Because the old base model is going away, Subaru has stated that the starting price for the 2026 Outback lineup will go up by $5030. The 2026 Outback now has a base trim level called Premium that costs $36,445 and a top trim level called Touring XT that costs $49,445. In late summer or early fall, the 2026 lineup will start to show up in stores. The seventh-generation Subaru Outback stirred controversy when it debuted earlier this year, leaving some to question whether it’s still a wagon. Now, tensions are rising further as the automaker reveals the pricing for the 2026 lineup. There are a few reasons for the stir: the 2026 Outback will carry a $5,030 increase over the 2025 model and features a completely redesigned appearance. Part of the reason for this is that Subaru eliminated the basic “Outback” style, which used to be the base model. A customer will have to spend at least $36,445 on the 2026 model year to get the Premium trim, which is now the base model. There is a big difference between the Premium and the $43,165 Limited. The price goes up to $45,815 if you choose the Limited XT’s more powerful 2.4-liter engine. Next in the lineup are the Touring at $46,845, the Touring XT at $49,445, and the Wilderness at $46,445. This isn’t the first time Subaru has dropped a base model; it won’t be the last either. However, when a car company simultaneously removes carpets and introduces new technology, as Subaru is doing with the seventh version of the Outback, unexpected issues can arise. It’s also a 16 percent rise in the Outback compared to the same time last year.
