Preview: The 2026 Subaru Outback Is Truly an SUV Now

Just as Honda did with the 2026 Passport, Subaru made the Outback look tougher and emphasized elements that fit with an outdoorsy lifestyle such as plastic body cladding, fog lights, roof rails, and a hitch for a bike carrier. There’s even a Wilderness trim, with thicker tires and yellow accents that make the Outlook look like an expensive hiking boot.

If you’re a fan of station wagons and their easy loading heights and low centers of gravity, the loss of the old Outback might sting, as it was the only non-luxury wagon still on sale in the U.S. (Check out the Toyota Crown Signia if you want a wagonlike vehicle with a slightly higher roofline.) But if you’re thinking about buying a new midsized SUV, we think you should wait to make a decision until we’ve purchased the new Outback and completed testing it.

What it competes with: Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-70, Nissan Murano, Toyota Crown Signia, Toyota 4Runner, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Powertrains: 180-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or 260-hp, 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; continuously variable transmission; all-wheel drive
Price: $32,000–$44,000 (estimated)
On sale: Late 2025
Final assembly point: Lafayette, Ind.