ranger a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Subaru Outback.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Subaru Outback’s base engine makes 182 horsepower, and the Ford Ranger base engine makes 270 horsepower. The Outback is rated to deliver an average of 28 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 592 miles. The Ranger is rated to deliver an average of 23 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 489 miles. This gives the Subaru Outback the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Ford Ranger. Both models use regular unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Subaru Outback, a crossover/compact SUV, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front shoulder room, rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room. The Ford Ranger, a midsize truck, has the advantage in the areas of front head room and front leg room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the Subaru Outback has higher safety ratings than the Ford Ranger, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 Stars compared to 4 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
32586 - 46228
Starting MSRP:
29995
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact SUVs)
28836
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact SUVs)
24135 - 30995
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
34425 - 59705
Starting MSRP:
33330
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
35074
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
31590 - 40150
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
34524
Price Range:
28999 - 40745
Category Avg Price:
(Compact SUVs)
32106
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact SUVs)
28107 - 36583
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
44420
Price Range:
33363 - 59999
Category Avg Price:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
43288
Category Avg Price Range:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
37741 - 49219
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
Depreciation %:
Resale Value $:
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Compact SUVs)
0.43208374
Category Depreciation Range:
(Compact SUVs)
0.30791758 - 0.51647538
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
11779
Depreciation %:
0.35339209
Resale Value $:
21551
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
0.33159181
Category Depreciation Range:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
0.26729184 - 0.42710395
Subaru Outback Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.3 / 10
Reliability:
7.8 / 10
Retained Value:
8.2 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
Ford Ranger Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.9 / 10
Reliability:
8.0 / 10
Retained Value:
8.8 / 10
Safety:
7.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Subaru Outback
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
12.7
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Compact SUVs)
11.3
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact SUVs)
9.6 - 15.7
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.253
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Ford Ranger
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
13.9
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
13.6
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
12.7 - 16.8
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.249
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
5.448465751878131
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
2.6
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
1.6 - 16.1
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
9.484999492222936
Typical Category Recalls:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
2.9
Category Range for Recalls:
(Midsize Pickup Trucks)
1.4 - 9.5
Subaru Outback Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 67Ranking
1 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
4 out of / 19Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
5 out of / 19Ranking
5 out of / 13Ranking
6 out of / 20Ranking
6 out of / 20Ranking
6 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 7Ranking
7 out of / 19Ranking
7 out of / 9Ranking
9 out of / 19Ranking
9 out of / 18Ranking
10 out of / 67Ranking
11 out of / 67Ranking
11 out of / 67Ranking
12 out of / 19Ranking
14 out of / 56Ranking
15 out of / 18Ranking
17 out of / 67Ranking
17 out of / 67Ranking
18 out of / 67Ranking
18 out of / 67Ranking
19 out of / 67Ranking
23 out of / 67Ranking
26 out of / 67Ranking
26 out of / 67Ranking
27 out of / 56Ranking
28 out of / 67Ford Ranger Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 7Ranking
2 out of / 7Ranking
2 out of / 7Ranking
2 out of / 7Ranking
2 out of / 7Ranking
2 out of / 4Ranking
2 out of / 4Ranking
3 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 7Ranking
5 out of / 7Summary Review
The Subaru Outback has been a staple on American roads since its inception in 1994. Two different Subaru models, sold side-by-side, bore the Outback name: the wagon-style crossover-SUV we associate with the name today, and the Outback Sport, which eventually became the Crosstrek. The Outback is best known for its standard all-wheel drive, excellent utility, and all-weather capability. New models of the Outback average $36,354 and 3-year-old models average $25,939.
Summary Review
Ford discontinued its iconic Ranger small pickup truck in 2011 despite a large, loyal fanbase. It recovered from that mistake by introducing an all-new Ford Ranger in 2019. The old and new Ranger small truck have nothing at all in common, and most older Ranger used trucks are now "fully depreciated,” to say it kindly. We’ll focus our comments on the new Ranger.
Pros and Cons
- Utilitarian with easy entry and exit and highly function cargo space
- Comfortable ride quality with an upscale interior
- Excellent all-weather and light off-road capability
- Not always fast or inspirational for driving enthusiasts
- Similarly-sized SUVs often have more cargo and passenger room
- Fuel economy can be less than expected
Pros and Cons
- Excellent fuel-efficient 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine standard
- Tremor off-road trim option
- Modern infotainment
- Class-leading payload capacity
- Mixed reliability scores
- Retained value hard to predict (too new)
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Body Styles
Pickup Truck
Available Cab Types
Not applicable
Available Cab Types
Crew Cab
Available Bed Length(s)
Not applicable
Available Bed Length(s)
59.6 inches
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Subaru Outback Trim Levels
Base, Limited, Limited XT, Onyx Edition, Onyx Edition XT, Premium, Touring, Touring XT, Wilderness
Ford Ranger Trim Levels
Lariat, Raptor, XL, XLT
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
3 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
3 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
182 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
176 foot-lbs @ 4400 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.050 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Max Payload:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
270 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque:
310 foot-lbs @ 3000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.064 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
3500 lbs
Max Payload:
1840 lbs
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Flat/Horizontally Opposed
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
26 / 32 / 28
Range (city/hwy):
481 / 592 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.3 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
4X2 / 4X4
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
21 / 26 / 23
Range (city/hwy):
395 / 489 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Roof Rack:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Roof Rack:
N/A
Satellite radio:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.1 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.8 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
58.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
39.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
57.4 inches
Cargo Space:
32.6 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
75.6 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
141.6 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
41 inches
Front Leg Room:
43.2 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.3 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.6 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.7 inches
Cargo Space:
Not yet available
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
33.9 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
98.3 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3641 lbs
Width:
82 inches
Height:
66.4 inches
Length:
191.1 inches
Wheelbase:
108.1 inches
Ground Clearance:
8.7 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4210 lbs
Width:
86.7 inches
Height:
74.4 inches
Length:
210.6 inches
Wheelbase:
128.7 inches
Ground Clearance:
9.3 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/65R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P255/70R17
Exterior Colors
Black
Crystal Black Silica
Blue
Cosmic Blue Pearl
Gray
Magnetite Gray Metallic
Silver
Ice Silver Metallic
White
Crystal White Pearl
Brown
Not available
Red
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Shadow Black
Blue
Velocity Blue
Gray
Carbonized Gray / Marsh Gray
Silver
Not available
White
Oxford White
Brown
Desert Sand
Red
Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat
Interior Colors
Black
Slate Black
Interior Colors
Black
Ebony
