In the mid-90s, Subaru needed to do something to compete with the boom of SUVs for sale in North America. So they took their second-gen Legacy station wagon, beefed it up with some black body cladding and a lift kit, and voila, the Outback was born. It not only reinvented the Subaru brand but it pioneered an automotive trend we still see today.

And for the last thirty years, the Outback has been a flagship for the Subaru brand. I’m out here in Malibu, California because this is the all-new 7th-generation 2026 Subaru Outback and we’re going to get a First Look.

Subaru hasn’t called the Outback a wagon in quite some time but now it seems like the departure is official. And while it is only 2-inches taller than the outgoing model, the proportions are much more SUV-like. Fortunately that lends itself to 2 additional cubic feet of cargo space and more headroom for all passengers. Length and wheelbase remain the same as well as the 8.7-inches of ground clearance.

Every aspect of the macho new Outback looks different from before, and Subaru says they’ve pulled back on the plastic cladding this gen. You’ll also find 19-inch wheels on higher trims.

Engines are carryover, the 180-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder is standard while the 260-horsepower 2.4-liter turbo is available on higher trims. Both are still paired with the Lineartronic CVT and Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.

Big changes also come to the interior.

So the new Outback gets a completely new infotainment system that looks really nice and modern. Of course we get a new touchscreen here. We no longer have the big vertical display but I think my favorite, and thank you very much Subaru, we now have touch climate controls. Subaru says it makes it easier for when you are wearing gloves but I say it makes it easier all of the time. So really really cool modern streamlined design.

Wireless smartphone integration is standard. We also really like how the X-MODE button has been moved to the steering wheel for easier use on the trails. The cupholders are new including the carpeted ones on the doors that can hold a 32 oz bottle.

And even though it now feels more like an SUV, Subaru says they’ve maintained the lower seating position current Outback owners love. There’s also the latest version of EyeSight which now has available hands-free driving up to 85 miles per hour.

The popular Outback Wilderness returns for the 7th-generation, better than ever. Approach, departure, and breakover angles all improve with a still impressive 9.5-inches of ground clearance. The addition of electronic dampers should reduce body roll and suppress pitching.

The Wilderness sees an aggressive truck-like front end with Subaru spelled across the grille, a brand first. Instead of the lightbar, the tailgate of the Wilderness has a gear rest so you don’t have to worry about scratching your paint with your skis. It rides on 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and is powered by the 2.4-liter turbo with a more advanced version of X-MODE.

Inside sees more copper accents and textures on the dashboard. Wilderness models can now be equipped with ventilated Nappa leather seats, a moonroof, & 360 degree cameras.

You might be wondering, ‘What does that mean for driving impressions?’ Well, we don’t know when we’re going to be able to drive it just yet but we’re going to have to wait because this should arrive in dealers in early 2026. Again, with pricing, we won’t know until early next year.

But stay tuned because we’ll have more, coming up, on MotorWeek!

With a starting price of just under $20-grand and a standard hybrid powertrain, the Ford Maverick was an absolute hit when it came out in late 2021. And now that production is under control, it’s time for this small pickup to see a midcycle refresh and we recently got our first time behind the wheel of the 2025 model out in San Diego, California.

The most welcomed addition is that all-wheel drive is finally available with the hybrid. No changes to power, the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter still outputs 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque through the eCVT. This also means you can add the 4K tow package which increases towing capacity from 2,000 to 4,000-lbs. That also gives you ProTrailer Back Up Assist and ProTrailer Hitch Assist. So what once was only available with the EcoBoost engine can now be equipped on all hybrid grades.

“The hybrid powertrain in the Maverick has been great ever since it came out. That 2.5-liter paired with the eCVT is really a great combination, and it’s relatively quiet. It’s very smooth, efficient, it transitions from gas to electric incredibly well, and it’s a lot more of the same here in the 2025 Maverick. But now we have the added all wheel drive, and I’m driving an all wheel drive one right now.

Acceleration feels nicer here in the all wheel drive, because when you want to put power down and we do have a fair amount of power, this powertrain is still very peppy, even though numbers don’t really change. It puts power down very well, very smooth, very stable on the highway. We’re getting some wind noise. Not a ton of road noise, which is really nice.

So overall, the ride is still pretty comfortable for something in this price point, which this XLT goes for a little bit over $30,000 with the way that it’s optioned out. So overall an even better daily driver than before.”

And what’s great is that all-wheel drive hybrids still see great fuel economy: 40 in the City & 37 Combined, compared to the front-drive’s 42 City and 38 Combined.

But if you’re not all about fuel economy but more into performance, Ford has a truck for you. It’s the Lobo, a street truck inspired version of the Maverick.

And it certainly looks the part. It has a unique grille, fascia, black accents, and 19-inch turbo fan wheels. The sport-tuned suspension is lowered about a half an inch in the front and over an inch in the rear for a better stance.

It’s powered by the already equipped 2.0-liter EcoBoost but paired with a direct-shift 7-speed automatic. Not a dual-clutch as they only removed a gear from the 8-speed. Output is the same 238 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.

But where better for us to test out this street truck than on an autocross course in the track-use only “Lobo” mode.

Its length means there’s not much body roll and the standard all-wheel drive system’s torque vectoring keeps the truck very nimble but with the confidence to throw out the back and drift if you’d like.

We do wish it sounded a little meaner but we figure that can be fixed with the ample aftermarket support for the powertrain.

But Ford really dug through their own parts bin to put this together. It gets the larger radiator and fan from the tow package, bigger brakes from the Focus ST, steering gear from the Kuga, and strut mounts from the Mustang Mach-E. All of that comes together in such a sweet package.

All Mavericks see a lightly refreshed exterior styling in the form of a new grille and F-150 style headlights. Same goes on the inside, with the addition of a standard 13.2-inch central display running SYNC4. Climate controls have been relegated to the touchscreen though. Lobos sees a graffiti inspired design and an available B&O sound system that’s worth the upgrade.

“This interior set up isn’t too different from before, but I’m loving this new 13 inch screen. It’s mounted nice and low, so it’s out of my eyesight, but I can still look at navigation when I need to. It’s running sync four. That’s standard across the board, which it wasn’t previously. But the new graphics that Ford has are really nice and modern and a huge upgrade from before.”

Unfortunately that $19,995 starting price is long gone. The 2025 Ford Maverick starts at $28,590 after destination and adding all-wheel drive to the hybrid will cost an additional $2,200. Opting for a Lobo will set you back $36,850. You can find a 2025 Ford Maverick in dealers now.

We’ll have more on the updated small truck when we have it back home in Maryland for a full review. Until then, keep it locked…right here on MotorWeek!