​​Car and Driver Reviews the 2026 Outback​    

Car enthusiasts tend to prefer wagons over SUVs, so most reviews of the 2026 Outback are likely to include some nostalgia for its wagon roots, particularly as it was essentially the last mainstream wagon available in the country. Car and Driver is no different and even begins its Outback review by asking if a model that sells over 150,000 units a year can be considered to have a cult following. Twin Falls Subaru shares what else they had to say. 

The updates to the new Outback are logical, given that the Legacy wagon it was built on has been discontinued for years, and the Legacy sedan is no longer available either. While its new styling exhibits more SUV-like proportions, Car and Driver quickly notes that most of the vehicle’s dimensions haven’t changed. Specifically, the wheelbase, overall length, and width are essentially the same as those of the previous model. The most significant change is height, which has increased by only 1.4 inches. Therefore, the impression that this is a larger vehicle mainly comes from the more upright styling, including the very vertical front end and more vertical C- and D-pillars.    

They note that the increased height is immediately noticeable in the cabin, offering more front and rear headroom, as well as two extra cubic feet of cargo space. Even more striking is the all-new dashboard, which features a new 12.1-inch horizontally oriented center screen replacing the 11.6-inch vertical screen of previous models. Car and Driver found the new screen to be “more responsive and easier to use than before.” They also welcome the return of a full set of physical controls for the climate system, allowing for quicker adjustments of frequently used climate settings. 

Car and Driver also observed the impact of Subaru’s consumer research through features such as “door-panel bottle holders that can hold a Nalgene, a clip by the device chargers to organize your cords, and a cargo cover that can zip and fold in multiple configurations, including a hammock-style pouch.” 

The magazine notes that the drivetrains haven’t changed at all, with the same 2.5-liter boxer-4 available in 180-hp normally aspirated and 260 turbocharged versions. Also unchanged are the model’s 8.7-inch ground clearance and general off-road ability on conventional models, even before considering the Wilderness model’s 9.5-inch ground clearance and all-terrain tires. They mention that there is no hybrid model yet, but it seems like only a matter of time since the Forester and Crosstrek models already have hybrid versions of essentially the same drivetrain. 

Finally, they note that the entry price is higher for the Outback, primarily due to the removal of the previous base model, rather than the new design. The more well-equipped $36,445 Outback Premium is now the entry-level model.    

You can decide for yourself what you think of the new Outback with a visit to Twin Falls Subaru, which will likely have been added to our inventory by the time you read this.