142 Berlin Mall Rd
Berlin, VT 05602
Driving to be Vermont's #1 Subaru Dealer
The 2026 Subaru Outback has standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and real ground clearance, which makes it a great choice for roads in Berlin, VT, and throughout central Vermont. When you compare it to the Toyota Highlander, the differences stand out right away.
Every Subaru Outback comes with Symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD), which is especially helpful on unplowed roads near Plainfield, VT, after a late-season storm. The base model has a 2.5-liter engine with 180 horsepower and Subaru's Lineartronic CVT. Higher trims have a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 horsepower, making it easy tow trailers or campers to Randolph, VT. The Outback offers up to 9.5 inches of ground clearance and can tow up to 3,500 pounds with the turbo engine.
The Toyota Highlander now comes with standard AWD, a new feature for this model. It has a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 265 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission. A lower stance and special X-MODE terrain settings give the Subaru an edge on steep hills and gravel driveways around Stowe, VT. In these spots, ground clearance matters more than just horsepower. X-MODE adjusts the throttle and AWD for snow, dirt, and deep mud, which is perfect for the conditions you'll find on a Vermont driveway before the plow arrives.
Cargo space is a big difference between these two SUVs when you compare their layouts. The 2026 Toyota Highlander seats up to eight and adds a third row, but that row gets smaller when the second row slides back. The Subaru Outback skips the third row and uses that space for a roomy cargo area, which is great for a Waterbury, VT family hauling ski gear or hiking packs. Unlike a third row that takes up space when not in use, the Subaru design keeps the cargo area practical. Drivers around Montpelier, VT, will notice the difference as soon as they open the hatch. The rear seats in the Outback also fold flat, making it easy to load longer gear like skis or kayak paddles without dealing with an uneven cargo floor.
As you move up the trim levels, the Subaru Outback adds real comfort features while keeping its signature style. The Limited trim includes a power moonroof, heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Touring trim is the top option, offering Java Brown or Slate Black Nappa leather-trimmed seats, ventilated front seats, a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a 360-degree surround-view monitor that helps with tight parking in places like Stowe, VT.
Every Subaru Outback comes with the latest EyeSight Driver Assist Technology as standard. This package includes Front Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centering, and Emergency Stop Assist on all trims. Touring and Touring XT trims add Hands-Free Assist, a driver-supervised system that manages steering on certain highways up to 85 mph, which is helpful for long drives on I-89 near Waterbury, VT. Every trim also has a 12.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, plus a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, so you get these features standard for trips from Barre, VT, to downtown Montpelier.
The Toyota Highlander comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which bundles a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert come standard as well. Base Highlander trims pair those systems with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and the larger 12.3-inch display Subaru Outback shoppers get standard from the first trim only becomes available once Highlander buyers move up the lineup.
Vermont's roads are better for vehicles that are low and stable, not just powerful on paper. The Subaru Outback gives you standard all-wheel drive (AWD), real ground clearance, and a cargo area built for Vermont life, whether you're heading to Waterbury, VT, for skiing or driving on gravel roads near Randolph, VT. The Toyota Highlander, by comparison, has a cramped third row and sits higher, giving up some off-road ability for extra horsepower you might not need.
Visit 802 Subaru to learn more about the new Subaru Outback, schedule a test drive, and see for yourself why it outperforms the Toyota Highlander on the roads around Berlin, VT, and surrounding areas.
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142 Berlin Mall Rd
Berlin, VT 05602
