The Subaru Outback has changed a lot in the 32 years since its introduction. What started out as a cladded and lifted version of the Legacy station wagon evolved to become so popular, the Outback eventually overshadowed and outlived the vehicle it was based on. Each subsequent redesign grew a little taller and more SUV-like, straying further from the Outback’s wagon roots, ending at the seventh-generation 2026 Subaru Outback that is on sale today.
Base Trim Engine
2.5-liter four boxer
Base Trim Transmission
CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
180 hp
Base Trim Torque
178 lb-ft
Segment
Midsize Wagon
Subaru’s most recent iteration of the Outback takes the nameplate in a taller, boxier direction that looks far more like other mainstream crossovers than the previous generation “lifted wagon” design. We’ve seen an outcry from our commenters lamenting the loss of the best-selling wagon model in America, but real-world opinions seem to be far more positive. The Outback’s wagon-like styling has made it a strong seller in the past, but perhaps making it more like other SUVs could broaden its appeal and boost sales to compete with some of the top sellers in the US. If Subaru didn’t believe this was the case, it wouldn’t have made such a bold design change.
CarBuzz asked Subaru to explain the process for the Outback’s design change. Here is the answer we received:
“We conducted focus group testing throughout the design process for the new 2026 Outback. Our customers were very clear that they liked the wagon’s utility, including ingress and egress, cargo capacity, and more. They indicated they did not want the dimensions to change, though they said more cargo room would always be helpful.”
– Aaron Cole, Subaru product communications
Spirit Of A Wagon Is Still There
2026 Subaru OutbackIan Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet
Most vehicles get larger with each new generation as consumers tell automakers they would like more space in the back for their kids and a bigger trunk for groceries. While the Outback is no exception to this rule, it has still retained more of its lifted wagon character than you might expect.
“Our final design reflected [the want for more cargo room and similar dimensions], with the same wheelbase, nearly the same overall length, 1.4 inches taller, similar proportions, but two additional cubic feet of cargo room. Most attendees [of the focus groups] told us they liked the new exterior design, and as we refined the final design, the feedback we received was increasingly more positive,” Cole added.
2026 Subaru Outback Exterior Dimensions Vs. Competitors
Specs
Length
Wheelbase
Width*
Height
Curb Weight
2026 Subaru Outback
191.7 inches
108.1 inches
74 inches
67.5–68.3** inches
3,741–3,982 lbs
2026 Honda Passport
191.5 inches
113.6 inches
79.4 inches
73.1 inches
4,478–4705 lbs
2026 Mazda CX-70
200.8 inches
122.8 inches
78.5 inches
68.2 inches
4,863–5,198 lbs
2026 Nissan Murano
192.9 inches
111.2 inches
78 inches
67.9 inches
4,290–4,386 lbs
2026 Toyota Crown Signia
194.1 inches
112.2 inches
74 inches
64–64.2 inches
4,210 lbs
*Width measured without mirrors **Height measured including roof rails
Subaru may have made the Outback a bit taller in the seventh-generation, but overall length and width actually shrank by 0.2 inches, making it easier to park and maneuver. And if you compare it to other two-row midsize SUVs with comparable interior space, the Outback is practically a featherweight in its segment. So it hasn’t completely abandoned its wagon roots.
Selling More Cars
2026 Subaru Outback WildernessSubaru
Fans of wagons may be very loud in their distaste for crossovers, but actions speak much louder than words, and “action” in this case means purchasing a new car. After conducting focus groups, Subaru believes it can attract more buyers to the Outback with the new SUV-like design compared to the outgoing wagon-based one.
“We conducted extensive research with younger customers who told us they loved the utility of an Outback but didn’t purchase one because of the way it used to look,” Cole explained. “For Outback Wilderness, our target sales mix was roughly 15%, so we could afford to be more aggressive with its styling.”
Related
America’s Best-Selling Wagon Suffered In May
Subaru Outback sales plunged 32% in May, but it still holds the crown as America’s best-selling wagon by a huge margin.
Outback sales peaked in 2017 when Subaru sold 188,886 units. Subaru had similarly strong years in 2018 and 2019 when it sold 178,854 and 181,178 units, respectively, but Outback sales have hovered between 147,000 and 168,000 units since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Last year, in 2025, the Outback sold 156,716 units, a decent showing considering a new model was coming, but it dropped below the Forester (175,070 units) and Crosstrek (191,724 units) to be Subaru’s third bestseller.
With a full year of production and sales, Subaru hopes the Outback can return to its pre-pandemic sales.
