New Subaru 2.5 or 3.6?

Thinking about getting a new Subaru Outback and am wondering which engine to get. Wife has the 2.5 in her 2013 Legacy and it seems to do very well with acceleration and gas mileage. Dealer did not have a 3.6 for me to test drive so I am wondering if it would be a better choice. This would be for a DD, I already have a 223HP Focus for the fun stuff.

If you don't care if it accelerates any better than the 2013 i see no reason to even consider the bigger engine and accompanying upcharge.

That would be the FB25 and EZ36, both of which are great engines. You really can't go wrong with either, but I would pick the 2.5 personally with an eye toward future self-service.

Thanks for the comments. Based on the little I have driven the wife's car I think I could live with the 2.5L. The dealer has a 2015 on the lot that is exactly what I want(color, options, everything). Since the 2016's will be here soon I will see what kind of deal I can make.

I have a 11 Outback with the 2.5 and 6 speed manual. It won't set the world on fire but it is also not horrendously gutless. It also manages 27 mpg in mixed driving. Given the wife and are a whooping 260 combined it didn't want to pay for the extra gas for the 3.6. I have the F500 and the Datsun to play with so a plush daily isn't a sacrifice.

Tom

I drove a cvt 3.6 forester. It was probably faster than the 2.5, but it sure didn't feel faster.

CVTs are deceptive-fast. The engine hangs at 3500 or whatever so you don't feel like you're accelerating, it's the wrong aural feedback, then you look down and you accidentally dialed up 50mph on a residential street.

I really really like the CVT that Subaru put in the Imprezas.

We a have a 2015 2.5 Outback. The 2.5 is adequate for the type of vehicle that an Outback is ie not a sports car. We really like the Outback and would buy another if any of my aged fleet takes a dump.

The 3.6 requires the "limited" trim level which is quite a bump in cost. If you are a features person (we are not) and would buy the "limited" trim in the 2.5 I would strongly consider the 3.6. We are at least 10% below the estimated mpg (90% highway use) on the 2.5 and the 3.6 isn't rated much below.

Another plus vote for the CVT. We would have bought a 6 speed if they were still offered . I hate the CVT in my 03 Murano but the Subaru is fine by me.

I have a 2.5 Forester for my wife. Gets great MPGs which is a plus. CVT is weird; but, like others have said it's deceptive and the 170hp gets the thing moving. I still wish it was the FA20 in the Foz XT though.