2026 Subaru Outback reveal

[Sprintey]

So tonight's NY motorshow sees the next generation Subaru Outback reveal.

https://www.subaru.com/2025-new-york...auto-show.html

Being at about 1:50am in the morning, I know we'll all be up to watch it, or not.

It's bigger, boxier, with more glasshouse and more SUV. It'll have the Subaru flat four teamed up with a Toyota hybrid system and full time AWD, as well as the standard petrol AWD, and the XT turbo AWD as options, so there's choice. Importantly, it returns to physical buttons for some of the everyday dashboard functions.

I don't know if anyone will be interested, I am a bit. Testing the current generation I found I leaned toward the Forester with it's bigger glasshouse and more airy feeling while I liked the Outback's better loadspace. With a 6L/100km hybrid, maybe this will be a decent improvement. Is it the end of one of the last 'station wagon' styled AWDs?

A couple of previews for those who can't wait or value sleep:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a6...k-future-cars/

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...generation-suv

[Travesty]

Speaking of motorshows, did anyone go to the Melbourne "motorshow" on the weekend of the 6th?

[DoubleTrouble]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

So tonight's NY motorshow sees the next generation Subaru Outback reveal.

https://www.subaru.com/2025-new-york...auto-show.html

Being at about 1:50am in the morning, I know we'll all be up to watch it, or not.

It's bigger, boxier, with more glasshouse and more SUV. It'll have the Subaru flat four teamed up with a Toyota hybrid system and full time AWD, as well as the standard petrol AWD, and the XT turbo AWD as options, so there's choice. Importantly, it returns to physical buttons for some of the everyday dashboard functions.

I don't know if anyone will be interested, I am a bit. Testing the current generation I found I leaned toward the Forester with it's bigger glasshouse and more airy feeling while I liked the Outback's better loadspace. With a 6L/100km hybrid, maybe this will be a decent improvement. Is it the end of one of the last 'station wagon' styled AWDs?

A couple of previews for those who can't wait or value sleep:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a6...k-future-cars/

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...generation-suv

I don't like the look of it, it will probably appeal to other people who like the SUV looks, personally I think it will make the current model Outback wagons more sought after for people who are into Subarus.

[Sprintey]

That's a possibility. The current model is nicely curved between the C pillar and tailgate, it's quite a nice looking design imo.

Driving it did feel a bit claustrophobic for me, with a lower roof giving the feeling of being closed in. I like the idea of more glasshouse.

[Travesty]

Unrelated but the Rivian R3X looks too much like this:



for me to take it seriously.

[Sprintey]

They've done the reveal and um, yeah.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a6...ness-revealed/

The comments are overall questioning the exterior styling ("The wilderness looks like it was inspired by an old elite nerf gun.") but they like the interior styling. Maybe outside will be one of those things that grow on us? Trend across the industry is going Lego Brick With Cladding. Taking HVAC controls out of the touch screen menus is being applauded.

[Polyal]

Whole lot of Mitsu and Toyota in that, not a big fan. Shame they seem to sell well here

[aussiblue]

Hmm

Both engines are paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQIKiM-mRMU
"How Subaru slowly lost the plot "

[blueoval]

If the Forester and the Outback had a child, this would be it.

My opinion after owner a number of Subaru's is that they need to bin the CVT for a start. No matter of styling redesign or fancy tech is gonna make people want to get one.

Subaru have taken a massive step back as far as Im concerned.

[cs123]

I had a 2006 Outback with the 3 litre six.

Great car, plenty quick, did camping trips with ease. Looked good. Reliable.

WTF has happened in those 10 years

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by blueoval

My opinion after owner a number of Subaru's is that they need to bin the CVT for a start. No matter of styling redesign or fancy tech is gonna make people want to get one.

Subaru have taken a massive step back as far as Im concerned.

Agreed, it was the CVT that stopped me buying one of the final gen Liberty's as a daily back in 2015, and has stopped us looking at them in general when looking at new car purchases. Which is a shame because I spent alot of time thrashing aroung in WRX's and Foresters in the late 90's/early 2000's and loved them.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by cs123

I had a 2006 Outback with the 3 litre six.

Great car, plenty quick, did camping trips with ease. Looked good. Reliable.

WTF has happened in those 10 years

I can only image budget? Weird company really.

No ute/pickup, no real small car, platform sharing for a sports car...dropped the ball big time >2010

Such a shame.

[FTE217]

That is absolutely woeful looking and carries through most of their range for years and years despite some good gens over the decades.
Rex’s had that unique fugly outlook you could put aside due to its performance but everything else big Meh from me could never own one unless I wore a blind fold walking towards it
Most user owners dgaf about looks it’s just a to b means.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[smoo]

Putting aside the below average/ugly looks, 185hp in 2025 in a large wagon is laughable.
BMW nearly had that (170hp) in the 1980s in the 2.5 litre 3 and 5 series.

Chinese will be laughing all the way to the bank with this BS.

[DFB FGXR6]

Styling is hideous, but..........................well done Subaru, you finally made an Outback that doesn't look like the old Outback.

Regarding the CVT, I've driven multiple Outback's and Forrester's with CVT's. I point blank do not like CVT's, but the Subaru one is actually pretty good in how it behaves like a conventional gearbox. Sure, it's not going to light my fire, and its a travesty they use it in the WRX. But.........................99.9% of Subaru owners wouldn't even know what a CVT is, let alone be disappointed by it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by cs123

I had a 2006 Outback with the 3 litre six.

Great car, plenty quick, did camping trips with ease. Looked good. Reliable.

WTF has happened in those 10 years

My old boss has had three of the 6-cylinder Outback's, including the best Outback ever made, the 2004 - 2009 model, which was Subaru's highest achievement. He currently has the previous model, which was the last with the 3.6 engine, paired with the CVT.

[Sprintey]

Here's the transmission for the new hybrids explained:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRMajgb8KiM

It's not strictly a CVT, it's an iteration of the Toyota planetary gear system.


There was one other mechanical sin, recently the 2.5NA has had the thermostat replaced with a complicated, plastic part that was the cause of many woes - I believe they are going back to a thermostat on various affected models.

As for the styling, I didn't understand how some of my kids' and their mates' Pokemon could look so cute, and others so hideous - and still the kids loved them all.

[Sprintey]

Just looking at the cladding at the top of the wheel arches, they seem to have seen the Kia Tasman and said "I'll have one of those!"

[blueoval]

[Woefulfogger]

I shoulda looked here before eating, not after.

The basic shape is fine, but whats with all the godawful ugly plastic cladding everywhere.



Frankly, I'd be embarrassed to be seen in it.

[TheInterceptor]

Another wagon turned into an SUV. Shame considering we virtually have no wagons left to buy. Having said that, Subaru has been dead to me for a long time for various reasons, and I've driven Subarus for over 10 years.... before they aged like milk that is
This makes the Tasman look very sharp.

Still will be plenty of people buying them, somehow.

[MITCHAY]

It looks like it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down So much tacky plastic, who thinks this looks good?

[Ben73]

Disgusting. I remember back when Subaru was my favourite car company. Ah the good old days.

[Sprintey]

Now the thought did go across my mind when they launched with a green one, and the internet picked it up with various bright sparks in comment sections, that the current model might well be the

Antarctic Blue Super Sports Wagon with the CB and the optional Rally Fun Pack

and this new model might be the

Wagon Queen Family Truckster in the metallic Pea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi9SA4fgAB0

Comedy gold, and maybe a subliminal reason I kept my old car when upgrading.

[Adamz Ghia]

To me it already looks old, and not retro old, just old.

It’s a design that could have been released 15 years ago.

[jpd80]

Ohhh, this is not good.

[Sprintey]

For comparison, here's a couple of reviews of the current XT model and it seems like they've refined that into something good:

Thoughtful US review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fijxydkpq0E

Paul Maric's Oz review, with a bit of punting on the test track and a couple of smiles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSdaUrE7Uo0

[Sprintey]

Re: killing the wagon, the WRX wagon still remains. It's about the size of the 4th gen Liberty wagon, too. Have yet to test drive one of those but it looks like a good package.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Re: killing the wagon, the WRX wagon still remains. It's about the size of the 4th gen Liberty wagon, too. Have yet to test drive one of those but it looks like a good package.

My brother owns a 2018 Levorg and it’s an absolute cracker of a car. Haven’t driven the new model yet, hope they haven’t dulled it.

[DoubleTrouble]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

My brother owns a 2018 Levorg and it’s an absolute cracker of a car. Haven’t driven the new model yet, hope they haven’t dulled it.

The current model WRX wagon just as good as one would expect, the current model XT outback runs the same 2.4 engine