Subaru Legacy/Outback Engine Specifications
The 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback is offered with 2.5L–3.6L engines in 4 and 6-cylinder form, per EPA fuel-economy records.
Latest model year (2017):
The Subaru Legacy/Outback is available with 4 2.5L and Automatic (AV-S6) (All-Wheel Drive).
Subaru Legacy/Outback Engine Specs — All Years
| Year | Trim | Cylinders | Displ. | Transmission | Drive | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017Config 1 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 | 2.5L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Midsize Cars |
| 2017Config 2 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 | 2.5L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2017Config 3 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 6 | 3.6L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2017Config 4 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 6 | 3.6L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Midsize Cars |
| 2016Config 1 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 | 2.5L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2016Config 2 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 | 2.5L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Midsize Cars |
| 2016Config 3 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 6 | 3.6L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Midsize Cars |
| 2016Config 4 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 6 | 3.6L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2015Config 1 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 | 2.5L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2015Config 2 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 | 2.5L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Midsize Cars |
| 2015Config 3 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 6 | 3.6L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2015Config 4 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 6 | 3.6L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | Midsize Cars |
Data sourced from fueleconomy.gov (U.S. Department of Energy). MPG figures are EPA-tested. Fuel costs are estimates based on average fuel prices and 15,000 miles/year.
Subaru Legacy/Outback data analysis
How Subaru Legacy/Outback engine displacement varies
Across 12 configurations recorded for the 2015 through 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback, engine displacement runs from 2.5 litres to 3.6 litres. The strongest figure belongs to the 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback (Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L) at 2.5 litres, and the weakest to the 2015 car (Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L) at 3.6 litres — a spread of 31%. A gap that wide means the model year and configuration you buy matter more than the nameplate does: quoting a single number for the Subaru Legacy/Outback would be misleading.
What changed for 2017
Average engine displacement for the 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback is 3.1 litres, against 3.1 litres for the 2016 car — it held flat. A carry-over year like this usually means no powertrain or structural change, so an older example is the cheaper way into the same specification.
How to read this Subaru Legacy/Outback data
This page lists every 2015 through 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback record we hold for this measurement — 12 rows in total, one per configuration and model year rather than a single headline figure. Figures are published as the source agency records them: we do not round, average or interpolate missing years, and a year that is absent from the table is a year with no published measurement rather than a zero. Where a manufacturer offered several drivetrains or body styles in the same year, each appears on its own row, because those variants rarely share the same numbers.
Configurations behind these Subaru Legacy/Outback numbers
The 2015 through 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback entries here cover the variants Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L and Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L. 2017 is the busiest model year in the record with 4 separate measured configurations, which is why a single quoted engine displacement figure for that year is rarely the one that matches the car in front of you. Match the row to the exact drivetrain, body style and engine on the window sticker or VIN before relying on the number, and use the comparison links below to see how those same configurations line up against rival models.
Where these Subaru Legacy/Outback figures come from
Every value on this page is loaded from federal open data — EPA fuel economy submissions, NHTSA vehicle and crash-test records, and manufacturer specification filings — rather than dealer listings or copied editorial content. The Subaru Legacy/Outback record refreshes as the agencies publish, which typically means new model-year rows appear in the autumn and crash-test results follow through the model year as vehicles are tested. Because certification data is filed per configuration, treat any single headline number for this vehicle with caution: the figure that applies to a specific car depends on its engine, drivetrain, body style and model year, all of which are listed separately above. If a number here disagrees with a brochure, the brochure is usually quoting the best available configuration rather than the one being sold.
Frequently Asked Questions About Legacy/Outback Engine Specs
What engine does the Subaru Legacy/Outback have?
The Subaru Legacy/Outback is available with 4 cylinder engines ranging up to 2.5L. Transmission and drivetrain options vary by trim. See the full table above.
Is the Subaru Legacy/Outback available with all-wheel drive?
Yes, the Subaru Legacy/Outback is available with all-wheel drive. Check the "Drive" column in the table above for specific trims.
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