Subaru is planning to launch the all-new seventh-generation Outback in South Africa later in the year.
The Japanese automaker will bring the rugged, off-road SUV in at least two derivatives – the Outback and the Outback Wilderness.
Ahead of its local launch, the latest-generation Outback has already received international accolades, being named among AutoTrader US’s Best New Cars of 2026
“The continued global recognition for the new Outback reflects the strength of the product and its relevance to today’s customers,” said Nteo Nkoli, National Marketing Manager for Subaru Southern Africa.
“As we prepare to introduce the Outback to the South African market in 2026, these accolades provide added confidence in what the latest Outback delivers in terms of capability, safety, and everyday usability.”
Details regarding the new Subaru Outback’s launch date are not yet known, meaning pricing, local specifications, and other additional information will only become available later in the year.
What we know so far
According to Subaru, the new Outback represents a comprehensive evolution of the model, becoming a true SUV and moving away from its station wagon – or estate car – roots.
Already available in other global markets, the next-generation Outback is offered with a choice of two four-cylinder Boxer engines – a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre petrol motor and a turbocharged 2.4-litre.
The naturally aspirated engine produces 137kW and 254Nm, while the turbocharged variant is good for 194kW and 382Nm. Both are coupled with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT cog swapper.
These are the same powertrains expected to be fitted to models coming to South Africa.
As an adventure SUV, the new Outback features the familiar Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, which improves handling and stability across varying road and weather conditions.
Further help is offered by Subaru’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including EyeSight, which introduces hands-free assist, automatic steering control, emergency stop assist, lane selection, automatic emergency steering, and pre-collision braking.
The Outback models on sale in markets like the USA feature an all-new 12.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, as well as a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
It remains to be seen if the local offerings share the same features as the global versions, but this will likely only come to light when pricing is announced closer to the SUV’s South African launch.
Seventh-generation Subaru Outback
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