We’re proud of all the awards that various Subaru models have racked up for safety, efficiency and driving experience. But consumers want more with their automotive expenditures, so vehicle interiors and user experience (UX) also have had to improve exponentially to compete in a crowded marketplace. What was once luxury often is now standard.

That’s why we’re so proud to say that the 2026 Subaru Outback Touring XT has landed a coveted spot on the 2026 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX list. To be considered, a vehicle had to have new or “heavily refreshed” vehicle interiors and UX technology. The 2026 Outback Touring XT and the others on the list will “help the industry evolve a step beyond the past 10 years of vehicle design. Wards’ experts evaluated on the basis of aesthetics, comfort, materials, fit and finish, connectivity and infotainment, displays and controls, and advanced driver-assistance system content and value. 

The Best Interiors & UX winners went back to the future by offering more buttons and knobs. Touch controls haven’t proved to be consumer pleasers, since they often can’t be used without looking away from the road. Ditto the 2026 Subaru Outback Touring XT which uses buttons and knobs for climate-control functions. 

But There’s Much More
“The Outback Touring has the most luxurious Subaru interior I’ve ever seen. The rich brown and black surfaces are beautifully textured and give a premium look. There are also high-end features such as seats that are ventilated as well as heated,” WardsAuto Judge Drew Winter said. Such as:

 

• More spacious interior with taller roofline, wider cargo floor space offering 80 cf capacity with rear seats folded down.
• 12.1” infotainment display and 12.3” digital gauge cluster using a new, more responsive, customizable processor. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatible. Harman Kardon® premium audio system.
• Hybrid nav system combining cloud-based and onboard info.
• Cloud-based voice recognition.
• Illuminated front and rear USB-A/USB-C charging ports.
• Recycled plastic bottles used to make the headliner, perforated leather trimmed seats – front ones are ventilated; front and rear outboard seats are heated.
• Eight cup and bottle holders.
• Advanced EyeSight® driver-assist technology to monitor traffic movement, offers convenient cruise control and lane keeping, plus safety equipment like rear cross-traffic alert, DriverFocus® to maintain driver’s alertness, reverse automatic braking, blind-spot detection. Standard hands-free driving assistance.

The 2026 Subaru Outback Touring XT is the top-of-the-line model. Starting price with all the interior and great user experience features is still right around the average for a new car these days. Colorado loves its Subies and this 10Best Award from Wards explains part of why Subaru is so popular here.