The Subaru Outback is often considered one of the few remaining soldiers in the lifted station wagon wars with the Subie always maintaining the strong connection to the station wagon body style which allowed it to be a smash hit with consumers. However, it appears that the Outback is moving away from this heritage with the 2026 model embracing the CUV life as Subaru attempts to add more technology and capability to the iconic nameplate.
Outback, a wagon no more
Subaru says the 2026 Outback has a “new bolder design” and that’s evident when you look at the chunky front fascia which gets blockier accents new split headlights and plenty of plastic cladding. The side profile still has a faint hint of wagon DNA, but it’s evident that the Outback is ready to pitch its established roots and boldly go off in a new direction. The sloping rear roofline is gone and the Outback now has a more upright appearance with the rear end getting new lighting and the Outback script being moved below the lighting assembly in the center of the liftgate. The model also gets 19-inch wheels for the first time ever. The overall look is similar to what you find in the Subaru Forester but the jury is out on whether this newfound direction will win over Outback fans.
The interior on the other hand benefits from several improvements. The old vertical screen for the infotainment system is pitched and replaced with a new landscape-oriented setup with the driver getting a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen. A unified bezel provides a more polished look and some trims get spiffy two-tine accents with the trim in these models being partially made from recycled materials. Analog buttons are also used throughout with the steering wheel getting a big shifter stalk. The company says the revisions allow the new Outback to deliver higher amounts of headroom which is due to the higher roof height.
Familiar engines
Performance for the 2026 Outback will come from two familiar powerplants with lower trims getting the carryover 2,5-liter flat-four. Engineers did make revisions to the engine and it now produces 180 hp. That’s less than the outgoing model but the loss in power is balanced by increased torque with the mill now making 178 lb-ft. The XT gets the carryover 2.5-liter turbocharged four and it continues to make 260 hp. Like its base counterpart, this engine has also been tweaked and it too makes more torque with 277 lb-ft on hand.
Both engines get a CVT and all-wheel drive but the steering has been tuned specifically for the Outback with better poise and control in low-speed driving. The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system continues to keep things ruggedly simple but gets an improved center differential.
When can I buy one?
The 2026 Subaru Outback will begin making its way to dealerships later this year. Subaru is choosing to keep pricing to itself for now but the company revealed the new Outback will be available in Premium, Limited, Touring, Limited XT, Touring XT, and Wilderness trims. The Wilderness in particular will have greater weight on its shoulders with the halo trim expected to lure in buyers which may be a taller order than usual due to some of the wild updates Subaru made to the exterior.
It remains to be seen if the Outback will join the Forester and Crosstrek in getting a hybrid model but we suspect that it won’t be a matter of if, but rather when in that particular department since Subaru is keen on expanding its presence in the hybrid sector and a green-flavored Outback variant would be a welcome addition to their sales portfolio.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.