Currently debating between these two. The Outback would be a 3.6 2013/14 and the Jeep would likely be a 15/16 base w/auto. All off roading will be easy, no crawling or anything. Mostly a commuter and neither will get lifted.

I rented a JKU for a week and put almost 1500 miles in it. I was pretty bummed to give it back. The things I didn’t like about it was the steering was a bit loose, no where to put your left foot, no locking gas cap, couldn’t figure out the radio/BT....minor personal things.10.0.0.0.1 192.168.1.254


Anyways, what pushed you to the wrangler?

 

I have had 4 wranglers and 3 Subaru’s. We had a new 2016 outback and kept it less than a year. It was plagued with terrible wind and road noise. Had it back to the dealer several and they could not resolve the issues. I figured it was pretty bad when my lifted Wrangler was quieter than the Subaru. Also mpg was not great either. We traded it for a new crv and wife has been happy with it. I would never trade my jeep for either tho.

 

One of the great things about the Wrangler, though, is that there's an incredible selection of quality aftermarket products to tailor your vehicle to exactly your likes. I know for a fact that there are multiple items available out there that fix both of those issues, and I'm sure you could fix the steering too with a little tinkering.

... unless you were driving a manual, in which case: yeah, there isn't much of anywhere for your left foot when not using the clutch, and not much can be done about it...

 

When we got our 2013 JKU one of our other cars was a 2007 Outback. If this is going to be a commuter in a winter state then get the Subaru. We bought our Jeep for off-road exploring, to take us places where our Outback couldn't go. Since I retired it is now my daily driver and some days it doesn't drive at all. For winter driving the Suburu's AWD system is superior. Pay attention to required scheduled maintenance.

 

I’ve got both a 2014 Outback and a 2015 JKR. Love them both. I’d buy a 2015+ Outback in a minute, but be cautious about the 2013/2014. Their CVT transmissions WILL fail. Ours went clunk at about 35k miles. A friends went out about that same time. Subaru replaced them under warranty and supposedly the 2015+ transmissions are solid.

We’ve had zero problems otherwise. Ours is the 4-cylinder and gets about 28-29 MPG on the highway. I’m into HP, but I’m surprised that the 4-cylinder Outback has plenty of power to satisfy me. Outback is definitely a more comfortable ride than the Wrangler, but I like driving the Wrangler more. Off-road, certainly the Jeep wins every contest.

 

I had a 2000 Outback that I bought out of my aunts estate. I absolutely hated that thing. Now I just had a bad taste, my aunt did not take care of the car at all. So everything was wrong with it and I was consistently fixing that POS. I got in an accident where i got hit from the rear and pushed into the car in front of me and the insurance totaled the car which was pretty exciting (as soon as i found out everyone was OK of course). So the money I got for the car was my down payment for my wrangler!!!!

My cousin has a TJ and he introduced me into Jeeps and wheeling, so that's why I bought mine. I am not sure to thank him or curse him. Id have a lot more money if i wasn't introduced to the lifestyle.

 

We've been a Subaru family (Forrester followed by Outback) for nearly 20 years but just added a 2013 pre-owned JK. I love both for different reasons. Compared to the JK, the Subaru has the power of a Ferrari, it's nearly one ton lighter and is great on gas. The JK though is just fun for us, especially in the Summer when the hard top comes off. That's a trick that the Subaru can't do.

 

I would say the outback is more practical, and the Jeep is more fun
For example, i will drive my Kia when i just need to get somewhere, i drive my Jeep more for pleasure/ have fun getting somewhere.
That being said, a 4 door with a hard top can be a pretty civilized way to get about. Me, it's a 2 door with no top most of the time.

 

You make a great point about choosing the right vehicle based on your needs. If winter driving in a snowy state is a priority, a Subaru with its AWD system can be an excellent choice for a reliable and safe daily commuter. Proper maintenance for any vehicle is crucial to ensure its longevity and performance. Enjoy your Jeep for off-road adventures and the Subaru for your daily commute in winter conditions!