First Drive: 2026 Subaru Outback Offers More to Love

Three decades after making its auspicious debut – and, in the process, saving a once-struggling little Japanese brand – the Subaru Outback gets a complete makeover for 2026. And, if anything, the seventh-generation SUV is only now fully coming into its own. There’s plenty to love, Headlight.News discovered during a first drive.

It’s a notable year for the Subaru Outback. Thirty years after it made its debut – launching the transformation of a largely unknown Japanese manufacturer into an iconic brand – the SUV gets a complete makeover for 2026.

You might even say that the 2026 Outback has finally been liberated. In its original form, the crossover was little more than a Subaru Legacy wagon on steroids. And, ever since, it has had to share underpinnings – and key design elements with Legacy. No longer. That model has been dropped, falling victim to the steady decline in passenger car sales. Lament the loss of Legacy, if you wish, but it has freed up Outback to fully become what it was always meant to be.

Or so Headlight.News discovered during a trip to Sedona, Arizona where we got an opportunity to put the 2026 Subaru Outback through its paces, a drive that included time on a bone-jarring trail meant to test the mettle of both man and machine.

What’s new for 2026

While some basic elements – starting with the underlying platform — carry over, the 2026 Subaru Outback has undergone a major upgrade, starting with a top-to-bottom designer makeover.

Outback fans will still recognize the basic shape, but the gen-7 SUV boasts a more rugged SUV-like shape, rather than the wagon-like design that had been the norm for the prior three decades. That reflects the fact that Subaru has now discontinued the Legacy sedan that long shared that platform and limited how far designers could stretch things.

While details like the newly textured  grille and lower fascia, as well as the more upright glass and body panels may seem cosmetic, many of the updates are functional. The roof rails, for example, now can handle a 220-pound dynamic load and 800-pound static load – enough to support a tent. The rails have also been upgraded so they can be used for hanging a hammock or clothesline.

Interior redesign

The cabin undergoes an even more extensive redesign which also offers some functional improvements. At 34.6 cubic feet the 2026 Subaru Outback has about 2 cf more cargo space and a wee bit more breathing room, if you will, for passengers.

Subaru designers have never been wont to blindly follow industry trends and that’s clearly apparent in their decision not to move all controls to the 12.2-inch touchscreen. Instead, they provide the right balance of knobs, buttons and switches, particularly for the climate control system. The instrument panel also boasts a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster.

There’s plenty of technology, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And Outback gets the latest version of Subaru’s well-reviewed EyeSight driver assistance technology. Standard functions include front pre-collision braking, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control. A number of other driver assistance functions, including Safe Lane Selection, Pre-Curve Speed Control, Highway Active Lane Change Assist and Highway Automatic Resume Assist are optional, as is the automaker’s Highway Hands Free Assist system – which can be used at speeds up to 85 mph.

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2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness

Subaru has grown into a wildly popular brand in Snowbelt climes and buyers have clearly embraced the Wilderness package added a few years back. While it might not take you out onto the most rugged trails in Moab, Utah, it’s more than enough for overlanding and moderately challenging off-roading. That should be even more so with the upgrade to the 2026 Wilderness trim.

Unlike the “ruggedized” packages offered by some key competitors, the Outback Wilderness is a serious option. It adds such useful upgrades as a more rugged suspension with new electronically controlled dampers, Subaru’s driver-selectable X-Mode – which adapts suspension to various road and driving conditions, such as snow, mud or sand. Add 17-inch all-terrain tires, matte black side mirrors, side cladding, headlamps and an expanded front bumper.

It now rides 0.8 inches higher than the rest of the Outback family, with 8.5 inches of ground clearance. And, notes Subaru, “The approach angle has been extended to 20 degrees compared to 18 degrees; ramp breakover moves up to 21.2 degrees compared to 19.4 degrees; and the departure angle increases to 22.5 degrees compared to 21.4 degrees.

Other upgrades include a ruggedized suspension with new electronically controlled dampers, Subaru’s driver-selectable X-Mode – which adapts suspension to various road and driving conditions, such as snow, mud or sand. Add 17-inch all-terrain tires, matte black side mirrors, side cladding, headlamps and an expanded front bumper.

Powertrain options

For 2026, Outback Wilderness buyers will get two powertrain packages.

• A newly updated 2.5-liter flat-four “Boxer” engine makes 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque;
• The Outback XT and Wilderness trims get a 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine rated at 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque.

Both engines pair with a Lineartronic CVT gearbox with an 8-speed manual shift mode. All Outback models feature Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.

On Wilderness models buyers will have an available trailer hitch upgrade with a combined 4- and 7-pin connector, and has a 3,500-pound towing capacity.

Driving impressions

The launch of the original Subaru Legacy Outback carried a ting of desperation. The automaker was one of several struggling brand struggling brands hoping to head off the slide that eventually drove competing Japanese brands Isuzu and Daihatsu – as well as some European competitors out of the market. Serendipitously, Subaru tapped into – indeed, helped create – what is today the largest segment in the U.S. automotive market. It helped to have an intriguing design, a competent platform and the brand’s reliable boxer engine.

With rare exception, each generation of Outback has become more competent and fun to drive. But this latest makeover has allowed Subaru to take the crossover to a new level since it no longer needs to make compromises by having to share much of its underpinnings with the Legacy line. The new design is more upright and solid. Controversial to some, to my eye it’s more straightforward, precisely what I expect an Outback to look like.

I spent most of my time in the top-line Touring XT package and was impressed by the punch the turbocharged, 2.4-liter engine could deliver. Torque came on quickly yet it was smooth and predictable when cruising. The 2.5-liter naturally aspirated alternative was acceptable but a bit underpowered.

We spent close to two hours off-roading along an ancient mining trail that eventually led to a paragliding camp with stunning views of the red rock Sedona valley. While nowhere as tough as Moab, the route put plenty of demand on our Outback’s suspension and, at times, required some skill to navigate portions where much of what passed as a trail had washed out. It’d be nice to have a full skid plate option but the underbody protection Subaru does provide was able to handle everything we encountered.

The suspension is stiff, which does have its advantages, though buyers should expect to be jarred a bit if they take the 2026 Outback on anything rougher than gravel. Out on the highway, the crossover was much smoother, despite the all-terrain tires were outfitted with. While the gen-7 CUV may be the most confident on challenging roads, it’s also the most comfortable on pavement.

Pricing and availability

Most versions of the 2026 Subaru Outback are now rolling into showrooms, though the most extreme Wilderness trim won’t arrive until early 2026.

As for pricing, the Premium is the most affordable package, with a base MSRP of $36,445.

The Limited starts at $41,000, though that can quickly push into the low to mid-$40,000 range with options. Our Touring XT was listed at $49,840.

The more off-road-focused Wilderness will start at $46,445.