2015 Honda CR-V vs 2015 Subaru Outback
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2015 Honda
CR-V
7/10
Buy the 2.4L 4-cylinder, avoid the 1.5T if you live somewhere cold and only do short trips — otherwise this is a 250k-mile appliance in a good way.
VS
2015 Subaru
Outback
7/10
The 2015 Outback is the crossover that actually goes off-pavement and lasts 250k, but buy one with service records or don't buy at all.
Dead heat: both score 7/10. The tiebreaker is which specific car you find.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Honda CR-V |
Subaru Outback |
| Known failure points | 6 | 8 |
| NHTSA complaints | 668 | 507 |
| Safety recalls | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 78 | 72 |
| Cheap to own | 72 | 68 |
| Fun factor | 38 | 38 |
| Holds value | 80 | 74 |
| Enthusiast cred | 22 | 52 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2015 Honda CR-V
1.5T oil dilution — gasoline seeping into engine oil during short cold-weather trips, diluting oil and raising level on dipstick
$0–$3,0000k–60k mi
2015 Subaru Outback
CVT valve body / torque converter shudder (TR580)
$0–$8,00080k–150k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2015 Honda CR-V
2015 CR-V EX or EX-L with the 2.4L naturally aspirated engine and 5-speed automatic — skip the turbo entirely if you want the boring-reliable version of this car.
✅ 2015 Subaru Outback
2015 Outback 3.6R Limited with EyeSight, one or two owners, dealer-stamped service records showing at least one CVT fluid change (or an H6 with trans fluid changes), 80k–120k miles, from a non-rust-belt state. The 3.6R sidesteps the FB25 oil consumption AND the CVT — it's the unicorn.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
First report free · then $10
Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.