Subaru Outback Wilderness: Australia’s Toughest Adventure SUV
all new subaru outback with wilderness 2
The new, seventh-generation Subaru Outback arrives with the confidence of a mountain goat and the practicality of a sensible estate car. Redesigned top to bottom, it has bulked up into a proper SUV shape while keeping the rugged, go-anywhere spirit that made the name famous. The headline act is the Outback Wilderness, arriving in Australia as the most adventure-ready Subaru yet, with the sort of ground clearance and hardware that makes you want to point it at a track and not look back.
Design And Presence
Every surface has been rethought so the Outback no longer tries to be a compromise. It looks taller and wider, with a stronger upright front end and sharper LED lights that improve visibility as well as attitude. The profile shifts from wagon to SUV in a practical way — flatter roofline for loading, wider rear pillar for stability, and a squarer, taller tailgate opening so you actually fit larger kit without an argument. Wilderness versions add matte-black trim, extra cladding, unique grille treatment and subtle copper-look accents where you might strap gear. In short, it looks like it can live outdoors and intends to.
Wilderness: Built For Where The Road Stops
Wilderness is the Outback on steroids for the rough stuff. It gets 240 mm of ground clearance, improved approach, ramp and departure angles (20, 21.2 and 23.6 degrees respectively) and suspension tuned specifically for tracks and ruts. It is exclusively powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged Boxer engine, producing 194 kW and 382 Nm, and the transmission and final drive are recalibrated to exploit low-rev torque. Electronically controlled dampers work with X-Mode to keep the body composed when the tarmac runs out. Put simply, it will go places ordinary SUVs will admire from the car park.
Engine Choices And Transmission
Buyers get two direct-injection Boxer engines. The upgraded 2.5-litre naturally aspirated unit delivers smooth, usable torque for everyday driving and long runs, with lower NVH than before. Wilderness alone gets the 2.4-litre turbocharged Boxer with strong low-end shove and a broad torque band for overtaking, hills and off-grid stretches. Both feed an enhanced Lineartronic CVT with an 8-speed manual mode for paddle shifts. The transmission has been tuned to feel more natural and quieter, while Wilderness benefits from a revised final reduction ratio to make the most of the turbo’s low-rev grunt.
Chassis, Suspension And Steering
Underneath sits an evolved Subaru Global Platform with greater rigidity and better noise and vibration control. Steering has been upgraded to a dual-pinion electric system for a more natural, precise feel and reduced friction. Ordinary Outbacks get conventional dampers with carefully tuned spring and bush settings for comfort and tracking. Wilderness gets the clever bit: electronically controlled dampers that vary damping in real time using multiple sensors, plus bespoke suspension geometry to balance small-bump comfort with controlled body motions on rougher terrain.
Interior, Practicality And Tech
Inside, Subaru has gone for a calm, living-room-like cabin made for long trips. New seats support the pelvis and lumbar areas better and reduce vibration. Headroom has increased and the cargo opening is 50 mm taller, making loading less of a clumsy exercise. Luggage capacity rises modestly by 8 litres to about 530 litres VDA. Roof rails are now ladder-style and the static load jumps from 318 kg to 363 kg for real roof-top kit. Handy touches include larger bottle holders to take a 32 oz Nalgene and a stowable multi-use cargo cover.
Tech moves forward too. A new 12.1-inch landscape infotainment screen replaces the old vertical unit and is up to 2.5 times faster, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 12.3-inch digital cluster is standard, with several display modes and Wilderness-specific graphics. Important controls like the air-conditioning remain tactile switches for gloved use. For audiophiles, a Harman Kardon 12-speaker system is optional on higher grades.
Safety And Driver Assist
Safety is a full-on push. The latest EyeSight driver assist expands recognition with a wide-angle monocular camera and adds new features such as Emergency Driving Stop System and Acceleration Override Assist. Driver Monitoring is standard, and Vision Assist now includes front side radar and, on selected grades, a panoramic 360° view monitor with enhanced low-light cameras. Passive protection has been beefed up too, with increased use of high-tensile steels and nine SRS airbags including a far-side airbag for improved occupant protection.
Comfort, Refinement And Practical Details
Quieter cabins were an explicit goal. More sound-insulating materials, reprofiled roof rails to reduce wind noise and tighter door seals combine with the stiffer body to lower road noise and cabin vibration. Seats are designed for long distances, with revised mounting to the chassis for less sway. Wilderness trims use water-repellent, easy-clean synthetic leather with anti-slip embossing and subtle Wilderness branding, while Touring variants can be finished with Nappa-accented leather and an optional warmer brown interior.
Specifications, Fuel And Practical Figures
Numbers you will want to know: non-turbo Outbacks have a minimum ground clearance of 220 mm, Wilderness 240 mm. Fuel consumption is around 8.1 L/100 km for the 2.5-litre and 9.7 L/100 km for the turbo variant under combined test cycles. Tow capacity rises to 2,100 kg for turbo models. Tyres are Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 225/60 R18 and every car carries a full-size spare. The vehicle is offered with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and a five-year capped price servicing program.
Pricing And Where To See One
The range starts at modest money for what you get: the base AWD from $48,990, AWD Premium roughly $53,490, AWD Touring about $56,990. Wilderness begins at $59,690 and the Wilderness Apex from $62,690. The new Outback is available to order now, with test drives at selected retailers. If you want something that can handle both the school run and a track you would not dare drive your neighbour’s hatchback down, this is the most convincing blend of sensibility and capability you can buy from Subaru right now.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
