Peter Lyon
March 4, 2026
Subaru of America, Inc., today announced existing owners of the all-new 2026 Subaru Outback Touring and Touring XT models can receive a no-cost update to activate Highway Hands-Free Assist Driving system. The system, a first on any Subaru model, provides hands-free driving at speeds up to 85 MPH on most U.S. highways. The update is unnecessary for any vehicles sold after January 19, 2026.
EyeSight Highway Hands-Free Assist comes standard on 2026 Subaru Outback Touring and Touring XT trim levels, and provides limited hands-free operation once advanced adaptive cruise control is active. Subaru’s DriverFocus system monitors driver awareness to ensure that control can be transferred back to the driver at any time. If DriverFocus detects that the driver is not attentive, the system will disengage and prompt the driver to place their hands on the wheel and resume control.
The new advanced driving assist systems for Outback Touring and Touring XT models expand EyeSight functionality by integrating GPS data, 3D high-definition maps, millimeter-wave radar, and a camera-based system. Subaru engineers logged nearly 100,000 miles of hands-free driving during development to help refine system performance, driver attention, and handoff behavior in real-world conditions. Combined with testing, the advanced driving systems for Outback Touring and Touring XT help to provide higher accuracy and broader driver support for a more confident and comfortable driving experience.
When adaptive cruise control is activated, Highway Hands-Free Assist will automatically engage on highways with at least two lanes. It provides advanced adaptive cruise control, and limited hands-free assist, along with specific features like highway active lane change assist, highway automatic resume assist, highway pre-curve speed control, and emergency stop assist with safe lane selection. The advanced driving assist system status is shown in the digital gauge cluster, where green icons indicate hands-on assist, and blue icons confirm Highway Hands-Free Assist activation.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Supporting these new capabilities is the second-generation DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. The upgraded system features a wider-angle, higher-resolution camera, improved processing, and infrared LEDs that can track eye-gaze through most sunglasses or eyeglasses. These updates allow more precise detection for driver posture, position, and drowsiness, helping EyeSight deliver more accurate safety alerts. In addition to safety, DriverFocus offers driver-recognition convenience features, automatic seat adjustments, mirrors, and climate preferences for up to five users.
