Compare the2025 Toyota TacomaVS 2025 Subaru Outback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Tacoma has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Outback doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota Tacoma achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Subaru Outback has not been tested.

The Tacoma has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Outback doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Tacoma (except SR/SR5/PreRunner) offers an optional Panoramic/Multi-Terrain View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Outback only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Tacoma and Outback offer Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Tacoma with Rear Cross Traffic Alert also has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Outback’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Compared to metal, the Tacoma’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Outback has a metal gas tank.

Both the Tacoma and the Outback 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Tacoma is safer than the Subaru Outback:

	Tacoma	Outback
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	37 lbs.	51 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Tacoma is safer than the Subaru Outback:

	Tacoma	Outback
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	22	28
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	78 lbs.	101 lbs.
Hip Force	131 lbs.	247 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	43	116
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	51 G’s
Hip Force	222 lbs.	635 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	516 lbs.	674 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Tacoma Double Cab is safer than the Outback:

	Tacoma	Outback
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	156 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.31 in	.94 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.54 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	1026 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	96	387
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	1.81 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.42 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	535 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tacoma for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Outback.

There are almost 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tacoma’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Tacoma has a standard 776-amp battery. The Outback’s 620-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Tacoma has more powerful engines than the Outback:

	Horsepower	Torque
Tacoma SR 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	228 HP	243 lbs.-ft.
Tacoma 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	270 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
Tacoma 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	278 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
Tacoma Trailhunter 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	323 HP	465 lbs.-ft.
Tacoma 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	326 HP	465 lbs.-ft.
Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	182 HP	176 lbs.-ft.
Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	260 HP	277 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Tacoma turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

	Tacoma	Outback
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.2 MPH	86.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the Tacoma i-FORCE MAX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Outback doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Tacoma uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Outback XT/Wilderness requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tacoma’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Outback:

	Tacoma SR/SR5/PreRunner	Tacoma i-Force Max	Outback
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	13.4 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	13.2 inches	11.8 inches

The Tacoma stops much shorter than the Outback:

	Tacoma	Outback
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tacoma has larger standard tires than the Outback (245/70R17 vs. 225/65R17). The Tacoma PreRunner/TRD Off-Road’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Outback (265/70R17 vs. 225/65R17).

The Toyota Tacoma’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Subaru Outback only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The Tacoma offers an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Outback doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Tacoma offers an available continuously variable suspension system. Using sensors on steering angle, speed and other driver inputs, the shocks soften to improve ride, or stiffen when appropriate to aid handling on tricky roads. The Outback’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tacoma XtraCab’s wheelbase is 23.8 inches longer than on the Outback Wilderness (131.9 inches vs. 108.1 inches). The Tacoma 6-ft. bed Double Cab’s wheelbase is 37 inches longer than on the Outback Wilderness (145.1 inches vs. 108.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tacoma is 4.9 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Outback.

The Tacoma 5-ft. bed TRD Off-Road Double Cab handles at .77 G’s, while the Outback Wilderness pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Tacoma XtraCab has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Outback (10.7 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Tacoma to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Tacoma 5-ft. bed TRD Pro Double Cab’s minimum ground clearance is 2 inches higher than on the Outback Wilderness (11.5 vs. 9.5 inches).

Passenger Space

The Tacoma XtraCab has 1.3 inches more front hip room and .2 inches more front shoulder room than the Outback.

The Tacoma Double Cab has 1.3 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Outback.

Cargo Capacity

The Tacoma Double Cab has a much larger cargo volume than the Outback with its rear seat up (39 vs. 32.6 cubic feet).

The Tacoma XtraCab has a much larger cargo volume than the Outback with its rear seat up (47.7 vs. 32.6 cubic feet).

The Tacoma has a much larger cargo volume than the Outback with its rear seat up (39 vs. 32.6 cubic feet).

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

	Tacoma XtraCab	Tacoma Double Cab	Outback
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	73.5”	60.3”/73.5”	42”/75”
Max Width	56.4”	56.4”	51”
Min Width	44.7”	44.7”	43.3”
Height	20.2”	20.2”	32.1”

The Toyota Tacoma has a standard easy lower and lift tailgate, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. The Subaru Outback doesn’t offer a tailgate assist.

Towing

The Tacoma’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Outback’s (3500 vs. 2700 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Subaru Outback is only 3500 pounds. The Tacoma offers up to a 6500 lbs. towing capacity.

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

Ergonomics

The Tacoma’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Outback does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Tacoma and the Outback have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tacoma is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outback prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Tacoma’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Outback’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Tacoma the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Outback can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tacoma has standard Smart Key that allows you to unlock the doors from the driver’s outside door handle and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start costs extra on the Outback and isn’t available on the Outback Base.

The Tacoma’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Outback Premium/Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx.

The Tacoma (except SR/SR5/PreRunner) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Outback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Toyota Tacoma comes in extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Subaru Outback isn’t available as an extended cab or crew cab.

The Tacoma is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Outback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tacoma first among midsize pickups in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Outback isn’t in the top three.

The Toyota Tacoma outsold the Subaru Outback by 14% during 2024.

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