2026 Subaru Outback consumer reviews

I have the 2026 Subaru Outback Premium. The car drives great (super smooth/quiet) and the new interior/driver controls are fantastic. Both the climate control and the entertainment system are vast improvement over the 2025 Outback. The sound system is really good for being the Premium model. I got 28 mpg on the first tank of gas and am getting 29 mpg on the second tank of gas. Mostly city driving. I paid right at $33k, which is fantastic value for this great of a car.

This is my second Subaru Outback. I loved the 2017 & this one is even better. The improved eyesight is nice & the backup camera is wonderful. The extension on the visor is a small but quite helpful.

It is a great vehicle but has a couple of quirks to be aware of. It has great clearance and is very smooth to drive. If you leave pets or people in the car be aware that this car automatically shuts off in 30 minutes. Also the front passenger seats needs 80 lbs and it has to be distributed in the seat or the air bags do not turn on. That doesn’t work for me so I have to sell it.

This is my third Subaru but my first Outback. I loved my Legacy and my Forester but this vehicle is overall better in most ways. The ride and comfort is outstanding and the performance is adequate for my needs. The Infotainment system and climate controls are perfect. The built-in navigation needs lots of changes and I wouldn't recommend it right now as it tells me to turn left when you need to turn right. It even sometimes shows the opposite direction on the map. The speed limits shown is often wrong as well like the maps are out of date. Wireless Android Auto doesn't work well either and often blanks out. I hope that these items will be fixed via updates. This vehicle is a pleasure to drive.

I had some weird requirements. I bought a full-sized spare exactly like the other wheels/tires on the car so I wanted it to fit in the wheel well. It did that. I also wanted a car that had a very convenient way of turning off the auto on/off feature where the car's engine turns off when you come to a light. I also wanted AWD. The cabin is quieter than my previous car so that's also a plus. The seats are very comfortable. The only small negative is that the map lights are very weak. I will have them replaced with LED bulbs at the car's first oil change at 3000 miiles.

2026 Outback Touring XT doesn't accommodate cold weather tires per Subaru - must buy 18' wheels in lieu of 19" OEN wheels at huge expense. Snow tires are a must in Colorado , VT etc. How can Subaru sell an Outback that cannot mount snow tires on the stock 19" wheels? Subaru solution is to buy 18' wheels at owner expense. Very poor design

I love Subaru automobiles. I usually buy Forresters, I trade up every 3 years. My only complaint with the Forrester is the cabin noise is loud. When I went to the dealership I saw a different looking Subaru. It was the 2026 Outback which had been redesigned and looked like a SUV not a station wagon. I drove it and boom, problem solved. The outside noise was not loud at all. It had the same great features, plus more than my Forrester had. I fell in love! The new color an emerald green caught my eye and I have had many compliments on it. The ride is smooth, it is roomier than the Forrester. I am so happy with my purchase

Love the look and performance of the new Outback model. Easy to drive with great features that makes the base package seem higher end. Great car for bad weather.

Great car but mileage is poor and the new model is a total mud magnet and is much too tall. Very poor design. The 2020 to 2025 models were the best ever!!!!!

This is my fifth new Subaru and my third Outback Touring XT. The improvements are across the board. The new system’s software and infotainment screen are major improvements along with the hvac controls all moved to buttons below the screen. The all digital driver’s screen is configurable and quite attractive and useful. The Outback is extremely quiet, the turbo engine very responsive and overall the vehicle feels more solid/substantial compared to the previous Outbacks.