"Should I buy a new or used Subaru Outback?" It's a question a lot of people have when car shopping for a new vehicle, especially a crossover like the Outback. What are the pros and cons of buying new versus used, and what are the benefits of opting used over new? The ins and outs of car shopping are numerous, and for people looking to narrow down their choices, sometimes the vast assortment of possibilities can be overwhelming. Well, as your Subaru Outback dealer, we're here to help you whittle down what best works for you by going over the ups, downs, ins, and outs of buying new or buying used.The Benefits of Buying NewBuying new is usually the top option for anyone who doesn't want to deal with any of the headaches or uncertainties that can come with buying used. While Subaru Outbacks have maintained generally good ratings as far as reliability is concerned, it's still a gamble when buying any vehicle used. Previous owners are usually more of the wildcard than the vehicle itself, and so when you buy new, you just don't have to worry about any of that from the get-go. You buy from the dealer, and you drive the vehicle home. No ifs, no buts, nor question marks about it.Buying new also guarantees you're getting the latest in new features with that model year outing. The latest in tech, the latest in comfort, and the latest in safety features are all available with the newest model year, especially with newer generation model years. Specifically for the Outback, the newer models come with more powerful turbocharged engines, as well as improved safety ratings for the fifth and sixth generations. Improved handling and better off-road capabilities are also added benefits for buying a newer model year Outback over an older used model.What's more, when you buy a brand new Subaru Outback, you're also guaranteed a Subaru Warranty Coverage package. The package consists of a basic bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts for up to 3 years or 36,000 miles, as well as a limited powertrain warranty that covers up to 5 years or 60,000 miles worth of travel, whichever comes first.Nevertheless, buying a brand new Subaru Outback still nets you quite a few bonuses and benefits, such as the Subaru Guaranteed Trade-In bonus. Anyone who buys a new Subaru model year will be eligible for trading in their vehicle after the first 12 months of ownership towards another vehicle with a guaranteed trade-in amount. The hook for the Guaranteed Trade-In program is that it has to be a new Subaru, and in the case of an Outback, it has to be purchased from a Subaru Outback dealer within the United States. This adds a lot of extra value to owning a brand new Subaru as opposed to simply opting for a used vehicle.The Benefits of Buying UsedWith all of the benefits of buying new, there seems like there would be little or no reasons to buy used, right? Well, even though Subaru drives a hard bargain to pass up buying new, there are still plenty of reasons to buy used. At the top of the reasons is price. If you buy used, you know you're getting something far cheaper than the MSRP of buying new. This works greatly in your favor when it comes to buying a vehicle that works within your budget.Buying a used Subaru Outback means that you still get many of the great features that the nameplate is known for, but a few years removed from the most recent model means that it's thousands of dollars cheaper to buy used rather than buying new. You may be giving up the warranty coverage, post-purchase support, and owner benefits that come with buying new, but you are saving yourself a lot of cash and easing the burden on your finances. For those of you shopping on a strict budget, this option absolutely looks like a real steal, especially for an Outback. Why? Because of quality.The Subaru Outback is known for being a very reliable vehicle and is, in fact, one of the highest-rated vehicles within its segment by JD Power. Over the last decade, the Subaru Outback has managed an average JD Power rating of around 80 out of 100, which is considered the upper end of the top ratings for reliability for vehicles. What this means is that even if you buy used, you're getting a vehicle that will be dependable for years to come. You can opt for a fourth-generation Outback for some of the lowest prices available on the market and still have a long-running, hard-working vehicle in your possession.Also, if you look at the average annual maintenance costs for a used Subaru Outback, the expenses are relatively low, making it an above-average used vehicle to own. This gives you a lot to consider if you opt to buy used as opposed to buying new. However, if price and dependability are your biggest concerns, the Subaru Outback does a fine job of putting those concerns to rest.Consider Buying Certified Pre-OwnedIn between buying new and used is Certified Pre-Owned. This is another option to consider if you're still torn between buying new or used. While used is a you get only what you pay for situation and buying new will add a lot of bonuses, but for an extra cost, Certified Pre-Owned offers the best points of both. With Certified Pre-Owned, you kind of tread a thin middle ground. It's lower than the MSRP of buying new, and you still get the benefits of a warranty, but it's not as cheap as outright buying used and the warranty benefits aren't quite as expansive as buying new.For Subaru, the Certified Pre-Owned warranty benefits include a 7-year / 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. These vehicles have undergone a 152-point maintenance inspection and also come with special financing rates, 24/7 roadside assistance, a CARFAX report, and a $500 owner loyalty coupon. It's very close to buying brand new, but you don't get the benefit of the Subaru Guaranteed Trade-In Program, nor do you get the extra low pricing that comes with a standard used Subaru Outback. It's still an option for those who would rather explore their financial breadth and what best works for the budget and included benefits.Should I Buy a New or Used Subaru Outback?Now that you have an understanding of the pros and cons of buying a new or used Subaru Outback, you're probably wondering which one should you go with? Well, with the Outback, there are a lot of reasons to go new: improved features, improved handling, improved safety, and improved performance. However, if you simply can't justify buying new, then buying used is still a very respectable and desirable option for a lot of shoppers visiting their local Subaru Outback dealer.If you happen to be working on a strict budget and want a Subaru Outback, buying an older model year or older generation Outback is still a fantastic choice given how reliable the vehicle is and how affordable a used model is. Low maintenance costs, long travel times, and lots of great performance capabilities make even a used Subaru Outback a worthwhile choice. If you can afford it, definitely go new, but if your budget just doesn't allow it, you can still get a great deal on a used Subaru Outback and reap the benefits of owning one of the most dependable vehicles in its segment.
