Compare the2026 Chevrolet BlazerVS 2026 Subaru Outback

For enhanced safety, the front shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Blazer are height-adjustable, and the rear seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Subaru Outback has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Blazer and the Outback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all-wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Blazer’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Outback’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Blazer’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Blazer has a standard 170-amp alternator. The Outback’s standard 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Blazer first among midsize SUVs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Outback isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

The Blazer’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 48 more horsepower (228 vs. 180) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 178) than the Outback 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 48 more horsepower (308 vs. 260) than the Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Blazer gets better mileage than the Outback:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Blazer V6’s fuel efficiency. The Outback doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Blazer FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outback (19.4 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Blazer AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outback (21.7 vs. 18 gallons).

The Blazer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Outback doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

For better traction, the Blazer has larger standard tires than the Outback (235/65R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Blazer RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Outback (265/45R21 vs. 225/65R17).

The Blazer RS’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outback XT’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Blazer has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Outback Wilderness. The Blazer RS’ optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Outback XT.

The Chevrolet Blazer’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Subaru Outback only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Blazer has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Outback doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Blazer 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 Blazer’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the Outback (112.7 inches vs. 108.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Blazer is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Outback.

The Blazer uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Outback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Blazer has .6 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Outback.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Blazer RS’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Outback doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Maximum trailer towing in the Subaru Outback is limited to 3500 pounds. The Blazer offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Blazer can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Blazer can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Outback can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Blazer uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Outback uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Blazer RS’ optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Outback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Blazer’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Outback does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Blazer and the Outback have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Blazer 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.

On a hot day the Blazer’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Outback can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Blazer’s standard Keyless Open and Start allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start standard on the Outback doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Blazer 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.

The Blazer offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Outback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Blazer is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Outback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.