If you have a 2018 Subaru Outback and need to know your towing capacity, you have come to the right place.
Here you will find max trailer towing weights and curb weights of the 2018 Outback as well as previous years.. The information is collected from the 2018 Subaru Outback Brochure and 2018 Subaru Outback Owners Manual.
The 2018 Subaru Outback has a max trailer towing capacity of 2,700 lbs.
Subaru says that the tongue weight for any towing should be no more than 11% of the trailer weight and as low as 8%. So this should be taken into account when setting up your trailer.
2018 Subaru Outback Towing Capacity
The 2018 Subaru Outback has a towing capacity of 2,700 lbs.
| Trim | Towing Capacity |
| Outback | 2,700 lbs |
2018 Subaru Outback Tongue Weight
Tongue weight refers to the weight exerted on a trailer hitch/ball mount. Generally speaking the tongue weight should usually be between 10-15% of the total trailer weight.
However, Subaru specifies that for the Outback this should be between 8 and 11% of the total weight. But the max tongue weight for the Outback is 200 lbs.
Towing Features of the Subaru Outback
Since the towing capacity of the Subaru Outback is relatively low and the primary purpose of the Outback is not towing, there are not many extra features designed for towing.
The 2018 Subaru Outback doesn’t come with a trailer hitch, but it is an optional accessory offered by Subaru.
Trims for 2018 Subaru Outback
There are 6 trims in the 2018 Outback. These are:
- 2.5i
- 2.5i Premium
- 2.5i Limited
- 2.5i Touring
- 3.6R Limited
- 3.6R Touring
Each of these vehicles has various features available such as interior and exterior design.
Payload Capacity
The best way to check the payload capacity is to find the GVWR listed on the certification sticker inside the driver’s side door and subtract the curb weight from it.
Subaru doesn’t mention the exact payload capacity of the Outback, so you need to determine this value on your own.
However, there is information on the base curb weight for each trim level. Keep in mind that any extra accessories will add to this weight.
The base curb weight of the 2018 Subaru Outback varies between 3,622 – 3,902 lbs.
| Trim | Curb Weight |
| 2.5i | 3,622 lbs |
| 2.5i Premium | 3,642 lbs |
| 2.5i Limited | 3,713 lbs |
| 2.5i Touring | 3,726 lbs |
| 3.6R Limited | 3,893 lbs |
| 3.6R Touring | 3,902 lbs |
2018 Subaru Outback Engine Specs
2.5 L D0HC Engine
The 2.5 L D0HC engine is the standard engine on the 2.5i Outback trims.
This engine provides 175 hp @ 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm.
3.6L D0HC engine
The 3.6L D0HC engine is equipped in the 3.6R Outback trims.
This engine provides 256 hp @ 6,000 rpm and 247 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm.
Additional Resources
Conclusion
Subaru states that the 2018 Subaru Outback has a max towing capacity of 2,700 lbs.
Though this guide provides good guidance on how much you can tow with your 2018 Outback, you should always calculate your own towing capacity.
Not sure how? Read: How is Towing Capacity Calculated? Here you will find a helpful calculator as well.
