Here Are the Subaru Outback’s Easter Eggs, One of Which Is Actually UsefulMotorTrendMiguel CortinaTue, September 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTCAdd us on Google2026 Subaru Outback's Hidden Easter EggsMotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendEvery time we spot an Easter egg in a car, it makes us smile. We're not talking about the kind the Easter Bunny leaves in backyards, though that would be neat too. In the automotive world, Easter eggs are hidden drawings, icons, markings, or even Morse codes that designers and engineers tuck into production cars as little nods to a brand's history, personality, or customers. You may have seen one before without realizing what it was.Over the past six months with our long-term 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness, we've found several Easter eggs scattered around the car, and most of them speak directly to the outdoorsy crowd Subaru knows so well. If you own an Outback, you may have already spotted a few. If not, consider this your spoiler warning.MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendCute SilhouettesThe rear of the Outback is where most of the Easter-egg action happens. Look near the high-mounted brake light on the liftgate, and look under the spoiler, and you'll spot eight Outback silhouettes carrying different types of gear on their roofs, including surfboards, Christmas trees, and bicycles.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's a fitting detail for the Outback, a vehicle closely associated with camping, hiking, cycling, and just about every other outdoor activity Subaru buyers can squeeze into a weekend. The little illustrations also serve as a playful reminder of what owners might actually haul on top, especially with the Outback's roof rated to carry up to 220 pounds while driving.Using a removable surf rack attached to the Outback's roof rack, we securely mounted an 8-foot soft-top surfboard. Because the Outback is long enough, we could still open the tailgate with the board in place. Our board wasn't particularly heavy, and we could easily see ourselves carrying a couple more on future surf trips.MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendMotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendHelping Owners and Their DogsSubaru loves dogs, and this Easter egg is aimed squarely at dog owners. Located near the right taillight, two small illustrations show how much cargo space is available with the second-row seats upright or folded.One drawing indicates that a dog roughly 42.8 inches long can fit in the cargo area with the rear seats in place. Fold down the second row, and the available length stretches to 75.9 inches.AdvertisementAdvertisementOn the opposite side of the Outback, another illustration shows a 44.3-inch-tall dog standing upright and how much vertical room it would have in the cargo area. It's a small touch, but one that feels perfectly on brand for Subaru.It's a surprisingly useful little detail for anyone who regularly travels with a four-legged passenger. Instead of digging through a spec sheet, owners can get a quick visual sense of how much space their furry companion will have before loading up for a road trip.MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendFeatures editor Christian Seabaugh and his pup, Rosie, enjoyed a ride to the beach together. Seabaugh said the Outback's illustrations match its real-world dimensions so closely that he used a tape measure to compare them with the actual vehicle. We don't know how many owners will go as far as that, but at least it gives them an idea of how comfortable their dog will be when riding in the back.MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPaying HomageDesigners didn't stop at the back of the car. Open the hood, and you'll find two stamped messages near the front of the Outback: One reads "Since 1966"; the other says the same in Japanese.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat year is significant for Subaru because 1966 marked the debut of the brand's first boxer engine. The horizontally opposed engine layout would eventually become one of Subaru's defining mechanical traits.Subaru's first boxer engine appeared in the 1000 sedan and produced just 54 hp. Compare that with the 260 hp generated by the turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four in our 2026 Outback Wilderness, and it's a neat reminder of how far Subaru—and the auto industry as a whole—has come in the last six decades.Are These Easter Eggs Useful?The point about Easter eggs isn't how useful they are, but how cute and fun they can be. In the case of the Outback Wilderness, some of them are useful, like the cargo area measure to see if your dog can fit. The silhouettes showing the Outback carrying different objects on its roof is more fun than anything, but it can give owners an idea of what they can bring on top.More on Our Long-Term 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness:Our New Yearlong Subaru Outback Wilderness Is Ready for Dirt—and DebateOur Yearlong Subaru Outback Wilderness Just Passed the Road-Trip TestOur 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness Proves Physical Buttons Still MatterPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendPhoto credit: MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendAdvertisementAdvertisement