The Outback has been a hallmark of the Subaru lineup for thirty years, evolving from a trim level of the Legacy wagon into one of the brand's most popular crossover SUVs. However, some Subaru customers are looking for a more rugged, capable Outback, so the brand introduced the Wilderness line. For 2026, the all-new Outback Wilderness joins the lineup, standing out with bold styling, improved handling, and a host of new features.
Photo: Perry Stern
The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness no longer looks like a wagon. Instead, it adopts more traditional SUV styling, and the Wilderness design is better differentiated from the rest of the lineup this year. A refreshed cabin features a new infotainment display and available leather trim, while additional suspension and X-Mode updates improve driving dynamics on- and off-road.
The 2026 Subaru Outback is a unibody, five-passenger midsize crossover SUV available in Premium, Limited, Touring, Limited XT, Touring XT, and Wilderness trims. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard across the board, and the XT and Wilderness trims feature a more powerful turbocharged engine. Base prices range from around $36,000 to $49,000, including the destination charge.
For this review, Subaru provided a 2026 Outback Wilderness in Healdsburg, California, with the following options:
The test vehicle's manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $48,885, including the $1,450 destination charge to ship the crossover SUV from the Gunma, Japan, assembly plant to a local dealership. The price does not reflect any current rebates, incentives, or price adjustments since Subaru manufactured the test vehicle.
Photo: Perry Stern
The Subaru Outback enters its seventh generation with all-new styling that is a clear departure from its wagon look. While it remains about the same length as the outgoing version and only slightly wider (with mirrors) and taller, its SUV-like shape makes it look much larger. Subaru further differentiates the Wilderness from the rest of the lineup with a unique grille and rear hatch, and matte-black wheels with all-terrain tires.
Inside, the updates are equally dramatic, with an all-new 12.1-inch integrated central display, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a dashboard with clean horizontal lines that emphasize the cabin's width. Moving away from the previous generation's vertical screen that integrated climate controls, the new Outback Wilderness features climate functions in a separate panel with physical buttons and knobs for easier use.
A new center console enhances the open feel of the front seat area. The slim gear selector creates room for larger cupholders, a more accessible wireless smartphone charging pad, and USB ports. There is good storage beneath the center armrest, and large drink bottles fit nicely in the doors, which have cloth-lined pockets that keep metal containers from rattling.
Front seats feature a redesigned internal structure for reduced vibration and improved support, and they are quite comfortable for a long road trip. StarTex synthetic leather is standard, featuring a stylish star pattern, contrasting stitching, and the Wilderness badge embossed on the headrests. For the first time, you can opt for genuine Nappa leather trim on the Outback Wilderness.
With its taller roof, the Outback Wilderness offers about an inch more headroom for rear seat passengers. However, legroom remains unchanged. That is OK, because there is still ample space for adult passengers in the outboard positions, and they will enjoy the standard heated seats. Dual USB ports provide power to keep devices charged.
The added vehicle height also provides more cargo space than the outgoing version. With a wide opening for easy loading, there are 34.6 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, offering plenty of room for gear, luggage, or groceries. Multiple tie-down hooks help keep items secure. For transporting larger items, the split rear seats fold flat with a release in the cargo area, increasing available space to 80.5 cubic feet.
Surprisingly, one of my favorite features of the new Outback is the cargo cover. While a cargo cover is not typically very exciting, this one is made of durable, washable fabric and can be used in a multitude of ways. With multiple attachment points, it can serve as a partition, a mat to cover a dirty bumper, a traditional cargo cover, or be set up in hammock mode, creating a zippable pocket to keep items secure and out of sight.
Photo: Perry Stern
Not only does the new Outback Wilderness feature a larger 12.1-inch display, but it also includes an updated Multimedia Plus infotainment system with improved response time and a more pleasing layout. A new 12.3-inch configurable digital gauge cluster adds to the high-tech vibe.
The Multimedia Plus system includes:
The new infotainment system is a significant improvement over the previous version, with an easy-to-navigate layout and a more useful Home screen featuring tiles for navigation, media, and communications. For those who prefer a calmer screen, the secondary Home screen shows only time, temperature, and the date, with a beautiful desert background exclusive to the Wilderness.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard with a wireless connection, and setup is a breeze. I connected my Samsung Galaxy S23+ via Bluetooth, and Android Auto loaded automatically every time I started the Subaru. Android Auto fills the display, making it easy to read and use, but the shortcuts on the left for audio, navigation, and settings disappear; you need to switch back to the native system to restore them.
Subaru also has a reasonably capable voice interface that can be activated via the steering wheel button or by saying, "Hey, Subaru." It is not quite as proficient as Google Assistant, but it lowered the cabin temperature when I told it I was too hot and understood my request to find an Italian restaurant. It also made hands-free calls.
Photo: Perry Stern
While the design and features are new for the 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness, the engine carries over from the previous generation. The proven turbocharged 2.4-liter BOXER engine delivers 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive with torque vectoring is standard.
Fuel economy is respectable for the Outback Wilderness, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimating a combined rating of 23 mpg. If you are looking for a more efficient Outback, lower trims with the 2.5-liter engine return an estimated 27 mpg combined. After a day behind the wheel on a mix of highway and city driving, the trip computer showed 22.9 mpg, almost a perfect match to the EPA figures.
While the Outback's new styling is sure to draw attention, the electronically controlled dampers, exclusive to the Outback Wilderness, represent the biggest improvement over the previous generation. The system analyzes data from body motion, steering input, and wheel movement to keep the vehicle stable and more comfortable during cornering, hard acceleration and braking, and when tackling rougher terrain.
This new system dramatically improves the Outback Wilderness's driving dynamics. Pushing the not-so-small crossover on the winding roads north of Sonoma, California, it stayed flat in the corners with excellent grip, unexpected for all-terrain tires. The steering responded quickly, and braking was consistent and predictable. Overall, the ride is solid and quiet, even at highway speeds.
The turbocharged engine provides ample power and delivers strong acceleration. While CVTs often seem to water down performance, the Subaru's transmission works quite well, with programmed shift points that mimic the feel of a traditional automatic. Passing slower vehicles on a two-lane road was no concern, and the Outback accelerated to highway speed with little effort.
Subaru brought me to Cooley Ranch near Sonoma, California, where the Outback Wilderness proved it could tackle a range of off-road trails. Dual-mode X-Mode comes standard on the Wilderness, with settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud. With the Bridgestone Dueler A/T tires, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, torque-vectoring AWD, and active dampers, the Outback Wilderness is ready for off-road adventures.
With X-Mode selected, the Outback easily handled uneven terrain, and steep climbs and descents on loose rock and slick mud. If forward momentum stops, keep a steady throttle, and the systems work to find traction and get you moving again. On higher-speed sections of loose gravel, the Outback felt stable and confident, with a surprisingly smooth ride.
Photo: Perry Stern
All 2026 Subaru Outback trims come standard with the latest version of the brand's EyeSight suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Higher trims feature Subaru's first hands-free driving system, but it is not yet available on the Wilderness.
EyeSight on the Outback Wilderness includes:
Heading north on Highway 101 toward Lake Sonoma, I set the adaptive cruise control (ACC) to 65 mph. The digital driver's display showed all pertinent information, including the set speed and a reminder that this is a hands-on system. A representation of the road appeared at the center, showing cars ahead and indicating when a vehicle was in the blind spot.
The ACC system worked well, slowing smoothly when approaching a slower vehicle and accelerating smoothly when the lane ahead was clear. Lane centering provided steering input to keep the Outback in its lane position, and there was no bouncing between the lane markers. I did find that the driver monitoring system was a little overzealous, alerting me to pay attention to the road after just a few seconds of looking away.
As of this writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published crash test ratings for the 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness.
According to the JD Power 2025 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Chevrolet Blazer ranks highest in the Midsize SUV segment. The Honda Passport and the Toyota Crown Signia are the next highest-ranked models.
According to the JD Power 2025 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the Nissan Murano ranks highest in the Midsize SUV segment. The Mazda CX-70 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee are the next highest-ranked models.
Other 2026 Outback competitors include the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Subaru makes significant changes to its popular Outback Wilderness for the 2026 model year, introducing an all-new look, updated technology features, a stylish cabin, and improved on- and off-road performance. If you are looking for a family crossover SUV that can easily handle adventures off the beaten path, the Outback Wilderness is a great choice. However, the standard Outback is also quite capable off-road and offers higher-end features like hands-free driving that you cannot get on the Wilderness. It is certainly worth considering.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving nearly every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for jdpower.com. Living in southeast Michigan, Perry remains passionate about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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