Best Trailer Hitches for 2020–2025 Subaru Outback: 5 Picks for 2,700 and 3,500 lb Trims

The CURT 13494 is the best overall trailer hitch for the 2020–2025 Subaru Outback. It is a Class 3 with a 2 in receiver and a concealed main body, rated at 3,500 lb and 350 lb tongue weight, and is listed for the Outback and Legacy in all trims. The Draw-Tite 76597 has the highest hitch rating, 4,500 lb and 675 lb, and bolts on with no drilling for XT or Wilderness owners who want extra margin. Subaru's L101SAN000 is the factory option with the wiring harness included, and the dealer handles the Wilderness fascia. The engine sets the tow limit: 2,700 lb for the 2.5-liter and 3,500 lb for the 2.4-liter turbo in XT trims and the Wilderness.

It depends on the engine, not the hitch. Subaru's hitch documentation lists 2,700 lb with a 270 lb maximum tongue weight for the 2.5-liter Outback, and 3,500 lb with a 350 lb tongue weight for the 2.4-liter turbo used in XT trims and the Wilderness. The CURT and Draw-Tite hitches on this page are rated at 3,500 lb or more, so on a 2.5-liter car the vehicle, not the hitch, sets the limit. The budget TUZILLA's ratings have to be confirmed on its listing. Check the towing section of your owner's manual for your exact trim.

No. A hitch rating is the most the hitch itself can hold. The vehicle rating covers the frame, brakes, cooling and transmission, and the lower of the two numbers always wins. The Draw-Tite 76597 is rated for 4,500 lb and 675 lb of tongue weight, but bolted to a 2.5-liter Outback it is still a 2,700 lb, 270 lb hitch. Buying a stronger hitch gives you margin and longevity, not towing capacity.

It is different, not stronger. The Subaru L101SAN000 is a Class II, 2 in receiver engineered around the Outback's bumper, and Subaru dealer Subaru Parts Pros lists it with a wiring harness included, which aftermarket hitches don't have. It is also the most expensive option at a $529.95 MSRP before the ball mount. CURT and Draw-Tite hitches carry higher published hitch ratings and cost much less, but you buy the wiring separately. Some owners pick the OEM part because a dealer can install it and it's covered with the car.

Often, yes. CURT lists both the 13494 and the 13570 for the 2020–2025 Legacy sedan as well as the Outback, because the two share the same platform and rear structure. The Draw-Tite 76597 and the Subaru L101SAN000 are listed for the Outback only, so don't assume those cross over. The tow rating does not carry over either: the Legacy has its own rating in its owner's manual, and some Subaru dealer towing guides list the Legacy as not recommended for towing. Treat a Legacy hitch as a bike rack or cargo carrier mount unless your manual says otherwise.

The Wilderness uses the 2.4-liter turbo, so it carries the 3,500 lb rating. Its rear bumper fascia is its own design, though. Subaru's notes for the L101SAN000 say a Wilderness-specific bumper fascia panel and a cutting template are required to install the factory hitch on a Wilderness. CURT lists the 13494 and 13570 for all Outback trims, but read the instructions for Wilderness-specific steps before you start, and confirm the Wilderness in the listing if you buy a budget brand.

The 2026 Outback is a new generation. Subaru sells separate factory hitches for it (L101SAR000 for non-turbo and L101SAR001 for turbo models), which tells you the factory part changed. CURT and Draw-Tite, however, list the 13494 and 76597 for 2020–2026. If you have a 2026, trust the maker's fitment checker with your exact model year and trim, and confirm with the seller before ordering. Don't carry a 6th-gen hitch over to a new car on assumption.

Draw-Tite lists the 76597 as bolt-on with no drilling and about 60 minutes of install time. CURT rates the exposed-tube 13570 as an advanced install of about 90 minutes. CURT doesn't publish a drilling or trimming note for the 13494 on its product page, so read the instructions before you commit. The Subaru OEM hitch needs no trimming on standard trims, but the Wilderness requires a specific fascia panel and template cut. Any install that uses existing frame holes may still need the exhaust lowered or a heat shield moved for access.

Most small trailers use a 4-way flat connector for tail, brake and turn lights. The Subaru factory hitch is listed with a harness included. For CURT, Draw-Tite, and budget hitches, buy a vehicle-specific T-connector harness that plugs into the Outback's tail-light connectors, so you don't need to splice. If you plan to tow near 3,500 lb with an XT or Wilderness, check whether your trailer needs electric brakes under your state's rules; that means a 7-way connector and a brake controller.

Yes. Every hitch here has a 2 in receiver, which fits most platform bike racks. The limit is tongue weight: 270 lb on the 2.5-liter car and 350 lb on the turbo. Add up the rack weight and the bikes before you load it, especially with e-bikes. CURT notes that its round-tube 13570 is an exposed design; the concealed 13494 and 76597 keep more of the receiver tucked under the bumper, which matters for rack ground clearance.

Within the ratings, yes. A 2.5-liter Outback can tow 2,700 lb and the XT and Wilderness up to 3,500 lb, per Subaru's hitch documentation. Weigh the loaded trailer, not the brochure dry weight, and keep tongue weight around 10–15% of trailer weight so the car stays stable. Remember that passengers and cargo also count against the Outback's payload. A small aluminum boat or a light teardrop fits well, but a camper near the limit leaves little margin on hills and in wind.