Subaru of America has unveiled pricing and specifications for its all-new 2026 Outback, a cornerstone model that has defined the brand’s outdoorsy image for three decades. Entering its seventh generation, the Outback arrives with sweeping changes that aim to keep it competitive in a crowded midsize SUV market while reinforcing the qualities that have long made it a favorite among families, hikers and suburban commuters alike: standard all-wheel drive, ample cargo space and a reputation for reliability.
When it reaches U.S. showrooms later this year, the 2026 Outback will start at $34,995 before destination fees — a price that positions it in line with other midsize crossovers but reflects a clear step up in standard features. The Wilderness version, the most off-road-oriented trim in the lineup, will follow early next year.
A Milestone Model at a Crossroads for Subaru
The 2026 model marks the Outback’s 30th anniversary, with more than 3 million sold in the United States since its 1995 debut. Once a niche alternative to bulkier SUVs, it has become Subaru’s defining vehicle in North America. This year also represents a pivotal moment for the brand: with the discontinuation of the Subaru Legacy sedan in 2025, the Outback now carries even greater responsibility as the automaker’s flagship family hauler.
Subaru is betting on a combination of evolutionary design changes, enhanced technology and incremental capability to maintain its foothold. “The Outback has always been about balance — the balance between ruggedness and everyday comfort,” said a Subaru spokesperson. “This generation takes that formula further, especially with its technology suite and attention to interior usability.”
Design: Sharper Edges, Bigger Presence
Visually, the seventh-generation Outback introduces the most comprehensive styling update in its history. The new design emphasizes a more upright and assertive stance, with a stronger front fascia, vertically oriented headlights at each corner and a broader grille. Body-colored accents now frame the headlamps, while the lower fascia features a textured finish designed to resist scratches on rougher trails.
While its overall proportions remain familiar, subtle adjustments give the vehicle a taller and boxier profile, increasing interior volume and cargo capacity. A revised rear design features a full-width light signature and an embossed Subaru logo on the lower tailgate, which is easily removable to facilitate trailer hitch installation. The new roof pillars at the rear have been widened to project strength and stability.
Interior: Technology Meets Utility
Inside, the cabin reflects Subaru’s ongoing effort to combine practical, durable materials with modern connectivity. Headliner inserts made from recycled plastic bottles nod to the brand’s sustainability messaging, while new storage solutions include redesigned cupholders and enlarged door pockets capable of holding 32-ounce water bottles.
Every trim level now comes standard with a 12.1-inch multimedia touchscreen compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster — a significant leap from the outgoing generation. Climate controls remain separated into dedicated buttons and knobs, preserving tactile access for essential functions.
Powertrains and Capability: Familiar Formula, Incremental Gains
Subaru continues to offer two familiar powertrains. Base, Premium, Limited and Touring trims come equipped with a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Higher-output Limited XT, Touring XT and Wilderness models receive a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine generating 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Both engines pair with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) featuring an eight-speed manual mode, and all trims retain Subaru’s hallmark symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. Ground clearance starts at 8.7 inches, with the Wilderness variant pushing that figure to 9.5 inches.
Trim Levels and Pricing: Six Ways to Configure an Outback
The 2026 Outback will be offered in six trims — Premium, Limited, Touring, Limited XT, Touring XT and Wilderness — with prices ranging from $34,995 to $47,995 before a $1,450 destination charge. Key highlights include:
- Premium: Starting at $34,995, it includes 18-inch wheels, a power rear gate, water-repellent StarTex upholstery, heated front seats and a comprehensive suite of EyeSight driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency steering and front cross-traffic braking.
- Limited: At $41,715, this trim adds perforated leather seating, a Harman Kardon audio system, a moonroof and heated rear seats.
- Touring: Priced at $45,395, it enhances comfort with ventilated front seats, Nappa leather options, a 12-way power driver’s seat and additional highway-assist features.
- Limited XT and Touring XT: Both feature the turbocharged engine, larger wheels and surround-view monitoring, with prices beginning at $44,365 and $47,995 respectively.
- Wilderness: Designed for off-road enthusiasts, it includes unique bumpers, all-terrain tires, dual-mode X-Mode with hill descent control and 9.5 inches of clearance, starting at $44,995.
Optional packages add moonroofs, navigation systems, wireless chargers and, on the Wilderness, Nappa leather-appointed seats.
A Broader Push Into Tech and Safety
The 2026 Outback arrives with Subaru’s most advanced driver-assistance suite yet, including a wide-angle camera with a 180-degree view to better detect pedestrians and cyclists. Highway hands-free assist features are reserved for upper trims, while every model includes MySubaru Connected Companion services for five years, offering emergency assistance, remote start options and vehicle health reports.
Colors and Customization
In addition to familiar finishes like Crystal Black Silica and Crimson Red Pearl, two new colors — Deep Emerald Green Pearl and River Rock Pearl — debut for 2026, each carrying a $395 premium.
Built in Japan, Designed for American Roads
The Outback continues to be assembled in Gunma, Japan, and will reach U.S. dealerships before year’s end, with the Wilderness model following in early 2026. Subaru, which markets its vehicles through about 640 retailers nationwide, has cultivated a reputation for environmental stewardship; its U.S. production plant in Indiana has been certified as a wildlife habitat and operates as a zero-landfill facility.
As the midsize SUV market grows ever more competitive, the seventh-generation Outback reflects both continuity and cautious innovation. It may not upend expectations, but it reinforces Subaru’s formula: modestly sized, winter-ready and increasingly well-equipped for both urban and backcountry use.