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#21 ·
#22 · (Edited)
I am boiling it down to a styling formula of attention grabbing front end, with large tall flat grille (doesn't visually take advantage of the low boxer engine, but tries to suggest power) flanked by lights each side and those eyebrows. Brick wall, poor aerodynamics.

To keep the front end from visually overwhelming the styling of the rest of the car, they have slapped on some plastic power trim to the sides.

Otherwise I am still going with Travelall inspiration from the front end back (except for the plastic trim) because the flat panels and glass are cheaper to style and manufacture. That’s also why International did it that way. Subaru used up the styling budget on that front end. :D

The older OBs had more cohesive styling per generation and the older gens have IMO aged well. The 2026 is a definite break from previous gens and Subaru must have their reasons. Trailseeker here I come….maybe.
 
#25 ·
2012 2.5premium cvt said:
Yeah but check out what Volvo cars look like now. Volvo Car USA | Luxury SUVs and Wagons | Official Volvo Website

Money no object I'd be there for a V60 or V90 wagon. (y)
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Volvo realized they couldn’t design cars and just had Mazda do it for them… ;) I saw one the other day on the road and thought it was a new Mazda.

I’d get one too, but it’s lots of money.

also, I’d totally daily the family truckster before a gen7 outback. Although I’d get an outback before some other cars… I tend to hit the value vs how cool it looks boundary a lot quicker these days.
 
#26 · (Edited)
johnre said:
Or perhaps this classic:
View attachment 617269
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Yup, truly the car that put Russia on wheels and gave every other Russian an education in roadside auto repair. 👨‍🔧👩‍🔧

I had a hunch and wiki confirms this should be on the longest produced cars list, having been rolled out in 1977--and I am sure in the meantime only absolutely necessary changes have been made. :D

I did some more looking and found they have a model they make together with GM ( a fellow quality brand) and for a second there I thought I was looking at a picture of a Forester!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada_Niva_Travel 😱
And 2026 OB SUV borrowed some things from there too :D
 
#29 · (Edited)
IMO, a feature of a "real" station wagon is elongated rear quarter glass, matching the large cargo area.

https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclass...ic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/51293605932_eac156ee41_k.jpg?quality=75&ssl=1


OB had something like this up to gen4, when the rear quarter glass starts to no longer have 4 defined straight edges.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/2003-2006_Subaru_Outback_2.5i_station_wagon_(2010-07-10)_02.jpg/1280px-2003-2006_Subaru_Outback_2.5i_station_wagon_(2010-07-10)_02.jpg


This trend is reversed in the new OB https://www.jalopnik.com/img/galler...even-more-of-what-they-want-ugliness-included/when-is-it-coming-1744639702.webp

Is the C pillar under the plastic garnish the same as before, or has it been strengthened, maybe for crash safety reasons? Same with the D pillar?
 
#30 ·
2012 2.5premium cvt said:
IMO, a feature of a "real" station wagon is elongated rear quarter glass, matching the large cargo area.
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I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets it. The Outback hasn't looked like a station wagon for many years. Now at least it will return to looking like a wagon.
 
#31 ·
Danver said:
I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets it. The Outback hasn't looked like a station wagon for many years. Now at least it will return to looking like a wagon.
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I'm not going to try to define it all, but I think some people are disappointed that the forthcoming OB SUV isn't a SW in this sense: QOTD: Is This the Golden Age of Station Wagon Styling? - Curbside Classic

where the front half came from a non-SW car of some sort, often one with very elegant or pretty design. Of course the OB never was, it was always dabbling between automotive genres in its struggle to get noticed more.

And if you want a more stylish "SW" Subau does have the Trailseeker ready to roll out.

I do think for gen7 they could have done better than the super butch front end, with no inspiration from there on back. But then I get back to how there's always the Trailseeker if you want some swoosh.

Any attempt IMO to define the "SW" is doomed, because as soon as we have it figured out, somebody will come up with an exception past or present. However I found some interesting ideas here, where the transformation from woody commercial use SW, to steel famiy transporter, is discussed. I had never thought of it in that way.
www.curbsideclassic.com

Curbside Classic: 1946 Willys Jeep Station Wagon - The First Modern Station Wagon and SUV - Curbside Classic

(first posted 10/28/2013) The original military Jeep is rightfully considered one of the most iconic and influential vehicles ever built, right up there with the Ford Model T and Volkswagen […]
www.curbsideclassic.com www.curbsideclassic.com
 
#38 ·
outback lover 2008 said:
Any thoughts on the 2026 outback?

View attachment 617223
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I bought my Gen6 2020 OB XT because I liked to lower stance and sporty sleeker styling than the Forester.
Now... for 2026 if you compare the Out Back beside the Forester at a glance they look almost identical.
Not a fan of the new look for the OB ! IMO
 
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2012 2.5premium cvt
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