For 30 years, the Subaru Outback has made its name as being an affordable, go-anywhere station wagon that tried to play the part of being an SUV. And it worked – as the Outback has always been a good seller for Subaru, whether it’s referred to as a wagon, SUV or something else entirely. Well, for 2026, the station wagon look can almost be eliminated as the all-new Outback takes on a new mid-size SUV-like body style. Even with the change in appearance, the new Outback retains many of the attributes that make it fundamentally a Subaru, which includes standard all-wheel drive and a flat-four-cylinder boxer engine under the hood. Let's look at the all-new 2026 Subaru Outback.
Walk up to the new 2026 Outback and you’ll still immediately recognize it as a Subaru. But unlike previous Outback’s, this new one has a taller, boxier body with a raised, flatter roofline that overall makes it look more like an SUV and less like a wagon.
As a result of its new shape, the Outback has a more spacious cabin. It's still a two-row vehicle, but its five occupants have more room. Those seated in the rear benefit from almost 2 more inches of headroom compared to the previous model.
Along with more room, the interior has received a complete overhaul, fitted with a new infotainment system and, thankfully, physical buttons and knobs for the climate control system. Popping out of the dash is a 12.1-inch central touchscreen that is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system features sharper graphics and is more responsive and intuitive than the one found in the previous model. Below the screen is the climate control system. Not only are there buttons controlling everything, but they are nicely sized and easy to read. Sometimes simple and easy outdoes fancy and complex. For the driver, there is a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Elsewhere, there are standard USB-A and USB-C charging ports and a wireless charging pad is available.
Under the hood, the all-new 2026 Subaru Outback continues to use the same basic engine lineup as the 2025 model. The standard engine is a 2.5 liter four-cylinder that makes 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes in the base Premium, Limited and Touring models. Opting for the Limited XT, Touring XT, or Wilderness fits the Outback with a 2.4 liter turbocharged four-cylinder that is good for 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. All Outback models send power to all four wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel-drive system that can vary torque distribution between the front and rear axles.
The tester is a Wilderness, which is the most rugged Outback in the lineup. Along with having the more powerful engine, it has some off-road goodies like 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, electronically controlled shocks, hill descent control and selectable drive modes. And to make it look the part, it gets unique front and rear bumpers (with Subaru boldly stated on the front bumper) and copper graphics. With it carries an MSRP of $50,535. Pricing for the new Outback starts at $36,445.
Driving the new Outback showcases how refined it feels. The chassis soaks up bumps and broken pavement with ease. I was expecting it to be less stable around corners compared to the old Outback, but that's not the case. It feels nicely composed and poised when driven around turns. It also has more accurate and responsive steering than before, so it's easier to have confidence that it will go where you point it. With the turbocharged engine, it moves with plenty of power to spare (0-60 mph sprints are in the mid-6 second range). Beware of the base engine though. In the previous Outback it definitely lacked spunk.
While the new Subaru Outback trades some of its quirkiness for a more conventional look, it now better competes with other SUVs like the Honda Passport, Mazda CX-50 and Toyota Crown Signia. And like the previous Outback, this new one retains the same characteristics by offering an abundance of rugged versatility as well as a level of comfort and refinement - regardless if you are on the highway or on a dirt trail. The new Subaru Outback continues to be the jack-of-all-trades in the car world.