2026 Subaru Outback Limited XT: New Outdoorsy Exterior Design Also Wears An Appealing Interior

 

Highlight: The Outback offers a power locking fuel door.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $46,210 (Base Sport MSRP): $36,445

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; AWD; 4WD independent with a raised suspension system; a rear camera; a blind spot warning system; a reverse automatic braking system; a roof rail with an 800-pound load; a fullsize spare tire; driving mode with snow and dirt; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Standard Equipment: 19-inch black alloy wheels; an 8-speed CVT transmission; keyless access; a push button ignition starter system; a leather wrapped steering wheel; power front seats; heated front (and rear) seats; 12-inch multimedia infotainment system; heated windshield wiper de-icer; heated side mirrors; leather seats; a navigation system; a dual zone automatic climate control system; heated steering wheel with paddle shifters; a power sunroof; a power rear gate with automatic close and height memory; wireless charging; and a leather steering wheel

Options: Emerald green exterior paint

Standard Audio System: a 12-speaker 576-watt Harman Kardon with HD radio and SiriusXM

Engine/Transmission/Horsepower: 2.4-liter dual overhead turbo/260-hp (test vehicle)

Towing: 3,600 lbs

What’s New: For the 2026 model year, the Subaru Forester wears an all-new design.

Why:

AWD standard

A variety of trims

Comfortable waterproof seats

Great sound system

A rear camera with a wiper

A fresh redesign infotainment screen

A high-level of safety driving aids

A co-pilot assist highway driving system

Heated front (rear) seats

A brake hold feature

A power sunroof

A 360-degree camera

Wireless smartphone charging

A navigation system

An easy-to-use infotainment system

A power lockable tailgate

All-weather mats

A larger fuel tank (than the model it replaced)

A new 18-gallon fuel tank

A hands-free highway driving system available on select trims

But:

A boxy, station wagon-like design

The radar-activated co-pilot steering system was overly sensitive (e.g. requiring two hands on a steering wheel)

No hybrid engine

Hands-free driving system should be available on more trims

Verdict:  At a starting price near $37,000, this year’s Outback wears a new design both inside and out.

With its boxy rugged design theme, the Outback still resembles a station wagon despite the automaker referring to the midsize four door vehicle as a crossover.

The redesign incorporates two, 4-cylinder powertrains, a 12-inch infotainment screen, a 12-inch driver information cluster and a next generation safety driving assist system.

Moreover, the vehicle we tested was outfitted with the Limited XT trim. This meant that our vehicle was outfitted with the standard features on the Limited trim plus a peppier 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, which produced 260-horsepower traveling through the dual exhaust outlet. Also, the vehicle rode on 19-inch black alloy wheels and was outfitted with a 360-degree surround-view monitor.

While we welcome the bolder design and fresh new interior, we hope in the future Subaru offers its all-new hands-free highway driving system on more models, as well as hybrid powertrain to enhance fuel efficiency.

Competition: Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Cherokee