​​Subaru Adds Highway Hands-Free Assist to New and Existing 2026 Outback Touring Models​ 

Since late 2025, when the 2026 Outback was launched, shoppers of the Touring and Touring XT models were informed that a more advanced driving assist feature would be added to the vehicle after a few months and would be automatically downloaded via an over-the-air update. Subaru has now fulfilled that promise, and Ewing Subaru of Plano has the details.   

The system is called Highway Hands-Free Driving Assist, and it works exactly as the name suggests. It offers limited hands-free operation on major U.S. highways once the advanced adaptive cruise control has been activated. At that point, the driver can remove their hands from the wheel and their feet from the pedals as the system keeps the vehicle centered in the lane and maintains a set speed or following distance from the vehicle ahead. It can perform a lane change with a simple activation of the turn signal and includes features such as highway automatic resume assist, highway pre-curve speed control, and emergency stop assist with safe lane selection. Two colored lights projected low on the windshield indicate the system status. 

The system integrates GPS data, 3D high-definition maps, millimeter-wave radar, and a camera-based system. Subaru engineers drove nearly 100,000 hands-free miles to improve system performance, driver attention, and handoff behavior in real-world conditions.  

This doesn’t mean you can set the system, lean the seat all the way back to take a snooze, start scrolling on your phone, or play chess with a passenger. A second-generation DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System tracks eye-gaze even through most sunglasses or eyeglasses to ensure that you are still mostly keeping your eyes on the road. The driver can also override it at any time by engaging the steering wheel or the brake pedal.  Like cruise control, you can use the accelerator pedal without disengaging the system. 

The new DriverFocus® system features a wider-angle, higher-resolution camera, enhanced processing, and infrared LEDs, enabling more accurate detection of driver posture, position, and drowsiness. This helps EyeSight® deliver more precise safety alerts. In addition to supporting the Highway Hands-Free system, the DriverFocus® driver-recognition feature can also automatically adjust the seat, mirrors, and climate controls for up to five users. 

Probably the best news for anyone familiar with similar systems from other manufacturers is that Highway Hands-Free Driving Assist is free with no subscription costs, so the tech is active for the life of the vehicle. There will be a subscription if you want over-the-air map updates that expand your Subaru’s hands-free driving zone over time. 

The system is already included in all models sold after January 19 and should be downloaded to existing 2026 Outback Touring and Touring XT models by the time you read this. It is expected to become available on higher trims of future Subaru models as they go through a new design cycle.  

Leave it to Subaru to make hands-free highway driving simple and free of charge. If you’re interested in having the system for your next highway cruiser, visit Ewing Subaru of Plano for a demonstration.