The Outback gets a new look for the seventh generation, looking more like an SUV and less like a wagon.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Subaru took the wraps off an all-new Outback at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday. For 2026, the lifted wagon, which competes in the mid-size SUV segment, grows taller, more aggressive and rugged in its styling and adds a reworked version of the Wilderness, which is the most capable and rugged Outback ever built.
Marking its 30th anniversary this year, the Outback is one of Subaru’s best-selling vehicles. In Canada, one in five Subaru vehicles sold in the past 30 years has been an Outback. Last updated in 2019, this seventh-generation Outback was in desperate need of a change. And it’s immediately noticeable on the exterior with an all-new front fascia that has a bigger grille and functional and aesthetic cladding on the front, rear and side rocker panels to protect highly exposed areas from paint scratches and dings. Above the licence plate at the back is the Outback name and below it, the Subaru name is embossed.
Compared with its siblings, the Outback Wilderness trim stands out from the crowd – the front end is even bolder with a massive grille stamped with Subaru. From its side profile, you can’t miss its Wilderness-exclusive 17-inch matte black wheels and matte black accents on the side mirrors and side cladding. The anodized copper-finish exterior accents are eye-catching, appearing on the roof rails, fog lights and reverse signal lights.
In the cabin, the anodized copper-finish accents carry over on the steering wheel and gear shifter. The Wilderness trim also has water-resistant, animal-free interior seating surfaces that are easy to clean. There are many other neat interior touches including felt-lined bottle holders in each door that can now hold 32-ounce water bottles and headliner inserts made with materials from recycled plastic bottles. There’s also an all new 12.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster and a 360-degree camera for spotting obstacles when off-roading. Thankfully, the climate control functions have been moved from the touchscreen to hard-button controls below the screen so its easier to find and use in cold weather when wearing gloves.
The Wilderness trim is easily identified because of its massive grille stamped with Subaru.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Two engines are available – the base Outback gets a reworked 2.5-litre Boxer engine with 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque while the other trims including the Outback Wilderness get a 2.4-litre turbocharged Boxer engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, which is a carry over. The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission with different driving modes including snow/dirt and deep snow/mud. Subaru’s symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive system is revised, offering faster centre differential lockup and reduced wheelspin when off-roading or on slick roads. While the Wilderness maintains 241 millimetres of ground clearance, it has enhanced approach, departure and breakover angles, compared with its siblings. The approach angle has increased to 20 degrees compared with 18 degrees, the ramp breakover moves up to 21.2 degrees compared with 19.4 degrees and the departure angle increases to 22.5 degrees versus 21.4 degrees.
Even though the Outback has 220 millimetres of ground clearance, it still has a comfortable step-in height and low cargo floor for easy loading and unloading. Owing to a 50-millimetre taller roofline and the all-new design, the cargo space in the Outback has grown to 980 litres of space. The cargo area is also 50 millimetres taller, while the load floor width spans 1,100 millimetres, which is wider than its competitors. The cargo cover is made of 100-per-cent recycled material. When not in use, the cargo cover can be stored in its own compartment so it doesn’t shift around or eat up valuable cargo space. For the first time, utility hooks are available in the cargo area, too. The hooks have tie-down points to hold items such as wet gear that weigh up to 2.7 kilograms each.
All Outbacks are loaded with safety features such as Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which supports driver-supervised, hands-free highway driving up to 135 kilometres an hour and incorporates more cameras and front radar to better detect vehicles and bicycles. It even has front cross-traffic alert and precollision braking as well as adaptive cruise control, lane centring and lane departure warning systems – just to name a few.
For the Canadian market, the 2026 Subaru Outback will be built in Japan. It will be available in four trims: Touring, XT Limited, Wilderness and XT Premier when it goes on sale in late 2025. The 2026 Outback Wilderness is expected to arrive in early 2026. Pricing and detailed specifications will be available closer to the sale date.
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
Shopping for a new car? Check out the Globe Drive Build and Price Tool to see the latest discounts, rebates and rates on new cars, trucks and SUVs. Click here to get your price.