Subaru’s trusty Outback has a solid reputation for handling just about everything you can throw at it. But the automaker’s latest update takes things to the next level, all the more so, we discovered, checking out the newly redesigned SUV’s Wilderness package out in the wild back roads and trails near Healdsburg, California. Here’s our review.
Author John Faulkner with the 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness.
The Subaru Outback has built up a loyal following since making its original debut back in 1995. Newly redesigned, it promises to offer even more capabilities for those looking to push the SUV to extremes with its Wilderness package.
The 2026 Outback Wilderness offers even more off-road capability and ruggedness over the base Outback, reinforcing their well-earned strong reputation of building off-road capable SUVs.
Headlight.News took the SUV out to Healdsburg, California earlier this month to see if it lives up to its billing.
What’s new
All versions of the 2026 Subaru Outback get a major makeover — with the new Wilderness package upping the nameplate’s off-road chops.
As we noted during a review of the more mainstream 2026 Outback, it’s a notable year for the Subaru SUV. Coming 30 years after the debut of the original Outback, it gets an all but completely ground-up makeover.
That includes the new Wilderness model, part of a growing sub-brand that includes versions of the Crosstrek, Forester and now the Outback. Subaru took the base model of each and gave them increased ground clearance, all-terrain tires and exterior and interior design features making them more capable in an off-road environment.
The Outback’s appeal as a versatile five passenger SUV will only grow with the Wilderness option as it delivers composed and comfortable on-road driving but also impressive off-roading for everything just under rock crawling. This is a great combination to have in a single vehicle.
Turbocharged Boxer engine and All-Wheel Drive
The 2026 Wilderness is a late addition to the Outback line.
Subaru’s Boxer 2.4-liter twin-scroll and Intercooled turbocharged engine, running on 87 octane, puts out 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving all four wheels has multiple drive modes and an 8-speed manual shifting option that can be controlled with the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The EPA has rated the Wilderness package’s fuel economy at 21 city/27 highway and 23 combined miles per gallon.
The standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive system includes the latest generation of X-Mode which increases grip and traction in icy, sloppy and off-road conditions, and includes hill ascent and descent control. X-Mode has individual controls for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings. Hill Descent Control comes on automatically when the system senses the need. It worked perfectly.
On-road driving
The Wilderness package beefs up protection, while giving a big boost in ride height.
Our drive on smooth paved surfaces was a combination of in-town stop and go, mountain roads with sweeping turns, a few tight twisties, open highways and driving rural vineyard roads. The CVT was smooth with the computer defaulting to favoring fuel economy, which is fine for city and highway everyday driving. Since there are no step gears in a CVT using the paddles held the CVT in a rev ratio at about 4,000 rpms and approximately 45 mph when climbing a hill. It was helpful and will prove even more so when loaded with four adults and all their gear headed-out for a weekend adventure or pulling a trailer of up to 3,500 pounds.
Subaru says the Wilderness model’s suspension is “Off-Road Tuned. In many products, that would suggest on-road driving has been compromised. This isn’t the case here, however, as the suspension is nicely tuned to handle cornering of all types. Body roll was well controlled. We tested in ways you never will by pushing it on corners to get a feel for how Wilderness would respond in an emergency situation with your family onboard.
The stable ride is the result of vehicle dynamics and electric traction control, active torque split and electronically controlled dampers. The electric power assisted steering was responsive and precise delivering a good feel of the road. The overall package readily handled everything we threw at it.
The Outback Wilderness is well-suited for two or four people, whether they’re hitting the road for a weekend adventure, commuting, or chauffeuring the kids on bread-and-butter runs.
More Subaru News
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Getting Dirty
The latest Outback no longer shares its underpinnings with the Legacy sedan.
Wilderness standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive systemt continuously varies the front-to-rear torque split based on inputs from acceleration, steering angle and yaw rate sensors. It transfers more torque to the rear wheels in response to wheel slip. X-MODE adds even more grip and traction for sand, mud and snow.
The Wilderness trim has additional off-road capability over the base Outback with a beefed-up suspension, tires, under body protection, upgraded rear differential and greater approach and departure angles. Another plus with the Wilderness package: Bridgestone Dueler A/T 225/65 all-terrain tires on matte black 17-inch rims. They performed well on both the off-road course and on-road, where the ride was notably smoother than you often get with all-terrain rubber. Subaru, thankfully, has included a full-size 17-inch matching spare.
Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system shifts power to the back end, as needed.
The trails we drove included steep ascents and descents on varying surfaces. With X-Mode, engaged on the steering wheel, we traversed steep sections of hard and soft dirt and even a bit of mud when traversing a creek bed. The Hill Descent Control, where the computer keeps the downhill speed under 12 mph, confidently descended a steep, muddy section. The Outback Wilderness is up to the task giving owners the option to find forest service roads or even take-on off-road park trails.
The 9.5-inches of ground clearance came in handy several times and bests key competitors like the Toyota RAV4 Woodland at 8.1-inches; the Honda CR-V TrailSport at 8.2-inches; the Hyundai Tucson XRT at 8.3-inches; the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek at 8.2-inches and the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands at 8.8-inches.
Comfortable interior
The Outback Wilderness interior surfaces are animal-free and water-resistant StarTex (a synthetic upholstery material) in black with copper stitching and the Wilderness logo embroidered on the front seat headrests. The thick rubber all-weather mats and a rubber cargo tray were put to good use as driving off-road got messy and the mats and tray captured all of the gunk we left behind.
Black Nappa Leather seating, also with copper accent stitching, is in a package that includes a power moonroof, 360º surround view monitor, power folding exterior mirrors and a 12-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory and a leg extension.
The Wilderness package will easily store your gear as the cargo area is urging to be packed for a weekend road trip. With the 60:40 split rear seat upright storage space is 42.8 inches, when folded it grows to 75.9 inches, the widest point between the wheels is 43.3 inches and the height is 34.1 inches measured to the panoramic moonroof. There are multiple cup and bottle holders with the largest capable of holding a 32-ounce container.
Front passengers in the base Outback get 4-way manual seat adjustments but when upping to the Wilderness trim they get 8-way power adjustments with heat and ventilation. Rear seat head, shoulder and leg room is ample for two adults, three in a pinch. Convenience features includes a fold down armrest with cup holders, heated outboard seats, air vents and USB-C charge ports.
Technology
The high seating position and tall windows provide excellent forward and side visibility. The configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument gauge cluster works as an information display for vehicle functions. The horizontal 12.1-inch touchscreen features onboard navigation and had the 12-speaker, 576-watt with sub-woofer Harman Kardon sound system for AM/FM HD and SiriusXM radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. USB-A and C ports and wireless phone charging are standard.
The Outback Wilderness comes with active and passive advanced driver assist systems, or ADAS, that is all part of the EyeSight system. Safety technology includes multiple airbags, advanced adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking and throttle management, emergency stop assist, highway active lane change assist and lane departure warning. In the case of an accident or other emergency, the Starlink Connected Services feature will place a call to emergency services.
Additional convenience features include dual zone automatic climate control, rear vision camera, push button start/stop, remote keyless entry, steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth control switches, tire pressure monitoring system and 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes.
Adventure-ready exterior
The Outback Wilderness design is boxier than the outgoing model with a flatter roof, a steeper rake to the rear lift gate glass and short front, side and rear overhangs. The new design includes Wilderness-only cues of anodized copper accents on the body and roof rail tie-down points, redesigned side rocker panel protection and cladding, a horizontal off-road truck-like front grille, vertical headlights, black hood decal, fog lights and completely redesigned front and rear bumpers and dual front and rear tow points. The exterior power mirrors are heated as are the windshield wipers for de-icing.
Body protection features enhanced fender brush guard cladding for when going off-road or encountering a wayward shopping cart. Cladding is also found across the front and rear fascias.
Serious camping is handled with ladder-style roof rails having a load capacity rating of 800-pounds static (maybe for two adults and large dogs in a tent) and laterally (for an awning) of 220-pounds. The dynamic roof cargo rating is 220-pounds. To make loading roof cargo easier, new for 2026 are integrated rope tie-down hooks in the rack rails.
Subaru offers plenty of accessories to help owners handle their gear.
The power hatch has LED tail lights, a small lip spoiler and a wiper, with the roof having a shark fin antenna. New also are lift gate gear rests to tie-down skis and snowboards so as to not scratch the paint.
Pricing and Availability
The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness rolls into dealers beginning in early 2026.
Pricing ranges from $46,445 to $50,535 – including the $1,450 destination and delivery fee.
Go to Subaru.com to see full pricing and options.
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