Next-Generation Forester
Late last year, Subaru introduced the next generation of its popular Forester 5-passenger crossover SUV. Sporting a new look and improved chassis, the new Forester expanded its lineup to include the first hybrid version to come to America. Now Subaru is adding the next piece to the Forester collection with the 2026 Forester Wilderness.

Wilderness Family
It was the 2022 Subaru Outback that launched the brand’s Wilderness lineup. Wilderness models get more rugged styling with increased ground clearance and improved off-road capability. The 2026 Forester Wilderness joins the Outback and Crosstrek in the Wilderness Family.

Bold Style
The 2026 Forester Wilderness stands out from the rest of the updated lineup with a unique grille, LED hexagonal fog lights, extensive cladding, and a front skid plate. Anodized copper accents highlight the exterior design, including the addition of front and rear bumper tow hook covers. The Forester Wilderness also has a standard roof rack with a 176-pound dynamic capacity and 800 pounds of static load capability, easily enough to handle a roof-top tent.

Rear View
At the rear of the Forester Wilderness is a rugged bumper embossed with SUBARU – there will be no question as to what kind of car this is. There’s also additional underbody protection.

Wheels and Tires
The Forester Wilderness rides on larger all-terrain Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires fitted to 17-inch anthracite black-finish wheels exclusive to the Wilderness. The tires are designed to improve grip on gravel roads or when conditions get muddy.

Under the Hood
While the Wilderness has improved off-road capability, it uses the same engine as the rest of the Forester lineup. The 2.5-liter engine puts out 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, sending power to all four wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that’s been revised for better off-road low-speed operation. Forester Wilderness also gets an upgraded transmission cooler, allowing 3,500 pounds of towing capacity.

No Hybrid (yet?)
Subaru recently added a hybrid variant to the Forester lineup that boasts more power and better fuel efficiency than the standard engine. The company hasn’t announced any plans to put the hybrid powertrain into the Wilderness, but it would certainly make sense to give the Wilderness the benefits of the hybrid system that adds performance without losing any of its off-road capabilities.

Off-road Capability
Unlike many of its competitors, the Wilderness versions of Subaru models bring increased off-road capability to go along with their more rugged styling. In addition to the all-terrain tires, the Forester Wilderness gets 9.3 inches of ground clearance (up from 9.2 in the previous generation), and the suspension has been tuned to deliver a comfortable and stable ride, both on and off the pavement. Dual-Mode X-MODE features Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes for improved performance in these conditions. The new design also allows for improved approach and departure angles.

Upgraded interior
Like its predecessor, the 2026 Forester Wilderness features anodized copper interior accents that help set it apart from the standard variants. Seats are trimmed in StarTex upholstery, which is water-resistant and easy to clean up after those romps through the mud. The 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment display screen comes standard and works well with the available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with Wilderness-exclusive graphics.

Safety
Subaru has updated its EyeSight advanced driver assist system for all Forester trims, including the new Wilderness. The updated system provides a broader field of view with quicker response times. EyeSight is standard on all Forester Wilderness models, including features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, reverse automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Also standard is Emergency Stop Assist, which will slow the vehicle to a stop, unlock the car, and put on the hazard lights if the driver becomes unresponsive while using adaptive cruise control.

Coming this Fall
The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness will arrive in the fall of 2025. Pricing, detailed specs, and feature availability will be released closer to the on-sale date.