Our Thoughts Exactly: 2026 Subaru Outback

It arrived with plenty of anticipation. 

What Subaru has done in the past 30-plus years was to move the bar in terms of distinguishing themselves from the “norm.” They had a reputation of being different, but with a loyal following. Since the introduction of the Outback wagon, that following has grown to include a wider group of owners who love their Subarus for their prowess away from the highway.

 With improvements in safety engineering and technology, build quality, and a commitment towards delivering all sorts of adventure to its owners, Subaru created its best vehicle ever. 

The 2026 Outback represents a step forward. The once ruggedized wagon version of the Legacy has become a true, honest-to-God SUV. That’s no joke. 

With this new Outback, a lot was done in order to elevate it into the mid-size SUV class, while retaining a lot of what makes it work. 

For example, the roofline was increased by an inch, allowing for improved headroom and a taller cargo area. The angle of the rear roofline is now steeper, also creating more cargo utilization. Yet, all other key dimensions have not changed. 

The result is a handsome body shape. Boxier, yes, but offering more utility overall. 

Our test vehicle is the Wilderness model, which offers its own unique styling. The large grille area has been replaced by a more aggressive and integrated combination front clip with the front bumper and extended protection bars. More aggressive cladding is added across the lower part of the body, along with a cladded rear liftgate applique and bumpers. 

There are plenty of anodized copper finishes all over. That includes the trim pieces for the roof rack, around the fog lamps and reversing lights. The Subaru Wilderness badge is found on the C-pillar trim and on the liftgate. A set of black-finished 17-inch alloy wheels finish up the exterior look, along with raised white letter all-terrain tires. 

We also noticed that the 2026 Outback Wilderness held true to its 9.5-inch ground clearance. The rear differential does not protrude beyond the lowest point of the chassis. That is a huge plus when taking it way off the highway onto uneven surfaces. 

Stepping inside is perhaps one of the most improved interiors of the year. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is simply beautiful, functional, and easy to read. The controls are easy to use, some of which has been separated from the infotainment screen. It was great to see an easy-to-use climate control system and the X-MODE button on the steering wheel.

The center stack now features a 12.1-inch landscape-oriented infotainment touchscreen that is multiple times better than the previous generation model. Driven by a quicker Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the interface is more responsive, quick, and easier to use. There is a suite of Google Services as part of the infotainment system, however, you can wirelessly connect your smartphone through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Our Wilderness test vehicle came with the available 12-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system. 

Another huge improvement came as a result of the taller roofline. Cabin space is so much better! The StarTex upholstered front seats were find and will yield to your body after several miles. However, rear seat room is fantastic. Its not just the headroom that makes the difference here, as legroom is more than ample. 

Overall, we also found the quality of materials and touchpoints inside of the 2026 Outback were vastly improved over every Subaru model we ever driven or worked with. This is no exaggeration, but one found with smiles on our faces. This is a good step forward for the brand. 

The cargo area is also extremely improved. The steeper rear roofline creates a boxier space behind the second row of seats, enabling larger items to load back there. As far a cargo volume is concerned, the 2026 Outback offers 34.6 cubic feet before you fold down the second-row seatbacks. This expands to a maximum of 80.5 cubic feet through to the backs of the front seats. 

While a lot of changed inside and out, the engine lineup remains as it was from the last generation model. That’s actually a good thing for the Wilderness, as it is continued to be motivated by a 260-horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER four-cylinder engine. It also puts down 277 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission and Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel drive round out the 2026 Outback Wilderness’ driveline. 

We mentioned the X-MODE terrain control system before. It serves up two modes: Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud. You can feel the difference by how it manages traction on various surfaces. The system ensures proper use of torque when traversing through rougher stretches of road or trail. We can state through the experience of the 2026 Outback Wilderness that it worked the way we expected it to. 

On the road, the turbo engine delivers smooth performance when cruising. That includes passing maneuvers and onramps. We also observed a 23.2 MPG average for fuel consumption in our care. 

When it comes to ride quality, the adaptive suspension offered a very smooth ride. It also came into play during off-road maneuvers, as well as not-so-well maintained streets. We enjoyed every mile it gobbled up. While agile, there is a soft side when it comes to cornering. 

Steering inputs, response and on-center feel were also smooth and yielded great control overall. Brake pedal feel was good, as was the system’s response down to the wheels. We observed solid stops in normal, panic, wet, and off-highway situations.

The new 2026 Subaru Outback is available in six trim levels – three of them are equipped with the more powerful turbocharged engine. Pricing starts from $34,995. Our Wilderness test vehicle came with a sticker price of $50,930. 

There is no question that the 2026 Subaru Outback has taken a major leap forward for the brand. The quality, technology, and drivability blew our expectations wide open. It is the kind of vehicle Subaru owners should step up – and over – to. 

This brings up a debate about whether you should go with the Wilderness model or not. The more rugged trim level has plenty of qualities that satisfy the adventure seekers among us. However, you cannot go wrong with the five other trim levels Subaru offers its mid-size two-row SUV. You might get all of the goodies found on the Wilderness, but the 2026 Outback is very handsome and offer plenty of amenities in its Limited and Touring trims. 

Would it be presumptuous to proclaim that we truly think that the 2026 Subaru Outback is the most improved vehicle of the year? That depends on your perspective. However, you want to know what we think. And we think this is indeed one to strongly consider if you’re looking for a solid SUV to own. Even the Subaru owners we encountered with this 2026 Wilderness agree. 

Want a bombshell? This is one Subaru worth taking home. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Subaru of America, Inc. – our opinions are of our own.

All photos by Randy Stern and George Torline