All-New 2026 Subaru Outback Searches for a New Middle Ground
Competes with: Chevrolet Blazer, Toyota Crown Signia, Volvo V60 Cross Country
Looks like: The guy who wrote “Mambo No. 5” is designing cars now (Little bit of Defender on the side, little bit of Raptor IDs my ride, little bit of TrailSport in the rear, little bit of WRX helps me steer)
Powertrain: 180-horsepower, 2.5-liter flat-four-cylinder or 260-hp, turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine; continuously variable automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
Release date: Late 2025
We typically think of individual car models evolving through new generations but tend to forget that entire lineups, too, undergo changes over time. The all-new 2026 Subaru Outback is a perfect example: Now that the smaller Forester has completely broken with its roots as the awkward melding of station-wagon sheet metal below the beltline with the tall greenhouse of an SUV, the Outback seems to be stepping into the role. Taller than its forebear, Subaru’s five-seat mid-sizer is moving away from its lifted-wagon form and inching toward SUVdom.
What Does the 2026 Outback Look Like?
With its newly upright grille, floating body-color C-pillar trim panel and steeper rear window, the seventh-generation Outback is hard to confuse with its predecessor. Subaru says the new vehicle’s flatter roof contributes to increased front and rear headroom, as well as 2 cubic feet more of cargo room, for a total of 34.6, according to Subaru’s measurements. If you need to pack more than that, the standard roof rack can hold up to 220 pounds when underway or 800 pounds when parked — so go ahead and let your pet gorilla sleep with you in the roof-top tent. The roof rails can also handle lateral loads, but only up to 220 pounds, so while Congo can come camping, he should stay out of the hammock.
Compared to its adventurous exterior, the all-new Outback’s cabin is pretty standard fare. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.1-inch touchscreen share a stepped bezel but are two distinct displays, the latter boasting standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Resisting the current trend — which the outgoing Outback succumbed to — of incorporating climate controls into the touchscreen, Subaru has restored them to physical buttons laid out in two rows beneath the display.
What Are the 2026 Outback’s Powertrain Specs?
Subaru says the Outback’s standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine is revised, but output remains similar to the outgoing model’s base engine: 180 horsepower and 178 pounds-feet of torque, compared to the 2025 model’s 182 hp and 176 pounds-feet. The XT trim again gets a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four, with output unchanged at 260 hp and 277 pounds-feet.
A continuously variable automatic transmission with an eight-speed manual mode and all-wheel drive are standard. Subaru revised the AWD system for faster center-differential lockup on changing road surfaces, and a steering rack derived from that in the WRX is said to contribute to a more direct and responsive wheel.
What Are the 2026 Outback’s Safety Features?
Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite is standard on the new Outback. Now incorporating a wider-angle front camera and more radar sensors, the Outback’s version of EyeSight is the brand’s first with available hands-free semi-autonomous highway driving. That function is optional, but standard features include forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-centering steering. The system also now incorporates haptic feedback to grab the driver’s attention through a vibrating steering wheel.
Back Into the Wilderness
In addition to the Premium, Limited, Touring, Limited XT and Touring XT trim levels, the 2026 Outback will again be available in the popular Wilderness trim, powered by the turbo 2.4-liter four. Riding on Bridgestone Dueler all-terrain tires mounted to matte-black 17-inch wheels, the Wilderness boasts 9.5 inches of ground clearance, 0.8 inch more than the other Outbacks. It also gets an updated suspension with new electronically controlled dampers for better stability on rough terrain. Taking a page from Ford’s Raptor family, the Wilderness wears a unique grille spanned by bold “Subaru” lettering; the brand’s signature anodized-copper-look trim adorns the foglights, roof rack and interior bits.
Release Date and Pricing
Most of the 2026 Subaru Outback lineup will go on sale in late 2025, with the Wilderness to follow early next year. Pricing will be announced closer to the start of sales.
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