If you're considering Subaru Sport Utility Wagons (SUW), the new 2022 Suburu Outback Wilderness joins the Outback family. Now you have eight Outbacks to choose from with great cargo space for all your traveling or life around town needs. So, how big is the cargo area on the Outback? We've reviewed the specifications on all Subaru Outback models to get the answer for you.
The five-seat Subaru Outback offers great cargo space in the rear compartment with even more when you fold flat the second-row seats. Here are the cargo specs:
- Volume behind first-row seats – 75.7 cubic feet
- Length behind first-row seats – 75 inches
- Cargo Volume behind the second-row seats – 32.5 cubic feet
- Length behind second-row seats – 42 inches
- Cargo bed width at beltline – 45.2 inches
- Cargo bed width between wheel housings – 43.3 inches
- Cargo bed height - 32.1 inches
The Subaru engineers have well-designed the Outback, being the largest of Subaru's Sport Utility Wagons (SUW) to give you options. The Outback has lots of carrying capacity and storage. Keep reading to see how useful the Outback is for carrying your family and all the great stuff that makes life sweet.
Subaru Outlook - Big Capacity, Sporty SUW
The Subaru family of Sport Utility Wagons gives drivers vehicles with light off-road capabilities paired with comfortable interiors. The SUW is designed to ride like a sedan but still has the ability to handle smooth off-road routes.
The SUWs in the Subaru family include four makes with multiple models available. These are the:
What are the Subaru Outback Models?
The 2022 Subaru Outback comes in eight models. Each step up brings more included features and accessories from the Base to the Touring XT. The models are:
- Outback Base
- Premium
- Limited
- Touring
- Onyx Edition XT
- Wilderness (New in 2022)
- Limited XT
- Touring XT
Subaru Outlook Cargo Options
The cargo bed is 42 inches from Power Rear Gate to second-row seats. It has a width of 45.2 inches at the beltline and 43.32 inches between the wheel housings. The cargo bed height is 32.1 inches. This gives you 32.5 cubic feet of carrying space.
Do Subaru Outback Rear Seats Fold Flat?
The Subaru Outback's second-row 60-40 split-flat folding rear back seats do fold mostly flat. With the second-row seats folded flat, the cargo volume more than doubles.
How Big Is The Inside Of A Subaru Outback?
With the 60-40 split-flat folding rear back seats down, your cargo bed's 32.5 cubid feet grows to become 75.7 cubic feet of carrying space. Length of 75 inches and the widths remain the same at 45.2 inches at the beltline and 43.2 inches between the wheel housings.
These SUWs seat five passengers with front-seat legroom at 42.8 inches and headroom of 40.1 inches, and 38.7 with a moonroof. Second-row legroom is 39.5 inches with 39.1 inches of headroom.
Hands-Free Power Rear Gate
Loading the cargo bed is made easier with the Hands-Free Power Rear Gate, which is optional on the Outback Premium and standard on the six higher models. With the key fob button or by simply being near the rear Subaru emblem for a few seconds, the door will beep. At the beep, step back so the door can lift open. If you don't move back, the door will not open.
The Power Rear Gate can be closed with the key fob button or by pressing buttons on the Power Rear Gate itself.
Adjust the Power Rear Gate's Opening Height
With the Power Rear Gate's buttons on the gate itself or by controls on the dashboard, you can set the gate to close at different heights. This is super useful if you have a low garage ceiling. Or it can be used to close not fully down so a kayak or lumber might stick out of the back of the vehicle.
What Subaru Has The Most Cargo Space?
- The Outback has the most cargo space with 35.2 cubic feet of the cargo bed and 75.7 cubic feet with the second-row folded down.
- The Forester is the second largest, with 31.1 cubic feet of the cargo bed and 76.1 cubic feet with the second-row folded down.
- The Subaru Crosstek follows with 20.8 cubic feet of the cargo bed and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear row folded down.
- The Ascent is the smallest at 17.8 cubic feet of the cargo bed and 47.5 cubic feet with the rear row folded down.
The new 2022 Outbacks have 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which makes the cargo bed higher than some vehicles. A higher cargo bed can be easier to load.
How Wide is a Subaru Outback?
The Subaru Outback has an exterior width of 74.6 inches. Inside the cabin, it has a beltline width of 45.2 inches and a wheel housing width of 43.3 inches. This can be a roomy interior.
Will A Couch Fit In A Subaru Outback?
Even with the second-row seats folded down, it will be difficult to fit a couch or loveseat into a Subaru Outlook. Some loveseats might fit, but they will be tight with any packing materials.
Can a Sheet of Plywood Fit in a Subaru Outlook?
A standard sheet of plywood is 48 inches wide by 96 inches long (4 feet by 8 feet). The plywood sheet will fit at an angle over a wheel housing. It will stick out the back by 21 inches. This may work for a short drive.
Does the Subaru Outlook Have a Roof Rack?
The roof rack is standard. Even better, the roof rack comes with crossbars that swing out from the rack across the roof to the other rack for extra security for tying down your cargo. Since this wagon is lower to the ground than many SUVs, it is easier to attach cargo, bikes, or kayaks to the roof rack.
What Accessories Can Go on the Roof?
To make the Sabaru better for cargo, Thule makes accessories that are ready-made for the Outback, including:
The Thule Pulse Rooftop Cargo Carrier - 17 cubic feet
Click here to see this carrier at Amazon.
The Thule Hull-a-Port Aero Rooftop Kayak Carrier
Click here to see this kayak rack at Amazon.
The Thule Thru Ride Roof Bike Rack
Click here to see this bike rack for the roof at Amazon.
Can You Add a Tow Package to the Subaru Outback?
Your Subaru dealer can install the optional Thule® 2-inch hitch adapter on any model. With this tow package, you can pull up to 4,400 lbs on 2022 models. Earlier Outbacks could pull 2,700 to 3,500 lbs depending on the vehicle's engine.
Subaru Outback Engine Options
- The Base, Premium, and Limited models come with a 182 horsepower 2.5 L SUBARU BOXER 4-cylinder engine.
- All models can upgrade to the Onyx, Wilderness, Touring, Limited XT, and Touring XT's standard 260 hp 2.4 L turbocharged SUBARU BOXER 4-cylinder engine.
- All models use the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CVT helps the engines run smoothly, even on light off-road driving.
What Accessories Can Attach to the Hitch Adapter?
Thule Bike Carriers - 2 or 4 bike models:
Click here to see the Thule EasyFold XT 2 Hitch Bike Rack on Amazon.
Click here to see the Thule Apex XT Bike Hitch Rack on Amazon.
What Size Spare Tire Is in a Subaru Outback?
The spare tire sits under the cargo bed's floor. It is a compact spare in the Base, Premium, and Limited models. The Onyx, Wilderness, Touring, Limited XT, and Touring XT carry a full-size spare tire.
Conclusion: Lots of Room for Cargo
The roomy Subaru Outback with its 8 models offers good cargo bed space with and without the second-row folded flat. The many advantages that the roof rack and tow package options give this crossover wagon lots of versatility. You should check out the Outback if you want a crossover that handles more like a car but can carry a good amount of people and stuff.