Outback

The Subaru Outback made its name as an affordable, go-anywhere station wagon dressed up like an SUV. And while it retains many of the attributes that make it fundamentally Subaru (standard all-wheel drive and a flat-four-cylinder engine under the hood), the 2026 Outback breaks tradition with a new mid-size SUV-like body style that from some angles still might be mistaken for a station wagon. While it is sad to see its old sloped-roof styling go, there are perks to the new Outback’s squared-off silhouette. Subaru claims that its raised, flatter roofline offers more interior space for both passengers and cargo. Its cabin has also been updated with sleeker styling and improved tech to make it more contemporary. Few things can withstand the tides of change, but the Outback did it for decades. Only time will tell if this new Outback and its boxy façade will prove to be as enduring as the original.