The 2026 Subaru Outback Goes More SUV-ish—Guess What That Does to the Price?
Yep, the new Outback is more expensive, but it remains a good value among midsize two-row SUVs.
Justin BannerWriterMotorTrend StaffPhotographerManufacturerPhotographerAug 25, 2025
2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness 07
When the 2026 Subaru Outback dropped earlier this year, it wasn’t simply an all-new model—the lineup also dropped the entry trim level offered on the old 2025 Outback. Now the effects of those two moves on the Outback’s pricing have come into focus. And you guessed it, the 2026 Outback is more expensive—a significant $5,030 more to start.
Having been on sale since 1995, the Subaru Outback has sold over 3 million units and is truly a popular SUV—well, lifted wagon, though we rank it as an SUV based on its capability as such—for the Japanese brand. The 2026 model moves decisively in the SUV direction, however, with a boxy new body and SUV-ish proportions eschewing the wagonoid format Subaru’s leaned on for generations. Going from the lifted wagon version of the Legacy to become its own SUV line, the 2026 Outback really leans on its SUV conversion with boxier looks and sport-utility proportions. It comes standard with AWD.
2026 Subaru Outback 32
The Outback’s new shape probably has to do with some of the pricing bump. We should point out—and Subaru will likely argue—the entry-level 2026 model, the 2026 Outback Premium trim, is only $1,965 more than the equivalent 2025 Outback Premium, ringing in at a still-reasonable $36,445. (The $5,030 gap listed above separates the new Premium trim from last year’s base Outback, which no longer exists.) The Premium is also the remaining trim with the smallest price bump year over year. The next biggest bump goes to the off-road-focused Wilderness trim. For the 2026 model year, it costs $46,445, a $3,315 price jump from last year.
While it might be more expensive compared to the old Outback, the 2026 Subaru Outback is quite a bit cheaper than its two main competitors in the midsize two-row SUV market space. Take the base-trim 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo equipped with all-wheel drive; at $40,830 it is $4,385 more expensive than the 2026 Outback Premium. Even if you strip away the AWD, the rear-drive Laredo is still $2,385 more expensive—and is down two driven wheels on the Subie. Going to the top-of-the-line Jeep, the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4WD comes in at $64,835, while the Outback Touring XT comes in at $49,445—a $15,390 gap between the Jeep and Subaru.
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The Grand Cherokee is powered across the board by the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 producing 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, giving the base Jeep a leg, up as the base-engine Subaru Outback gets a 2.5-liter boxer-four making only 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can opt for an Outback with a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer-four making 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, which is closer to the Jeep’s V-6 in output even though it’s down two cylinders.
In terms of size, the Grand Cherokee also has more cargo room behind the second-row seats (37.7 cubic feet) versus the Outback (34.6 cubic feet). Fold the rear seats down, and the Outback gains the advantage by expanding to 80.5 cubic feet versus the 70.8 cubic feet for the Jeep.
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How about the Subaru’s cross-country rival, the 2026 Honda Passport? The $46,200 2026 Passport RTL is $9,755 more expensive than the 2026 Outback Premium. Jump up to the Passport TrailSport Elite Blackout (at $55,100), and not only do you need to contend with that jumble of words but you also have to scrounge together $5,655 more for one versus the Outback Touring XT.
As far as power output is concerned, it’s the same story as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Honda also is powered solely by a V-6 engine (a 3.5-liter unit that’s new for 2026) producing 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. That’s more power than the Outback’s entry-level engine, and even against the Outback’s optional turbo engine, the Honda produces 25 more hp, but the Subaru will be outputting 15 lb-ft more torque.
If you’re looking to haul cargo, then the Honda Passport is undeniably the winner, as it can haul up to 44 cubic feet of stuff behind the second-row seats, beating the Subaru by 9.4 cubic feet. Drop that second-row and the Passport leads by 3.3 cubic feet (83.8 cubic feet for the Honda).
If you need to tow, the 2026 Subaru Outback gives up ground to the Jeep and Honda, which can tow 6,200 pounds and up to 5,000 pounds, respectively. The Subaru can only haul 3,500 pounds from its hitch.
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With its new SUV looks, Subaru’s Outback is probably better positioned to gobble up modern car shoppers’ attention. We wish the new one towed more, but the pricing, while higher, remains quite right for the segment, particularly among car-based offerings with some off-road capability.
2026 Subaru Outback Full Lineup Pricing
Trim Level
Justin Banner
Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he’s had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like). Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He’s best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
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