The Subaru Outback has lengthy been one of many model’s most reliable sellers, identified for its rugged functionality and sensible design. However even established nameplates aren’t resistant to altering shopper tastes. Following a latest redesign, the Outback is dealing with a noticeable gross sales slowdown as consumers react to its up to date look.
On the heart of the difficulty is a extra aggressive and unconventional design course from Subaru. Whereas some drivers recognize the bolder styling and modernized options, others really feel it strays too removed from the understated, useful attraction that initially made the Outback so standard. That divide seems to be influencing shopping for choices in a phase the place familiarity and belief matter.
For Subaru, the response highlights the dangers of pushing design boundaries on a well-established mannequin. Whereas innovation is important to remain aggressive, the Outback’s present reception reveals how simply a daring new look can cut up opinion, and influence gross sales within the course of.
So as to provide the most recent and correct info doable, the information used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producer web sites.
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The Outback’s new design is not catching on as its gross sales proceed to fall
A redesign that truly decreased curiosity
Credit score: Subaru
Normally, when a automotive is redesigned and given new styling and a few new tech, its gross sales go up. That is even true within the case of some extra controversial fashions. Nonetheless, the Outback hasn’t fairly had the identical luck. Since happening sale late final 12 months, the Subaru’s wagon has failed to achieve traction, with gross sales traits persevering with on a downward spiral.
Subaru Outback gross sales Feb 2026
Mannequin
Feb 2025 (MTD)
Feb 2026 (MTD)
Change (%)
Feb 2025 (YTD)
Feb 2026 (YTD)
Change (%)
Subaru Outback
11,601
8,787
-24.3%
22,395
17,070
-23.8%
Subaru is among the few automakers on the market that experiences its gross sales each month. It is a observe that we expect makes an organization extra reliable, even when it makes Subaru look dangerous on this case.
The Outback is among the model’s hottest fashions, with it rating among the many 25 hottest autos bought within the U.S. final 12 months. It used to have the ability to compete fairly carefully with the Crosstrek and Forester by way of gross sales. Nonetheless, the final couple of months have been fairly tough.
Within the Japanese model’s gross sales report for 2025, they reported that the Outback noticed a 6.6 p.c lower in gross sales general. December really seemed cheap, with gross sales numbers being on par with the 12 months earlier than. Nonetheless, because the redesigned mannequin has hit the market, gross sales have shrunk by round 23 p.c in each January and February. Clearly, the up to date mannequin is not fairly resonating with Subaru’s consumers.
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The general public actually aren’t a fan of its up to date styling
Subaru has modified the Outback’s identification
This does really feel like a uncommon blunder from the Japanese model. The Outback has outlined itself over a few years as a rugged household car, being one of many solely station wagons left on sale in America. That is what attracts consumers to the nameplate. The up to date mannequin, nevertheless, has been remodeled into extra of a mid-size SUV as an alternative. Trying previous the ideological adjustments, Subaru consumers additionally really feel fairly strongly about its ‘daring’ styling.
A transparent identification disaster
Base Trim Engine
2.5-liter 4 boxer
Base Trim Transmission
CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
180 hp
Base Trim Torque
178 lb-ft
Make
Subaru
Mannequin
Outback
Section
Midsize Wagon
For those who take a look at spec sheets, the Outback has gotten higher in nearly each means. It’s larger and boxier, which suggests extra space on the within for passengers and cargo. Its customary expertise has additionally been improved, with the inside taking up a extra trendy, up to date look. The one factor that hasn’t actually modified is its out there powertrains. All-in-all, it has all of the hallmarks of a profitable Subaru, with a transparent concentrate on functionality and luxury.
All of that being mentioned, its styling is proving to be fairly a big drawback. Its boxy appears to be like are controversial to say the least, dividing consumers into two camps. What appears to be extra of the difficulty, although, is the truth that the Outback is not actually an Outback anymore. To Subaru fanatics, making an Outback right into a fully-fledged SUV is akin to Ford turning the Mustang into an electrical crossover. With a variety of nameplates to select from, it appears odd that the automaker would reinvent certainly one of their most beloved fashions.
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In the meantime, the Forester is the one mannequin in Subaru’s steady excelling
The Outback’s sibling is gaining tons of traction
Whereas the Outback stumbles round, certainly one of Subaru’s different fashions is definitely seeing a rise in gross sales. This may appear uninteresting at first look, however it’s really the one Subaru mannequin that noticed a rise in gross sales for February 2026. The brand new Outback could also be a little bit of a flop, however the Forester has miraculously come by way of to mitigate the losses.
Are consumers migrating to the Forester?
Base Trim Engine
2.5L H4 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
8-speed Lineartronic CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
180 HP @5800 RPM
Base Trim Torque
178 lb.-ft. @ 3700 RPM
Base Trim Gas Financial system (metropolis/freeway/mixed)
26/33/29 MPG
Make
Subaru
Mannequin
Forester
Section
Compact SUV
The place the Outback has seen its gross sales decline by round 23 p.c every month this 12 months, the Forester has carried out the exact opposite. Forester gross sales have elevated by simply over 22 p.c every month to this point this 12 months. It’s now simply the preferred mannequin in Subaru’s steady, with the automaker’s February figures reporting 33,740 items bought. This begs the query, are individuals who would have purchased an Outback now choosing the Forester as an alternative?
The Forester is definitely one of the crucial underrated compact SUVs in our eyes, and it would not shock us if this was the case. It’s greater than spacious sufficient on the within for many households, options the identical functionality because the Outback, and begins $4,000 cheaper. Maybe extra importantly to Subaru consumers, it stays true to its identification. When it got here out, Subaru was criticized for being too conservative with the updates to the Forester, however that has confirmed to be an excellent factor.
A swing and a miss for Subaru
In a world the place automakers are always striving to be as flashy and gimmicky as doable, Subaru has all the time felt like a little bit of an oasis. They construct vehicles which are easy, sensible, and dependable, and that’s what their consumers search for. Whereas there’s a lot to be impressed about in relation to the brand new Outback, Subaru’s present predicament showcases how straightforward it’s to mess up a redesign. Subaru consumers don’t need one thing fully completely different, they need evolution, and sadly the brand new Outback pushes issues that little bit too far.
