The New Subaru Outback Looks Different, but Hasn’t Changed a Bit

The Subaru Outback was a brilliant idea when it was launched in 1994, but it wasn’t really Subaru’s.The rugged station wagon concept was pioneered by the 1980 AMC Eagle, which had some success, but didn’t make the cut as the brand merged with Chrysler in 1987. It was the dawn of the family SUV era led by Jeep, which was the AMC division that Chrysler really cared about.Soon, every automaker was selling them, and Subaru wanted to get into the game, but it wasn’t in a position to develop an all-new model. Instead, in 1994, it took its Legacy station wagon, added chunky body cladding and all-wheel drive, increased the ground clearance, designed a new logo that looked torn from a 1930s adventure movie poster and hired Paul “Crocodile Dundee” Hogan to pitch it on TV.It was a huge hit for Subaru and became a mainstay of its lineup, offering outdoorsy car shoppers an alternative to towering trucks. Seven generations later, it is starting to resemble one of those.The 2026 Subaru Outback is all-new, with boxy styling that includes a tall, blunt grille and a slightly higher roof than previous editions. Its footprint hasn’t changed much, and it is still shorter than a typical utility vehicle, but it has a much greater presence. Subaru was able to do this because it discontinued the Legacy last year, freeing the Outback to adopt its own identity. It also moved production from Indiana to Japan, from where all Outbacks are now imported.The 2026 Outback features dual digital displays on the dashboard. SubaruOutback prices range from $36,445 to $49,446, but the $46,445 Wilderness is the most interesting model. It gets several extra features that make it better suited for driving into places like its namesake locale. Well, both namesake locales.The Wilderness is equipped with a 260-horsepower turbocharged flat-four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission, and all-wheel drive. It has all-terrain tires, and its ground clearance is increased from the Outback’s standard 8.7 inches to 9.5 inches. Faux push-bars and SUBARU lettering beef up the front end, while a heavy helping of plastic cladding runs below the doors. The roof rack is strong enough to carry 220 pounds while the vehicle is in motion and 800 pounds when it is parked, so it can be used with a rooftop tent. If Patagonia were to make a vehicle, it would likely resemble this one.The Wilderness comes with rubber all-weather floormats and water-resistant synthetic leather upholstery, but the latter can be upgraded to Nappa leather. The raised roof helps to increase headroom and cargo space compared to the model it replaces. The Outback only has two rows of seats, but rear passengers are provided with more legroom than most will know what to do with.The dashboard has been fully reconfigured with a widescreen digital display for the instrument cluster, a square touchscreen for the infotainment system, and a row of buttons and knobs below it that are easy to operate while wearing gloves. The leather option also brings ventilation to the heated seats, and a 360-degree parking and trail camera is available, with or without them.Subaru’s EyeSight package of electronic driver aids is standard and includes automatic emergency braking and a lane-centering adaptive cruise control. The system uses two cameras installed behind the windshield, where they are kept clear by the wipers in rain or snow.The Outback Wilderness has a roof rack that can hold up to 800 pounds. SubaruOne significant change for this generation is the addition of computer-controlled shock absorbers that automatically adjust their firmness to keep the body under control in different driving situations. The last Wilderness felt a bit tippy on pavement, but this one is very composed and does still drive somewhat more like a wagon than an SUV. The shocks limber up when needed, as when I took the Wilderness deep into a snowy forest to find out how well its name fits.The Wilderness has an X-Mode traction management system with settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud. I used both in the sloppy mix of surfaces I traversed, which were far more challenging than those most people will face on the way to a ski resort. Only when tackling inadvisably steep climbs did it suggest it might be nearing its limit, but it never got there. The only thing that might cut a journey short is the fuel economy, which the EPA rates at 23 mpg combined.The Outback remains a good idea, regardless of who had it first.

The New Subaru Outback Looks Different, but Hasn’t Changed a Bit

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