The Subaru Outback is known as the wagon with SUV capabilities and car-like handling. But after 30 years, the 2026 Outback is a wagon no more. Instead, it’s now a true midsize SUV with a boxy shape and more aggressive styling. It more closely resembles a Toyota 4Runner than an older Outback.
Base Price: $44,995
As Tested: $48,490
Horsepower: 260
Mileage: 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined
The redesigned 2026 Outback is now in its seventh generation. It has bolder exterior styling, a taller roof, a more upscale cabin, updated tech including a new infotainment system, and enhanced passenger and cargo space.
These updates improve headroom, cargo utility and rear-seat access, but traditional Outback fans may not like the shift away from a wagon and towards a more traditional SUV.
The 2026 Outback comes in six trims: Premium, Limited, Limited XT, Wilderness, Touring, and Touring XT. Starting prices range from $34,995 to $47,995. Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard on all trims.
There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
All models have at least 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The off-road Wilderness trim gets more at 9.5 inches, and other features to enhance off-roading capability including a new electronically adaptive suspension, more drive modes for improved performance on varying terrain, all-terrain tires, skid plates, more cargo space, heavy duty roof rails. The dual-function X-MODE drive modes have settings for snow, dirt, deep snow, and mud. The cabin has copper accents and water-resistant Star Tex upholstery for easy cleaning, and the exterior also sports copper accents and Wilderness badges on the sides and rear liftgate. While the Wilderness trim isn’t meant for serious off-roading and rock crawling, it performs well on inclines and muddy trails so you can get to your remote campground or hidden hiking spot.
Two engines are available on the 2026 Outback. The base engine is a 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine comes standard on the Premium, Limited, and Touring trims. The Limited XT, Wilderness and Touring XT models get a beefier 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet. Both engines are paired to a continuously variable transmission with 8-speed manual shift mode.
The base engine gets the job done in most driving situations, especially if you’re commuting, taking the kids to soccer, or driving around town. But performance is generally underwhelming. Acceleration can feel pokey and you may wish for more oomph if you’re trying to quickly speed up to merge or pass on the highway, or heading uphill when the Outback is loaded with passengers and gear. Drivers wanting more get-up-and-go should get the turbo. It has peppier acceleration and livelier handling.
Otherwise, the 2026 Outback handles better than the outgoing model. Steering is more accurate and the Outback feels more planted when cornering. The CVT performs well in most situations, but can drone under hard acceleration.
Fuel economy is above average for models with the base engine, and average for models with the turbo. EPA ratings for trims with the base engine are 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined. The turbo models get 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. I got 23 mpg with my Wilderness tester during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
When properly equipped, models with the base engine can tow up to 2,700 pounds. Turbocharged trims can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
The cabin is also updated in the 2026 Outback. However, material quality varies by trim, with the lower trims getting some hard plastics, synthetic leather upholstery, and cloth-covered door panels and dash sections, and the upper trims getting nicer materials including soft-touch surfaces and Nappa leather upholstery. The front row is roomy with comfortable and supportive seats. The second row has decent leg- and headroom, with room for two adults – three might be a tight squeeze.
One of the most notable upgrades is a new, sleek 12.1-inch horizontal display with sharper graphics, better software and full-screen Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This is a big improvement over the old vertical display, where Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were limited to just a portion of the touchscreen. Another improvement is the return of physical HVAC buttons, after years of complaints about touchscreen controls.
For those who like their beverages in the car, Subaru says the center console cupholders are designed for easy use, and bottle holders in each door now offer enough room for 32-ounce water bottles so you can stay hydrated on your adventures!
Standard features include keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, infotainment system with horizontal 12.1-inch touchscreen, HD Radio, satellite radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, LED fog lights, steering-responsive LED headlights with automatic high beams, and multi-use cargo tonneau cover,
Available features include a surround-view camera system, auto-dimming smart rear-view mirror with HomeLink, leather-trimmed perforated upholstery, Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and adjustable thigh support, eight-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, heated steering wheel, heated outboard rear seats, Harman Kardon audio system, navigation, wireless device charging, rain-sensing windshield wipers and a power moonroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward and reverse collision warning, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitoring, and rear-seat alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include Highway Active Lane Change Assist (automatic lane changing when you engage the turn signal), and Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection (this system will guide the Outback to the side of the road and activate the hazard lights if the driver becomes unresponsive). The 2026 Outback also introduces a new Highway Hands-Free Assist system, which is standard on the Touring trim. It allows limited hands-free driving on compatible highways at speeds up to 85 mph.
The 2026 Outback has a bit more cargo space than the outgoing model. There are 34.6 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 80.5 cubes with the second row folded. The wide opening and standard roof rails make it easy to bring your adventure equipment including bikes, camping gear, kayaks and more. The rear seats are split-folding, and a power rear gate with automatic close and height memory comes standard.
The good:
Composed handling
Wilderness trim has decent off-road capability
Roomy, practical interior with good cargo space
Many standard and available features and tech
Better infotainment system
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Lackluster base engine
CVT can get loud
Cabin materials inconsistent across trims
Pricing info:
My Wilderness tester starts at $44,995. Option Package 22 is $2,045 and includes the Subaru 12.1-inch multimedia system with navigation, power moonroof and surround view monitor system. The destination fee is $1,450, bringing the grand total to $48,490.
Bottom line:
The redesigned 2026 Subaru Outback is the most SUV-like Outback ever, which may be polarizing to longtime Outback fans. But it provides more interior space, updated tech and maintains all the practicality you expect in an Outback.
