So.... many of you think the 3.6R engine is just the best. So... to someone who understands power behind the wheel (duh) but other than that.... why? Better performance, longevity, what?

And.... what is your mileage with the 3.6R, in practice? The 2.5i is rated at 25-32 mpg. The 3.6R is 20-27. That means the 2.5i has 20-25% better mileage -- not a small difference, in my book.

Subaru does not make the 3.6 anymore so this discussion is not relevant. But, as an owner of a 3.6, when I decided to buy my Outback in 2018, the gas mileage did not persuade me to get the 4-cylinder, and I've been more than happy with my decision. I had a 2015 with the 3.6 before the 2018, so I knew what I wanted.

 

Subaru does not make the 3.6 anymore so this discussion is not relevant.

I'm not sure why it wouldn't be relevant. I see threads pop up regularly about someone thinking about buying a used Outback and many are considering the 3.6.

 

The 3.6 is quiet, smooth, accelerates without drama, and may well be Subaru's most reliable engine up to that time. In mixed driving, I get about 21 MPG, which is pretty good with my lead foot. That's way better mileage than I got with my '05 XT, which was a 2.5 in a lighter car. I think EPA mileage test methods are grossly inaccurate with turbocharged engines, when compared to normal driving.

 

I have a 2015 3.6 that now has ~50K miles, bought used a couple of years ago and get ~26 MPG. I sometimes tow a 1500 pound camper and then it gets 18 MPG. Great engine!

 

The 3.6 engine basically has the same torque and power of the 2.5/2.4 turbo engines without the complexity of the turbo engine OR the need to use high octane fuel.

The other advantage is the power is very linear unlike turbo engines which always have some turbo lag.

It is a mistake to compare the H6 engine to the 2.5 engine as it is much more comparable to the turbo engines.

If you do not need the extra power or torque, the 2.5 engine is probably the better choice as it is cheaper to maintain and cheaper to run.

Seagrass

 

Ok I have not driven the 3.6 but the reason I would buy an Outback is because I need a runner car that is reliable and comfortable so I don’t put miles on my 2018 Escalade Luxury or 2018 Camry Hybrid XLE. I am not looking to go fast in my outback. I think the 2.5 does fine for what I need. I also had the basic 2011 2.5 with 207k for 3 months before I upgraded to a 2015 Limited with 130k and was loaded with every option except eyesight. It also had Michelin tires and was in excellent condition and had oil change history. I paid 2,000 more to do the upgrade. I am getting 26 mpg vs 24 mpg in my 2011. I am probably guessing I would get 18 mpg which is almost the same as my DOD/AFM Escalade. Now my hybrid Camry XLE gets 51 mpg. I really don’t like turbo charged cars neither. It is a car on steroids.

 

If you would ever drive an Outback with a 3.6R engine, you would have the same favorable impression as those discussing this great engine. I test drove an Outback with both the 4 cylinder as well as the 6 cylinder. It was night and day.

 

I love the 3.6 and I never checked the gas mileage. The 2.5 was just too slow, I like to have power when merging on the highway. I don’t want turbo engines.

 

I have the original 2010 Outback with a 3.6L and I also have a 2014 Legacy 2.5i

City I get 20, the Legacy gets 25
Highway the outback gets 27mpg at 70mph, the Legacy gets 29, Both cars turn the same RPM for the same speed. Combined is 24 for the outback and 28 for the legacy

The outback is quieter than the legacy. I am not stock so I am almost 3 seconds faster to 60 than the legacy. both drive about the same very smooth

 

The 3.6 isn't going to win any races but it is a smoother more refined driving experience.

Low RPM even when loaded with cargo and going up long 6%+ grades.

Gas mileage isn't really a factor as I have a car than can do 70+ mpg and I have a car than do 7mpg.

Mid 20's is plenty for what it is.

 

Gas mileage isn't really a factor as I have a car than can do 70+ mpg and I have a car than do 7mpg.

 

I live in the NorthEast and am the original owner of a 17 3.6 Limitged with 180k on the clock. Mechanically mine has been stellar. ZERO issues other than expected wear items (brakes, tires, front axles, and solid maintenance program). I've run up to 10k OCI's with UOA's and settled on 7500 mile OCI. Mobil 1 with Fram Ultra filter.

My son was gifted a 19 Limited 2.5 NA with 15k miles on it. 2.5 is a dog around our hills compared to the 3.6. CVT in 3.6 is more responsive and IMO does a better job putting engine power to the wheels. Definitly better gas mileage. My son gets 28 mix and I get 23-24 mix. I'm biased and prefer the 3.6. Smoother and more power is the main reason for me. Passing someone uphill at highway speeds the 3.6 pulls while the 2.5 whines and is sluggish in comparison.

 

Not sure I agree with the premise that "many" think this engine is the "best ever" - sounds like you've been reading all those silly 4 vs 6 cylinder threads. The differences are obvious so it's really just a matter of personal preference. As I recall it, most of the Gen 5 bickering threads arose out of folks giving modest praise for the 6, followed by other folks who would invariably come along and basically say the 6 is wasted on a vehicle like the Outback, or you won't use the extra power, and the extra power is weak anyway so just save your money and buy a sports car. Missing the simple point that, at a minimum, the 3.6 simply makes it a little more fun to drive. Some don't see the value in it. Who cares.

 

This graph looks better than my own signature....

Even with the low dips, the 3.6 achieves better mileage than my old `13 Forester XT with a 4eat. The subtle thrums of the H6 cruising down the hwy is quite relaxing.

 

This mpg graph from my old 2000 2.5 Outback shows when I got paid by the mile and when I didn't:

 

The 3.6, of which I own, is smooth like a Billy D. Williams pick-up line with the ladies. It flows like water over pebbles in a brook without ever breaking the hypnotizing trance, the very essence of calming water.

It has the power of a grizzly bear and the daintiness of a hummingbird.

It hauls more than the 2.5 and if my MIL keeps eating donuts, I'll need the extra towing capacity.

 

2011 3.6, my sons each have a 2.5 non turbo 2012 and 2014. The 3.6 is much smoother and seems to be much quieter although that could be the tires. I strongly prefer the 3.6. Mileage is 19-21 around town, can get around 28 on long trips if I a driving. My wife gets 25 as she is a stomper, stomp on the gas, then stomp on the brakes. Past the point of trying to teach her how to drive as it is not worth the divorce.

 

I am not sure why we are all comparing the 3.6 to any of the 4 cyl whether turbo or not. The set up is no where the same, so performance and mpg would be very different. Power will be different and how the said power performs. I think we are comparing apples to oranges in all reality.

 

I get 23mpg driving around town in my 2015 Limited with big meaty 2" oversized 17" grabber tires. I also warm up the engine for a few minutes until it reaches temp. I can't get a handle on highway mileage but it's much better. A full synthetic yields better mileage and a green oil even better like Moly or Amsoil. My father uses Amsoil in his Forester and he gets better mileage than an Impreza with Mobile 1. I swapped Mobile for Moly in our Impreza and it made a big difference mpg went up five miles per gallon.

 

Thank you so much I have had my Subaru outback XT Limited to the dealer to find out why I am only getting 16.4 or 15.9 miles on a gallon even on the open road. I am very diligent and changing my oil and use the synthetic oil. I will now change to your suggestions. I’m just wondering why the dealership didn’t make that suggestion. Again thank you.

 

I had a 2016 limited 3.6 R Nd traded it in 2020 for a limited XT with the 2.4 turbo . The turbo replaced the 3.6 because the 3.6 would not fit in the new platform. My driving is 99% city. I Averaged 20 mpg on both cars. I missed the 3.6. It was smoother, had a better sound and was much more pleasing to drive. Another plus is it had port injection instead of direct injection.

 

I had a very relevant reply, but as happens VERY often, my post is blocked by "The requested page could not be found. " Formal complaints have received nothing but lip service and case numbers. I'm not retyping this response, but the gist was that I ENJOY driving and use the 2012 3.6R's handling and power to suit MY preferences, not those of Nissan or the government.

I added a few of the many, some of them dangerous, electronic bugs that dominate the Nissan Rogue rental car I've been driving while my OB was getting restored after a deer strike.

Mileage, schmileage.

 

I have a 2019 Outback limited 3.6R with 47,000 miles on it. I get up to 29MPG on roadtrips going 75-78 miles per hour. i Love the smoothness and power. I previously had a 2019 Outback with 2.5NA -very slow in comparison to the 3.6R.I traded the 2019 2.5 at 24,000 miles. Previously I had a 2016 Outback 2.5NA -seemed not as slow as the 2019 2.5.company car-I worked for a division of Fuji Heavy Industries.
We also have a 2011 Outback 2.5 NA with 125,000 on it- runs good except CVT needed repair. I also have a 2003 Baja -2.5 NA automatic with 241,000 miles on it- still runs good. The 2019 Outback with 3.6R is the best one that I have owned.

 

I'm getting about 25mpg in the mixed highway/city driving I do here in northern NJ. On highway road trips (which I take to MI 3-4 times a year) I get between 28-30mpg. According to the CR review, they got only about 2mpg less than they got with the 4 cylinder. And the 6 cylinder has the advantage of being quicker, smoother and quieter since it doesn't have to work as hard as the 4. When I'm going 70mph on the freeway, the RPM is about 1700, not much higher than an idle. I barely hear the engine unless I'm really pushing it. And it doesn't have the oil consumption issues that the 4 did in past years. Too bad Subaru discontinued it.

 

In 2020 I went to buy a new Outback. After driving one I asked about getting one with the 3.6, and found out that it was only available in the Ascent and 2019 was the final year for the Outback. I asked if they had one, and they did. No turbo, no start-stop, quieter, smoother, and $2800 off MSRP because it was last year's model. Was a no-brainer.

 

Interesting discussion. If the gas hit is 2 mpg, then I want the 3.6.... but if I get a good price on an older 2.5i then I will do that -- this might be one that I use for less than a year and sell or donate. I'm thinking I'd be very likely to trade up to a 2019 3.6 in a year or two though.

 

Drove the 18' 3.6 today, it's been 170 miles since the last fill up, it shows 26.7mpg. That's combined highway and secondary roads. Highway I set CC around 68mph. We live in a hilly area, so the car see's different conditions.

The 24XT, her car, I think she has a lead foot. When I drove it yesterday, it was showing 25.1 mpg. I see on its driver readout, on the top center of the screen, I show 27.3 mpg, when she's driving it show 23 something.

I'm one of those's that have come to enjoy the drivability of that 3.6. Remember, I've had turbo Subaru's, (legacyGT's) with custom tunes and bigger turbo's. Both turbo cars, had no lag, "it's all in the tune".

 

The Outback with the 2.5 4cylinder is simply underpowered IMO, to the point I would not buy one, period. The 3.6 is not a powerhouse, but it is adequate for the Outback, has great throttle response and low end torque, decent mpg, doesn't need premium fuel, and has proven to be reliable. The 3.6 is also smooth and sounds nice when pushed. I think it's one of Subaru's best engines ever. My mileage? Upper teens around town, but that is short trips and lots of warm up in winter. On average road trips, 25 at best, on long road trips and not such a heavy foot, maybe 27.

 

Finishing 9th year with our 2016 2.5. vaguely recall salesman saying vast majority of sales are 2.5s and we were fine with how the 2.5 test drove. Not once during ownership have I felt the 2.5 was underpowered or an issue in any way. Reading this thread has made me wonder/wish I had the 3.6...but other than that all good in the hood. For me throttle response and overall power has been fine for our needs.

 

2019 3.6r with 82,000 miles. We usually get 25-26mpg on our Coeur d’ Alene to des moines and back trip of 3100 miles. Most of that is at 80mph and sometimes pretty strong winds through south dakota. It actually does better than my 2018 4 cylinder used to get on that trip.

 

Boertje I think I want your car! Seriously, good to know about mileage and the winds.

 

2016 3.6R with 81000 miles on the clock. 27.3 around town, semi rural area. My 2013 Legacy consistently got 32.4 mpg (2.5 motor).