The 2026 Subaru Outback will be both familiar and foreign to the model’s legions of faithful fans. Bigger and boxier than ever, the new seventh-generation Outback aims to further blur the line between its station wagon roots and the SUVs modern customers desire. While debates may rage as to whether Subaru’s newest model is a “real” Outback, it nevertheless aims to blend the capability and functionality the Outback has become known for with modern technology and styling to broaden its flagship appeal. 

Let’s Talk About the 2026 Outback’s Looks

The most controversial change to the 2026 Outback is undoubtedly its styling. There’s no doubt the new Outback’s design will be picked apart by loyal Subaru-istas, as it no longer follows the lifted station wagon’s lineage of prior models—so much so that when we showed a half-dozen editors photos of the new Outback and asked them to identify it, four of the six said “Forester,” one said “Ascent,” and only one was correct. 

Subaru doesn’t seem concerned about that. It says its data shows that the market is “moving away from ‘wagon’ design” and that its customers are “not concerned with design as much as capability.” While the latter statement strikes us as true for Subaru buyers (of which I am one) as a whole, the new Outback will certainly test their tolerance for difference. 

That said, at its core, there’s not a lot of “different” going on with the new Outback. The 2026 model (which for the first time diverges from the Legacy sedan platform) is just a half inch wider, 1.6 inches longer, and 2 inches taller than the model it replaces. Its nose is blunter and more SUV-like, with split headlamps. Outback Wilderness models get extra cladding and a pickup-like “SUBARU” across the grille instead of the usual badge, as well as bold copper-finished foglights (front) and accents (rear) that harken back to ’90s Subarus.  

The 2026 Outback retains a carlike A-pillar but trades the swoopy roofline and daylight openings of the old model for a squared-off look with beefy, SUV-like C- and D-pillars that unintentionally recall the first two generations of Foresters. The Outback’s signature roof rails remain standard, but the foldaway crossbars were dropped for the new generation as most customers didn’t use them. At the rear, the Outback sports a wider, more upright tailgate with lightbar, “SUBARU” spelled out across the hitch-equipped rear bumper, and scratch-resistant cladding on the bumper and spoiler to rest gear on.  

Other Outback Wilderness–specific changes include matte black cladding, mirrors, a slightly larger front bumper, and some extra underbody protection. 

Party Up Top, Business Down Below

Although the 2026 model visually reads as “vintage Forester meets 2020s SUV,” the interior largely feels and functions like an Outback’s typically does. According to the team responsible for designing and engineering the new Outback, the design brief for the interior consisted of making everything above occupants’ waist level “reflect popular millennial styling with advanced technology and a comfortable ‘home’ feel,” while everything below that is supposed to be more functional and rugged. 

The upper portion of the Outback’s interior is indeed simpler, cleaner, and less cluttered. Subaru’s newest infotainment system takes center stage on the 12.1-inch screen, with an easy-to-reach menu bar on the left side of the display, improved processing power, and wireless phone mirroring. The driver gets a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that offers conventional, minimalistic, map, and EyeSight layouts, the last of which supports the new Outback’s hands-free driving system. 

The 2026 Outback has new “low-fatigue” seats with Subaru’s StarTex faux leather upholstery as standard; Nappa leather is optional on more expensive models. HVAC buttons and knobs return and are in a bank below the central infotainment screen. Automatic stop/start, brake hold, parking cameras, and traction control buttons are found next to the shifter. Buttons on the right side of the steering wheel control EyeSight functions, while those on the left manage the entertainment and phone. 

Other practical considerations include more versatile cupholders in the center console, holders in the door pockets for 32-ounce bottles, a wireless charging pad, USB-A and C ports, and a clip to keep cables out of the way. 

Subaru also paid a ton of attention to the new Outback’s cargo area. It now accommodates 34.6 cubic feet of stuff, 2 more than before, mostly due to its wider load floor and taller roofline. A clever new soft washable cargo cover made of recycled materials comes standard and is capable of not only covering the whole space but also dividing it to keep clean items away from dirty, functioning as a hammock to hold loose items, serving as a wall to keep dogs from jumping out an open hatch, and acting as a rear bumper cover so customers can tailgate without needing to worry about dirty jeans. Optional Molle panel accessories will also be available. 

Knowing the language its customers speak, an Easter egg in the hatch’s jamb uses dogs as a unit of measurement for stowage capacity: one behind the second row and two with the rear seats folded flat. Another Easter egg beneath the spoiler highlights mounting locations for larger items like rooftop tents. Although the roof lacks standard cross rails, it does have an 800-pound static load capacity, 220-pound dynamic load capacity, and 220-pound lateral load capacity for those who might want to use their new Outback as an anchor point for a hammock. 

What’s Under the 2026 Outback’s Hood?

As expected from Subaru, there isn’t much new going on under the 2026 Outback’s hood. Base models will be powered by a carryover 2.5-liter flat-four with 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque (down 2 hp but up 2 lb-ft) paired with a CVT and all-wheel drive. Outback XT and Outback Wilderness models get a familiar 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four good for 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, a 7-lb-ft improvement; this is also paired with a CVT and all-wheel drive.  

Subaru’s famed “symmetrical all-wheel-drive” system gets an upgrade in all 2026 Outbacks with a center differential capable of faster lockup, as well as software capable of taking steering angle data into account when routing power. The company says it also revised its X-Mode off-road software for better performance, with Wilderness models getting bonus Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings.  

Base Outbacks retain 8.7 inches of ground clearance and are available with 19-inch wheels for the first time (18-inchers are standard). Outback Wilderness models have 17-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone all-terrain tires, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, and new electronically controlled dampers. The suspension works off the “skyhook” theory, where the idea is to make the car act as if it’s hanging from a giant hook, thus hopefully minimizing body movement and better smoothing out bumps; thus, when the Outback’s tires and suspension react to off-road terrain, the body’s position and trajectory are said to remain stable to the horizon, similar (in theory) to how go-fast off-roaders handle moguls at high speeds. While we’d hesitate to take the Outback Wilderness through any off-road terrain at high speeds, the new suspension seems like it should cure the seesawing the last Outback Wilderness exhibited when off-roading. Also notable is the fact that its 20-degree approach angle, 21.2-degree breakover angle, and 22.5-degree departure angles are all improved versus the past model’s. 

Look Ma, No Hands!

Back on pavement, the 2026 Outback will be Subaru’s first model to feature the company’s new hands-free version of its EyeSight advanced driver assist system (ADAS) on higher-trim models. Functional at speeds up to 85 mph on mapped roads, the system utilizes three forward-facing cameras located in front of the rearview mirror and radar sensors in the grille. It’s capable of pulling the vehicle over onto the shoulder, activating the hazards, and notifying emergency services if the driver becomes unresponsive. Lower trim Outbacks will retain a more basic version of EyeSight with features such as adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and front pre-collision braking.  

When Does the 2026 Subaru Outback Go on Sale?

Subaru says the new Outback will hit dealers in early 2026. Pricing will be announced closer to launch, but we expect the 2026 Outback to cost roughly the same as the prior version, putting it in the $32,000 to $46,000 range depending on trim.  

The long gap between the new Outback’s debut and production, meanwhile, leaves fans plenty of time for debate as to whether the 2026 Outback looks the part. We’d argue it’s a moot point: For the past 30 years Outback owners have been drawn to Subaru’s wagon-SUV mashup not for what it is, but for what it does. We don’t get the sense things will be any different in 2026.