Subaru Outback vs Toyota bZ

The 2026 Subaru Outback underwent a transformation, adopting a more SUV-like appearance while maintaining its wagon roots. Despite only slight increases in dimensions, the Outback's blockier, upright design gave it a more commanding presence. The new rectangular grille, horizontal accent lights, and boxy headlights contributed to its robust look. The rugged aesthetic was further enhanced by faceted plastic trim around the body and wheel arches, creating an illusion of increased ride height. Inside, the Outback featured a flatter dashboard and a digital instrument panel, with the infotainment touchscreen repositioned atop the dash. The reintroduction of physical climate control buttons and knobs improved usability, while the interior materials, even in the base Premium trim, were commendable. Higher trims offered smoother materials and appealing leather upholstery, with the top Touring trim's saddle-brown palette adding warmth and ruggedness to the cabin.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, available in XLE and Limited trims, offered a choice between single-motor FWD or dual-motor AWD, with two battery sizes. The larger battery provided more power, performance, and range, albeit at a higher cost. The bZ's restyled exterior looked better with body-color trim, and the interior featured a cleaner dashboard and center console, enhancing quality and organization. The XLE's fabric seats had an upscale pattern, and the center touchscreen increased to 14 inches, integrating climate control. Despite the digital driver display's placement issues, the bZ's interior was comfortable, with standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Limited trim added ventilated front seats. The bZ's cargo space was limited by its rakish rear window, but it offered ample storage solutions, including an underfloor storage well.

The 2026 Subaru Outback offered two engine choices: a 2.5-liter boxer engine with 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer-four producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a CVT and AWD. The base engine surprised with its performance, providing adequate acceleration without over-stressing the engine. The Outback felt composed and confident on various terrains, with a comfortable ride and quiet interior. The CVT featured eight simulated gears, controllable via steering-wheel-mounted paddles, enhancing driving on descents. The Outback's off-road capability was notable, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode for improved traction. The forthcoming Wilderness model offered increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires for more demanding tasks.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered different powertrain configurations. The XLE FWD with a 57.7-kWh battery provided 165 hp and 198 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 236 miles. The optional 74.7-kWh battery increased power to 224 hp and range to 314 miles. Dual-motor models with the larger battery produced 338 hp, with varying ranges depending on the trim. The bZ's charging capabilities included compatibility with Tesla Superchargers and a CCS adapter. Efficiency tests showed favorable results, with the bZ averaging 4.5 miles per kWh in Eco mode. The bZ's driving experience was agreeable, with good visibility and standard parking sensors. However, the FWD model's mid-range passing power was limited, and the ride could be choppy on undulating pavement. The bZ's handling on winding roads was not ideal due to its tires and steering.

The 2026 Subaru Outback's interior space increased, with a total volume of 146.9 cubic feet, qualifying it as a midsize SUV. The rear seats accommodated taller adults comfortably, with ample legroom and larger windows enhancing spaciousness. The cargo capacity increased to 34.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, with a maximum of 80.5 cubic feet with the seatbacks folded. The Outback featured a multifunction cargo cover and a robust roof rack, rated for up to 100 pounds while driving and 800 pounds when parked. The interior improvements included secure cupholders, larger door pockets, and a Molle grid for additional storage.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, offered 8.1 inches of ground clearance and easy entry and exit. The front seats featured standard height adjustment, with eight-way power adjustment in both trims. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with a large bin under the center armrest and a sizable tray beneath the center console. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample legroom, though foot space was tight. The bZ's cargo space measured 27.7 cubic feet behind the power rear liftgate, with an underfloor storage well. Folding the back seats increased cargo room to 56.9 cubic feet.

The 2026 Subaru Outback featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 12.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, offering customization and reduced distraction. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and sharp graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were supported, though the wireless charging pad's hard plastic surface was a drawback. The climate controls were separate from the infotainment screen, allowing for easier adjustments.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came with a 7-inch digital driver display and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The driver display's placement and data density were issues, but the infotainment system was generally easy to use. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with several connected service plans available. The Drive Connect powered the native navigation system and the Intelligent Assistant, which performed well in testing.

The 2026 Subaru Outback's crash test results were not yet available, but it came with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features. These included frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Touring trim added premium features like a surround-view camera system and hands-free automated highway driving assist.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist provided subtle braking and steering inputs. The Limited trim added Traffic Jam Assist and other advanced features. The bZ's adaptive cruise control response was inconsistent, and the driver monitoring system was overly sensitive. The IIHS rated the bZ's front-crash avoidance tech as Good, but the headlights received a Poor rating.