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The all-new Subaru Outback is an enormous departure from the best way this mannequin has been designed over greater than three a long time.
It’s now a boxy SUV. Don’t consider Subaru’s advertising and marketing that states it’s nonetheless a wagon. It’s now not what it was.
And that’s okay in some respects. But there are issues about this mannequin that aren’t nice, and we’ll let you know all about them on this evaluation – as a result of we’ve spent greater than three months testing this mid-spec non-turbo Outback AWD Premium variant.
How a lot does the Subaru Outback price?
Prices for the complete Subaru Outback vary rose by virtually $5000 when the seventh-generation mannequin was launched in Australia earlier in 2026, and whereas there have been some enhancements when it comes to the spec and tech, it’s taking part in in an more and more cluttered a part of the market.
| Model | Price earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2027 Subaru Outback AWD | $48,990 |
| 2027 Subaru Outback AWD Premium | $53,490 |
| 2027 Subaru Outback AWD Touring | $56,990 |
| 2027 Subaru Outback AWD Wilderness | $59,690 |
| 2027 Subaru Outback AWD Wilderness Apex | $62,690 |
The new Wilderness mannequin variants are those you need – for the engine, not a lot the looks – as a result of they’re turbocharged. The three decrease grades aren’t.
That means the three extra inexpensive grades, which aren’t as inexpensive as they might be, are working a non-turbo, non-hybrid powertrain whilst you might be shopping for one other all-wheel drive SUV with a turbo engine, a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain, or perhaps a full EV, for related cash or much less.
Considering these costs, you would have a Hyundai Santa Fe – which has a turbo AND is a hybrid, and has seven seats! – for related money. Or a plug-in hybrid three-row SUV from China with AWD for lower than $60k drive-away.
Or you would go for the wonderful fully-electric Subaru Trailseeker, which appears like the cash you’re paying and higher fulfils the off-road wagon vibe than this new boxy Outback, for my part.
What would you purchase? Have your say within the feedback.
To see how the Subaru Outback traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What is the Subaru Outback like on the within?
There are some issues Subaru has completely nailed right here, notably the on a regular basis usability, however there are additionally some particulars that make you surprise how this automobile prices near $60,000 by the point it is in your driveway.
Let’s begin with the good things.
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The steering wheel is superb from a usability perspective. You’ve acquired correct buttons reasonably than these horrible haptic controls widespread in different automobiles, they usually’re clearly laid out to your media, journey pc, cruise management and steering help features. There’s additionally a devoted button for the heated steering wheel.
The driver will get a 12.3-inch digital instrument show, and it is a good one. There’s loads of info obtainable and you’ll change the structure relying on what you need to see. It appears like Subaru has lastly caught up with the remainder of the trade right here.
The central infotainment touchscreen is respectable, too, though my expertise with the connectivity hasn’t been overly good.
Apple CarPlay can take ages to reconnect if you get again into the automobile. I’m speaking a minute or two typically, and I’ve additionally had it utterly drop out when driving previous toll gantries.
And then there’s the security know-how.
If you do not like a few of Subaru’s driver-assistance programs, be ready to do a little bit of menu studying. There is not a easy shortcut that permits you to shortly flip all the things off, and you’ll’t save your most popular settings to a driver profile both.
So if you get again into the automobile and begin it up, you are probably going by means of the identical course of each single time. That’s irritating, notably as a result of a number of the programs could be fairly over-sensitive.
At least Subaru hasn’t gone utterly touchscreen-mad elsewhere within the cabin.
The local weather system is adjusted by way of correct bodily controls, with dials for temperature and buttons for the fan. The heated seats have buttons, too.
There’s additionally USB-A and USB-C connectivity however there is not any wi-fi telephone charger, regardless of there being an ideal house for one within the centre console – you must spend extra to get that function.
That’s the kind of factor that bugs me in a automobile at this value.
Storage is in any other case fairly good. You get respectable cupholders, a helpful centre console bin and lined door pockets, which I actually like as a result of they cease your bottles and different junk from rattling round.
There are soft-touch elbow rests and material trim that runs throughout the dashboard and into the doorways. It provides a bit of heat to what might in any other case be a reasonably dour cabin.
The seats are electrically adjustable on this grade they usually’re coated in faux leather-based however, actually, it’s fairly convincing. More importantly, they’re comfy. We’ve accomplished some longer journeys on this automobile and I have not had any complaints concerning the seats.
There is one drawback for those who’re sharing the automobile with somebody who’s a unique measurement to you, although: there is not any reminiscence settings for the motive force’s seat, and my accomplice – who was repeatedly sharing this automobile with me – is significantly shorter than I’m, so having to readjust the seat each time acquired outdated shortly.
Then you’ve got acquired a number of issues that simply really feel a bit low-cost.
The rear-view mirror is guide – not auto-dimming. In a automobile approaching $60,000, that’s a bit stingy.
The solar visors are additionally slender and, whereas they prolong, they do not actually do a lot to dam the solar when it is coming in from the facet. Plus they clang into the EyeSight digital camera {surround} plastic if you use them.
And then there’s the sunroof. Yes, it is there. Yes, it opens. And after three months with the automobile, I didn’t use it as soon as. I’d fortunately forego a sunroof for some higher options like a wi-fi telephone charger or ventilated seats.
But the Outback delivers in the case of rear-seat house.
I’m about six foot (182cm) tall and with the motive force’s seat set for me, there’s heaps of room behind. Rear legroom is superb, there’s loads of house to get your toes beneath the entrance seat, and headroom is beneficiant.
You might match three adults throughout the again with out an excessive amount of drama, though there’s a transmission tunnel by means of the center, so three massive adults would possibly discover issues just a little tighter round their toes.
It’s additionally actually darkish again right here. The earlier Outback had a lightweight headliner, and I reckon it made an enormous distinction. The darkish lining and rear tinted glass lead to a cabin that feels a bit like a cave.
It’s spacious, although, and that is in the end what issues in a household automobile.
Parents have entry to ISOFIX factors and top-tether anchors for baby seats, plus bottle holders within the doorways, seatback pockets, directional air-vents, and USB ports. There’s additionally a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders.
What you aren’t getting is adjustable rear-seat backrests, and also you’ll have to spend as much as the subsequent grade to get rear-seat heating, too.
There’s additionally an odd centre seatbelt association, which comes down from the roof. If you’ve got acquired an enormous individual sitting within the center, the belt can find yourself sitting throughout the shoulder of the individual subsequent to them.
Then we get to the boot, and as a household automobile it nails the temporary.
The cargo house is huge and it has a flat load-in lip, plus there’s an electrical tailgate as normal and loads of little touches designed to make life simpler. There are hooks for procuring luggage or tenting gear, extra bag holders, a 12-volt outlet and, importantly, a full-size spare wheel beneath the ground.
The rear seatbacks could be dropped from the boot, too, supplying you with an enormous load space.
Subaru has additionally accomplished one thing a bit completely different with the cargo cowl. You can configure it in numerous methods and even flip it into one thing of a hammock. It’s intelligent, I suppose. But actually, it is also a little bit of a faff.
| Dimensions | Subaru Outback AWD Premium |
|---|---|
| Length | 4880mm |
| Width | 1880mm |
| Height | 1715mm |
| Wheelbase | 2745mm |
| Ground clearance | 220mm |
| Cargo capability | 530L – rear seats up 1211L – rear seats folded, to seatback |
To see how the Subaru Outback traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s beneath the bonnet?
Have a take a look at the desk beneath to see simply how rather more you’re getting for those who select the turbocharged Wilderness variants as a substitute of the two.5i non-turbo variations.
| Specifications | Subaru Outback | Subaru Outback Wilderness |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L 4cyl non-turbo boxer | 2.4L 4cyl turbo-petrol boxer |
| Power | 137kW | 194kW |
| Torque | 245Nm | 382Nm |
| Transmission | ‘8-speed’ CVT | ‘8-speed’ CVT |
| Drive kind | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1705kg – base 1732kg – Premium 1733kg – Touring |
1781kg – Wilderness 1802kg – Wilderness Apex |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | – | – |
| Fuel financial system (claimed) | 8.1L/100km | 9.7L/100km |
| Fuel financial system (as examined) | 9.0L/100km | – |
| Fuel tank capability | 63L | 63L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane common unleaded | 91-octane common unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 183g/km | 228g/km |
| Emissions normal | Euro 6 | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capability | 2000kg | 2100kg |
Of course, there’s a value to pay when it comes to gasoline effectivity for the turbo, nevertheless it has higher towing specs (simply) and it’s a far nicer automobile to stay with from a every day driving perspective. More on that beneath.
And for those who’re questioning what I achieved over three months of testing and some thousand kilometres of driving – the quantity was 9.0L/100km. Not unhealthy, however far increased than you’d see in loads of turbo or hybrid alternate options.
To see how the Subaru Outback traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How does the Subaru Outback drive?
For probably the most half, the Outback is a very agreeable factor to drive.
The trip is superb, the steering is properly weighted and predictable, and regardless of being a fairly large, chunky wagon-style SUV, it would not really feel notably giant from behind the wheel.
But there’s one factor that has pushed me barely mad throughout my time with it, and that is the security know-how.
I already touched on this within the inside part, nevertheless it turns into much more apparent if you’re really driving the automobile.
The lane-keeping system could be intrusive at increased speeds, nudging the automobile round throughout the lane if you’d reasonably it simply allow you to get on with driving. Worse, there have been events once I indicated to merge and the automobile actively tried to steer me again into my lane as a result of it thought there was one thing in my blind spot.
I perceive what it is making an attempt to do, however if you’re intentionally making an attempt to alter lanes and the steering wheel is successfully preventing you, it may be unnerving. My accomplice introduced it up as one thing that made her really feel unsafe.
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Then there’s the driver-monitoring digital camera, which tends to continuously let you know that you just’re distracted, to the purpose of distraction.
And whereas I’m positive some folks will recognize that kind of help, in the course of the time I spent with this automobile it grew to become yet one more factor I needed to modify off.
If you may get previous these security frustrations, there’s one other subject that is a lot tougher to disregard: the engine.
The naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder is sufficient round city, however load the Outback up and it may well battle.
I took it on longer journeys with my accomplice, my daughter, the canines and a boot stuffed with stuff, and there have been events once I went to overhaul on an uphill part and thought I’ll not really make it in time.
The CVT auto would not assist. Under acceleration, the engine/transmission mixture can really feel laboured, with the engine revving away whereas the automobile takes its time constructing velocity. The paddle shifters provide you with some management over the transmission, however they do not change the elemental flaw – this powertrain isn’t ok within the context of this market section.
In 2026, with turbocharged engines, hybrids and EVs providing a lot stronger low-speed response, this naturally aspirated setup feels historical. Yes, the two.5-litre boxer engine has stood the take a look at of time, however retirement beckons.
If you are a relaxed driver who is not notably serious about accelerating laborious, you would possibly by no means care, although. Maybe there’s one thing to that retirement factor – it does really feel like an ‘old person’ automobile now greater than ever, dare I say it.
The steering is certainly one of my favorite issues about this automobile. It’s acquired a pleasant weight to it, it is predictable and simple to put, and it would not make the Outback really feel just like the sizable machine that it really is.
The trip consolation is superb, too. It’s rather well judged over bumps and rougher surfaces, and offers the Outback the kind of relaxed and cozy character you’d need from a household road-trip automobile.
The brakes are robust and with respectable pedal really feel they make you are feeling assured when you might want to pull the automobile up shortly.
The normal all-wheel drive system is one other benefit, notably for those who’re repeatedly driving on moist, gravel or different slippery surfaces. It’s a helpful bit of additional traction and provides to the Outback’s versatility. But for on a regular basis driving on sealed roads, the place you do not essentially want all 4 wheels driving, you could be left wishing there was a bit extra urgency.
And then there’s gasoline consumption. The official determine for the naturally aspirated Outback is not notably spectacular in contrast with what you may get from fashionable hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs. And over three months and a number of other refills, I noticed 9.0L/100km over a number of thousand kays.
That’s not horrible for a car of this measurement, however the issue is the context: you are utilizing that a lot gasoline with out getting efficiency in return. At least the Outback can run on common unleaded, so that you needn’t spend additional on premium gasoline.
To see how the Subaru Outback traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What do you get?
Here’s a rundown of the mannequin vary. You is perhaps shocked by how a lot you must spend to get issues you might anticipate as normal in a big SUV.
2027 Subaru Outback tools highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels (darkish metallic end)
- Full-size spare wheel
- Automatic LED headlights (steering-responsive)
- LED entrance fog lights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Power-folding facet mirrors
- Ladder-style roof rails
- Black artificial leather-based seat upholstery (NEW)
- 8-way energy driver’s seat with lumbar
- Leather-wrapped gear selector
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Black inside stitching
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (NEW)
- 12.1-inch infotainment show (NEW)
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wireless Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- 6-speaker sound system
- 1 x USB-A port
- 1 x USB-C port
- Dual-zone local weather management
- Steering wheel paddles
- Power tailgate
- X-Mode drive mode
Outback Premium provides:
- Heated steering wheel
- 8-way energy passenger seat
- Heated entrance seats
- Satellite navigation
- Electric sunroof
Outback Touring provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels (machined gloss end)
- Auto-dipping, auto-folding facet mirrors
- Black Nappa leather-based upholstery (brown non-compulsory)
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Heated rear outboard seats
- Four-way driver’s seat lumbar assist
- Driver’s seat place reminiscence
- Silver inside stitching
- Wireless telephone charger
- 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
And for those who’re within the Wilderness fashions, and might abdomen the bizarre design, right here’s what they add.
2027 Subaru Outback Wilderness tools highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels (matte black end)
- Unique exterior and inside design with Wilderness branding
- Front bumper beneath guard
- Unique LED entrance fog lights
- 2100kg braked towing capability
- 240mm floor clearance
- Adaptive suspension
- Black water-repellent upholstery
- Wilderness embossing on head restraints
- 8-way powered driver’s seat with lumbar
- Heated rear outboard seats
- Yellow inside stitching
- ‘Wilderness theme’ digital instrument show
- Wireless telephone charger
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Copper-colour inside and exterior accents
- Dual tailpipes
- X-Mode drive mode (2 modes)
Outback Wilderness Apex provides (over Wilderness):
- Electric sunroof
- Satellite navigation
- 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
To see how the Subaru Outback traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
Is the Subaru Outback protected?
The newest Outback has not but been crash-tested by ANCAP nor its sister organisation Euro NCAP. This might be a priority for some.
Standard security options embrace:
- 9 airbags, incl:
-
- Front
- Front-side
- Curtain
- Driver’s knee
- Front passenger seat cushion
- Far facet
- Adaptive cruise management
- Active torque vectoring
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Driver monitoring system
- Lane-keep help
- Reverse parking sensors
- Reversing digital camera
- Subaru EyeSight
-
- Wide-angle monocular digital camera
- Emergency Driving Stop System
- Subaru Vision Assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reverse AEB
- Front-side radar
- Traffic signal recognition
- Tyre strain monitoring
Outback Premium provides:
- Front view monitor
- Side-view monitor
- Surround-view digital camera
Outback Touring provides:
- Active lane-change help
- Driver monitoring system with auto facet mirror and driver’s seat adjustment
The Outback Wilderness shares all the identical security gear as the bottom Outback AWD, whereas the Wilderness Apex provides a surround-view digital camera.
But as I discussed, the Outback has all of the gear however no concept in the case of tech integration, and for patrons preferring to not be aggravated by bing-bongs and chimes, it gained’t be a enjoyable possession expertise.
To see how the Subaru Outback traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How a lot does the Subaru Outback price to run?
The Outback has a terrific repute for reliability, and since the identical engines are provided on this new-gen mannequin vary, hopefully that continues to be the case.
| Servicing and Warranty | Subaru Outback AWD Premium |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 12 months free or three years free for those who prepay servicing |