This week I am behind the wheel of the 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness, the best-selling Outback in the lineup.
Exterior
The 2026 redesign makes the Outback much more upright, boxier, and more SUV-like than before, and in Wilderness trim, Subaru takes that attitude and adds black lower body cladding, matte black 17-inch wheels, a matte hood decal, copper-colored accents, raised roof rails, and enough rugged trim to make you wonder if it comes with its own camping permit.
My tester is Crystal White Pearl, which really works with the black trim. From the side, you can see how different this new Outback is compared to the sleeker wagon-like shape people have known for years.
It sits tall, has a squared-off rear, a more vertical front end, and the Wilderness badging gives it a very intentional look. I suspect some longtime Outback fans will miss the old wagon profile, but Subaru clearly wanted this one to look more like a real SUV, and it succeeded.
This is one SUV that it took people a little getting used to, especially died-in-the-wool Subaru owners, but it has really picked up steam and is selling briskly as of late.
Performance
Under the hood is Subaru’s 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer four-cylinder, putting out 260-horses and 277-pound feet of torque. It is mated to Subaru’s high-torque Lineartronic CVT with an 8-speed manual shift mode and paddle shifters. This is absolutely the engine I would want in this vehicle. The non-turbo Outback is fine for many people, but the Wilderness has extra weight, all-terrain tires, more ground clearance, and a more rugged mission. The turbo engine gives it the low-end torque it needs to feel confident in traffic, on hills, and when passing. The CVT is still a CVT, but Subaru has done a good job making it feel more natural, especially with the simulated gear changes when you get into the throttle.
The Wilderness is not just an appearance package. It has Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, an off-road-tuned raised suspension, electronically controlled dampers, all-terrain tires, and Dual-Function X-MODE with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings. It also has low-speed/low-ratio gradient control and Hill Descent Control. In plain English, that means this Outback is set up for more than a gravel driveway or a wet soccer field. No, it is not a rock crawler, and nobody should confuse it with a Wrangler, but for snow, mud, trails, ranch roads, camping areas, and lousy weather, this is more capable than most buyers will ever need.
Interior
Inside, the cabin is far more upscale than you might expect from something wearing this much black body armor outside. My tester has the optional black Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery with copper stitching, embossed Wilderness logos on the front headrests, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, and a heated steering wheel.
The seats are comfortable and supportive, and the driver’s seat in this one is a 12-way power seat with 4-way lumbar and a leg extension. The front passenger gets an 8-way power seat, which is nice to see. Subaru did a good job making this feel rugged without making it feel cheap.
The dash layout is a big improvement. A 12.1-inch touchscreen sits high and wide in the center, and thankfully Subaru did not decide that every single function needed to be buried three menus deep. There is a real volume knob on the left, and beneath the screen are physical climate controls for temperature, fan speed, air conditioning, defrost, and seat heating and cooling. That matters. A lot of automakers are still trying to convince us that tapping a screen five times is progress. It isn’t. Subaru gives you a modern screen but still lets you do the basic things quickly.
The 12.1-inch screen itself is easy to read and operate, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L, HD Radio, and Bluetooth. The Harman Kardon audio system sounds good. The optional navigation system is included on this tester, along with the 360-degree Surround View Monitor, which is a big help given the taller hood and squared-off shape. Subaru also includes a wireless phone charger below the center stack, along with easy-to-reach USB ports.
In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster that can be configured several ways, including a large navigation display. It is sharp, clear, and gives the Outback a much more modern feel. Subaru’s DriverFocus distraction mitigation system is also standard, along with the latest EyeSight driver-assist system. Safety equipment includes Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Automatic Emergency Steering, Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Reverse Automatic Braking, Blind-Spot Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Warning, Brake Override, Vehicle Dynamics Control, and a rear vision camera. The Monroney shows this vehicle was not yet rated by NHTSA at the time the window sticker was printed.
The center console is practical and easy to live with. You get a conventional shifter, two cupholders, storage space, drive-related buttons within easy reach, and USB-A and USB-C ports. I like that Subaru did not try to reinvent the wheel here. This is an adventure vehicle, and people who buy these actually use them. Simple controls, rubberized mats, durable surfaces, and usable storage matter more than gimmicks.
The back seat is roomy for adults, with good legroom and headroom. Rear passengers get air vents, USB ports, heated outboard seats, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders. The rear seatbacks recline and fold in a 60/40 split, and the cargo area has a multi-use cargo cover, rear seatback release levers, grocery bag hooks, tie-down hooks, a removable cargo tray, and a rear gate LED light.
Cargo room is 34.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 80.5 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Better yet, Subaru includes a matching full-size spare tire on the Wilderness. That is a big deal to me, especially on something marketed for off-road use. A can of sealant is not much comfort when you are out where cell service goes to die.
The roof rails are also worth noting. These are raised ladder-type rails with an 800-pound static load capacity, which means they are designed with rooftop tent use in mind when the vehicle is parked. Towing capacity is 3,500 pounds, which is enough for a small camper, utility trailer, or a couple of toys, but not enough to pretend this is a pickup. Know its limits and it will serve you well.
Fuel economy is rated at 21 in town, 27 on the highway, and 23 combined. The digital dash in the photos showed right around 23 MPG, which matches the EPA combined number. Given the turbo engine, all-wheel drive, boxier body, elevated ride height, and all-terrain tires, that is reasonable. It is not hybrid fuel economy, but this vehicle was built more for confidence than conservation.
Options
As equipped, this Outback Wilderness has a base price of $44,995. The only option is Package 23 at $4,090, and it adds the Subaru 12.1-inch multimedia system with navigation, power moonroof, Surround View Monitor, black Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery with copper stitching, ventilated front seats, the upgraded power front seats, and black power-folding heated mirrors with turn signals. Destination and delivery is $1,450, bringing the total MSRP to $50,535. That is not inexpensive, and this is where shoppers need to be honest with themselves. If you just want a comfortable Subaru SUV for daily use, there are less expensive Outback trims. If you want the turbo engine, the extra capability, the Wilderness look, the good interior, and the more serious off-road hardware, this one makes more sense.
Verdict
It’s no secret I am a huge Subaru fan. This package gives those wanting to move more upscale a choice they haven’t really had before and for some, that will be good news. For others, you still have lesser expensive choices but you still get EyeSight, symmetrical all-wheel drive, and that outstanding Subaru quality.