2026 Subaru Outback | They Listened to You!

TL;DR

The redesigned 2026 Subaru Outback earns praise for ditching touchscreens in favor of physical controls while adding refinement, more headroom, and improved cargo space.

Key Points

• 1.Subaru returned all major controls to physical buttons. HVAC, infotainment, and drive mode controls are all tactile and persistent — no waiting for software to load, no glove issues — earning a rare 10/10 from the reviewers.
• 2.Pricing ranges from mid-$30s to $50,000 fully loaded. The base naturally aspirated flat-4 starts around $35–36K; the turbocharged Wilderness trim with 260 hp and all-terrain tires tops out near $50K.
• 3.The redesign adds meaningful interior space and cargo capacity. Headroom grew 1.4 inches, cargo capacity reaches 33–36 cu ft with seats up and 80 cu ft with seats down — beating the Toyota RAV4.
• 4.NVH refinement is approximately 10% better than the outgoing model. Subaru added more sound deadening, new engine mounts, a quieter compressor and transmission, more underbody panels, adhesive, and thicker glass.
• 5.The CVT and fuel economy are the main criticisms. The turbocharged CVT feels rubber-banding and had calibration hiccups; city fuel economy on the turbo Wilderness barely clears 20 mpg, compared to 30+ for rivals like the Honda CR-V hybrid.
• 6.Compared to the Honda Passport, the Outback is more compliant but less direct. The Passport's V6 and traditional gears deliver sharper inputs and rear movement, while the Outback's symmetrical AWD, 9.5-inch ground clearance on Wilderness, and real skid plates make it a more comfortable, genuine off-road family hauler.