The popular Outback is returning for its seventh generation with an all-new body that adopts a more SUV-like design
- 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
