2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness First Drive Review: An Ideal Reason to Go Adventuring, or Not

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      The revamped 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness navigated a rugged, rocky trail in the mountains surrounding Mt. Adams, Washington’s second-highest peak in the volcanic Cascade Range. It demonstrated the expected off-road capabilities of this enhanced version of the new Forester SUV by effectively managing torque to the wheel with the best grip, articulating and compressing where needed. We then pushed it up to a windswept bald top scattered with bullet casings and shotgun shells amidst a sea of rocks.

      “You should have witnessed it this weekend,” our guide, with a British accent laced with dry humor, remarked. “It was a celebration of America.”

      Gunfire echoed across the range. Large side-by-side vehicles adorned with political flags cruised through the valley. Pickup trucks served as makeshift base camps, leaving only remnants of shredded beer cans and spent casings behind. The latest iteration of the Forester Wilderness seemed to fit right in.

      Robert Duffer

      What Does Wilderness Mean?

      The Wilderness trim line has its own narrative. It debuted with the 2021 Outback, followed by the 2022 Forester, and has since been extended to the Crosstrek. This line responds to rival automakers attempting to compete with Subaru by creating their off-road adjacent trim levels. Options like Rock Creek, Timberline, Woodland, XRT, X-Pro, and TrailSport have emerged as alternatives. While Jeep may have initiated this trend with the Trailhawk, the theme is apparent. Most of these competitors feature prominent black plastic cladding and potentially all-terrain tires. So, does Wilderness indicate Subaru is striving to outperform itself?

      The most notable distinction between Subaru's off-road line and its competitors lies in genuine mechanical enhancements. For the 2026 Forester Wilderness, the already impressive ground clearance has increased from 8.7 to 9.3 inches. Updated bumpers enhance approach, departure, and breakover angles. It features drivetrain modifications like a shorter final drive ratio for improved torque and a larger rear differential for enhanced traction; it adds skid plates, increased cladding protection, rolls on 17-inch black wheels fitted with all-terrain tires, and includes front and rear hooks. Additionally, it has a full-size spare, a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, and elevated roof rails that can support 800 pounds statically (176 pounds dynamically). These significant updates bolster the Forester's off-road capabilities. Therefore, the Wilderness indeed out-Subarus Subaru, along with its compact crossover competitors.

      Robert Duffer

      This seems to resonate with potential Subaru buyers. Wilderness trims are reportedly chosen by 15-20% of customers across the model range, a figure which continues to rise. These buyers are generally younger and more adventurous according to theoretical survey data, perfectly embodying the Subaru brand image.

      The 2026 Subaru Forester embraced this ethos from the beginning. Unlike the preceding model, the 2025 Forester was redesigned with a Wilderness variant specifically in mind. It incorporates all enhancements from the sixth-generation, including a reworked 180-hp, 2.5-liter flat-four engine that delivers torque more readily, an all-wheel-drive system featuring a faster differential lock, sharper dual-pinion power steering, a stiffer chassis, and better sound insulation. The most significant update was the long-awaited introduction of the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid.

      Driving the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness On-Road

      The updates enhance the Wilderness's performance, whether in urban settings or exploring the highlands. Even with 17-inch wheels and wider 235-mm all-terrain tires (up from 225 mm), the cabin remains insulated from exterior noise. The 2.5-liter flat-four produces 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque (down from 182 hp and 176 lb-ft in the 2024 Forester), with peak torque available at 3,700 rpm instead of 4,400 rpm. While it may not be fast, the extra power assists during passing maneuvers, getting the job done adequately. The Forester Wilderness pairs its continuously variable automatic transmission with paddle shifters designed to emulate an 8-speed automatic, allowing drivers to dial in more torque as necessary. My preferred powertrain is the smoother, more responsive Forester Hybrid.

      Robert Duffer

      Most notably, the Forester Wilderness is equipped with Subaru’s new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as standard. This is a significant upgrade for Subaru, featuring video game-like graphics, three display modes, and dynamic vehicle information functions that render the 11.6-inch touchscreen somewhat outdated. Native navigation utilizing Apple Maps is acceptable, but camera projections are restricted to the upper half of the vertical display. Engaging the X-Mode button activates two different snow/mud modes that provide increased torque at low speeds