Compare the2026 Subaru OutbackVS 2026 Lexus NX

The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The NX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the NX.

Both the Outback and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Outback is safer than the NX:

There are almost 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. Lexus is ranked third.

As tested in Motor Trend the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the NX 350 AWD 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The NX doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

Both the Outback and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Outbacks have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Outback XT/Wilderness for maximum performance). The NX 350 AWD requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (18 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Outback stops much shorter than the NX:

The Outback Wilderness has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Outback’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the NX (108.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Outback Touring XT handles at .82 G’s, while the NX 450h+ Premium AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Outback Touring XT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the NX 450h+ Premium AWD (27.2 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the NX’s (36.5 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8.7 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the NX (9.5 vs. 8.1 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 500 pounds less than the Lexus NX.

The front grille of the Outback uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Outback Touring XT is quieter than the NX 350 AWD (68 vs. 70 dB).

The Outback has 2.7 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.6 inches more rear hip room and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (34.6 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (80.5 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Outback easier. The Outback’s trunk lift-over height is 28.3 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the NX’s in every dimension:

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (2700 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus NX is only 2000 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the NX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s exterior PIN entry system. The NX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The NX Luxury/450+ F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Outback’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The NX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Lexus NX by over two to one during 2025.