Compare the2026 Subaru OutbackVS 2026 Toyota Crown Signia

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Subaru Outback’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Toyota Crown Signia.

Both the Outback and the Crown Signia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Crown Signia:

The Subaru Outback has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Crown Signia has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2026.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outback has a standard 620-amp battery. The Crown Signia’s 600-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (260 vs. 240) than the Crown Signia’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Crown Signia:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Crown Signia doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Both the Outback and Crown Signia have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Outback has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Outback has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crown Signia (18 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Outback stops shorter than the Crown Signia:

The Outback Wilderness has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Crown Signia; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Outback offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Crown Signia’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Crown Signia’s (36.5 feet vs. 39.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Crown Signia (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 2.8 inches higher than on the Crown Signia (9.5 vs. 6.7 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 450 pounds less than the Toyota Crown Signia.

The front grille of the Outback uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Crown Signia doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Outback has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 7.4 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Crown Signia.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Outback’s rear seats recline. The Crown Signia’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crown Signia with its rear seat up (34.6 vs. 25.8 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crown Signia with its rear seat folded (80.5 vs. 68.8 cubic feet).

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the Crown Signia’s in almost every dimension:

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Crown Signia is limited to 2700 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Outback uses the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Crown Signia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Crown Signia. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 38% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 24th.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s exterior PIN entry system. The Crown Signia doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Crown Signia doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Crown Signia doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Outback’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Crown Signia has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Outback and the Toyota Crown Signia, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Toyota Crown Signia by almost 8 to one during 2025.