2026 Subaru Outback: Boxier SUV nears Australian launch, packing turbo power
Government documents list both '2.5i-L' and '2.4i-T' variants of the Outback as having been approved for Australian roads, though the largely blank documents don't shed any other light on the next-generation large SUV.
Subaru Australia has been tight-lipped about the new Outback, which was revealed in April.
It has yet to confirm launch timing, saying upon the Outback's reveal only that 'We look forward to sharing what these global debuts mean for the Australian market in due course.'
When asked for an update, a Subaru Australia spokesperson said there was no news to share at this time.
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However, the appearance of the Outback in Australian Design Rule (ADR) certification documents suggests a local launch could occur within the next six months.
The new Forester mid-size SUV, for example, appeared in ADR approval documents in February 2025, before launching here in July. The current Crosstrek small SUV had a gap of around five months between being approved for local roads and being launched.
Should the Outback arrive here in early 2026, Australians would gain access to the all-new model just a few months after Americans. The Outback is going on sale in the US late this year.
That short delay is in stark contrast with the outgoing Outback, which entered production in the US and went on sale there in late 2019. However, its Japanese-built counterpart didn't launch here until early 2021.
The turbocharged version of the outgoing Outback was delayed even longer, also launching in the US late in 2019 but not arriving here until early in 2023.
In that instance, the Outback turbo was initially produced only in the US, with Japanese production not commencing until much later.
This time around, the Outback is being produced exclusively in Japan. This means Subaru needs to have naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions ready for export to markets like ours and the US.
It's a smaller pool of markets this time around for the Outback. Subaru won't offer the new, blockier model in Japan or Europe. In the latter market, the Outback name will live on, albeit with an 'E-' prefix, affixed to the electric Trailseeker revealed in April.
It's worth noting that ADR approval documents will sometimes list model variants that may not end up being introduced here.
Nevertheless, it appears likely Subaru will stick with a turbocharged engine in the Outback locally, given the absence of a suitable replacement.
That's in contrast with other crossover SUVs like the Mazda CX-5, which is dropping turbo power globally in favour of a hybrid system that will arrive later, or the updated Hyundai Kona lineup which has sacrificed turbo power locally in favour of an expanded naturally aspirated and hybrid powertrain lineup.
The Outback is bigger than both those models and competes in the large SUV segment, where turbocharged engines – whether petrol or diesel – have become an expectation.
As before, naturally aspirated and turbocharged Outback variants will come standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with eight artificial gears, as well as Subaru's 'symmetrical' all-wheel drive system.
The naturally aspirated 2.5-litre flat four produces 134kW of power and 241Nm of torque, while the turbo 2.4-litre produces 194kW and 376Nm.
Subaru has yet to confirm a hybrid Outback, however, one seems likely to arrive eventually given the Japanese brand has introduced a new, more powerful and more efficient 'Strong Hybrid' powertrain.
The seventh-generation Outback departs sharply from its predecessors in terms of styling, with a much boxier body that sees it move away from its more traditional station wagon cues.
Inside, the Outback features a 12.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system – now larger and landscape-oriented instead of portrait – with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Subaru has also returned to a traditional climate control array, while other more user-friendly touches include larger bottle holders in the doors and 'more accessible' cupholders.
A more rugged Wilderness variant will be available in the US once again, and Subaru Australia has confirmed it will finally introduce this nameplate Down Under… although whether it's in the form of the new Outback, Forester or Crosstrek remains to be seen.
It isn't just the Outback that Subaru Australia is being tight-lipped about.
Subaru also revealed its updated Solterra and new Trailseeker (called E-Outback in Europe) electric vehicles (EVs) in April, but has yet to indicate whether they're coming here and, if so, when.
Likewise, the Uncharted EV revealed this month has also yet to be confirmed for local release.
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