New Subaru Outback disappoints after redesign into boxy SUV

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 19:21 · Archive

The redesigned seventh-generation Subaru Outback has shifted from a wagon to a boxy SUV, leaving reviewers with mixed feelings after three months of testing.

The seventh-generation Subaru Outback represents a major departure from the model's three-decade design history. It is now marketed as a boxy SUV, though Subaru describes it as a wagon. Reviewers who spent three months testing the mid-spec non-turbo AWD Premium variant found the shift created mixed results.

Prices for the Outback range rose by nearly $5,000 upon introduction in Australia in 2026. Despite improvements in specification and technology, the model competes in an increasingly crowded market segment. The three lower trim grades lack turbo or hybrid powertrains, making them less competitive than alternatives at comparable prices.

Competitors offering similar or better value include the Hyundai Santa Fe, which combines turbo and hybrid power with seven seats, and Chinese plug-in hybrid three-row SUVs priced below $60,000 drive-away. The fully-electric Subaru Trailseeker was also cited as better fulfilling the off-road wagon aesthetic for the asking price.

How it is being reported

• 2027 Subaru Outback AWD Premium reviewWe've lived with the new Subaru Outback for three months, and it's fair to say this boxy SUV has left us with mixed feelings.The West Australian · 3 Nov, 18:44
• 2027 Subaru Outback AWD Premium reviewWe've lived with the new Subaru Outback for three months, and it's fair to say this boxy SUV has left us with mixed feelings.Perth Now · 3 Nov, 18:44

In this story: Subaru · Subaru Outback · Australia · Hyundai · Subaru Trailseeker

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