A popular, rugged family vehicle that looks like a mix between a station wagon and an SUV. It's famous for being great in snow and mud, and for having lots of room for gear and pets.
Subaru's special system that sends power to all four wheels at the same time, all the time. Because the parts are lined up perfectly down the middle of the car, it keeps the vehicle balanced and helps it grip the road incredibly well in rain or snow.
An engine where the pistons lie flat and push side-to-side (like boxers punching each other) instead of moving up and down. This keeps the engine low in the car, which helps the car balance better around corners.
A type of automatic transmission that doesn't have traditional gears (like 1st, 2nd, 3rd). Instead, it uses a belt that constantly adjusts to keep the engine running at the perfect speed, which saves gas but can sometimes make the engine sound like it's droning.
A special button in Subarus that prepares the car for tough off-road driving. It helps control the brakes and power to keep you from slipping when going down steep, muddy, or snowy hills.
A standard test to see how fast a car can speed up from a dead stop to highway speeds (60 miles per hour). The lower the number of seconds, the faster the car feels.
This is a rugged Subaru vehicle made for people who love camping and outdoor adventures. It has extra ride height so it doesn't scrape on rocks, and it uses tough tires designed to grip dirt, mud, and gravel roads.
When you turn the steering wheel to go around a corner, but the car keeps sliding straight forward instead of turning as much as you want. It feels like the front of the car is 'plowing' wide.
A rear-view mirror that is actually a video screen showing a live feed from a camera on the back of the car. It's great because even if you pack your trunk to the ceiling, you can still see perfectly behind you.
The camera operator and driver who helps the host of this show film the beautiful shots of the cars driving down the road.
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You probably know the 2026 Subaru Outback, Generation 7, has succumbed to peer pressure
and ditched its wagon roots for an SUV silhouette, and that the styling busier than a caffeinated
squirrel is polarizing.
These things are what they are – Subaru Loyalist's value utility, not fashion.
The new Outback still does outbacky things – in fact, more now than ever.
There are cable guides, a much improved interface, the best sun visors in the business, and a
security shade that has skills.
Hammock mode keeps things from rolling around – Paul Hogan approved.
And if you're wondering, yeah, he's still alive.
Pricing for the new Outback starts at around $36,400, and that includes standard symmetrical
all-wheel drive because – Subaru – and destination, because you can't get a vehicle
without that.
Subaru has dropped off the keys to a top-trim Touring XT MSRP 49.4, which is not a bad deal
considering the average vehicle these days goes for around $50,000.
For an additional $3,700 over the limited, Touring adds Napa leather seats with ventilation,
and a new iSight highway hands-free assist driving technology that's similar to Ford's
BlueCruise and GM's SuperCruise.
XT means turbocharged in subi-speak.
The boosted 2.4-liter boxer engine offers significantly more scoot, making 260 horsepower and
277 pound-feet of torque to move a 3,800-pound machine.
Being a Subaru, the transmission is a continuously variable unit.
There are eight simulated shift points that can be accessed here.
Most Outbacks like the Touring here have 8.7 inches of ground clearance, though the wilderness
hikes it up to 9.5 plus adds extra drivetrain protection, electronically controlled dampers
and the turbo engine, and more aggressive cladding.
Touring gets a single X-mode setting Wilderness has too.
Love where Subaru puts the oil filter for those that change their own.
The turbo engine has an extra 80 horsepower, an additional 99 pound-feet of torque.
That's a significant difference.
This will do the 0-60-dash in just over six seconds.
The naturally aspirated version will add at least two seconds to that, at least.
Outback owners are probably not looking for outright performance,
but with the extra low-end torque off the line, this is the engine to buy,
you know, if you have the money to spend.
FYI, the extra kick costs $2,600.
I did shoot a sequence with the highway hands-free assist driving system,
but sorry, the file was corrupted.
It does work well, and it holds lanes confidently.
It may seldom require hands on the tiller, but the driver must be fully present,
and attention monitor makes sure there's no posting dog videos to Facebook from behind the wheel.
Outback has great visibility, lots of glass, no real blind spots, blind spot warning.
It does have an attention monitor, and it's pretty aggressive
every so often when I check my blind spot, trying to be safe, it beeps at me.
Of course, it's not going to do it now, because it knows it's being watched.
At Mudfest 2026, the wilderness trim moseyed around the Ridge Motorsports Park's back 40,
like it was in a mall parking lot.
Nearly an extra inch of ground clearance and all-terrain tires certainly helped.
More underbody protection offered peace of mind.
It's worth noting that Trailseeker, with similar tires and clearance to the Outback Touring,
had no problems, and it won for best two-row SUV,
best electrified vehicle, and took home the outdoor activity vehicle of the year grand prize.
So any of the three will do you proud on very poorly maintained forest service roads.
That's what this course means to replicate.
Chances are most miles will be on-road, if just to get to the trailhead.
Outback is road trip-ready. It's fairly quiet at highway speeds,
not a lot of wind noise coming off the front.
It's got that car-like driving dynamic with a slightly raised seating position,
and it's very comfortable. It soaks up bumps very nicely.
However, that means when you chuck it hard into a corner, there's going to be some body roll,
there's going to be some understeer.
It's a good normal setup. Enthusiasts that want to carve up canyon roads won't like it as much.
That's not Outback's mission, though.
Generation 7 gains some 50 pounds, and that's not bad.
The new shape is bluntered to the wind and nearly an inch and a half higher than the
outgoing version. Fuel economy drops by one MPG across the board.
There's no official word on whether Outback will be getting a hybrid powertrain.
The only advantage to the naturally aspirated engine is fuel economy.
Its EPA-rated average is 27 miles per gallon.
The Touring XT here with its turbo engine is rated at 24.
I will note that both engines specify regular gas. That'll save some money.
Too much? The XT powertrain maxes out at 3,500 pounds.
Standard versions are rated at 2,700.
Subaru does a pretty good job of tuning its continuously variable transmission
to feel a lot like a regular geared gearbox. There is some of that rubbery dynamic,
but overall pretty good. And there are simulated manual shifts.
I do wonder how many people actually use these on a regular basis.
Like the exterior, the cabin is all new. This being the fancy pants touring,
the visuals are appealing. Materials have a quality feel and look,
where others put shiny black plastic. This gets a brushed feature.
Seats have excellent bowl strength. The driver's side gets length adjustment.
The passenger doesn't. Subaru has a soft spot for dogs,
but the interior looks like squirrels were consulted.
There are loads of places to stash things. Hydration fans.
32-ounce bottles can be stashed here. The woven material cuts down on any rattling.
Given the demographic, have to believe owners eat a lot of energy bars,
and they probably lose a lot of sunglasses. This should help keep track of them.
I would like a larger sunroof, though. The 12.3-inch digital cluster screen has
many ways to show off information. It's in every outback, not just the top trims.
Same with the 12.1-inch touchscreen. The new interface replaces the Starlink system.
That had nothing to do with Elon and company. The screen looks excellent and has good response.
It can be customized, so drivers know exactly where things are.
It's simple, exactly what's needed. And what's this?
Buttons? Nobs? If this is old-fashioned, I don't want to be modern.
Other than the USB ports, I know Subaru likes to be inclusive,
but anyone that can afford an outback can invest in new USB-C cables.
One thing, and I'm not alone noticing it. The tones
are kind of harsh. Can you say that again? The tones are kind of harsh.
I'm sorry, but I still didn't get that. Please say a command.
Okay, I need directions to Costco.
Which Costco would you like to go to? And the voice for a modern system a little speaking
spelling. Can you say that again? Some connectivity is included for five years.
Other features depend on an extra cost plan. That's the future, folks.
The phone charge pad is easy to access, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are wireless.
I suspect that this interface will get better with updates.
Your tall friend's noggin gets a little extra space in the new outback. About an inch and a
same. So does knee, leg, and foot room. There's a lot of that. The cushions are high and long
enough for excellent thigh support, and the door openings are big enough so my size 11s go through
no sweat. Pockets are lined back here too, this being the fancy pants model. A little surprise
there aren't sunshades built in. But seatback pockets, those are deluxe. Not just 12
No separate climate zone back here, but adjustable vents, heated seats for the
outboard positions, and your choice of USB ports. There is a larger spine running through here for
the drive shaft. It does hog foot room a bit. The width of this bench doesn't really change much
compared to the outgoing outback. You can get three thinner adults back here just fine because
there's a lot of room. For first class comfort though, you know, keep it to two.
I wondered if I would warm up to the styling after spending a week without back.
I didn't. Maybe you will. I'm curious. What's happening with this flourish?
Are these streaks about aerodynamics? Was the design team paid by the line?
Anecdotally, subi loyalists that I've talked to wish outback had the trailseeker's cleaner
styling. But the world doesn't work that way. Have the serenity to accept the things you cannot
change, courage to change the things you can, and wisdom to know the difference. Maybe it's
a sign to consider an EV. Laugh if you want at this stuff, but a standardized measurement metric,
these are about the size of a carry-on suitcase, is very helpful in determining whether or not
this space is more useful. Hey, there are Easter eggs up there. Look at that. Is that a shark?
Okay. A lot of automakers are skipping the spare tire these days. This is a Subaru.
Theoretically, we'll go off-road. Good to see that. Subaru uses the internationally recognized
golden retriever and yellow lab measurement standard. I prefer the more uniform TP and
I don't have to feed it. There are bag hooks, power too. When hooked up for center passenger use,
this seat belt setup is cumbersome when dropping the seat backs, which can be done with handy
remote releases. I feel like Subaru's should have 40-20-40 split seats, but no. The space is bigger
now. That's a win. Max cargo room grows by a significant five cubic feet to just over 80.
With all the seats filled, it still gets the job done. Larger by two cubes now,
it measures out at 34.6 and the space is square, so stuffing in 10 packs of the two-ply is easy.
Touring gets a digital rear-view mirror, so visibility doesn't suffer much.
Summing up the new outback, I think it's the best one Subaru's done. There's a little bit more
space in essentially the same footprint. The interior is nicer, the interface is better,
it's quiet, it's comfortable, and with the turbo engine, this thing's got some go.
Demerits without the turbo engine, it doesn't have go. Enthusiasts won't like the softer
suspension, there's the design, very polarizing. And, you know, I kind of miss the wagon,
but I'm an automotive writer and we all love wagons. Special thanks to Martin Campbell,
who drives while I shoot running footage. I couldn't do these reviews the way I do without him.
Thanks, Martin. If you're new here and you like the video, hey, sign up and tell your friends
and your family. And your dog is being a Subaru. I'm on all the major social media platforms,
follow me there, and if you have a question, leave it in the comments. I'm good about getting back
to people, and if I can't, one of my followers will, because this is a good community. Other
About this episode
The seventh-generation 2026 Subaru Outback transitions from its classic wagon roots to a more polarizing, SUV-like silhouette. This review dives into the top-tier Touring XT trim, highlighting its punchy 260-horsepower turbocharged engine, upgraded 12.1-inch infotainment system, and hands-free highway driving assist. While the softer suspension and busy exterior styling might divide opinion, the Outback excels with increased cargo capacity, clever interior storage, and proven off-road capability. It remains a highly practical, comfortable choice for those prioritizing utility over fashion, especially when equipped with the turbocharged powertrain.
The Subaru Outback is new for 2026 and it's a solid choice for brand loyalists (and they are a faithful bunch). Will current owners return for another Outback now that it has moved away from the wagon look and embraced a more SUV-like design?
In this full review of the 2026 Subaru Outback Touring XT, I test the turbocharged 2.4-liter Boxer engine, evaluate the new interior, improved infotainment system, EyeSight Highway Hands-Free Assist, cargo space, ride quality, towing capability, and off-road performance. In other words, pretty much everything.
A bonus- some thoughts on the rugged Outback Wilderness after driving it at Mudfest 2026. The new Outback offers more cargo room, improved technology, great visibility, and increased utility. But the styling is proving... polarizing.
