2026 Subaru Outback Reviews, Pricing & Specs

After 30 years in production as a wagon, the all-new 2026 Subaru Outback looks much more like an SUV, and a bigger one, at that. In reality, however, the new Outback is only marginally larger, measuring 1.4 inches taller, an inch wider, and 0.6 inch longer. The illusion comes courtesy of a blockier, more upright design, replacing its predecessor's comparatively tapered, graceful style. The rectangular grille also replaces the old angular one, and when combined with the more horizontal accent lights and boxy headlights below, this new Outback has much more visual presence.

Faceted plastic trim that rings the bottom of the body and surrounds the wheel arches adds to the rugged appearance and also creates the illusion of a taller ride height. The roofline is flatter, extending well past the rear passenger space, and the roof pillars reinforce the blocky theme. Around back, the rear liftgate window is also more upright, and the taillight enclosure spans the entire width.

That width-enhancing theme continues inside, with a flatter dashboard with fewer curves. A digital instrument panel also lends the cockpit a more modern look, while the infotainment touchscreen now sits atop the dash. Physical climate control buttons and knobs have also been reintroduced, after being relocated to the touchscreen in the previous generation. The more squared-off center console extends from underneath those controls and makes better use of the space for personal item storage.

Interior materials quality is commendable, even in the base Premium trim we evaluated, with attractive woven textile coverings on the dash and door panels. In higher trims, smoother materials match the leather seat upholstery, and the top Touring trim's saddle-brown palette is especially appealing, adding a warmer, yet rugged personality to the cabin.

The 2026 Outback is available with a choice of two engines. The base powerplant is a 2.5-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder "boxer" engine that produces 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. XT models go with a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer-four, increasing output to 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both are paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive (AWD).

We were admittedly skeptical of the base engine, wondering if it was powerful enough to motivate the 3,741-pound Outback, but we were pleasantly surprised by its performance. Initial response is quicker than we expected from the CVT, noticeably improving the sensation of acceleration. When merging onto a free-flowing highway, we didn't need to pin the pedal to the floor, and it didn't sound as though we were over-stressing the engine. We're convinced that most drivers will find it more than adequate, but for only around $2,600, you could upgrade to the more potent turbocharged engine.

From behind the wheel, the Outback feels composed and confident in the city and on the highway. It corners as well as any compact SUV on winding roads, and soaks up flaws in the pavement without transmitting jolts into the cabin. The front seats are also well-shaped to provide many hours of comfortable touring, and the interior remains relatively quiet in most situations. Coarser asphalt surfaces will produce noticeable amounts of road noise, but that's typical of any non-luxury vehicle today. At higher 75-mph highway speeds, some wind flutter could be heard coming from the mirrors, but not to the point where it couldn't be drowned out with the radio.

The CVT doesn't tend to make the engine drone loudly under acceleration, as these transmissions often do, and it features eight simulated gears that can be controlled via steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. These were especially helpful on long descents by allowing us to easily select lower gears instead of riding the brakes down steeper grades.

Of course, one of the main draws to the Outback is its off-road capability, and this seventh-generation model is no different. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance (unchanged from the previous generation), you could easily ride above most obstacles when traversing moderate terrain. On more challenging rutted sections, a tap of the X-Mode button on the steering wheel noticeably improves traction up to 25 mph, greatly simplifying operation for off-road novices. We spent plenty of time on a variety of terrain, from simple trails to more challenging climbs over rocks.

The standard Outbacks should easily meet most adventure-bound shoppers' needs, but for those with more demanding tasks, the forthcoming Wilderness model is a better choice. It increases ground clearance to 9.5 inches and adds all-terrain tires and electronically controlled suspension dampers.

While the new Outback's exterior dimensions haven't changed significantly, its interior space has. Its total interior volume (passenger and cargo space combined) of 146.9 cubic feet qualifies it as a midsize SUV, and the rear seats can now easily accommodate taller adults. There's also an abundance of legroom back there, making road trips with friends and family that much more pleasant, while the larger windows further enhance the feeling of spaciousness. Unlike some more conventional SUVs, you don't have to climb up into the seats, as they have a similar height as the previous Outback wagon.

It's clear that Subaru has been paying attention to how its customers use their vehicles, and market research has helped to make incremental improvements throughout the interior. Up front, the cupholders can now securely hold larger mugs with handles, courtesy of the "dog bone" cutout between them, and smaller Red Bull cans thanks to spring-loaded holders inside. The door pockets can now hold larger 32-ounce Nalgene flasks, and they're lined with soft materials to reduce the clunking sound over bumps.

The Outback's cargo capacity behind the rear seats increases from 32.6 to 34.6 cubic-feet, with a maximum of 80.5 cubic feet with the seatbacks folded (an increase of almost five cubic feet). The space is cavernous, and Subaru claims it can easily hold four large suitcases or golf bags. That large volume is further enhanced by a standard power liftgate, a relatively low liftover height, and remote seatback releases.

One of the more novel additions is a multifunction cargo cover. The elastic fabric can be reconfigured to act as a cargo partition that can keep objects from falling out when opening the liftgate on an uphill incline, as well as a pet gate, or a suspended hammock for smaller objects. Subaru also sells a Molle grid that can be affixed to the inner walls, allowing you to hang an endless variety of storage pouches and equipment. There are also several other more substantial pet and cargo partitions expressly developed for the Outback.

If you still need more storage, the robust roof rack can take up any overflow. It's rated up to 100 pounds if you're driving, and up to 800 lbs if you're parked. That's plenty strong for an overlanding tent platform, and Subaru also sells Thule bike carriers and cargo boxes to fit. The rack now features markings to make crossbar adjustments a cinch, and redesigned tie-down anchors are much easier to slip a carabiner through. Previous Outbacks earned praise from its active fanbase, and these latest improvements should keep it that way.

The 2026 Outback also makes forward progress in terms of technology features. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel allows the driver to customize what information is displayed, while a 12.1-inch infotainment touchscreen is placed higher on the dashboard to reduce distraction. Increased processing power reduces response time, and the screen layout can also be configured to your tastes. An anti-reflective coating greatly reduces any glare, improving legibility in a variety of lighting conditions.

The infotainment system is easy to use, with logical menus and a home screen that displays primary information in sectioned tiles. The graphics are sharp and attractive, and swiping to the sides reveals additional screens as well as a very minimal display if you'd rather feel less connected while enjoying the great outdoors. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both operate wirelessly and a wireless charging pad is available. Unfortunately, that tray is hard plastic instead of rubber, which allows your phone to slide around and lose its charge connection. A native navigation system is optional for the base premium trim and standard on all others.

We're especially glad that the climate controls are no longer tethered to the infotainment screen because you can now make temperature adjustments without having to take your eyes off the road, and you can also use them if you're wearing gloves. Overall, the new Outback's tech features don't break new ground, but we prefer ease of use over bells and whistles any day.

As of this writing, crash test results are not yet available from either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Considering Subaru's commitment to safety and its recent track record, we expect top marks from both agencies.

All 2026 Outbacks come with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, including: frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, automatic emergency steering, emergency stop assist, haptic steering wheel alerts, a driver condition monitor, adaptive headlights, and automatic high beams. In our full day with the Outback, we had no issues with any of these systems.

The Touring trim enhances some of the standard features and also adds a handful of premium items. These include a surround-view camera system, hands-free automated highway driving assist, and active lane-change assist. There's also a highway pre-curve speed control feature that uses enhanced mapping data to automatically slow the vehicle before entering a bend in the road, then accelerate back up to your set speed upon exit. The surround-view camera system is also available on supporting trims as an option, and we suggest adding it if you're planning to do any off-road driving.

The 2026 Subaru Outback has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $36,445 (including $1,450 in destination fees) for the Premium trim, which is now the entry-level model. After spending a considerable amount of time with that particular Outback, we can confidently say that it will easily please the majority of drivers, as well as those who will use it on moderate off-road terrain. The Touring trim adds several niceties and driver assists, but we're not sure its $46,845 price tag is warranted.

The more off-road-capable Wilderness trim should arrive early in 2026, but considering how adept our base model was, we're not convinced that its capabilities match its $46,445 starting price, either. If we needed an even more adventure-ready alternative, we'd consider stepping up to pricier Toyota 4Runner or Jeep Grand Cherokee models, but that means sacrificing some comfort and on-road manners for off-road capability. The Honda Passport Trailsport is more in keeping with the Outback's all-around goodness, but also costs about $2,000 more than the Outback Wilderness.

The EPA estimates the new Outback will return as much as 27 mpg in combined driving (25/31 mpg city/highway) for the base engine and 24 mpg combined (21/29 mpg city/highway) for the turbocharged XT models. The Wilderness brings up the rear with a 23-mpg combined rating (21/27 mpg city/highway). While not great, these figures beat the Honda Passport Trailsport's 20-mpg combined estimate, while the Toyota 4Runner is estimated between 23 and 21 mpg combined.