2014 Subaru Outback — Buy

Take it for a long test drive. Acceleration should be smooth. If it hesitates or "shudders," it might need a transmission fluid flush or a closer look.

If you do a lot of mountain driving or towing, look for this one. It’s thirstier on gas but much smoother and more powerful. What to Check Before You Buy buy 2014 subaru outback

The 2014 Outback is a "Swiss Army Knife" vehicle. It isn't flashy, but it’s incredibly loyal. If you find one with a solid maintenance history and under 150,000 miles, it likely has a lot of life left for weekend adventures. Take it for a long test drive

Because 2014 was the end of its generation, it avoided many of the "first-year jitters" that newer models sometimes face. The Performance Split You’ll mostly find two engines on the market: If you do a lot of mountain driving

This is the fuel-efficient choice. It’s not "fast," but it’s plenty for daily commuting. Most are paired with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) that Subaru had significantly improved by this year.