SUBARU

Subaru takes inspiration from Brazilian makeshifts and transforms the 2026 Outback into an “SUV”

Subaru, we can't forgive you. The best-selling station wagon in the world and the category's only hope for survival is now an SUV. Just like the Renault Scénic, which we had to get used to calling in the masculine sense because it became an SUV, the same will happen with the Subaru Outback from now on.

After 30 years surviving the hardships of a segment that no one has the courage to fight for anymore, the classic Subaru Outback became the Subaru Outback with the conversion to the SUV segment. It was seven generations as an adventure station wagon, being a direct derivative of the Legacy, but which had been going solo for some time now.

Although it maintains the relatively long body, typical of a station wagon, the amount of whey and creatine that Subaru put in the new generation undeniably transformed it into an SUV. The front end is now straighter and taller, becoming even more exaggerated in the extra-adventurous Wilderness version(image above).

All-wheel drive continues to be a standard feature on all versions, as does the generous ground clearance, which starts at 22 centimeters.

Furthermore, the engine range remains the same: a 2.5 naturally aspirated 180 hp (a slight reduction compared to the 182 hp of the previous year) and the well-known 2.4 turbo with 260 hp. Both coupled to the CVT gearbox.

The front end is marked by the gigantic U-shaped front grille, with a color division between it and the black part of the bumper. The headlights are divided, and the set is visually very similar to the Hyundai Venue. In fact, the new Outback is the first Subaru car with this divided layout.

The body is marked by very straight and strong lines, with marked creases. The plastic part on the side is all creased and even the design of the D-pillar is full of elements to make it look more robust. In the rear, keeping with the tradition since the first generation, the Outback has connected taillights. But the look is much taller and more like an SUV.

In terms of aesthetics, the Subaru Outback Wilderness has an even higher suspension and orange details on the roof rack, front fog light and rear reverse light. In fact, the taillight is no longer connected by an LED bar and becomes just black plastic with the appearance of an entry-level version.

At the front, the adventure version has a rectangular front grille with the gigantic Subaru name written on it – in case you forgot that this is a model from the Japanese brand. The headlights remain separate, but the section that divides them is covered in black. The circular fog light is another highlight.

Subaru has not yet released prices, consumption or the exact date of arrival in stores, but the new 2021 Outback promises to continue to be a reference in versatility - now with a true SUV look, but maintaining the functional spirit that made it one of the brand's most beloved models in the North American market.

For those nostalgic for the traditional station wagon, there is a sense of longing. For the new times, Outback is more prepared than ever.

Mundoquatrorodas