Compare the2025 Toyota Crown SigniaVS 2025 Subaru Outback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Toyota Crown Signia has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps 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.

The Crown Signia 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 Crown Signia Limited offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera 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.

The Crown Signia has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Outback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Crown Signia has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and optional Parking Support Brake on the Limited automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Outback and its not available on the Base and the Outback’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Crown Signia 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

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 Crown Signia is safer than the Outback:

	Crown Signia	Outback
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.63 in	.94 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.14 in	1.54 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	108	387
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.81 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.42 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Crown Signia 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 Crown Signia’s warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the Crown Signia is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Crown Signia’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Outback’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Subaru is ranked 6th.

Engine

The Crown Signia’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 58 more horsepower (240 vs. 182) than the Outback 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Crown Signia is faster than the Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Crown Signia	Outback
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.6 MPH	86.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crown Signia gets better mileage than the Outback:

			MPG
Crown Signia
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	39 city/37 hwy
Outback
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/32 hwy
		XT 2.4 turbo flat-4	22 city/29 hwy
		Wilderness 2.4 turbo flat-4	21 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Crown Signia’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 Crown Signia 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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Crown Signia higher (6 out of 10) than the Subaru Outback (5 to 6). This means the Crown Signia produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Outback every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Crown Signia	Outback
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.8 inches

The Crown Signia stops much shorter than the Outback:

	Crown Signia	Outback
70 to 0 MPH	183 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crown Signia Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Outback (235/45R21 vs. 225/65R17).

The Crown Signia XLE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outback’s standard 65 series tires. The Crown Signia Limited’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Outback Onyx/Limited/Touring’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crown Signia XLE has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Outback. The Crown Signia Limited’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Outback Onyx/Limited/Touring.

Suspension and Handling

The Crown Signia has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Outback doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crown Signia’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the Outback (112.2 inches vs. 108.1 inches).

The Crown Signia Limited handles at .82 G’s, while the Outback Wilderness pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Crown Signia Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Outback Limited (27.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Crown Signia’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Outback doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Ergonomics

The Crown Signia’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Outback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Crown Signia and the Outback have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crown Signia 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 Crown Signia’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 Crown Signia 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 Crown Signia’s standard Smart Key System allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start is an extra cost option on the Outback and doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door. Keyless Access and Start is not available on the Outback Base.

The Crown Signia’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Outback’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Crown Signia Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Crown Signia’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 Toyota Crown Signia has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Outback Touring.

The Crown Signia has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Outback.

The Crown Signia has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Outback Premium/Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx.

Both the Crown Signia and the Outback offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Crown Signia has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Outback doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Toyota Crown Signia has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Subaru charges extra for Homelink® on the Outback.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Crown Signia has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Outback and isn’t available on the Outback Base.

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