The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness is Engineered From the Inside Out for Genuine Adventurers
The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness is capable, comfortable, and incredibly thoughtful. I didn't need a day of off-roading and highway driving to know that, but it sure did cement it.
The first Subaru Outback Wilderness in 2022 was a factory-built answer to what owners were already doing themselves—lifting their wagons, adding skid plates, and bolting on bigger tires. It struck a chord immediately. Buyers didn’t just want the rugged look; they were actually taking their Outbacks on real adventures. So when Subaru redesigned the Outback for 2026, updating the Wilderness model was the obvious next step.
For 2026, the Subaru Outback Wilderness starts at $44,995 and comes loaded: a 12.1‑inch multimedia screen, 12.3‑inch digital driver display, StarTex upholstery, Harman Kardon audio, and a 10‑way power driver’s seat. Outside, it brings 17‑inch wheels with all‑terrain tires, aluminum skid plates, copper‑accented trim, a standard trailer hitch, and 3,500 pounds of towing capability. Just like the last one, but better.
But that’s not all that’s new. Let’s dig in.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness is the First OBW With Nappa Leather—And Then Some
The Subaru Outback Wilderness has two additional packages. The first package adds a moonroof, navigation, and a 360-degree camera system. The Outback Wilderness equipped with this package costs $47,040. The highest package builds on the previous two setups by adding Nappa leather, a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, and power-folding exterior rear-view mirrors. This setup costs $49,085.
As per usual for all Subarus, the 2026 Outback Wilderness has all-wheel drive. But to go beyond the standard Outback’s capability, Subaru added active dampers and increased ground clearance to 9.5 inches from the regular Outback’s 8.7 inches. The Wilderness has cladding all around the fenders and lower door sills, protecting it from dents, dings, and scratches from all the rugged environments Outback Wilderness owners find themselves in.
The Wilderness comes with the more powerful of the two engines available in the Outback lineup, a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbo Boxer engine paired with a continuously variable transmission. It will crank out 260 horsepower, and it will tow up to 3,500 pounds. It’s got 17” wheels, all-terrain tires, and 9.5 inches of ground clearance. The new Outback Wilderness will be available with Nappa leather seating, but only on its highest trim package.
The Factory Upgrades Truly Shone Once the Tarmac Turned to Dirt… And Mud
Additionally, the Subaru Outback Wilderness comes with X-Mode. This system works in slippery or off-road conditions. X-Mode provides greater grip and also employs hill-descent control going downhill to keep the Outback Wilderness at a low speed.
I got to take the Subaru Outback Wilderness on a couple of off-road courses to test the functionality of the all-wheel drive system, X-Mode, and those tires. We got some roads with deep ruts and mud. We also had steep ups and downs on loose gravel and dirt. What’s important to mention is that the Outback Wilderness performed as beautifully on the downhill as it did on the uphill.
The aforementioned hill-descent control turned on as part of the X-Mode system. Basically, when the Outback Wilderness is in X-Mode, it will control the downhill speed of the car. You can take your foot completely off the brake, and the car won’t go faster than the programmed maximum speed (3-5 mph).
It was a really tricky mental game to convince myself to take my foot all the way off the brake and let the car take care of business. I might have hovered my foot in the air over the brake just to be sure, but I never had to press on it.
It Was an Absolute Joy On-Road, Too
The larger engine in the Outback Wilderness allows you to tow some of your favorite small toys. The new Outback’s roof allows for up to 800 pounds when the car is stationary, and the rails allow for 220 pounds of dynamic weight. Meaning, you can carry 220 pounds while you’re driving, but once the Outback Wilderness is parked, you can put up to 800 pounds on the roof.
The scenario I think of in this case is a roof-top tent. What’s more, the Outback Wilderness allows for 220 pounds of lateral weight off the roof rails. So you can have an awning attached to the rails, or a hammock.
Speaking of hammocks, Subaru has made a really cool cargo cover for the Outback, and they’ve included it with the Wilderness. It is a fabric cover that can function as a tonneau, a hammock for your stuff, a partition, and a cover for the edge of the cargo space so you can sit on the rear bumper and not worry about getting dirt on your backside.
The Thoughtfulness Continues on the Backside
On the backside of the Outback Wilderness, you’ll find a plastic bumper-looking thing on the tailgate, on either side of the Subaru emblem. This bumper is actually a gear-holder. You can lean your skis, paddleboarding oars, or whatever other taller item you have against it, and it will hold those items for you. No need to worry about those items sliding off to the side of the wagon and scratching your Outback Wilderness’s paint.
Of course, the Outback Wilderness comes with the anodized copper details on the roof rails, fog light bezels, gearshift, and steering wheel. This color adds a distinctive pop to the vehicle and makes me smile.
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