2026 Subaru Outback tested with boxier styling and 180-horsepower engine

Despite its squared-off body, expansive greenhouse, and substantial passenger space, the redesigned 2026 Subaru Outback remains a lifted wagon at heart. While it sits 1.4 inches taller than the 2025 model, even the rugged Wilderness trim remains nearly five inches shorter than a Honda Passport and four inches shorter than a Toyota 4Runner, even with standard roof rails attached. The exterior design trades curved styling for straight lines and sharp edges, giving the wagon a tougher, more upright profile.

The interior represents the highlight of the redesign, taking full advantage of the boxier greenhouse to maximize room. Front-row legroom surpasses that of the larger three-row Subaru Ascent, while rear headroom measures 40.5 inches—beating the second row of a Chevrolet Suburban by 1.6 inches. In the Premium trim, the cabin features tweedy upholstery across the dashboard and door panels, synthetic leather seating, a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a horizontal 12.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unlike the prior vertically oriented setup, this screen proves more intuitive and retains a physical volume knob. Cargo volume behind the folding rear seats reaches 80.5 cubic feet, and ground clearance remains a generous 8.7 inches.

Powertrain updates are less inspiring on the base trim. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four produces 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, dropping 2 horsepower compared to the 2025 version. Paired with a continuously variable transmission, the 3,764-pound Outback accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, lagging roughly 1.6 seconds behind key segment competitors. The quarter-mile run took 16.7 seconds at 85.2 mph. Braking from 60 to 0 mph required 126 feet, and handling on Dunlop GrandTrek PT20 all-season tires netted 0.80 g of lateral acceleration with a 28.2-second figure-eight lap.

Where the base engine compromises on speed, it delivers in efficiency. The EPA rates the Outback Premium at 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined, providing up to 486 miles of total range. Subaru's EyeSight suite comes standard, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, evasive steering assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Pricing starts at $36,445 for the Premium trim, reaching $38,922 on the tested example with the optional package adding navigation, wireless charging, a sunroof, and a heated steering wheel.