By Steve Laser
Subaru was ahead of the times when it introduced the original Outback, called the “World’s First Sports Utility Wagon.” To help celebrate the Outback’s 30th anniversary, Subaru is introducing a new, seventh-generation model lineup for 2026. The Outback has come a long way since it debuted as a trim level on the 1995 Legacy wagon and became its own model line in 1996. Subaru has sold more than three million units of the Outback in the U.S. market.
Outback receives all-new, Adventure Ready-themed styling, with the choice of Premium, Limited, Touring, Limited XT, Touring XT (shown above and below), and Wilderness models for 2026. Rugged design details include a bold new look up front with a larger grille, new lighting signatures, and textured lower fascia.
The side profile appears more SUV-like, with a taller roof, standard raised roof rails, and wider D-pillars. Outback features 8.7-inches of ground clearance, newly available 19-inch alloy wheels, plus improved comfort and ride quality.
Outback Wilderness (above and below) enhances the new look with exclusive styling elements including an even bolder front fascia and grille, hexagonal LED fog lights, matte black trim around the headlights, side mirrors, and bodyside cladding, plus 9.5-inches of ground clearance.
Wilderness also receives standard ladder-style roof rails, enhanced underbody protection, and anodized copper-finish exterior accents. Good looking 17-inch black matte alloy wheels are wrapped with Bridgestone All-Terrain Dueler tires.
XT and Wilderness models feature a 2.4-liter turbo Subaru Boxer® 4-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. A 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with 180 hp and 178 lb.-ft. is standard on all other models. Lineartronic® CVT with 8-speed manual shift mode, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and X-MODE® with a new steering-wheel-mounted selector switch are also standard.
Outback’s redesigned interior offers increased comfort with more room for passengers and cargo, new low-fatigue seat designs, plus an all-new 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.1-inch infotainment system. StarTex® upholstery is standard on Premium and Wilderness, while Limited features perforated leather, and Touring includes perforated Nappa leather trim.
The new center touchscreen includes vertical-style menus for selecting music, phone, navigation, vehicle info, and cloud-based voice recognition. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are standard.
The new instrument cluster lets the driver select different modes to view gauges, maps, and safety feature displays. All Outbacks feature Subaru’s latest EyeSight® Driver Assist with three forward-facing cameras, new wide-angle mono camera, new radar sensors, and new haptic-feedback steering wheel function. The list includes newly available Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection, Pre-Curve Speed Control, Highway Active Lane Change Assist, and Highway Automatic Resume Assist.
The 2026 Outback is expected to launch in the U.S. market in late 2025, while the Wilderness model is planned to follow in early 2026.
Note: Features, specifications, and launch timing for future U.S. market models is preliminary and subject to change without notice.
News sources and photos courtesy of Subaru Corp. and Subaru of America
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