The 2026 Subaru Outback Is Less Wagon, More SUV. But It’s Still Great: Review

The Subaru Outback has lengthy been an anomaly—an off-road, lifted wagon that, whereas bigger than the Forester, nonetheless isn’t as beefy as SUVs just like the Toyota RAV4. Its actual placement within the vast world of crossovers stays a thriller, however that’s sort of been its best-selling level. No person actually is aware of the place the Outback is meant to go, however everybody is aware of what the Outback is about.

Subaru has crammed that area of interest for 30 years, and it’s paid off. The Outback is among the model’s best-selling SUVs of all time, and it is ubiquitous for individuals who take pleasure in tenting, mountaineering, and all the opposite rugged actions a automobile just like the Outback invitations.

For 2026, nonetheless, Subaru determined to alter up the Outback fairly considerably. Not is the Outback a reasonably conservative sibling to the now-discontinued Legacy sedan; it is extra SUV than ever. So, right here’s the large query: Has it labored?

Photograph by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Arguably, the largest change to the Outback is the outside. As talked about, following the loss of life of the Legacy, Subaru felt it was not essential to hold an identical design language. Now, the Outback has its personal distinct look. And distinct it’s.

Gone are the Outback’s signature curvy strains and raked hatch. The brand new upright, boxy design is nearer to Subaru’s wagons of the Eighties. The brand new entrance and rear extra align with the Forester crossover, with a giant black grille and plastic cladding to present it that off-road look. The brand new design is standardized throughout all trims, with the upcoming Wilderness mannequin sporting a barely totally different entrance fascia and facet profile.

One attention-grabbing design element to notice is what Subaru calls ‘Shark Pores and skin,’ that are items of plastic trim with golfball-like treading alongside the outside of the automobile. It supposedly helps with aerodynamics in addition to lowering wind noise. We didn’t discover any drastic modifications to both, however they do make the Outback look extra attention-grabbing.

The brand new design is unquestionably divisive; some declare the Outback’s new form abandons its wagon heritage. Whereas we are able to’t say we agree, what we are able to say is that—even with the added 1.4 inches to the roofline—the brand new Outback doesn’t look as massive and bulbous in actual life because it does in photographs. Regardless of all of the design modifications, the brand new Outback is definitely the identical measurement because the previous one.

Photograph by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Professional: Wonderful Inside, Spectacular Off-Highway Chops, Punchy Turbo Engine

Inside, every little thing apart from the steering wheel is all new. You possibly can inform Subaru spent an unlimited period of time making the cabin an ideal place to be.

We’ll begin with the cupholders. Sure, the cupholders. Bear with us. They’re designed to accommodate water bottles as much as 32 ounces, which suggests giant bottles for outside actions will now comfortably match with out spilling or rattling round. Talking of rattling, don’t you hate it whenever you put a water bottle within the door panel pocket and it rattles? Subaru thought so, too. The door panels at the moment are lined with carpet to assist suppress noise, and it truly works, even when doing a little rally-driver-esque off-roading.

The truth is, the entire inside feels approach nicer and extra well-thought-out than earlier variations. Every little thing from the material padding on the dashboard to the plastics feels extra put-together. Plus, there’s a noticeable and grateful lack of piano black supplies on the Restricted trim, which suggests fewer smudgy surfaces.

The opposite main enchancment to the Outback’s inside is the return of buttons. The previous Outback had an enormous heart display that, amongst many issues, took away the onerous HVAC controls and heated seats. With the return of a smaller 12.2-inch system, Subaru has introduced again buttons for every little thing. The button structure is clear, with every little thing you want inside fast attain. That additionally leaves Subaru’s new consumer interface to deal with simply the fundamentals.

Photograph by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Cons: Divisive Design, Glitchy Infotainment, Unerpowered 2.5-Liter Engine

Subaru’s new UI is a welcome breath of contemporary air, not solely to the Outback however to your complete model. The iPad-style display with clunky software program is lifeless, and as a substitute is a smaller head unit that handles the fundamentals—radio, cellphone calls, navigation, and settings. That’s it. No fumbling by means of menus to get to your seat heaters, no laggy shows. Every little thing is the place you want it, straightforward to seek out, and struggle-free.

That stated, the brand new software program did have some points throughout testing. For one, X-Mode, Subaru’s off-road mode, didn’t present up wherever on display when chosen and was tough to get working. What’s extra, Subaru’s Eyesight system saved beeping at me to “have a look at the street,” even once I was, and it saved beeping at me after manually entering into and turning it off. Nonetheless, these are minor annoyances in comparison with an enormous enchancment of your complete system.

Entrance and rear passenger house is mostly acceptable. I’m 6-foot-2-inches, to not flex, however I slot in each seat completely high-quality, and headroom is nice due to the aforementioned 1.4-inch bump in headroom over the previous mannequin. The rear seats are additionally a a lot better place to be with some higher-trim choices fitted with outboard heated seats, USB-C ports, and a separate local weather management zone. Trunk house can also be greater than enough, with a 2.4 cubic-foot improve during the last technology.

Photograph by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Photograph by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Photograph by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Photographs by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

The powertrain for the 2026 Outback stays the identical because the earlier technology, together with your selection of both a 2.5-liter flat-four boxer engine making 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, or a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four making a a lot more healthy 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This technology has seen huge enhancements to the engine elements, which suggests each engines run much more easily.

Driving the Restricted mannequin in each engine configurations, the two.4 turbo comes out on prime due to the 80-hp bump over the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter, one thing you may undoubtedly really feel on the street. Granted, the turbocharged mannequin does include barely decrease gasoline economic system at 21 mpg metropolis, 29 freeway, 24 mixed, in comparison with the 25 mpg metropolis, 31 freeway, 27 mixed of the two.5. However we predict most patrons can be keen to make that tradeoff for the upside of barely higher energy and a extra general nice driving expertise.

Off the street is the place the Outback actually shines. Even with out actual skid plates, the inventory suspension and all-season tires assist this automobile far exceed expectations. Driving approach too quick over way-too-big rocks within the Arizona mountains, it’s genuinely spectacular how properly the Outback handles non-paved roadways, contemplating the Restricted trim we drove is not at all an off-roader.

In addition to the Outback handles off-roading, nonetheless, the suspension is kind of stiff, and should you take any paths extra severe than finely packed grime, your again will endure. For those who’re going to do severe off-the-beaten-path driving, put money into some higher tires, or await the Wilderness mannequin.

Photograph by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Photograph by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Photographs by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Pricing throughout the board for the 2026 Outback is dearer in comparison with the earlier technology, due to the elimination of the bottom trim, with the Premium now being the most affordable providing you should purchase at $36,445.

The Restricted mode examined right here, the second most cost-effective of the bunch, finally ends up being $43,165 with vacation spot, almost loaded. An un-specced model prices nearer to $41,000. The very best trimmed mannequin, the Touring XT, is available in at a whopping $49,840, whereas the off-road Wilderness mannequin sits at $46,445.

The Subaru Outback continues to be the perfect model of no matter automobile it is aiming to be. Sensible CUV? Certain! Gentle off-roader? Yep. The individuals who like this factor are going to purchase it. It does precisely what it must do and caters to an viewers that loves it.

My assumption is that the web’s opinions might differ from the precise reception of this automobile by the broader market, and I say this as somebody who isn’t a fan of the brand new look. At any fee, the brand new Outback’s inside is nice, it has far more off-road credibility than it must, and it is among the few new automobiles to not comply with the pattern of “greater is healthier.”

Properly finished, Subaru.

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Supply: Zander Sutton | Motor1