Subaru Outback

2015-2018 Subaru Outback

The Outback was slightly redesigned for 2015. The seat belt buckles are now encased in a rubber housing – with the buckles for 2D & 2C within the same housing. The tether anchors are now on the back of the vehicle seat, instead of on the roof as they were in previous years.

There continues to be a seat back recline lever – which means you can do the seat back recline trick to help you get the car seat installed tighter with less effort.

The shoulder belt for 2C continues to come from the roof (yes this is safe) – see here for how to use, connect and disconnect this shoulder belt

Since 2015 Subaru has stated in their manual that they allow borrowing of the innermost lower anchors to secure a car seat in the center of the Outback – but they did not provide the spacing between these anchors (it is wider than 11 inches). Learn more about center LATCH here.


To reveal the lower anchors, you must pull a fabric flap towards you and down (it is velcroed very snugly) – and the lower anchors are hidden in a square-ish cut out in the vehicle seat’s foam. 


2010-2014 Subaru Outback

For 2010, there is now a seat back recline lever – which means you can do the seat back recline trick to help you get the car seat installed tighter with less effort. The shoulder belt for 2C continues to come from the roof (yes this is safe) – see here for how to use, connect and disconnect this shoulder belt.

All the seat belt buckles are flexible. Tether anchors are on the ceiling.

To reveal the lower anchors, you must pull a fabric flap towards you and down (it is velcroed very snugly) – and the lower anchors are hidden in a square-ish cut out in the vehicle seat’s foam. 


2005-2009 Subaru Outback

The head restraint for 2C protrudes forward somewhat – and will likely need to be removed for the installation of a forward-facing car seat or high back booster.

The lower anchors are hidden behind a flap that must be pulled down in order to access the lower anchors. For 2008-2009 it is one large flap that covers both lower anchors for a seating position, while 2005-2007 each lower anchor was covered with its own small flap that was labeled with the universal symbol for a lower anchor (a picture of a kid in a car seat).

Tether anchors continue to be on the ceiling.

The shoulder belt for 2C continues to come from the roof (yes this is safe) – see here for how to use, connect and disconnect this shoulder belt.

The buckle for 2C is flexible, but 2D & 2P are mostly rigid.


2001 Subaru Outback

Available as a sedan: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, (and older)



1997 Subaru Legacy Outback wagon

1997 was the first year head restraints were introduced for 2D & 2P (they wouldn’t come in 2C for a few more years).


1996 Subaru Legacy Outback wagon

Tether anchors for all 3 seats were introduced for 1996 – and are found on the ceiling near the trunk door opening. Otherwise the back seat is identical to the 1995.


1995 Subaru Legacy Outback wagon

The Legacy Outback wagon was first introduced in 1995. It has no head restraints, and only a lap belt in 2C.