- The Subaru Outback is set for a 2026 redesign, adopting a boxier, more SUV-like stance
- It will feature a self-charging hybrid powertrain developed with Toyota, enhancing efficiency.
- The new model that will include a Wilderness trim, will debut at the New York Auto Show.
Update: Subaru has just dropped the first teaser for the next-generation Outback, giving us an early glimpse at the model set to debut at the New York International Auto Show on April 16. It’s the start of a new chapter in the Outback’s story—one that, yes, continues the legacy (pun fully intended) of its rugged, wagon-shaped predecessors.
Subaru hasn’t spilled much just yet, but one confirmed detail is the return of the beefed-up Outback Wilderness. Like the current version, and in the spirit of the Forester and Crosstrek Wilderness models, it’s built to handle more than just your average gravel road. Expect the usual round of off-road upgrades: a raised suspension for added ground clearance, chunkier all-terrain tires, and, as hinted in the teaser, some new copper-colored exterior accents to pair with the generous spread of plastic body cladding.
For a deeper dive into what to expect from the 2026 Outback, check out our original story below. (by John Halas).
It’s been thirty years since Subaru first introduced the “Outback” nameplate as part of an Outdoor option package for the Legacy, a clever marketing move that eventually spawned an independent model line in key markets like North America and Australia. While the Outback series has always been tied to its Legacy roots, Subaru has decided to retire the nameplate due to declining sales, with the last model set to roll off the production line in the spring of 2025.
More: Subaru Legacy Says Goodbye After 36 Years, SUVs Win Again
The Outback, on the other hand, isn’t going anywhere. Subaru is already developing a next-generation version of its tall wagon for the 2026 model year to replace the current iteration that has been around largely unchanged since 2020.
Despite the Outback’s enduring popularity, even in the current model’s final years, one might have anticipated that Subaru would continue with an evolutionary approach to its design. However, fresh spy shots reveal that the upcoming generation will be a ground-up redesign, trading its distinctive raised-wagon proportions for a taller, boxier silhouette that pulls it closer to Subaru’s more traditional SUVs.
Catering To The Masses With A More SUV-Like Shape
The Outback’s hallmark has always been its raised wagon design, setting it apart from the generic crossover crowd. But Subaru, perhaps fearing that distinction is now a liability rather than a strength, seems to think something more SUV-like is the safer bet for attracting mass-market buyers. Using the recently spied camouflaged prototypes as a reference, digital artist Nikita Chuicko reated a series of illustrations for both Kolesa and Auto Mail, providing an early, if a bit speculative, glimpse of the design for the seventh-gen Outback.
The Outback’s hallmark has always been its raised wagon design, a feature that sets it apart from the sea of generic crossovers. However, Subaru may now view that distinction as a potential liability rather than a strength, seemingly shifting toward a more SUV-like silhouette to attract mass-market buyers. Using recently spied camouflaged prototypes as inspiration, digital artist Nikita Chuicko created a series of speculative illustrations for Kolesa and Auto Mail, offering an early glimpse of what the seventh-generation Outback might look like.
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Gone are the smooth, if somewhat generic, profile lines of the current model, replaced by a heavier, upright stance and squared-off wheel arches, a design language borrowed liberally from the new Forester. The nose is chunkier, the grille larger, and the hood sits higher than before. Subaru has also hopped on the bandwagon of split-LED headlights, a trend we didn’t ask for but seem to be getting anyway. In all fairness, though, it’s an improvement over Subaru’s recent lobster-claw design.
Around back, the design retains the Outback’s signature long rear overhang, but the flatter roofline and boxier tail hint at a bump in cargo space. Details like nearly vertical rear glass and a larger tailgate scream practicality, though whether that’s enough to appease loyalists is another question. Full-width LED taillights and oversized roof rails round out the design. And while there’s no official word yet, a rugged Wilderness trim—complete with all its chunky plastic cladding—seems inevitable.
By evolving the Outback into a more SUV-like form, Subaru appears to be repositioning it closer to the Forester and the three-row Ascent. This leaves the smaller Crosstrek to occupy the crossover niche. Fans of traditional raised wagons may feel betrayed, but the new shape promises a roomier cabin, improving the Outback’s family-hauling credentials—whether or not it still looks the part of an adventurous wagon.
Modernized Interior And Updated Tech
Inside, expect a comprehensive overhaul. The new Outback will feature a refreshed dashboard with a more modern digital cockpit, including a larger infotainment display on the center console. Whether it will resemble the setup in the new Forester or take a different approach remains to be seen.
Hopefully, Subaru will retain physical buttons for the HVAC controls and continue to prioritize durable, family-friendly materials. Additionally, Subaru’s well-regarded EyeSight driver assistance suite is expected to receive an upgrade, ensuring the Outback remains competitive in the ever-evolving ADAS arms race.
Hybrid And ICE Powertrain Options
The new Outback will most likely ride on an evolved version of the Subaru Global Platform, which currently underpins most of the automaker’s lineup. The big news here is the introduction of a hybrid powertrain—a self-charging system Subaru developed with Toyota, leveraging their recent partnership.
This hybrid setup, already seen in the Japanese-market Crosstrek and soon to be offered in the new Forester, combines a 2.5-liter flat-four engine with a CVT, a 118-hp (88 kW) electric motor capable of directly powering the wheels, a secondary motor/generator, and a modest 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. True to Subaru form, the hybrid system integrates a mechanical all-wheel-drive system, maintaining the off-road capability that remains one of the brand’s selling points.
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For those who prefer the simplicity of internal combustion, Subaru isn’t abandoning traditional engines just yet. The 2026 Outback will likely continue to offer the familiar naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four, which currently produces 182 hp (136 kW), along with the more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four, delivering 260 hp (194 kW). Both engines will be paired with a CVT and Subaru’s signature Symmetrical AWD system.
Coming Soon
The 2026 Subaru Outback will debut at the New York Auto Show on April 16 with sales to follow later this year, but until then, fans of the model will have to settle for glimpses of the heavily camouflaged prototype seen in spy shots.
