What is the best year for a Subaru Outback?

The 2023 Outback is the strongest used pick — 84 complaints, 10/10 NHTSA safety score, 9 severe issues. Strongly avoid 2018-2020, which generated 799, 1,025, and 889 complaints respectively, driven by widespread oil consumption and EyeSight system issues. The 2021-2022 range remained elevated. 2023 marks the clear turning point.

How much does Subaru Outback insurance cost?

Outback insurance averages about $1,964/year — roughly $164/month. One of the lower insurance rates in the compact class despite above-average maintenance costs.

Is the Subaru Outback or Honda Passport cheaper to maintain?

The Honda Passport is $86/year cheaper — $521 versus $607 for the Outback. The Passport also has a higher reliability score (8 vs. 7) and lower repair frequency (28% vs. 37%). The Outback's differentiators are its standard AWD and wagon body style, which are meaningful depending on use case.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Subaru Outback?

The 2018-2020 generation's documented complaint history makes extended warranty strongly recommended for those model years. Major repair probability of 12% and repair frequency of 37% are both above compact class averages. For 2023 and newer, the profile improves considerably — but the Outback's overall cost premium makes a repair fund or warranty worth planning for.

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee expensive to maintain?

The Grand Cherokee costs $666/year to maintain — $93 above the midsize segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 30% is below the class average of 40% — a relative positive. Reliability score of 7 and major repair probability of 13% both sit at segment averages. Above-average cost for an average reliability profile.

What is the best year for a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The Grand Cherokee has one of the most volatile complaint histories in its class. Avoid 2011-2012 (1,638 and 1,634 complaints), 2014 (2,362 complaints, 218 severe — the worst year on record), 2015 (1,333, 183 severe), and 2018 (832 complaints, 56 severe). The 2025 model (54 complaints, 10/10 safety, 4 severe) is the best year in the model's modern history, with 2024 (221 complaints) showing meaningful improvement. If buying used, 2024 or newer is the safest range.

How much does Jeep Grand Cherokee insurance cost?

Grand Cherokee insurance averages around $2,370/year — roughly $198/month. Below average for the midsize class given its above-average maintenance cost.

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer cheaper to maintain?

The Grand Cherokee is cheaper to maintain by $66/year — $666 versus $732 for the Ford Explorer. Both carry a reliability score of 7. Note the Explorer is a three-row SUV vs. the two-row Grand Cherokee — the comparison is cross-configuration. On pure maintenance cost, the Grand Cherokee has a slight edge.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Despite sitting at the class average on major repair probability and below average on repair frequency, the Grand Cherokee's documented complaint history — with multiple severe spikes across 2011-2015 and 2018 — makes extended warranty strongly recommended for used models from those years. For 2024 and newer, the risk profile has improved substantially and warranty is less critical.

Subaru Outback vs Jeep Grand Cherokee

Two compact SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Subaru Outback to minimise 5-year ownership cost.

Buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee if long-term reliability matters most.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Subaru Outback	Jeep Grand Cherokee
Annual maintenance	$607winner	$666
5-year total cost	$3,035winner	$3,330
Reliability score	7 / 10	7 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	12%winner	13%
Cargo space	—	70.8 cu ft
Starting price (new)	$34,995winner	$39,700
Best years to buy	—	2010, 2017, 2018

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Subaru Outback	Jeep Grand Cherokee
RepairPal score	7 / 10	7 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	287.6winner	347.8
Years to avoid	2018, 2019, 2020	2011, 2012, 2014
Value retained · 3 yr	79.2%winner	64.6%
Value retained · 5 yr	61.4%winner	50%
Value retained · 7 yr	48.8%winner	40.1%

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Subaru Outback	Jeep Grand Cherokee
Engine	8.1%winner	18.3%
Electrical	18.7%winner	22.5%
ADAS	7.0%	6.4%winner
Brakes	4.0%winner	10.1%
Suspension	—winner	1.8%
Steering	3.6%	3.2%winner
Fuel system	1.3%winner	5.1%
Tires/Wheels	1.0%	—winner
Glass/Windows	26.3%	—winner
Airbags	5.4%	4.8%winner
Lighting	3.3%	1.4%winner
Seatbelt	—winner	2.0%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Subaru Outback	Jeep Grand Cherokee
Avg annual premium	$1,964winner	$2,370

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Subaru Outback

$607/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Jeep Grand Cherokee

$666/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Outback costs $607/year to maintain — $86 above the compact segment average of $521. Repair frequency of 37% is above the class average of 30%. Reliability score of 7 is below the class average of 8. Major repair probability of 12% is slightly above the 11% norm. Above-average cost and repair profile across all metrics.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →