The fifth-generation Outback appeared in 2014 for the 2015 year model with the sixth generation Legacy, still badged the Legacy Outback for Japan.
The sixth-generation Legacy was previewed as a concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2013; the Legacy sedan was premiered at Chicago in February 2014, with the Outback following at New York in April.
An unrelated Legacy-based "sports tourer" wagon, the Subaru Levorg, was shown in 2013 and first sold in 2014.
Elsewhere, the Outback became a free-standing model line of its own, independent of the Legacy, thus bringing greater product differentiation between the two.

Subaru billed the exterior styling evolution as being shaped by the concept of 'more Outback', claiming to combine the strengths of passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles and capitalizing on the brand recognition gained from selling the Outback since 1995.
EyeSight was offered for the first time in the European market on the new Outback.
Chassis stiffness was improved for the fifth-generation Outback.

The fifth-generation Subaru Outback is now classified as a 'crossover', with the body and wheelbase set larger than previous models.
Other technical changes such as the larger 256 hp (191 kW) 3.6L EZ36 engine have pushed it into this classification.
The Outback received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, an ASV+ rating from JNCAP, and five stars from NHTSA.

The fifth-generation Outback retained the same 2.5-liter FB25 and 3.6-liter EZ36 engines from the 2013 refresh; the FB25 was slightly revised to improve mid-range torque.
In China, the uplevel engine was a turbocharged 2.0-liter FA20F instead of the EZ36.
The Outback was only offered with a single transmission choice, Subaru's continuously-variable transmission branded Lineartronic.
The fifth-generation Outback appeared in 2014 for the 2015 year model with the sixth generation Legacy, still badged the Legacy Outback for Japan. The sixth-generation Legacy was previewed as a concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2013; the Legacy sedan was premiered at Chicago in February 2014, with the Outback following at New York in April. An unrelated Legacy-based "sports tourer" wagon, the Subaru Levorg, was shown in 2013 and first sold in 2014. Elsewhere, the Outback became a free-standing model line of its own, independent of the Legacy, thus bringing greater product differentiation between the two.
Subaru billed the exterior styling evolution as being shaped by the concept of 'more Outback', claiming to combine the strengths of passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles and capitalizing on the brand recognition gained from selling the Outback since 1995. EyeSight was offered for the first time in the European market on the new Outback. Chassis stiffness was improved for the fifth-generation Outback.
The fifth-generation Subaru Outback is now classified as a 'crossover', with the body and wheelbase set larger than previous models. Other technical changes such as the larger 256 hp (191 kW) 3.6L EZ36 engine have pushed it into this classification. The Outback received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, an ASV+ rating from JNCAP, and five stars from NHTSA.
The fifth-generation Outback retained the same 2.5-liter FB25 and 3.6-liter EZ36 engines from the 2013 refresh; the FB25 was slightly revised to improve mid-range torque. In China, the uplevel engine was a turbocharged 2.0-liter FA20F instead of the EZ36. The Outback was only offered with a single transmission choice, Subaru's continuously-variable transmission branded Lineartronic.
Subaru Outback