Subaru Uncharted Reviews

Subaru has confirmed that it is investigating different avenues back into the ute market, as the eternal search for a worthy successor to the now-legendary Brumby/BRAT of nearly half a century ago continues.However, while yet another collaboration with Toyota is likely given the latter’s 20 per cent stake in the Subaru Corporation, a version of the recently-redesigned Toyota HiLux has been ruled out.According to Subaru Australia General Manager, Scott Lawrence, there is no current or planned discussion around Toyota’s existing ute out of Thailand for one very important reason.“It's a common question, both from journalists and particularly regional areas online,” he told CarsGuide with a sigh at the recent launch of the seventh-generation Subaru Outback.“It is an interesting proposition. What I would say is we need to do what's right by the brand. And many people would say, ‘grab a HiLux, you know, and talk to Toyota about a co-brand,’ as if it was that easy.“But I don't even know if that is right for the brand.”Lawrence reckons there needs to be considerable planning, design and engineering input from both parties right from the very beginning, leaning on each of their respective strengths and experiences, for any tie-up to work successfully.This has not been the case for the current-generation of HiLux, which is a substantial facelift of the previous iteration launched all the way back in 2015.“With the collaborations between Toyota and Subaru, in fact, all brand collaborations, need to be equal,” he believes.“It needs to be input from both sides. Subaru has got great experience in building awesome cars with capability, and Brumbys comes to mind as one that you still see driving on the roads today.“There is discussion around Subaru Corporation as what that looks like in the 2020s, so it is a live discussion. Would I love a commercial ute? Yes, but it needs to be right. It needs to be Subaru.“So, the ultimate question of a co-brand collaboration, of course there are always discussions. But, I think that the big question is, what is Subaru’s territory in the commercial space? And there's lots of exciting discussions going on, but nothing, nothing is shared at this point.”Asked if the rumoured dual-cab ute based on the next-generation version of the Toyota Corolla Cross or coming Toyota RAV4 redesign is a perfect project for such a collaboration (and basis for a future Subaru Brumby), Lawrence was a little bit less forthcoming.“So, the question is, do I see a future for a monocoque style ute?” he said.“That is a really fun conversation and discussion, of ladder-frame versus monocoque. There is the Ford Maverick in the US, of course. (But that is) a much smaller segment, with very few players in that space.“That is a discussion. That is a discussion, yeah. But again, there is nothing more I can share in that space.”So, no chance of a rebadged Toyota HiLux – at least not in the current iteration.And possibly a collaboration on a monocoque-bodied dual-cab ute in the vein of the Ford Maverick, shared with Toyota, and possibly based on either a Subaru Global Platform or Toyota New Global Architecture toolset as per the Toyota Corolla Cross successor.Surely that would be the closest we would get to a modern-day Subaru Brumby!Watch this space.

Subaru is seeking to re-enter the three-row SUV segment in Australia in the near future, after more than a dozen years away from the scene.

The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness Apex is just that – the flagship version of the seventh-generation series.

Subaru's high-performance STI division has a deep and rich history, but the name has never officially been applied to the low-slung BRZ two-door coupe. The top-spec tS is the closest we've got to date and this one is filled to the gills with STI-tuned accessories and goodies.

A number of popular car brands in Australia are at risk of paying fines in excess of $10 million for not meeting tightening emission standards if they don’t correct course quickly.

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

The Subaru Outback AWD Touring is the Outback you buy if you want the luxury flagship version, though it is not the most expensive version of the new seventh-gen series.

Subaru has launched a completely redesigned Outback in Australia this month, and it is already copping flak over an unexpected shortfall – rising fuel consumption.With the company refusing to confirm the arrival of a hybrid or plug-in hybrid option to help remedy that, buyers prioritising top fuel economy are left out in the cold.According to Subaru Australia General Manager, Scott Lawrence, it's all down to a matter of priorities.“Our priority was Forester with a strong hybrid, which we obviously announced and launched last year,” he told CarsGuide at the BU-series Outback launch in Bathurst last week.“And the Wilderness was the priority in launching Outback. It is not a ‘no’ for hybrid in Outback. (But) it's not in our short-term term plans.”Lawrence believes Subaru now provides a good balance of powertrain options for consumers across all its SUVs, meaning buyers seeking electrification are catered for.“We're confident in the broader model line-up of Forester, Forester Hybrid, Outback, Outback (Wilderness) turbo, and (recently-confirmed Solterra electric vehicle-based) Trailseeker coming in with different powertrains,” he added.“At a portfolio level, we have an option for consumers. But Outback hybrid is not off the table (although) Wilderness was absolutely the priority.”So, how much thirstier is the 2026 Outback’s fuel consumption compared to its predecessor?Using ADR 81/02 figures, the standard 2.5-litre naturally aspirated (NA) boxer engine models average 8.1 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, while the heavier and more off-road biased Wilderness with its 2.4-litre turbo boxer unit ups that to 9.7L/100km.These represent hikes of 11 per cent and 7.7 per cent, respectively.Both engines are said to be updated versions of those offered in the previous Outback, yet their corresponding combined average consumption figures are 7.3L/100km and 9.0L/100km.But, out in the real world, during the launch driving with two-to-three people in the car out from Sydney to Bathurst and back (taking the scenic routes) over two days, the trip computer in both grades displayed around 10L/100km and 11.5L/100km for NA and turbo respectively.These types of fuel-consumption numbers tend to be optimistic in most cases.Given that the new NA model only weigh about 50kg more than its substantially smaller BT-series Outback predecessor, inferior aerodynamics is the likely cause (no drag co-efficiency figures are available at this time), particularly when factoring in the boxier shape, wider body, higher body and larger front area compared to before.What’s doubly disappointing is that the company’s two other popular SUVs, the mid-sized Forester and smaller Crosstrek crossover that share the same basic Subaru Global Platform components, already offer a hybrid option.Overseas reports suggest that a variation of the latest Forester’s 2.5-litre ‘e-Boxer’ four-cylinder naturally aspirated hybrid engine is the likely candidate for the Outback hybrid.In the smaller SUV’s current application, it combines a 121kW/212Nm petrol engine with a 90kW/276Nm electric motor and 1.1kWh battery, for a power total of 145kW.While that’s 9kW ahead of the 136kW/247Nm Forester 2.5-litre NA (and up on torque too, though Subaru does not disclose combined torque figures for hybrids – perhaps because they use a Toyota system and Toyota doesn’t either?) the fuel figure saving is 21.5 per cent, or 6.2L/100km (down from 7.9L/100km).If you apply that percentage figure to the Outback 2.5 NA model’s 8.1L/100km, in theory, an Outback hybrid using the same ‘Strong Hybrid’ (ex-Toyota) system could see that combined-average figure tumble to under 6.4L/100km.When that is likely to occur is anybody’s guess, with some speculation suggesting that Subaru may roll out the hybrid option as early as the end of this year, while others speculate that it could come as late as mid-life refresh/facelift time, which could be 2028 or later for Australia.It’s not all bad news for Outback buyers, however.The seventh generation progresses in a number of key areas, including interior packaging, dashboard operation, safety tech, ride comfort, seat support and steering control.Our first driving impressions suggest this is the best Outback since the series debuted in Australia in 1996 as part of the second-generation (but now defunct) Liberty wagon range.

The Subaru Outback AWD Premium is the one-up from entry-level version of the seventh-generation model.

The Subaru Outback AWD is the entry-level version of the seventh-generation model.