If you have a 2021 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 2021 Outback as well as previous years.. The information is collected from the 2021 Subaru Outback Brochure and 2021 Subaru Outback Owners Manual.
The 2021 Subaru Outback has a max trailer towing capacity of 2,700 and 3,500 lbs for regular and XT trims respectively.
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.
2021 Subaru Outback Towing Capacity
The 2021 Subaru Outback either has a towing capacity of 2,700 lbs or 3,500 lbs depending on the trim level.
The regular Outback has 2,700 lbs and the Outback XT have a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.
| Trim | Towing Capacity |
| Outback | 2,700 lbs |
| Outback XT | 3,500 lbs |
2021 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 either 270 or 350 lbs for the 2,700 and 3,500 lbs max capacity respectively.
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 2021 Subaru Outback doesn’t come with a trailer hitch, but it is an optional accessory offered by Subaru.
Trims for 2021 Subaru Outback
There are 7 trims in the 2021 Outback. These are:
- Base
- Premium
- Limited
- Touring
- Onyx Edition XT
- Limited XT
- Touring XT
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 2021 Subaru Outback varies between 3,635 – 3,937 lbs.
| Trim | Curb Weight |
| Base | 3,635 lbs |
| Premium | 3,655 lbs |
| Limited | 3,730 lbs |
| Touring | 3,772 lbs |
| Onyx Edition XT | 3,885 lbs |
| Limited XT | 3,926 lbs |
| Touring XT | 3,937 lbs |
2021 Subaru Outback Engine Specs
2.5 L D0HC Engine
The 2.5 L D0HC engine is the standard engine on the regular Outback trims. This includes the Base, Premium, Limited, and Touring.
This engine provides 182 hp @ 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm. The 2.5 L Outback engine has a towing capacity of 2,700 lbs.
2.4 L Turbocharged D0HC engine
The 2.4 L Turbocharged D0HC engine is the standard engine on the Outback XT trims. This includes the Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT, and Touring XT.
This engine provides 260 hp @ 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft @ 2,000-4,800 rpm. The 2.4 L Turbocharged Outback engine has a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.
Additional Resources
Conclusion
Subaru states that the 2021 Subaru Outback has a max towing capacity of 2,700 lbs and 3,500 lbs for the regular and XT trims respectively.
Though this guide provides good guidance on how much you can tow with your 2021 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.
