Can You Flat Tow A Subaru? | What The Manual Says

No, most Subaru models should not be pulled with all four wheels on the road; use a trailer or flatbed instead.

That answer catches a lot of RV owners off guard. Subaru sells cars and SUVs with stout drivetrains, grippy all-wheel drive, and a reputation for going almost anywhere. That does not make them good four-down tow cars. Flat towing asks a vehicle to roll mile after mile with the engine off, and that puts the transmission, center coupling, and driveline in a spot many Subaru models were never built to handle.

The plain rule is simple. If you are talking about a modern Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Ascent, Legacy, Impreza, or WRX, treat four-down towing as a no unless your owner’s manual for that exact year says yes. In most cases, it won’t. Subaru’s own towing language leans owners toward a flatbed, not toward dragging the car behind a motorhome.

This matters because “towing” can mean two different things. One is roadside recovery after a breakdown. The other is recreational flat towing, also called dinghy towing, with all four tires on the pavement behind an RV. Readers mix those up all the time. Subaru owner material does not leave much room for wishful thinking: when in doubt, get the car fully off the ground.

Can You Flat Tow A Subaru? What The Manual Says

Subaru’s own owner material gives the clearest clue. In the towing section for AWD models, Subaru says improper towing can damage the AWD system and says the best way to tow the vehicle is with a flatbed truck. You can read that wording in this Subaru owner manual towing section, and you can pull up your own year and trim in Subaru’s Vehicle Resources page.

That language is aimed at real-world damage prevention, not at selling you extra gear. Subaru knows its AWD hardware stays linked front to rear. When the car rolls with the engine off, internal parts still turn. If the setup is not made for that, heat and wear build fast. A few miles might not show anything. A long tow day can.

That is why so many “it worked for me” stories are risky. One owner may get away with a short haul and call it fine. Another can cook a transmission, trigger binding in the AWD system, or chase a vibration that starts weeks later. The manual is the safer referee than forum bravado.

Why Subaru Drivetrains Push Back

Most Subaru models sold in North America use either a CVT or an automatic tied to all-wheel drive. Those setups are great on the road, in snow, and on rough tracks. They are poor candidates for four-down towing because the driveline keeps spinning while the engine is not running the way it would in normal use.

There is also a money angle. Dinghy gear is not cheap. Baseplates, tow bars, wiring, braking gear, and labor can cost a lot before the first trip even starts. Spending that cash on a car your manual does not approve for flat towing is a bad bet.

Flat Towing A Subaru By Model Family

Model year still matters. Subaru changes transmissions, software, and driveline hardware over time. Still, this brand-level snapshot is a solid place to start before you spend on towing hardware.

Subaru Model Family	Usual Drivetrain Setup	Flat Tow Verdict
Outback	AWD with CVT or automatic	No for normal four-down towing
Forester	AWD with CVT or automatic	No for normal four-down towing
Crosstrek	AWD with CVT or manual on older trims	No as the default rule
Ascent	AWD with CVT	No
Legacy	AWD with CVT or automatic	No for normal four-down towing
Impreza	AWD with CVT or manual on older trims	No as the safe answer
WRX	AWD with manual or CVT	No unless the exact manual says yes
BRZ	Rear-wheel drive manual or automatic	Do not assume yes; check the exact manual
Solterra	Electric AWD	No

The BRZ is the one readers always bring up. It is not AWD, so people assume it must be towable behind a coach. That leap can get expensive. Subaru owner material for the BRZ still points owners toward a flatbed truck, which tells you all you need to know before bolting on RV gear.

Older manual-transmission Subarus create the most confusion. Some drivers have flat towed older stick-shift cars for short distances. That does not turn the whole brand into a yes. If you are looking at a used Subaru as a dinghy vehicle, pull the owner’s manual first, then read the towing section line by line. If the wording is vague, skip it and shop for a vehicle that gives a clean yes.

Safer Ways To Move A Subaru

If the car needs to travel behind another vehicle, there are safer options than four-down towing. Subaru’s own roadside material points owners to the brand’s Roadside Assistance coverage, which includes towing to the nearest authorized retailer when the car cannot be driven safely.

For RV travel or long-distance moves, your choice usually comes down to a full trailer or a flatbed service. A tow dolly sounds tempting because it costs less and stores more easily. For AWD Subaru models, that shortcut can still leave part of the driveline turning, which defeats the whole point.

Transport Method	Best Use	Main Catch
Flatbed tow truck	Breakdowns, short relocations, dealer trips	Not meant for day-after-day RV travel
Full car trailer	RV towing, long moves, storage trips	More cost, more weight, more space needed
Tow dolly	Some non-AWD cars	Usually the wrong pick for AWD Subarus

What To Do Before You Spend On Towing Gear

Use this quick check before buying anything:

• Read the owner’s manual for your exact year, trim, and transmission.
• Check whether the car is AWD, rear-wheel drive, or an EV.
• Do not trust a dealer lot guess or a forum one-liner.
• Ask your insurer whether driveline damage from prohibited towing is covered.
• Price a trailer setup beside the cost of a single transmission repair.

That last point tends to settle the debate. A trailer feels like the pricey route until you stack it beside a ruined CVT, a burned clutch pack, or a denied warranty claim. Then the trailer starts looking like the cheap route.

When Flat Towing Advice Goes Wrong

Bad advice usually starts with one of three mix-ups. The first is confusing a tow truck procedure with RV flat towing. The second is assuming “manual transmission” always means towable. The third is treating one Subaru model from one year as proof for the whole lineup.

There is also the aftermarket pitch. You may hear that a driveshaft disconnect or another custom setup can make almost anything towable. That may be true in a shop-built sense. It does not change what Subaru approves, and it does not wipe out the risk. If your goal is a low-drama dinghy car, forcing a Subaru into that role is usually more trouble than it is worth.

Better Dinghy Choices For RV Owners

If flat towing sits near the top of your must-have list, shop with that rule in mind from day one. Look for vehicles with a clean factory answer, a long owner history in RV circles, and easy access to baseplates and brake kits. That route is far easier than falling in love with a Subaru first and trying to bend the rules later.

Subaru still makes a lot of sense for plenty of drivers. They are great daily cars, ski trip cars, dog-hauling cars, and all-weather family cars. They just are not the easy button for four-down towing behind a motorhome.

The Verdict On Subaru Flat Towing

For most Subaru models, flat towing is a no. If your Subaru has AWD, a CVT, an automatic, or an EV drivetrain, plan on a trailer or flatbed. If you own an older oddball trim and think yours may be the rare exception, read the factory manual for that exact car before you buy a single piece of towing gear. One clear sentence in the manual beats a hundred guesses online.