Leaning into the lifestyle, doubling down on the DNA
When an automaker comes out with a new gen of an important model, it is their opportunity to showcase new technology, new designs, and also whether or not they’ve been listening to the market in general and their loyalists. And if ticking all these boxes is any indication of success, then the new Subaru Outback gets an A+. There’s a very clear thesis behind this all-new gen: give the fans more of what they already love, even at the expense of things that could be dealbreakers for others.
I’ve always been a fan of the Outback. Starting life as an offshoot of the Legacy, it was very much a station wagon on stilts. With every new generation, and customers asking for more space, it was blurring the lines between that and an SUV. That ambiguity was part of its charm.
With this latest generation, and especially in Wilderness trim, that ambiguity is gone. This is now, very clearly, an SUV, and the shift in proportions is immediately noticeable. An extra inch of headroom doesn’t sound like much on paper, but visually it pushes the Outback firmly into SUV territory, with the silhouette taller and more upright than before. If you’re thinking about how this works in a lineup that already has the Forester, don’t.
The styling, however, is now far less democratic. It won’t appeal to everyone, and while my Patagonia-wearing, hiking-loving, outdoorsy Millenial self loves it, I bet many will be put off by it. Where previous Outbacks tried to balance ruggedness with a little bit of subtlety and sophistication, the new one leans hard into its lifestyle persona, and makes zero effort to blend in.
The Wilderness trim amplifies that with unique badging, more aggressive front and rear fascias, and modern colours that compliment the adventurous design. Geyser Blue, in particular, feels like the spec to have. Park it next to a base silver car, and the difference in presence is night and day.
Functionally, the Wilderness also adds 20mm of ground clearance over the standard car, which achieved through suspension changes rather than tyres, and which gives it a more purposeful stance and genuine off-road credibility.
Step inside, and the priorities become crystal clear: space, durability, usability. The cabin is genuinely roomy across both rows, and the boot benefits from the increased vertical space. Everything is clearly designed around real-world use: loading gear, carrying passengers, and dealing with messy environments.
Material choices reflect that. You won’t find anything overly delicate or flashy. Instead, surfaces are robust, easy to clean, and ready for outdoor life. There are thoughtful touches everywhere. A step integrated into the rear door helps access the roof rack. Entry and exit are effortless. This is a cabin designed by people who actually use their cars for more than commuting.
The boot is easy to use, brings a full size spare, and a super smart cargo cover that can also perform as a hammock to store loose items and even a trouser protector if you’re tailgating after off-roading. I can attest to all of these use cases.
But Subaru’s biggest improvement might actually be what it removed. Gone is the old, laggy, oversized portrait screen. In its place is a smaller, sharper, and significantly more responsive display that focuses on the essentials.
And crucially, Subaru has gone full circle on ergonomics: climate controls, heated seats, steering wheel heating – all physical. Next time you’re finished loading the car after a long day skiing in Cardrona and you want to quickly heat up the cabin while still wearing gloves, you’ll thank Subaru.
The steering wheel deserves special mention too. The tactility of the buttons is genuinely excellent, borderline premium in feel, and it pairs with a new digital cluster that includes Wilderness-specific displays and integrates with the updated X-Mode system.
Speaking of which, Wilderness adds an additional X-Mode setting over the base car, giving you more control over how the Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive distributes torque in low-grip scenarios. These modes maximise the capability you can extract from the adaptive suspension, work in conjunction with the very well calibrated hill descent control, and disable as speeds climb up.
The Wilderness runs the more desirable engine in the lineup, a 2.4-litre turbocharged flat-four with 194 kW of power, 60kW up on the naturally aspirated 2.5 that equips the other trim levels. It’s more refined than previous iterations, while still having those noisy, long cold starts and the judder from stop-start. Nonetheless, it gives the Outback the performance it always felt like it deserved.
That said, efficiency remains the Achilles’ heel. Real-world figures around 11L/100km are not class-leading, and that hasn’t fundamentally changed. Most of it is the fault of the signature Symmetrical AWD system that helps define the car’s character, as does the CVT. In traffic, it’s smooth and unobtrusive. But I could still catch it off-guard every now and again, where you’ll notice some lurching as it tries to manage torque delivery. It’s improved, but not perfected.
On the road, the Outback Wilderness is exactly what you want it to be: predictable, composed, and confidence-inspiring. The AWD system works seamlessly with the chassis, especially with the smart shocks of the Wilderness model, giving you a strong sense of control in all conditions. Steering is relaxed, decisive and makes for a car that’s ready for everything.
Where it really stands out is consistency. Whether you’re on sealed roads, broken tarmac, or deep gravel, the car maintains its composure with very little NVH intrusion into the cabin. If you live somewhere with B-Road access, a long gravel driveway and some actual off-road before you park, very few cars out there will be this composed and competent in all terrains.
Off-road, it feels just as natural as it does on-road. That duality is the Outback’s defining trait, and the Wilderness amplifies it. The new gen leans harder into what the Outback has always been good at: space, capability, usability – even to a fault sometimes.
Yes, it’s (much) less subtle. It’s more SUV than wagon now. And efficiency could be better. But does that really matter? Subaru have clearly listened. And if you liked Outbacks before, you will like this even more. It’s a more modern, more focused, and more confident version of an already well defined and well loved idea, and in an industry with more and more inoffensive all-rounders, I love to see it. Thanks, Subaru, for this great opportunity, and thank you for reading this far!
