It might not have low range, diff locks or even all-terrain tyres, but Subaru Australia reckons the new Outback Wilderness is capable enough to tempt buyers out of ladder-frame 4WDs like the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X.
Surprisingly, the new Outback Wilderness — a sub-brand of off-road trims brought to Australia for the first time this year — has more ground clearance than the Everest class.
With clearance of 240mm (20mm higher than a standard Outback), the Wilderness sits higher on paper than the Ford Everest (226-229mm on most trims), Isuzu MU-X (230-235mm), and Toyota Prado (210-221mm).
There’s no wading depth claim but Subaru says the Wilderness — equipped with new dual X-Mode AWD software — is capable on moderate trails. We’ve tested it this week and can report our findings on 18 February.
Then there is the Outback Wilderness’s turbo petrol engine — making 194kW/382Nm — which could tempt shoppers sick of rattly diesels away.
The petrol-fuelled wagon leads the 190kW Ford Everest V6 on power but trails it on torque — with the six-pot oiler bringing 600Nm to the fore.
“There is absolutely a territory we can further push into with Wilderness, which is that rugged, off the beaten track [segment] traditionally owned by ladder-frame 4WDs,” Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence told Chasing Cars.
“Outback [Wilderness allows you] to get all of that, but you have an amazing driving car that handles well on road. I would encourage anyone when they look at those sort of [ladder-frame] 4WDs to look at the Outback.”
The new seventh-generation Outback arrives in Australia this month with five model grades — three with 220mm clearance (and a non-turbo engine) and two Wilderness models with 240mm, turbo power, and varying degrees of luxury.
Opting for the Wilderness is a $10K upgrade over the regular Outback but it brings considerably higher levels of performance and trail-ready capability.
That said, Australia misses out on some US-market Wilderness items like factory-fit all-terrain tyres on 17-inch wheels.
Locally, 18-inch wheels and highway terrain Bridgestone Alenza rubber is standard but Subaru Australia sources say it is likely all-terrains will be added to the options list soon.
Crucially, Subaru Australia management sees the Wilderness as a source of new customers for the Outback that could result in increased sales of the raised wagon.
Subaru typically sells about 10,000 Outbacks each year in Australia; last year Ford delivered 26,191 Everests. Toyota sold about the same number of Prados.
In other words, there are plenty of targets there for Subaru.
“With this new model year, I would expect growth in the model,” said Lawrence.
Subaru Outback 2026: prices in Australia
All prices listed are before on-road costs.
- Outback AWD: $48,990
- Outback AWD Premium: $53,490
- Outback AWD Touring: $56,990
- Outback AWD Wilderness: $59,690
- Outback AWD Wilderness Apex: $62,690
