Test Upload3 DON'T WATCH! 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness Review

TL;DR

The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness is mostly good but plagued by sloppy lane-centering, wireless-only CarPlay, and reliability concerns.

Key Points

• 1.Wireless-only Apple CarPlay is a cost-cutting frustration. All trims now lack wired CarPlay, causing glitches when a tethered device is connected and occasionally breaking Siri entirely.
• 2.Door-close tuning and remote start are poorly implemented. Doors frequently don't latch fully, and remote start requires the app — no key-fob support — forcing reliance on subscriptions and internet connectivity.
• 3.Eyesight lane-centering sways excessively and a check engine light appeared mid-review. The adaptive cruise works well, but lane-keep wanders continuously; the check engine light also disabled X-Mode and electronic dampers.
• 4.The 2.4L turbo boxer produces 260 hp and 277 lb-ft on a CVT, with 9.5 inches of ground clearance. The Wilderness trim adds rugged styling, StarTex wet-suit-like seats, a snowboard notch, gold rings, and X-Mode on the steering wheel.
• 5.At $51,490 CAD the Wilderness is the recommended trim for looks, though reliability doubts linger. The reviewer's brother's Forester had a blown engine, and a separate oil-leaking Forester was spotted during the test week; the box test fit 11 boxes with room to spare.