Here at Kelley Blue Book, we generally get cars for anywhere from a week to two while testing. Occasionally, we get a long-term loan lasting months to a year. The 2026 Subaru Outback found its way into our long-term garage, so without further ado, let’s dig into all things Outback.
Elephant in the Room
The most obvious thing people notice when considering the Outback is its new exterior design. For decades the Outback sported a cladded profile with a long and low roofline giving it its rugged, wagon-like appearance. The 2026 model year, and the nameplate’s 30th anniversary, ushers in some dramatic visual changes.
While the length and width of the Outback stay the same, it gets taller thanks to a more squared-off shape. The roofline flattens out and the rear end gets a boxier shape, elongating the profile. This moves the Outback from that traditional wagon appearance to more of a conventional SUV. For some Outback loyalists, this might have been a bridge too far. Subaru seems to be counting on still appealing to their base, while perhaps opening the buyer pool a bit with a more conventional look. In our office, the response was mixed. Some appreciated the disruption while others lamented the more generic design language. Beauty is in the eye, as they say.
Face Value
Both front and rear fascias look different as well. The front appears broader with its headlights now vertically positioned. The black grille gets a complete redesign, and this Outback no longer sports Subaru’s Pleiades star cluster logo. That’s now found at the back.
The rear gets a new light signature spanning the width of the SUV giving it more presence. It also gets that famous black cladding, making it look rough and tumble and ready for action.
Into the Wilderness
Unlike previous generations, the Wilderness edition was not designed as an afterthought, but instead as a singular vehicle. It’s not hard to tell when you’re looking at one. First, it gets an improved ride height of 9.5 inches of ground clearance, instead of the 8.7 inches in the standard models, making it look far bigger than the previous generation. In addition to the Wilderness badging, there are copper accents around the lights and roof rails.
The Subaru Outback comes in Premium, Limited, Touring, Wilderness, Limited XT, and Touring XT trim levels. You can choose from a variety of paint colors, including Crystal Black Silica, Crimson Red Pearl, Geyser Blue, Ice Silver Metallic, Magnetite Gray Metallic, Sapphire Blue Pearl, or Crystal White. The Deep Emerald Green or River Rock Pearl cost extra. The Geyser Blue color our example wears comes exclusively on the Wilderness edition.
Getting Acquainted
It’s only been a couple of weeks and we’re already getting comfortable with the Outback’s looks. The Geyser Blue paint, while first a bold stand out, now feels iconic. While we can’t speak for other’s opinions, we can make arguments for and against the styling departure decision. There was a distinct quality about the previous generation Outback that this new one lacks. In a sea of generic SUVs the previous design stood out. However, it always looked like a hiking boot on the go. For some customers, that could have been a reason why not to buy. After all, not everyone lives in the mountain and needs boots.
Without question it looks more grown up, sophisticated, as though it could serve many purposes, not just as a camping utility. We think that’s a good thing.
Our Wilderness includes Option Package 23, which features a 12.1-inch infotainment screen with navigation, a moonroof, Nappa leather-trimmed seats with ventilation and power-folding heated mirrors, among other amenities. Price as tested is $50,535.
