The 2017 Subaru Outback doesn’t yet offer a hybrid version, but we expect a gas-electric model to be available soon. It’s likely to be set up the same way as the Forester Hybrid, which makes 194 horsepower. There are now only 2.5-liter and turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engines for the Outback. The 2026 Subaru Outback comes with two engine choices: a 2.5-liter flat-four with 180 hp and a 2.4-liter flat-four with 260 hp that is currently on its way to stores. Subaru has never been known for getting great gas mileage. The base engine gets 27 mpg, and the turbo engine gets 24 mpg. The Wilderness model comes standard with the turbo engine and gets 23 mpg. The new Outback does not have a hybrid engine, at least for this year. We are very sure, though, that one will happen soon. Product-line manager Nikkie Riedel forgot to answer many questions about it during the drive event in Sedona, Arizona. In particular, she didn’t omit any combination of what she said. This is why and when we think we’ll see one. The Forester and Crosstrek, Subaru’s other two best-selling cars, are also available in hybrid form. Toyota created a two-motor system that makes both the Forester Hybrid and the Crosstrek Hybrid go faster and use less gas. Over the years, Subaru has released a number of hybrid cars, but most of them come out one model year after the regular cars. The hybrid came out in 2025, but the Forester wasn’t made until 2024. The hybrid Crosstrek is for 2026 because it was made better in 2025. Based on this, the Outback Hybrid should be ready in 2027. The 2026 Outback is built on the same Subaru Global Platform as the Crosstrek and Forester. It has the same all-wheel drive system and similar powertrains. A big part of the technical work has already been done. The vast majority of Outback’s rivals now sell electric cars. Many small- and medium-sized SUVs offer a hybrid option. The Outback fits right in the middle of Subaru’s lineup, offering a larger footprint than the compact Forester while still being more modest in size compared to the three-row Ascent. As well as the Outback, the Mazda CX-70 Hybrid, the Toyota Crown Signia, Land Cruiser, and 4Runner Hybrids, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe are all in the same class as the Outback. Lastly, Subaru is known for its environmentally conscious ads and for attracting many customers who like to take risks. That way of thinking is great for making cars use less gas, but the company is too small to build its own hybrid from scratch. Using Toyota’s system, which has been modified to work with Subaru’s mechanical all-wheel-drive system, is a creative way to solve a pricey problem. In both the Forester and Crosstrek hybrids, the battery pack is under the rear cargo floor. Its job is to reduce the amount of cargo that can be carried. Now the Miller/Atkinson Cycle can power the 2.5-liter flat-four engine in a Subaru. Both cars have electric drivetrains that add up to 194 horsepower. The electric motor’s high power makes it easy to start, unlike a base engine, which can struggle to get the car going right away.
