Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 9:43pm
JOHN DAVIS: Since the Subaru Outback first arrived on the scene 30 years ago as the world’s first sport-utility wagon, it’s been growing and gradually morphing into a full-on SUV. Well now comes the all-new seventh-gen Outback; it certainly looks bigger and bolder than ever, so is the transformation complete? Well, that’s a question we’re ready to answer.
GREG CARLOSS: The 2026 Subaru Outback is indeed embracing its inner and outer SUV these days, but since we spend most of the time inside our vehicles, not standing around looking at them, we’ll roam about the cabin before we taxi around the outside or take flight at the test track.
The first thing you notice in here is that Subaru has finally gotten away from the tall tablet-style infotainment screen, replacing it with this new 12-inch widescreen setup that’s mounted high up on the dash. It has new software too, so it is much more responsive, and the icons are nice and big. As for climate, we’ve gone back to physical controls. Much more user-friendly. The new digital gauge cluster is also 12 inches. Both screens are standard in all Outbacks, and both look great from the driver’s seat, which brings us to seat comfort.
Seat comfort has never been a strong point in the Outback, but they have addressed it big time in this new generation. They are all-day comfortable now, and more solidly mounted too. Even better news for rear seat passengers, the Outback’s taller shape provides one-and-a-half inches of additional headroom.
