2026 Subaru Outback and Outback Wilderness Up Close: Practically Perfect, In Every Way
It’s rare that we can point to a new, redesigned automobile and say, “It fixed everything we had an issue with.” But here we are, with the new 2026 Subaru Outback and Outback Wilderness. Subaru went through its wagon-turned-SUV thing and fixed just about everything we found fault with, from the generic styling to the terrible vertical multimedia system to the touch-sensitive climate control buttons. All of it has been redone in a thoroughly modern, fully competitive manner, transforming the popular Outback from yet another mild refresh meant to appease legions of loyal prior Outback owners to a new car that just might attract a lot of new buyers.
It’s Boxy, But It’s Good
To steal a line from the infamous advertising satire movie “Crazy People,” which was originally meant to be an ad line for Volvos, the Outback’s new styling is a clear departure from the old soap-bar wagon aesthetic. But only to a point; when we saw the new boxy cabin styling and 2-inch taller roofline in spy shots, we worried that it was going to be more Forester SUV than Legacy wagon, but that turned out not to be the case at all. Yes, there is a much more formal roofline and greenhouse look to the Outback than it’s ever had, but it still maintains its wagon proportions far more than a Forester does. That boost to the roofline height is noticeable inside, too, with plenty of headroom for passengers, even with a moonroof.
Subaru also toned down some of the Outback’s weirder elements, as the automaker’s styling of late has been getting to be a lot. The latest Forester is kind of a mess, and anything with a Wilderness badge on it comes with black plastic cladding in shapes that don’t seem to make much cohesive sense. The 2026 Outback takes a step back from that oddness, with cleaner, better proportioned trim over the wheel wells, a less busy front end, a smooth full-width taillight in the rear, and an overall look that makes us think someone finally busted down the door to Subaru’s car design studios and said, “Enough already!” The Wilderness does kick things up a notch with a black plastic grille, foglights and beefier cladding, but that’s not too out of place for more off-road-capable Wilderness models.
How Has the Outback’s Interior Improved?
The previous Outback’s cheapish interior with the ancient gauges, terrible vertical touchscreen and integrated touch-sensitive buttons for the climate controls was another one of our gripes, and those complaints have also been completely addressed. The 2026 Outback’s new interior is fantastic and a total rethink of the old Subaru look, and all of the interior bits have been upgraded over the old model.
The digital gauge cluster is fresh, modern and far more configurable than the old analog gauges. Subaru also recognizes that switching frequently used systems to touchscreen controls was the wrong thing to do (it only took them six years to figure it out), and it has rectified this with large, easy-to-use hard buttons for the climate controls and other frequently used functions. The seating position is excellent, too, and just high enough to give a commanding view out, but still low enough that it feels like you’re in a wagon rather than an SUV.
The Outback’s new multimedia screen is a revelation. Subaru has gone from an old, cranky, unloved Linux-based multimedia software to the fully modern Google Android Automotive-based operating system. And while the Google system may not be flawless in any application in which we’ve tested it, it’s a damn sight better than what Subaru had been using. It looks similar to Toyota’s latest multimedia system, but it’s better; the Subaru system offers a home screen, is far more configurable and operates with lightning speed, even in the early prototype model I sat in.
I Can’t Find Anything I Don’t Like
The 2026 Outback’s cargo area is bigger by 2 cubic feet, according to Subaru’s measurements, and the roof rack is sturdier and easier to use. The Wilderness variant also gets electronically controlled off-road-tuned shock absorbers for what Subaru says is an astonishingly smooth ride in the dirt. What didn’t get much of a change is the powertrain; both engines make roughly the same power as before, meaning you’ll want to opt for the more powerful turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four-cylinder for proper driving dynamics. The only thing really missing is a hybrid version, and I’d be surprised if one doesn’t show up sometime during this seventh-generation model’s run.
Subaru has transformed the cult classic that a lot of today’s young buyers grew up with into a stylish, fully modern family truckster that has genuine appeal. It has managed to create something that should still appeal to the wagon-loving Subaristi who have kept the Outback going for 30 years now, as well as to people who hadn’t previously considered an Outback because it didn’t look enough like an SUV. All I know is that they’re going to sell like crazy. Better get your order in soon as Subaru opens the books.
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