2026 Subaru Outback First Test: Improvement Beyond the Numbers
The new Outback sees the biggest advancements where they matter: in the infotainment and cabin refinement.
Pros
- All-button climate controls
- Comfortable seats
- Much-improved cabin quietness
Cons
- Non-linear power delivery
- No hybrid option yet
- Suspension unsettles in 90-degree turns
Subaru may make the most money selling Crosstreks, but the outdoorsy brand’s true spiritual mascot has always been the Outback, hasn’t it? All-new for its seventh generation, the 2026 Subaru Outback loses some of its wagony charm but gains the utility and refinement of what feels like its final form.
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We have a great First Drive rundown of the new Outback, but upon spending a few days with it as opposed to merely a few hours, we come away similarly impressed with its daily livability.
Two Chief Complaints Addressed
Our chief complaints regarding the outgoing Outback have always come down to its infotainment setup and noise, vibration, and harshness levels, a.k.a. NVH. The new car brings back hard buttons for its climate controls, and we couldn’t be more thankful. They’re clearly marked and an exponential improvement from the old setup. No screen involvement whatsoever. Who would have thought adjusting the cabin comfort while driving without getting distracted would be a luxury in 2026?
Interactions with the rest of the infotainment were positive, with the system itself being way more responsive now. The screen is also easy to read and far more user friendly, and it offers an overall better use of on-screen real estate. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connect seamlessly within range. Just a small nitpick: There doesn’t appear to be a “home” button on the screen when you’re using phone integration. You have to select the “Subaru” icon in order to navigate back to the car’s own apps.
Sitting anywhere in the Outback means great visibility through its big windows, comfortable seats, and overall roominess—even in the second row. Immediately, you’ll notice things are much quieter than before, i.e. less NVH. The road noise isn’t as prevalent, and the engine’s groan has pretty much been totally muted except under hard acceleration. Whereas the outgoing Outback’s engine idle would shake the entire car, especially during start/stop, Subaru has improved damping to the point where the idle is now easily ignored.
The Turbo Motor Is Good
From behind the small and compact steering wheel, the Outback behaves as you’d expect for a midsize SUV. The optional 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four produces 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, enough grunt to launch the car to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and through the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds at 96.4 mph. Braking from 60 to a standstill happens in 114 feet.
Seeing as the 2026 Outback is essentially mechanically the same as the 2025 Outback, these new numbers match up with the old ones: 6.3-second 0–60 time and a 14.8-second quarter mile at 96.9 mph. Braking on the new car improved by 5 feet, though.
Along those acceleration runs we noted non-linear power delivery: There were some strange surges and burps that had nothing to do with the continuously variable transmission faking shifts. But braking was drama-free and consistent, which is what you want in the event of an emergency situation. The brake pedal itself is easy to modulate, though we noticed a small bite of dead space at the top of pedal travel, as well as a rather springy response.
Steering is neutral, as is the handling. Cruising along the highway is pleasant and painless. The only time the suspension felt unsettled was when we’d take 90-degree turns up or down hills. Only then would we experience some head toss, but it’s hardly a deal-breaker.
Given this is the top-of-the-line Outback Touring XT, the test car came with lovely cabin materials, as well as all-terrain mats throughout. We’d be interested in experiencing the lower trims, such as Premium and Limited, and see if they maintain that same feeling of quality. In total, the MSRP of the test car came in at just under $50,000.
However, regardless of trim, you still get the new Outback’s baseline benefits. The improved infotainment and NVH are grade-agnostic, for starters, as well as the roomy cabin and utility-minded rear cargo area with a bunch of utility hooks for convenience. As a complete package and an option in the highly competitive midsize SUV segment, the new Outback very well could rocket up to the top of a buyer’s list because of its comprehensive improvements.
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I got into cars the way most people do: my dad. Since I was little, it was always something we’d talk about and I think he was stoked to have his kid share his interest. He’d buy me the books, magazines, calendars, and diecast models—everything he could do to encourage a young enthusiast. Eventually, I went to school and got to the point where people start asking you what you want to do with your life. Seeing as cars are what I love and writing is what I enjoy doing, combining the two was the logical next step. This dream job is the only one I’ve ever wanted. Since then, I’ve worked at Road & Track, Jalopnik, Business Insider, The Drive, and now MotorTrend, and made appearances on Jay Leno’s Garage, Good Morning America, The Smoking Tire Podcast, Fusion’s Car vs. America, the Ask a Clean Person podcast, and MotorTrend’s Shift Talkers. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking, and watching the Fast & Furious movies on repeat. Tokyo Drift is the best one.
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