What’s New in the 2026 Subaru Outback

Subaru has released the new 2026 Outback, and they’ve made some major upgrades. It comes in two primary models, the Outback and the Outback Wilderness. The Outback is perfect for daily driving or road trips, whereas the Wilderness is better suited for the rougher terrain in woods, mountains, and anything in between. Both models come standard with Symmetrical AWD to help prevent slips and slides on the road. Subaru has been rated #1 in safety for six years in a row, which can be seen in the Outback’s array of safety features. Every Outback model has EyeSight Driver Assist, which has been upgraded for 2026, adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, emergency lane-keep assist and automatic emergency steering, and blind spot warnings to name a few. Certain trims come with a 360-degree camera and/or a hands-free highway assist system. Additionally, Subaru has improved suspension which makes those Ohio potholes a little less noticeable.

The Wilderness is built for the outdoors. It’s 3500 lbs. towing capacity gives you the strength to bring all your gear while the 260-horsepower turbocharged Subaru Boxer engine provides the traction and power to get you there. It has up to 9.5 inches of ground clearance, one of the highest in the industry, and 17-inch alloy wheels, making it perfect for bumpy trails. If you’re traveling in tougher conditions, X-MODE has a variety of settings to help you tackle the trickiest mud puddles, snowbanks, and steep hills.

The biggest change, however, is to the interior. The Outback has a new front console, redesigned to be faster and easier to use. A new 12.1-in. Multimedia system has been streamlined and is easier to use than ever, and quick input response times mean you’ll never miss a turn, or your favorite song, again. This touchscreen includes GPS navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, USB-A and USB-C ports, and hands-free phone and text messaging connectivity. If you’re a big music fan, you’ll love the 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. And maybe the best update of them all—a return to physical buttons! In addition to the touch screen, Subaru added button controls so changing your heating and air is a breeze. Heated first and second row seats are an essential in the Midwest’s unpredictable weather, and the heated steering wheel is a lifesaver if you often forget your gloves (like me).

There are way too many features for me to describe in this blog post, so if you’re interested in learning more and test driving one of these babies, stop by Diehl Subaru of Massillon today!