It's hard to pick out a bad model year for the Subaru Outback. The first-gen Legacy Outback helped Subaru to bounce back from a major sales slump, the second generation established the wagon as its own nameplate, and the newest model, launched for 2026, might be the best-looking one yet, with its boxy angles and chunky body cladding. But the fourth-gen Outbacks, selling for the 2010-2014 model years, really brought the crossover into the modern age, with a potent flat-six engine and a decent range of trims.Today, we can recommend just about any 2010-2014 Outback without hesitation. If you can find one at a good price with low miles, we say buy it. But what if you're looking for the absolute best of the bunch? What's the best trim, what are the best options, and what's the most reliable model year? Let's dig in and find out. The 2010-2014 Subaru Outback Was A Versatile Gem Subaru The fourth-gen Subaru Outback was offered with a range of engines including a pair of 2.5-liter flat-fours (producing 170 hp from 2010 to 2012, and 173 hp in 2013 and 2014), and a flat-six. These were all naturally aspirated, with Subaru having dropped the turbo-four powerplant offered in the third-gen model.The flat-four could be paired to your choice of six-speed manual, or CVT. The flat-six was only available with a five-speed automatic. Unfortunately, for many drivers, this means there's no such thing as the perfect fourth-gen Outback, since you can't get the more powerful engine with a stick shift. According to Subaru, the larger H6 engine left no room for a manual gearbox. Phooey.Whatever your engine and transmission, this was a Subaru, so that meant you were getting the brand's signature symmetrical four-wheel drive system. The 2010-2014 Outback had a uniform ground clearance of 8.7 inches across all model years and trims, so that's one less decision to worry about. This height put the Outback nearly a half-inch higher off the ground than many Jeep Grand Cherokees of this time, which sat at 8.2 inches, at the lowest. Off-Road-Capable, But Not A Dedicated Off-Roader Subaru If you're looking for a full-time adventure vehicle, you might be happier in a Jeep Wrangler. The Outback is plenty capable at light off-roading, but its 107.9-inch wheelbase means that it's not the nimblest thing on the trail when it comes to winding mountain roads and tight turns, even if it can handle broken roads and rough weather with ease.The Outback excels as an all-arounder, with car-like handling, a comfortable, quiet ride on the road, and a willingness to get dirty should the job call for it. Like most Subarus, the Outback is ideal for the driver who doesn't want to buy a whole second car for the occasional camping trip. There are cushier commuters, and more capable adventure vehicles, but few cars that can juggle both like a Subaru. Finding The Ideal Fourth-Gen Subaru Outback Subaru In our search for the best Outback of the bunch, we're starting with the flat-six. That means we don't have the option of a manual transmission, but that might not be minus if you'd rather have one less thing to worry about, or if you don't drive a stick.Narrowing our pick down by reliability takes us to the 2012 model. CarComplaints sees 56 reports on file for this model year, fewer than any other version of the fourth-gen Outback. According to RepairPal, a 2012 Outback will cost us around $663 each year to maintain, with the most expensive common fixes mainly consisting of routine maintenance and inspections... Wheel alignment $161–$236 Vibration diagnosis $122–$179 Check engine light diagnosis and testing $122–$179 Electrical system diagnosis $122–$179 Tire & wheel assembly rotate and balance $110–$161 Next up, picking out our trim and options. The 2012 Flat-Six Subaru Outback Was Available In Three Trims Subaru The 3.6-powered Outback was available in three trims, namely Base, Premium, and Limited models. To go over some of the key features in each one...The Limited is obviously going to be the most luxurious of the three, but the gulf between the mid and top trims is pretty wide. The Premium's biggest draw is heated seating up front, while the Limited adds multi-zone A/C, leather upholstery, and some beautiful woodgrain paneling. The Limited Was A No-Brainer In 2012, It's A Must-Buy In 2026 Subaru Breaking them down by price, here's what you would have been spending back in 2012:Even when this car was brand-new, we would have advised skipping over the middle trim entirely and going with the more affordable base model, or the more souped-up Limited. Today, the Limited is a very easy recommendation, with the already-marginal price difference evening out to a typical difference of just a few hundred bucks. If you can find one with adaptive cruise control and Subaru's EyeSight driver assistance system which has helped it dominate safety awards roundups, even better. What Will A 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited Cost You In 2026? Subaru If we take a look at current prices for the 2012 3.6R Limited Outback, we find that it averages just 29% of its original MSRP.Going over some current listings, via our own marketplace tools, here's what we turn up: A 147,922-mile 2012 3.6R Limited model is selling for $8,995 in Ohio. A 143,215-mile 2012 3.6R Limited model is selling for $7,999 in California. A 180,391-mile 2013 3.6R Limited model is selling for $5,961 in Connecticut. A 107,538-mile 2011 3.6R Limited model is selling for $8,900 in Ohio. Note that these listings might be gone by the time you're ready to run a search of your own, but they should give you an idea of what's out there.Supposing that you can't find a 2012 3.6R Limited with low miles, a Base or Premium model is perfectly fine. The flat-four Outbacks are perfectly acceptable, too, if you'd rather have better fuel economy, or a manual transmission, than a little extra oomph in the gas pedal.Finding one with low miles can be tricky, though. These are family cars and daily drivers that tend to pack on a lot of miles, both in the city and on the highway. While the Limited is our favorite trim, we would recommend settling for a mid-range Premium with under 150,000 miles before buying a Limited with closer to 200,000 miles. Subarus are reliable, though, so an Outback with 100,000 miles on the odometer is just getting warmed up.If there's one version of this SUV we might suggest avoiding, it would be anything from the 2011. CarComplaints lists 104 reports for this model year, more than any other Outback from the fourth generation. Of these, 25 are for transmission issues, with 11 reports of transmission failure, typically at around 104,300 miles, and costing drivers an average of $5,760 for a total transmission replacement.