For more than 30 years, the Subaru Outback has been largely categorized as a wagon, specifically at first and broadly as of late. Even as the Legacy wagon disappeared, it was still the go-to machine for Americans who wanted something more practical than a sedan but not as bulky as an SUV-aping crossover. That just changed.
At the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, Subaru unveiled the new 2026 Outback, and it looks like it’s gone full crossover. Gone are any car-like cues, with the new model instead looking like a supersized Forester. It’s a dramatic departure from a norm that’s existed since the mid-1990s, and I can’t help but wonder if the push for further mass appeal might alienate the Outback faithful.
Let’s start with what’s going on under the skin, because it’ll immediately be familiar. Buyers can choose from a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-four making 180 horsepower or a 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four, with the exclusive transmission choice being a CVT, and all models driving all four wheels. That’s all carryover stuff, and so is the Subaru Global Platform underneath the new crossover skin.
Moving inside the new Outback, the interior feels like a step forward. Rotary knobs for temperature control return, the HVAC system gains a litany of actual buttons and a separate display, and a new infotainment system now features a rather square 12.1-inch touchscreen. Add in a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and swaths of stitched textiles, and the cabin of the new Outback looks like a nicer, more intuitive place than the inside of the outgoing model.
However, we really need to talk about the styling because it’s a seismic change from what we’re used to. Instead of a rounded, low-body-up-high look, the new Outback is all about blocky off-road posturing. From the flat hood to the split headlight treatment to the sheer amount of metal seen in profile, it’s not a handsome vehicle. What’s more, it’s clear that the new Outback is going after the Honda Passport, and that might be a huge mistake.
See, Subaru already makes two crossovers that look like crossovers. There’s the two-row Forester and the three-row Ascent, both covering important bases in the market. In contrast, two-row midsize crossovers with more traditional, chunky forms have generally lived in the sales shadows of their siblings. The Honda Passport has been a relatively slow seller compared to the three-row Pilot and more affordable CR-V. Through Q1, the two-row midsized combustion-powered Chevrolet Blazer sold roughly half as many units as the three-row Traverse and a drop in the bucket compared to ICE Equinox sales.
At the same time, the Outback developed a strong identity not just for what it was, but what it wasn’t. It wasn’t a macho’d up mall crawler for families to drive down to Denny’s in, it was a wagon with some extra ground clearance for getting to the chalet in deep snow, or reaching somewhat remote trailheads. The people who buy Outbacks could buy a Forester or an Ascent, but they don’t. They know what they like, and something tells me this isn’t it.
While change is inevitable, abandoning the utter dominance of a niche in search of a slice of a small pie just doesn’t seem like a wise move. Subaru can’t afford to get the Outback wrong, yet as someone who’s loved Outbacks, I’m afraid they might have done just that with the seventh-generation model. Subaru itself calling the new Outback an SUV in the press release feels like a failure to read the room. While the Trailseeker will likely pick up some lost sales, buyers who just want a midsize wagon soon won’t have any affordable options in America. Time to pour one out.
Top graphic image: Matt Hardigree
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WHAT THE CRAP IS THAT FACE!?!?!?
Subaruoutback.org is not enthused.
I don’t hate it as much as everyone else does and I understand why they decided to roll the dice on it. Unfortunately we’re in the golden era of soft roaders and they’re what every normie wants. I mean we now have soft roader trims on shit like the Rogue and CRV. For better or worse (mostly worse IMHO) they’re what the streets are demanding.
Honestly the rear reminds of a Lexus GX550, and not in a bad way. The side view is pretty par for the course as well. The front end is uh…unique. It reminds me of those squinty, aggro GM trucks from the mid 2000s. The post facelift Silverado comes to mind in particular, and I see it in the current Colorado as well.
I don’t HATE it, but it definitely doesn’t look like a Subaru, and I just don’t feel great about macho styling on a Subaru. They’ve always kind of been the counter to that. To me you buy a Subaru because you want some capability and specifically DON’T want all the posturing that comes with BOF off roaders. A Subaru is supposed to humble, cheerful, and unassuming.
That’s why people buy them. In a way they’re almost like the anti-truck. So in that way I’m really not sure who this is for. I understand wanting to steal some sales from people buying stuff like the 4Runner et al…but do they really think that crowd can get over the Subaru image thing? When I think Subaru I think of granola, REI, dogs, Birkenstocks, and (said with affection) athletic lesbians.
I genuinely don’t think the people they seem to be trying to attract with this are going to be able to get over that.
This is exactly it, and what I’ve been saying since the teaser was released.
Subaru is taking a massive risk alienating their base for conquest sales. The irony being that the sort of person who might like this hideous mess, is also probably the sort of person that Subaru people don’t want to be associated with, lol. And for those people they’re trying to conquest, I’m going to bet they’ll experience what it’s like to propel the Outback with that 2.5L CVT combo and say “no thanks”.
Nobody I know that currently owns an Outback will buy this thing. Not one.
Outback people will probably continue to buy Outbacks as long as they offer the same degree of functionality and still say “Outback” on them. I truly don’t think they’ll notice or care what the thing looks like one bit.
Some, I’m sure will continue till death.
But I live in a place where the Outback is basically the default vehicle. My parents own one. Half a dozen close friends own one (a few couples I know own TWO). If I spent some time thinking about it, I would guess there’s 10-20 within my extended family.
I can promise you, they will all be absolutely outraged by this. My parents especially.
The problem is, normies won’t put up with blown head gaskets and will just trade this in on a Toyota Highlander or something.
IIRC, the chronic head gasket problem was solved several years ago.
It was solved an entire engine generation ago with the end of the EJ series. This is just a lazy joke that’s popular to make online whenever Subarus come up.
Subarus certainly have plenty of other flaws though
2026 Outback: 192.3in Long x 75.8in Wide x 68.1in Height
2025 Rav 4: 181in L x 73in W x 67in H
Yeah, the quirky wagoness is gone, put a nail in its coffin. Welcome to CUV/SUV land
For a palette cleanser
2000 Jeep Cherokee: 167.5in L x 69.4in W x 64in H
I bet this is a hoot to drive with the NA engine.
XJ with the 4.0L straight six and a five speed… what a package.
Does the Outback’s height take into effect the permanently mounted roof rails, which the RAV4 doesn’t have? The RAV4 has slightly less ground clearance, too.
For reference, the outgoing model dimensions – length isn’t really changed much:
191.9″ L x 74.2″ W x 66.1″ H
Yes length is not much, but width and height is the big one. From what I have gathered the old height listed included the roof rails and the new one does not the rails.
Right, just thought it worth noting as the length is one metric that has not changed dramatically over the years and doesn’t have as much bearing. Most other cars grow a lot in length or horizontally over the years, the Outback grew more vertically, at least 5″ taller from the first couple generations.
Sorry but a pretty big part of defining “wagoness” is length and this is basically a foot longer than the Rav 4.
I am not a fan of the height because a big part of the wagon appeal is the ability to throw bikes, kayaks, or construction supplies up on the roof and honestly the last gen Outback was already more CUV than wagon.
I don’t think length is really the primary defining characteristic of a wagon as most wagons are the same overall length as the sedans they are made from. The proportions make the wagon. It should be a sedan that has some greenhouse after the c pillar. You know it when you see it and height from rocker panel to roof makes a big difference.
I agree the outback has been attempting to toe the line of a wagon for a while and really the current gen is basically CUV. I think the added height of this new one just really pushes it that much further from a classic wagon shape.
Yeah this one really comes down to Clause B of Torch’s wagon analysis and that makes the Outback clearly an SUV because Subaru has committed to that marketing for at least 5 years now.
Is the term “CUV” used anymore? I think marketing has replaced it with “Light SUV”.
Who cares what it looks like?
I need important stats – like CARGO VOLUME.
I’d hope the squareness only increases that metric.
Cargo volume is higher, 34.6 vs 32.6.
I look at this and think they’ve forgotten how to make good-looking cars the way they forgot how to make head gaskets
I like the Trailseeker a lot more.
Pretty bad when your best-looking vehicle is based off of the worst-looking Toyota.
My brother and sister have owned six Subarus between them and… 14 head gaskets.
Looks like an updated Ford Freestyle to me. Because mid 2000’s Ford styling is the styling we should aspire to. Even comes with a CVT. In saying that I haven’t hated the Subarus I’ve driven with a CVT.
It looks waaaaay too large for its wheel and tire package.
Congratulations, Subaru! You’ve somehow made an uglier grille than the new Ram Heavy Duty.
It looks like the only grill pics above are of the Wilderness model. Maybe the base model will have a toned down grill? The green one in the pics has the same ridiculous plastic cladding, so probably unlikely.
I cannot help but think a Subaru Forester and Ford Flex hooked up. Then someone doubled down on ugly fender treatments. The Wilderness Edition is only slightly better, but I can’t put into words why.
At least the interior is a good step forward. I’ll miss the analog gauges, but the addition of the physical buttons is hugely good. Keeping the 2.4T is also good news, even if it is still attached to a CVT. Maybe they can tune the turbo engine and CVT to get along rather than seemingly trying to oppose each other. A roof rack with real carrying capacity is a plus this time around.
A hybrid option will probably come in a few years, but I hope to heck they add more power than what they did in the Forester. Double digit 0-60 times is expected from the 2.5L, but something more than MPG would be nice with a hybrid offering.
They evidently didn’t have a Passport/Pilot contender in the Ascent and I don’t think the 7th Gen OB is one either. That’s all I got to say on that matter.
I stand by the opinion that they should have called this the Forester XL or Grand Forester. Let the Outback name retire with dignity.
We need the Levorg in this country more than ever now. This is an abomination. The Outback used to be a practical wagon to buy as an SUV alternative.
I was skimming this article again and the images reminded me of another abomination the Ford Taurus X (Freestyle)
That green paint is nice?
It’s a great color. But Subaru’s paint is among the worst in the industry, even worse than Honda’s, which is an impressive feat.
I was really just looking for something nice to say.
As I said previously: As in life all eventually becomes crab, as in cars all eventually becomes CUV.
“The people who buy Outbacks could buy a Forester or an Ascent, but they don’t. They know what they like, and something tells me this isn’t it.”
Perfectly written!
Yep wagon buyers have 100’s of CUVs to pick from and still buy the wagon.
So they threw mud all over it to cover up the mistake in styling?
Mud is the new plastic cladding.
Think positively, the mud will keep the cladding from fading to grey too quickly.
I could actually see that, gives the suburban dwellers more fake offroad credibility.
You say that, but they still bothered to add entirely too much plastic cladding.
It looks as if the new Outback is channeling its inner Aztec with all of the “off-road” plastic cladding on the exterior. Or maybe it wants to be a Pontiac Bonneville SSEi?
I get the outcry over the change in form but reading the mechanical specs, I wouldn’t want it even if it were a real-deal wagon. CVT-only? PASS. Same tired old 2.5 boxer 4? PASS. A whole lotta “meh” for me.
I hereby apologize for everything I’ve ever said about GM’s design studio. I now see how much worse it could’ve actually been all these years. I had no idea. I was a fool.
Look how they massacred my boy.
It’s been massacred for a while now. This is just crazed taxidermy.
Ewww.
Also, when will they let this drivetrain finally die???
At least the interior is an improvement, and you can’t see the exterior while you’re driving it.
Why? For normal driving it’s fine.
Cool, they got rid of the one aspect of the Outback which appealed to me over most other SUVs. Now it’s just one more in a sea full of other try-hard CUVs.
Holy BMW X1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Batman. I cannot tell the size different between this and a forester. I will have to look at them side by side.
The current outback is lower and longer than the forester. Looks like they took care of the lower part. I assume this will still be 7-8″ longer (which probably puts it uncomfortably close to the Ascent)
I won’t blame the Ascent for feeling uncomfortable when this gets close to it.
I see that found more places for plastic cladding, like the D pillar.
Another channel put forth the idea that the space on the C and D pillars will get storage boxes or gas cans in the future, ah la Land Rover, Range Rover, Range Land Rover, puk, whatever they call themselves these days.
At some point Subarus will become covered – no, overrun – with plastic cladding. By 2030 they will surely achieve 100% cladding. A narrow windscreen will peer out of a sea of black plastic cladding.
FAIL. This is the Subaru RAV4…hard nope from me.
That’s a bit of an insult to the RAV4. Outback has been lower and longer than the RAV4 since they dropped the Legacy name IIRC. This is more comparable to a Highlander or Crown Signia in size, I believe, but just two rows.
Of course that also begs the question why it has so much overlap with the 2-row CUV Forester and the three-row CUV ascent.