2026 Subaru Outback lineup sports a new trim
Published 10:00 pm Friday, May 29, 2026
Subaru SUVs have been a sensation in Western Washington for a long time, appealing to our enthusiasm for outdoor adventures, sporty compact vehicles, fuel efficiency, and practicality.
Subaru introduced a completely new version of the Outback SUV for 2026, changing its previous wagon-like design to a more traditional sport utility shape. Passenger and cargo space are roomier. Interior design is updated and technology includes the latest.
The 2026 Subaru Outback two-row SUV is offered in six trims: Premium, Limited, Limited XT, Wilderness, Touring, and Touring XT. Base pricing ranges from $36,445 to $49,445 including a destination charge of $1,450.
There’s a choice of two engines: a 180-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, or a 260-horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
Every 2026 Outback comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and Subaru’s tried-and-true all-wheel-drive system.
For this report, I drove the Outback Wilderness, a great new trim for 2026 and priced at $44,995. Based on enthusiastic consumer response so far, it’s a hit.
The Wilderness gives a boost to Outback’s already impressive off-pavement capability. It comes standard with the powerful turbo engine and provides 9.5 inches of ground clearance (the other Outback trims have 8.7 inches), establishing a firm foundation for tackling more rugged conditions.
Seventeen-inch matte black wheels, all-terrain Bridgestone Dueler tires, front skid plates, and Subaru’s X-Mode intelligent off-road traction system with hill descent control build on the Wilderness trim’s abilities and visual appeal.
In spite of its ruggedness, Wilderness has a pleasant ride on all surfaces, perfectly suitable for everyday use, long road trips, and city excursions.
An abundance of safety and driver assistance features are standard on the Wilderness, instilling confidence on-highway as well as off, in every season.
Outback’s Wilderness interior matches the exterior in attractive design and usefulness. It has a five-passenger seating capacity. Headroom and legroom are outstanding. Not to be outdone, the cargo area is vast.
I liked the simplistic lines of the dash and surroundings; right on target for an SUV oriented toward outdoor adventure, yet stylish enough for dress-up.
EPA ratings for the 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness are 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined.
My tester was equipped with Option Package 23, a $4,090 add-on that tipped the bottom line over the 50-grand mark. Eek.
2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness
Base Price: $44,995
Price as Driven: $50,930
