As the table reflects, the Outback starts at a higher price than the Forester but has slightly less cargo volume, and with the exception of 1 inch of front-seat legroom, it's smaller than the Forester in all seating dimensions, including hip and shoulder room (not shown). As in the previous Forester generation, the main difference is shape. The Outback has a slightly longer cargo area, but the Forester's accepts taller items. Its cargo floor is 2.2 inches higher off the ground, but neither is very high compared to some SUVs.

Apart from aesthetic preference, there are few clear reasons why one would choose the Outback over the Forester. Perhaps a long garage with only 64 inches of overhead clearance? Otherwise, the Forester is roughly the same size and turns a tighter circle. Both models earn Top Safety Pick designations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The taller Forester has a slightly higher chance of rollover, according to federal ratings, but both have standard electronic stability systems. Often when one vehicle is larger or rides higher than another, it burns more gas. Even that's not the case here. The Outback does tow more, both with its four- and six-cylinder engines. That seems to be the main advantage.