The Subaru Outback XT has been replaced by two new Wilderness variants, which the local boss believes are going to be the biggest hit with customers.
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The two off-road-focused Wilderness grades are likely to be the most popular in the Subaru Outback range as the car maker launches its new sub-brand in Australia, its local boss has said.
Subaru launched the Wilderness label for the Outback, Forester and Crosstrek models in the US in 2021, but it is only now arriving in Australia for the first time.
The Wilderness and Wilderness Apex variants have been added to the local Outback’s line-up with the arrival of the seventh-generation model locally this month, replacing the outgoing XT.
Speaking with Drive at the launch of the new Outback, Subaru Australia’s General Manager, Scott Lawrence, said the Wilderness brand is well-suited to Australians’ needs.
“I think we will see Wilderness as a significant proportion of Outback sales, given it is so Australian. It is the pinnacle of what we offer at Subaru,” he told us.
“[By the end] XT was, call it, 30-40 per cent of total Outback sales in loose numbers. But certainly in the early days, it was a bit higher.
“I'm confident in the product and the price, and we'll definitely see volume. But for me, Outback actually is more of a halo for the SUV range.”
The 2026 Subaru Outback range opens with the base-grade 2.5, which starts from $48,990, and stretches up to the Wilderness Apex, which costs $62,690, both before on-roads.
The Subaru Solterra Touring EV is the car maker’s flagship model, priced at $69,990 before on-roads, although the Trailseeker EV, when it arrives, is expected to cost more.
The 2.5, Premium and Touring all use Subaru’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ petrol engine, while the two new Wilderness variants feature the more powerful 2.4-litre turbo version used by the previous XT.
The Wilderness largely shares the same kit as the 2.5 but features a different exterior design, glare-reducing bonnet decals, unique LED fog lights, and a matte-black wheel design.
Inside, there’s a black water-repellent synthetic leather upholstery with the Wilderness logo on the front headrests, and yellow steering wheel stitching to set it apart.
Compared to the regular Wilderness, the Apex has a 360-degree camera, built-in satellite navigation, the 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and a panoramic sunroof.
However, while it is the most expensive Outback, the Wilderness Apex lacks some features standard on the $5700-cheaper AWD Touring, including ventilated front seats, active lane-change assist, and driver's seat lumbar support, memory function, and thigh support extension.
The new seventh-generation Outback, which launched this week, rides on 18-inch wheels with highway tyres, unlike in many overseas markets such as the US, where it gets 17-inch wheels and all-terrain rubber.
Following criticism, Lawrence defended the choice of bigger wheels, saying they offer the “best of both worlds” for people using the car as both a daily driver and weekend warrior.
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A born-and-bred newshound, Kathryn has worked her way up through the ranks reporting for, and later editing, two renowned UK regional newspapers and websites, before moving on to join the digital newsdesk of one of the world’s most popular newspapers – The Sun. More recently, she’s done a short stint in PR in the not-for-profit sector, and led the news team at Wheels Media.
