Subaru has chosen the New York International Auto Show as the place to debut the 2026 redesign of the Outback. Returning for a seventh generation, the model has been one of the best wagons still available on the North American market. Subaru would never call it a wagon, of course, and the redesign seems to be pushing the model more toward the SUV end of the spectrum.
For 2026, the model has been issued new styling. It’s quite boxy, compared to its predecessor, which Subaru said “conveys a more powerful presence on the road.” While we know that the industry likes to move toward increasingly large vehicles to exploit regulatory loopholes, the concern is that the manufacturer will likewise attempt to rationalize a higher price tag.
Thankfully, the model doesn’t appear to have gotten any longer and has instead opted to focus on bolstering interior volume by adding to its height and width.
From Subaru:
The all-new 2026 Subaru Outback brings along more space for passengers and cargo than any previous Outback, ensuring driver and passengers arrive prepared for their next adventure. In addition to innovative cargo solutions, the new Outback offers more space, more comfort, and smarter designs for its passengers.
Thanks to a 2-inch taller roofline and an all-new design, the Outback offers 34.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity, larger by 2 cubic feet than its predecessor. The cargo area is also 2 inches taller, while the load floor width spans 43.3 inches, wider than its competitors. Flexible and durable interior utility hooks offer tie down points for gear and can be used in the liftgate to hold items such as lanterns or wet gear, up to 6 pounds.
In addition to the improved headroom and cargo space (including bigger cupholders), Subaru stated that the updated Outback would receive low-fatigue seats mounted directly onto the chassis to “improve long-distance comfort and reduce head movement on longer drives.”
In our estimation, the Outback’s biggest strength has always been its sublime versatility. While more than adequate for mild-to-moderate off-road excursions, it still provided a comfortable car-like ride that made it a solid daily commuter or road-trip vehicle. The concern is that the latest changes will make it more like an SUV, potentially throwing off that exquisite balance.
However, Subaru has said that the revised Outback has 42 percent less lateral sway ( vs the outgoing model) and upgraded adjustable seats to improve comfort. All trims are similarly receiving an enhanced version of the WRX’s dual-pinion electronic power steering rack. Subaru said that it offers better feedback, adding that the rack’s variable gear ratio has been tuned for better low-speed handling while retaining excellent stability at higher speeds.
The new Outbacks are also supposed to be quieter, with more sound-deadening materials being installed into the roof and headliner. Wind noise has also been reduced thanks to “aerodynamic elements in the body sides and roof rails.” That’s rather impressive, considering that it looks significantly less aerodynamic than its predecessor.
On the inside, Subaru said it went above and beyond to improve storage. There are larger and more customizable ways to stow things inside the vehicle. A new washable tonneau cover has also been added, as well as ways to partition off the back half of the vehicle for people hauling dogs or cargo they don’t want to intrude into the passenger space.
The base 2.5-liter Boxer engine carries over, offering a stated 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. While Subaru said the unit had been revised for the 2026 model year, you’re actually losing a little bit of horsepower to gain a wee bit of torque. That’s absolutely a fair trade and one I’d happily take in most cases. However, the powertrain wasn’t known for its exciting performance and the CVT (which also sticks around) didn’t help things.
But it’s more than sufficient if all you care about is getting down the road and there are certainly slower models out there. Regardless, those seeking more power can option the 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine that delivers 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque via the Outback XT or Wilderness trims.
While most Outbacks offer Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Wilderness continues to offer 9.5 inches for added off-road capability. It also comes with all-terrain Bridgestone Dueler tires, mounted on exclusive 17-inch matte black wheels, and an accessory tow hitch in case you want to test the 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity. Roof racks are standard and the same goes for upgraded tow hooks, under-body protection, LED fog lamps, and an easier-to-clean interior.
Styling on the Wilderness is also a little more aggressive and arguably pairs better with the boxier design Subaru elected to give the new Outback. However, as with the previous Wilderness trim, drivers are trading improved off-road performance for on-road manners. We’ll have to see how much during testing, as there really wasn’t much to complain about with its predecessor.
Thanks to having its own bumper designs, the approach angle has been extended to 20 degrees compared to 18 degrees on the other Outback models. Ramp breakover is 21.2 degrees, compared to 19.4 degrees, and the departure angle increases to 22.5 degrees, rather than 21.4 degrees.
All Outbacks come with the latest-generation of Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. Considering nobody really likes that stuff, we’ll just say it likely comes with all the features you’re likely to appreciate, several that you couldn’t care less about, and several you will probably dislike (e.g. Acceleration Override Assist and/or Vibrating Haptic Steering Wheel). EyeSight now also incorporates a trio of exterior cameras (which may be a privacy concern for some) and new radar sensors to help with the limited hands-free driving features you probably won’t use.
The car now also has the ability to pull itself to the side of the road and shut down (activating the hazard lights and notifying the authorities) if it thinks you’ve become unresponsive. While undoubtedly handy for someone that endures a stroke or dozes off behind the wheel, there’s no guarantee that this feature will work perfectly and likewise calls into question just how much control one has over the vehicle they’ve bought. But this is an issue that’s affected the industry at large, not just Subaru.
Future Outbacks will feature an all-new 12-inch infotainment display and digital instrument cluster, which it said prioritized improved responsiveness and convenience. Infotainment was one of Subaru’s (and plenty of other brands’) weak points in the past, so it’s nice that they’re putting some effort into improving the user experience if they’re not willing to revert to using tried-and-true buttons and knobs. However, Subaru did say it retained physical controls for the HVAC system and assured us that the updated infotainment system was much faster.
The 2026 Subaru Outback will be available in Premium, Limited, Touring, Limited XT, Touring XT, and Wilderness trim levels when it goes on sale. Most of those will be available late in 2025, with the Wilderness not likely to drop until 2026. Expect more detailed information and pricing to become available closer to launch of the individual trims.
[Images: Subaru]
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