2026 Subaru Outback revealed

The 2026 Subaru Outback has made its debut at the 2025 New York motor show, revealing a design that sees the wagon-crossover push harder into SUV territory than ever before.

The seventh-generation model features a bolder, boxier look with a more upright front fascia and a flatter (yet 51mm higher) roofline that screams, “I’m definitely an SUV now”.

The new Outback was unveiled in New York alongside a next-gen Wilderness variant – the rock-crushing off-road hero model of the range also tipped to come to Australia – and the brand’s new Trailseeker EV.

Subaru Australia wouldn’t be drawn on timing for the new Outback’s Aussie arrival, stating that the reveal of the new Outback and Trailseeker EV represented “an exciting glimpse into the brand’s future”, and that the importer would share more details of “what these global debuts mean for the Australian market in due course”.

Nevertheless, carsales expects the new Outback to arrive here in the first half of 2026.

The Outback is a crucial vehicle for Subaru Australia, accounting for a quarter of the brand’s annual sales of 40,000 units in 2024. The Outback accounted for just over 10,000 units and was only narrowly outsold by Subaru’s Forester and Crosstrek.

Interestingly, Subaru will manufacture the new Outback exclusively in Japan, including the more rugged Wilderness variant which was previously only produced in the US.

This ends the model’s production run in America completely, though it’s unclear what sparked the reshuffle.

American customers can expect to see the standard Outback arrive in late 2025, with the more adventure-focused Wilderness following in early 2026.

The 2026 Subaru Outback carries over similar powertrain options to the outgoing model, with two petrol engines available: a base model 2.5-litre naturally aspirated flat-four (134kW/241Nm) and a turbocharged 2.4-litre flat-four (194kW/376Nm).

Both engines are paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) featuring an eight-speed manual shift mode.

All models feature Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system with a faster centre differential lockup than before, which Subaru claims provides “reduced wheelspin and incorporates steering angle data for better stability”.

Conspicuously absent was any mention of hybrid or electrified Outback options, though carsales expects Subaru to eventually introduce such variants.

The new Outback continues its focus on off-road capability with impressive ground clearance figures, starting with the standard Outback’s 221mm ride height, up from 213mm in the outgoing Australian model.

The Outback Wilderness models get a lift kit taking ground clearance to an impressive 241mm.

Off-road angles for the standard 2026 Outback are 18, 19.4 and 21.4 degrees for approach, breakover and departure angles respectively. The Wilderness dials this up to 20, 21.2 and 22.5 degrees, giving it plenty of off-road clout right out of the box.

In a not-so-subtle dig at the competition, Subaru claims the Wilderness is more capable off-road than both the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT and the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands.

The standard raised roof rails offer impressive load capabilities: 363kg static load capacity (800lb per US specs), 100kg dynamic load rating (220lb), and – in a first for any Subaru – a lateral load capacity of 100kg (220lb) from the crossbars’ sides, allowing owners to hang hammocks or clotheslines between the bars.

All seventh-generation Subaru Outback models get a new 12.1-inch landscape-oriented touch-screen (up from 11.6 inches), a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloud-based voice recognition and a welcome return to physical buttons and knobs for climate controls.

The digital instrument cluster offers various display modes, including a ‘Calm Mode’ designed to minimise driver distraction.

Subaru has increased cargo capacity to 980 litres (34.6 cubic feet), up 57L (2 cubic feet) thanks to the taller roofline. The cargo floor width stretches to almost 1.1 metres (43.3 inches) – which Subaru claims is wider than that found in rivals.

Subaru also insists the car features increased headroom for front and rear occupants, plus ‘low-fatigue’ seats mounted directly onto the chassis.

The car’s new design is said to have achieved a 10 per cent reduction in wind noise, while convenience features like larger bottle holders in doors and redesigned cup holders positioned alongside the gear shifter further aid amenity.

The 2026 Outback comes equipped with the latest generation of Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech, powered by three forward-facing cameras and new radar sensors. Standard features include:

• Acceleration Override Assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane centering
• Front cross-traffic assist
• Emergency stop assist

Higher trim levels add Highway Hands-Free Assist (up to 137km/h or 85mph) and, for the first time on any Subaru, Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection.

This feature can change lanes to pull the vehicle safely to the shoulder if a driver becomes unresponsive. It will also activate hazard lights, notify emergency services, and unlock doors for first responders. Some brands unofficially call this ‘heart-attack mode’.

The seventh-generation Subaru Outback model arrives as Subaru celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Outback nameplate, which has sold more than three million units in the US alone.

Subaru proudly boasts that 96 per cent of all Outbacks sold in the US over the past decade remain on the road today, a figure it claims exceeds both the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

When it launches in the USA, the 2026 Outback will be available in Premium, Limited, Touring, Limited XT, Touring XT, and Wilderness trim levels. The Aussie line-up is expected to be slightly condensed.

Stay tuned for more.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au