2026 Subaru Outback First Drive Review

The weather gods were definitely not smiling on the sun-seekers in Sedona, Ariz., but they may have been doing Subaru a favour by dumping buckets of rain on the desert city in the middle of the state.

After all, we were here to drive the redesigned 2026 Subaru Outback for the first time, and this brand’s vehicles have long been known for their capability in inclement weather. Who knew that adding copious amounts of moisture to the red earth that makes up the area’s dirt roads would create a soupy surface with all the grip of a hockey rink?

As should be expected by now, the clever full-time all-wheel-drive system and communicative controls made the journey considerably less treacherous than it could have been.

30 Years in Canada

In that sense, the capabilities and driving dynamics of this seventh-generation Outback follow the script. It’s familiar and comfortable territory for those who know Subarus. What has changed is the Outback’s appearance.

As the Outback celebrates its 30th year in Canada, it’s saying goodbye to any vestiges of the jacked-up-cladded wagon, a segment the Outback arguably perfected, and arrives in full SUV regalia. The body is boxy and upright, and the front looks more truck-like with stacked headlights and a larger grille. Running boards are available for the first time, and the roofline is 50 mm (2.0 in) taller, which translates to increased headroom and cargo capacity.

The 2026 Outback’s footprint and ground clearance remain the same — it stretches 4,870 mm (191.7 in) from bumper to bumper and stands 220 mm (8.7 in) from the ground — as it rides on an updated and strengthened version of the previous platform. The powertrains carry forward, too, although the lineup has been consolidated.

One Non-Turbo Trim

Apparently, most Canadian Outback buyers went for the more potent turbocharged flat four-cylinder, so for 2026 it’s only the Touring trim — which is now the base version, with the Convenience scrapped this year — that runs with a naturally-aspirated 2.5L. That engine puts out 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, while the turbocharged 2.4L makes 260 hp and 277 lb-ft. Both engines are paired to a continuously-variable transmission (CVT) with an eight-speed manual shift mode.

The now-base Touring starts at $40,895 before freight ($2,295) and tax and comes well equipped, rolling on 18-inch alloy wheels and featuring such niceties as standard wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a heated steering wheel and front seats, black leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof, and a power tailgate. The Outback’s new interior is a winner, with an improved build quality and design, and a dashboard with a configurable 12.3-inch instrument display and a 12.1-inch central touchscreen.

Buttons Are Back

Infotainment is all-new from the ground up, with faster response times and more customizability. It appears very well thought out with a more intuitive layout and menu structure. There’s a vertically oriented menu bar within the interfacethat offers fast switching between navigation, music, and phone operations.

Back by popular demand is a full array of physical climate controls below the touchscreen. It seems the people have spoken and Subaru has listened. No more poking away at screen icons for your HVAC needs. Let’s hope other manufacturers follow suit.

For the first time, the Outback has a surround-view monitoring system, while higher trims get built-in navigation. On top of that, MySubaru Navigator is available — a cloud-based voice command system with a one-year free trial.

Latest EyeSight Tech

The Outback comes with the latest evolution of Subaru’s excellent camera- and radar-based based safety system called EyeSight. This includes front pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-centring, lane departure and sway warning and keep assist, emergency stop assist, front cross-traffic braking, vibrating haptic steering wheel, and lane departure warning. A unique feature is acceleration override assist — if you accidently stomp the accelerator in a parking garage or other unsuitable location, it won’t have you careening into a fixed object.

Coming first to the top Outback Premier XT will be the new EyeSightX that, among other extras, provides semi-autonomous hands-free driving with automatic lane changes at speeds as fast as 135 km/h, along with emergency stop assist that has the vehicle pulling over if the driver becomes unresponsive. (That’s after the system jolts the brakes a couple of times to hopefully wake a dozing pilot — a feature that would have saved my father, who fell asleep at the wheel and totaled his previous-generation Subaru Legacy, from which he walked away unscathed.) The systemwill be introduced early 2026 as a free dealer-installed update for the Premier XT.

Quieter and More Stable

Subaru claims the new Outback is smoother, more comfortable, quieter, and more stable on the highway, and I couldn’t argue from the comfort of these redesigned “fatigue reducing” front seats. The Outback has always been blessed with a compliant ride, and on the highway portions of this media drive the Limited XT with its 260-hp turbo motor was the picture of calm and stability, with minimal wind noise. Both front- and rear-seat occupants enjoy increased headroom, and outward visibility is excellent, aided by the taller greenhouse, redesigned A-pillars and a slightly higher seating position.

The throttle response of this engine and CVT combo is a bit elastic, with more turbo lag than I’d like, but power levels are fine if not particularly stimulating. The CVT behaves itself, largely avoiding unwanted engine droning, and in manual mode the shift paddles will have you swiftly toggling between eight simulated gears.

More Cargo Room

The Outback has always been a champ when it comes to serving up plenty of useful cargo room. The 2026 version ups the game with a taller load area and larger hatch opening. Cargo capacity with the split second row folded increases by 139 L to a total of 2,280 L. With the second row in place there’s 980 L, up 57 L over the previous model.

Subaru has come up with an innovative cargo privacy cover solution that does away with the issue of storing it when not in use. It is so simple and brilliant it’s a wonder nobody thought of it before. The configurable soft fabric cover (made from recycled materials) is secured by hooks and magnets, and in its various configurations it can safeguard goods, divide cargo, create a pet partition, or cover the rear bumper to prevent scratches. When not in use, simply roll it into a ball and toss it into a cubby on the side of the cargo area.

With rooftop camping becoming more popular, the Outback’s roof can hold 363 kg (800 lb) of static load, up from 185 kg (409 lb). The robust roof rails can also handle 100 kg (220 lb) of lateral load, which meant nothing to me until I saw a hammock strung from one of them to a tree.

Final Thoughts

With its increased interior room, the 2026 Subaru Outback straddles the compact and midsize sport utility segments. Undoubtedly, wagon fans will bemoan the fact that this new Outback has defected to the dark side, going all SUV on them. Well, the market has spoken, and that’s what buyers are looking for.

The good news is this seventh-gen model is still all Outback under its boxy new sheet metal, delivering the comfort, utility, car-like driving manners, and inclement weather capability we know and love. It’s now just better in every way.

The Japan-built 2026 Subaru Outback is available now in Touring (MSRP $40,895), Limited XT (MSRP $48,195), and Premier XT ($51,195) trims. The off-road oriented Wilderness (MSRP $49,195) will arrive early 2026.