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Subaru Outback Wilderness 2026 review: snapshot

EXPERT RATING
8.0

Likes

Chunky road presence
Superb packaging
Ease, comfort and fun

Dislikes

Turbo likes a drink
Very divisive design
No manual option
Byron Mathioudakis

Contributing Journalist

2 min read

The 2026 Subaru Outback is the brand’s first model to offer the adventure/off-road-ready Wilderness model.

Priced from $59,690, before on-road costs, this is based on the mid-range Outback AWD Premium specification, but differs in some pretty/not-so-pretty significant ways.

The big changes are a new front grille and bumper treatment, with the words ‘SUBARU’ spelt across the slats, more body cladding, different trim and lighting on the tailgate, a 20mm extra ride height lift (to 240mm), a turbo engine upgrade, electronic dampers and extra 'X-Mode' off-road functionality.

Additionally, Wilderness buyers score a wireless charger, water-repellent seat trim, different fog lights, black-finish alloys and more. 

But don’t go thinking that, because it is more expensive than the Outback AWD Touring, you automatically receive all its little luxuries too, because you won’t find the sunroof, sat-nav, 360-degree view monitor and premium audio. You’ll need another $3000 for the Apex version.

Still, the Wilderness is not exactly lacking in equipment, with heated outboard rear seats, wireless charger, climate control, a 12.1-inch multimedia touchscreen, 12.3-inch electronic instrumentation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, heated/powered front seats, a powered tailgate, X-Mode off-road mode, roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels with a full-sized spare.

Safety-wise, the Wilderness includes ADAS items like AEB, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, a blind-spot monitor, traffic-sign recognition, adaptive cruise control and nine airbags.

Another huge change with Wilderness is in the engine compartment, since it boots out the Outback’s regular 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed ‘boxer’ four-cylinder petrol engine, for a 2.4-litre turbo version. This delivers 194kW at 5600rpm and 382Nm between 2000rpm and 3600rpm, and employs Subaru’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight artificial steps to send drive to all four wheels constantly. Unfortunately, no manual gearbox is offered.

Blame the extra weight or blunt aerodynamics, because the Wilderness’ combined average fuel consumption figure of 9.7L/100km, for a carbon dioxide emissions rating of 228 grams per kilometre. Expect to achieve about 648km from empty if you fill up your tank with the required 91 RON standard unleaded petrol.

Read the full 2026 Subaru Outback review

Subaru Outback 2026: Awd Wilderness

Engine Type Turbo 4, 2.4L
Fuel Type Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency 9.7L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $59,690
Safety Rating

Pricing Guides

$58,228
Price is based on the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the lowest priced Subaru Outback 2026 variant.
LOWEST PRICE
$48,990
HIGHEST PRICE
$62,690
Byron Mathioudakis

Contributing Journalist

Byron Mathioudakis connected with cars right from the start. His earliest memory is a dream of him driving an Austin A30. Soon after, Byron fell in love with movies watching Duel (1971) where a Valiant sedan takes on a murderous Peterbilt truck. Meanwhile, at Tottenham Primary, teacher Mr Chitty prised opened his world with Wheels magazines, later leading him to perform a one-person musical about the then-new Ford XD Falcon. Everyone thought he was strange. Eager to keep his car passion separate from work, he graduated from Advertising at RMIT, but wasn’t happy in that industry, so did the ‘90s Gen X thing of back-packing, with stints in hospitality, exploring his love of music working in a record store, tending bar, acting, dancing, modelling and even being a singing telegram, thankfully in faraway Canada. His eventual YouTube debut happened as an extra in a Violetine video of that era, You Know. Anyway, by 28, Byron realised he wanted to write about cars and nothing else, and on the eve of his 30th, landed a job at John Mellor’s Australian Automotive Business, a predecessor to GoAuto, where he still feels he belongs after four decades, breaking through with an unsolicited road test of his mother’s Peugeot 306. Going freelance in 1999, he worked at the long-defunct eauto.com.au (it’s still on Wayback Machine), then picked up a gig at Wheels magazine, citing 11 years of Car of the Year judging as a life-changing employment experience. Among scores of amazing people, it was there he became great friends with Peter Robinson, the editor of that first car magazine he devoured back in ’77. Do meet your heroes. In 2020, Byron started at CarsGuide, where he is a Contributing Journalist to this day. Other regular media outlets he writes for include the RAC WA and Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine. Note: though Byron has many old cars he loves, he has never owned an Austin A30, Valiant, XD Falcon or Peugeot 306. To paraphrase Bjork, to do so may break the charm. You can find Byron on LinkedIn. Education Associate Diploma in Advertising, RMIT | 1987-1990 Awards 2024 Newspress Australia Road Tester of the Year Featured Publications GoAuto | 1997-2022 Wheels | 2009-2021 CarsGuide | 2020-present RAC WA Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.
Pricing Guide
$59,690
Lowest price, based on new car retail price.
For more information on
2026 Subaru Outback
See Pricing & Specs

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