Subaru completely redesigned the Outback for 2026, and one of the key upgrades was its all-new 12.1-inch Subaru Multimedia System. Not only is this touchscreen interface new to the Outback, but it is also new to the Subaru brand and previews features that are likely to migrate to other models eventually. I had a chance to thoroughly test this system on two Outback trim levels: Touring and Wilderness.
Subaru says its new infotainment system offers 2.5 times the computing performance of its predecessor. It has twice as much memory, and the touchscreen responds to swiping, pinching, and other smartphone gestures. The screen is also larger at 12.1 inches, up from the 11.6-inch unit in the previous-generation system, but the tape measure does not tell the whole story.
The new screen is landscape-oriented, which at first glance makes it appear smaller than the old portrait-oriented screen. Rest assured, though, that this is a good thing. Climate controls took up much of the old touchscreen’s digital real estate. With the redesign, Subaru moved them to a separate panel below, featuring physical buttons and knobs. When much of the industry is doing the exact opposite, I cannot applaud this move enough. It is so much easier to use.
The old screen was also noteworthy for its low-resolution graphics, which made the system look like it came from 2010, even though it debuted in 2020. Its various icon buttons were very large, making them easy to identify at a glance while driving. This attribute has thankfully been maintained in the new system. While it does prevent the new system’s icons and graphics from looking cutting-edge, I choose functionality over digital fashion any day.
One element that has not been maintained is the ability to have Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring and a native menu screen, such as satellite radio, on the screen at the same time. That is one advantage of a portrait-oriented screen.
Nevertheless, it is very easy to switch between the Subaru and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto environments. There is a CarPlay icon in the permanently docked column of menu shortcuts and a CarPlay button on the audio screen among the various media sources. The latter is rare and a nice feature, letting you quickly return to whatever you were playing on your phone rather than digging into the entire Apple interface.
Speaking of that audio screen, I also commend Subaru for sticking with a perfectly normal satellite radio interface that shows presets and favorites buttons and song information simultaneously. In increasingly new systems, one of them is left out, often in favor of gigantic album art.
The Subaru 12.1-inch Multimedia System comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and a five-year trial of MySubaru Connected Companion Services (collision notification and an SOS emergency button). A separate three- or five-year subscription can be purchased for the Connection+ system, adding remote vehicle controls such as lock/unlock, climate controls, and curfew/boundary alerts for other drivers.
All 2026 Outback trims except the base Premium include a Harman Kardon sound system and integrated navigation, with a wireless smartphone charger available on the Premium.
The navigation system is merely acceptable. Its ability to work without a cell signal gives it an advantage over using Google Maps via CarPlay or Android Auto. So does the swiping and pinch-to-zoom capability, which lets you use the system as an interactive map. The map and directions can also be displayed in the digital instrument panel.
Its voice controls are, however, rudimentary. It easily pulled up directions to a specific address, whether spoken in my own voice or in some thick accents, but “Find the nearest hospital” directed me to a location that definitely was not a hospital. “Show me Starbucks” brought up a list of Starbucks locations, but the system was utterly flummoxed by various renditions of “Find the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts” and “Show me Dunkin’.” The success rate for other requests was also spotty. It would sometimes fail to understand a command it had just correctly identified.
Every 2026 Outback includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The graphics are clean and more modern than those on the touchscreen, and I found it easy to switch between the multiple layout options using the dedicated wheel icons. That is not always the case.
Layout options include a traditional two-gauge layout with a trip computer in the tachometer and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) diagram in the middle; a prominent navigation map in the center flanked by modules for the speedo, tachometer, ADAS, and selectable info; an ADAS-prominent layout with similar flanking modules; and a minimalist design that shows only the ADAS diagram and your speed. Customization is limited to your trip computer selection.
Other digital instrument panels can show you more and offer more customization, but I often find them more distracting than helpful. I think this panel strikes a good balance. The Outback Wilderness also adds a desert landscape background to both the IP and the touchscreen, enhancing visual interest in the cabin without compromising the screens’ legibility.
Subaru’s new infotainment system is a significant upgrade from what came before, but it is hardly cutting-edge in terms of functionality, appearance, or feature content. Its primary purpose seems to be “easy to use,” and it is hard to make a strong argument against that choice.
James Riswick has been testing and reviewing cars since 2007, serving as an editor at Edmunds.com and Autoblog. In addition to jdpower.com, he has also contributed to Autoguide Magazine, Autotrader, Capital One Auto Navigator, Car and Driver, and Hagerty. He resides in Southern California and owns a 1998 BMW Z3, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Wagon, and a 2025 Cadillac Optiq.
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