At Subaru, a Wilderness badge on any of the automaker’s crossover SUVs signifies added off-roading capability. Unsurprisingly, the redesigned 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness features engineering, design, and other details to support adventuring well beyond the beaten path.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
When the new 2026 Forester Wilderness goes on sale at the end of 2025, it will come in a single trim level for a price that Subaru will establish closer to the SUV’s arrival in showrooms. In addition to numerous accessories, Subaru will offer an option package adding a digital gauge cluster, a navigation system, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power liftgate.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
With the redesigned 2026 Forester Wilderness, Subaru set out to better differentiate the model from the rest of the Forester lineup. Compared to the standard Forester models, it gets redesigned front and rear bumpers and Wilderness signature details, including extra protective body cladding, front and rear recovery hooks, and anodized copper accents.
Those modified bumpers and a raised suspension improve the Forester Wilderness model’s approach, breakover, and departure angles. In addition, the SUV offers 9.3 inches of clearance (up from 9.2 inches) and sits on exclusive 17-inch dark-finish wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires. Subaru also provides a full-size spare tire for the Wilderness model.
The SUV’s sturdy roof rails equip the Wilderness with an 800-pound static load capacity, perfect for rooftop camping. When traveling with things strapped to the roof, the dynamic load measures 176 pounds.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Inside, the new Forester Wilderness builds on the standard Forester with anodized copper accents and stitching, all-season floor mats, and embossed head restraints. It includes a large, portrait-mounted touchscreen infotainment system and an available digital instrumentation panel.
Since Forester Wilderness owners will likely get the interior wet or dirty, it has Subaru’s StarTex artificial leather upholstery with a new textured finish. According to Subaru, the animal-free material is water-resistant and easy to clean.
Like other Forester models, the Wilderness seats five people and offers 27.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the 60/40-split folding back seat. Maximum cargo space measures 69.1 cu-ft.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Subaru equips the Forester Wilderness with a 2.5-liter boxer-type four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and an active torque-split all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. The engine supplies 180 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 178 pound-feet of torque at 3,700 rpm. Fuel economy estimates are unavailable, but expect them to be less than a standard Forester, as was the case for the previous-generation model.
With this redesign, the Wilderness model’s AWD system features a faster center differential lockup to reduce wheelspin while off-roading and to transfer torque more quickly in slippery conditions. It can also account for steering angle to enhance stability regardless of surface conditions. A shorter final-drive ratio also improves the SUV’s low-speed off-roading capability.
Every Forester Wilderness has a hill descent control system and a dual-mode version of Subaru’s X-Mode traction technology. The different modes include Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud. A Low Speed/Low Ratio gradient control system detects travel up steep hills and automatically calibrates the transmission and AWD system to provide more power at lower speeds.
In addition, towing capacity increases from 3,000 to 3,500 pounds, thanks to improved transmission cooling. Subaru has also re-tuned the suspension to provide what it claims is a smoother, more stable ride. New coil springs and shocks contribute to the improved ground clearance.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The Wilderness has a new infotainment system for 2026. Featuring an 11.6-inch touchscreen display mounted vertically on the dashboard, the Starlink Multimedia Plus system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and more. The display also incorporates climate controls and provides access to numerous vehicle settings and functions.
In addition, Subaru equips the Wilderness with a standard 180-degree forward-view camera to help when tackling serious terrain. Choose the available option package, and the Wilderness gains a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display with Apple Maps integration and a Harman Kardon premium sound system.
To help ensure safety, every Wilderness also has the latest Subaru EyeSight package of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS).
Read my review of the previous Forester Wilderness, and you’ll see it was surprisingly capable and fun to drive when I spent a day in the woods near Bend, Oregon, back in 2022. This new one promises more of the same, with incremental improvements across the board.
When the new Forester Wilderness goes on sale, it will face few equals in its segment. The most notable are the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands (now available with a Sasquatch package for improved off-roading capability) and the Jeep Compass Trailhawk.
Several other rivals offer off-road-themed variants that are not as capable as the Subaru, such as the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek, Kia Sportage X-Pro, Mazda CX-50 Meridian Edition, and Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road.
Subaru is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of January 16, 2025, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran automotive journalist with 30 years of experience in the field and has held automotive editorial leadership positions at Edmunds, JD Power, and The New York Daily News. Today, Chris owns a content agency called Speedy Daddy Media, and in addition to JDPower.com, his work appears on Capital One Auto Navigator, CarGurus, and Edmunds.
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