SummaryThe 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness returns as Subaru’s most rugged Outback yet, with more ground clearance, tougher styling and a full redesign focused on off-road performance and daily comfortUnder the hood, it keeps the 260-horsepower 2.4-liter turbo Boxer engine but adds adaptive dampers, revised gearing, dual-mode X-Mode and all-terrain tires to push the wagon-turned-SUV deeper into real trail territoryInside, the Wilderness leans premium and practical with a new 12.1-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital cluster, StarTex or available Nappa leather upholstery, clever cargo tricks and heavy-duty roof rails ready for rooftop tentsThe 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness is the logical endgame of Subaru’s outdoors-obsessed era, taking a once-quirky lifted wagon and evolving it into a small midsize SUV that looks ready for overlanding straight from the showroom. It rides 9.5 inches off the deck, wears aggressive cladding, a bluff “SUBARU” grille and trail-spec bumpers, and rolls on knobby Bridgestone Dueler all-terrains wrapped around 17-inch matte black wheels. Officially, Subaru positions it as the brand’s most capable Outback, with higher approach, departure and breakover angles, a tougher underbody and upgraded X-Mode tuned specifically for mud, deep snow and sketchy grades.Mechanically, Subaru didn’t chase more speed but reworked how the Wilderness moves. The 260-horsepower 2.4-liter turbo Boxer and CVT carry over, but the final drive is shorter and the dual-mode X-Mode and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive lock in faster, helping the car claw up to 40-percent grades while still feeling unusually composed on pavement. Electronically controlled dampers are the big story, calming body roll on highway sweepers yet softening up when you hit ruts, washboards and cattle-ranch mud, so the Wilderness reads less like a gimmicky soft-roader and more like a legit adventure wagon that can still be a quiet, easygoing commuter.Inside, Subaru leans into that “Swiss Army knife” brief. There is more space than before, a cleaner dash with physical climate keys and a landscape 12.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital cluster running wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. The Wilderness trim layers on water-resistant StarTex upholstery with Wilderness branding, anodized copper accent hits and an available Nappa leather and ventilated-seat package for buyers who want a backcountry-ready family car that still feels upscale. In the back, a smarter cargo bay adds a recycled-material multipurpose cover that doubles as a hammock or scratch guard, new utility hooks and a flat load floor with a power gate, while the reinforced roof rails can handle static loads high enough for rooftop tents and full camp setups.Culturally, the Wilderness badge is also doing serious work for Subaru. The brand openly admits these trims skew younger and more male than the standard Outback buyer base, and reviewers read the 2026 Wilderness as millennial bait in the best way: a factory-lifted, social-feed-ready SUV that signals trail credibility without the compromises of a body-on-frame 4×4. Priced in the mid-to-high $40,000s before options, it butts up against 4Runner, Bronco Sport and Passport TrailSport money, but it undercuts many hardcore off-roaders while offering more refinement, efficiency and dog-friendly practicality. The result is a wagon-heritage Subaru that fully embraces the rugged lifestyle SUV moment yet still feels authentically Subaru in how it balances dirt-road fun with everyday livability.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast