The 2026 Subaru Outback is designed from the ground up and is two inches taller than the previous generation. More refined than its predecessor, it features additional sound-deadening materials and bucks the all-touchscreen trend, boasting plenty of knobs and buttons. Competing with the Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-70, Nissan Murano, Toyota Crown Signia, Toyota 4Runner, and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, this new Outback shows early promise in this crowded field.
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2026 Subaru Outback Test Results
It’s the same length and width as the previous Outback and 1″ taller. Sure, the styling has changed, but people are acting like it’s turned into some behemoth.
I love the new designs from Subaru. They offer also so much value, too bad they cannot match their competitors in efficiency
A car is just a box to move your body.. and in the end, everything will go back in the box.. 😂😂😂
It’s a beautiful vehicle, this is perfect for 5 person families!
Yay Jen!!!!
IMO, Subaru is losing a lot of potential customers by not having modern, upscale styling.
They also need to get on the PHEV bandwagon.
Looking forward to seeing how the long term test goes. The styling is growing on me.
Absolutely love the new outback and actually thinking about purchasing a new one in a few months.
I’m not really loving the turbo idea though, I’m just wondering, has anyone had a chance to try to the normal 2.5L vs the 2.4L turbo? In Canada, the base model is 43,000, the next one up (with turbo) is 50,000. I’m curious if the 7k (5,000 usd) is worth it.
Watching the review of this Outback, I couldn’t help but notice on the infotainment screen there were 200 messages and 200 phone calls on someone’s phone. 😊
I avoid anything with a conventional CVT in it.
Questionable reliability aside, I just don’t care for the way they drive and sound.
Do you all experts think Subaru’s are too expensive? For the price Subaru asks do these cars provide real value for median Americans? Have Subaru fixed issues related with CVT and failing heads?
Great car! Myself, I have just signed for a Forester 2026 which suited my needs.
Looks nice. Now, If only Subaru could redesign the the Accent and make it a proper rival to the Honda Pilot.
Subaru pioneered and owned the niche segment of AWD station wagon with all-weather and some offroad capability. This was a niche with little competition. Now the Outback competes in the highly competitive mid-sized SUV competition where it already has the Ascent, and where I feel that the new Outback will not standout as easily.
A lot of customer disappointed because they don’t need a SUV, they want a Wagon.
I’ll take mine in silver/gray interior, mainly because I wouldn’t normally go for the top trims with more than I want and already too many bells and whistles. The cost and efficiency of some hybrids still kind of turn me off, especially any with that whiny sound would always drive me away. But this new Outback seems the only vehicle I would want the rest of my life… as long as the color allows to contrast to the cladding, that is. But I digress, every car still has colors that clash so bad with the design. Anyone wanna help me get one?? 😁😁😁
This is an ugly car. Subaru is designing the Outback out of the Outback and away from what it has been for decades. Call the previous Outbacks station wagons, I don’t care. People bought them because they weren’t super boxy. And now this is looking more like a slightly longer, always- ugly Forrester. My 2018 Outback is my second. I have driven Subarus since 1992 but I wouldn’t buy this one.
It is boxier, but the interior volume is a good tradeoff, that screen though is the real winner. I have a 2020 Subaru and it’s super laggy.
Great review really enjoyed it and solid vehicle. Needs a hybrid bad though.
I like the new look. Good for Subaru for taking a chance with something different. Kind of like the Sante Fe in its blockiness.