2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness: Tougher, Smarter, Wilder

The Wilderness line of models was, historically speaking, one of the smartest and most obvious business decisions Subaru ever made. Take a brand already synonymous with the great outdoors, add enhanced off-road capabilities, and you have a winning formula. That success continues with the debut of the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness, bringing incremental but meaningful upgrades to an already capable adventure vehicle.

Subaru knows not to mess too much with a good thing, so the Forester Wilderness sticks to its core principles while refining its off-road prowess. The most notable upgrades include:

• Wider Tires: Now measuring 235-width instead of 225, the Yokohama Geolander All-Terrains are wrapped around Wilderness-exclusive 17-inch wheels, offering better traction and stability.
• Increased Ground Clearance: The Forester Wilderness now boasts 9.3 inches of clearance, up from 9.2, thanks to longer springs and shocks.
• Upgraded Transmission Cooler: This improvement increases towing capacity from 3,000 to 3,500 pounds and enhances cooling for demanding off-road conditions.
• Rear Differential Temperature Sensor: A useful addition that alerts drivers when things are getting too hot and it’s time to take a break.
• Revised CVT with a Shorter Final Drive Ratio: This tweak improves low-speed crawling capability, making it even more adept at tackling rough terrain.

The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system carries over from the updated 2025 model, featuring a faster-locking center differential and the ability to factor in steering angle for better power distribution. The X-Mode off-road setting remains, offering additional terrain-specific settings for different conditions.

Under the hood, the 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine delivers 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque—adequate, but not particularly exciting. Subaru has yet to confirm whether a hybrid version of the Forester Wilderness is in the works.

Off-Road Capability Beyond Just Ground Clearance

While ground clearance is essential for off-roading, approach, breakover, and departure angles are just as crucial for avoiding underbody damage. The Forester Wilderness improves upon the standard Forester’s angles:

• Approach Angle: Increased from 19 degrees to 23.5 degrees.
• Breakover Angle: Up from 19.5 degrees to 21 degrees.
• Departure Angle: Improved slightly from 24.6 degrees to 25.5 degrees.

Though these numbers are nearly identical to the outgoing Forester Wilderness, they reinforce the vehicle’s off-road credibility. The aluminum skid plate under the engine is expected to return, with optional additional skid plates for enhanced underbody protection.

Practicality and Everyday Usability

The roof rack remains rated for 800 pounds when stationary, making it perfect for rooftop tents. However, the dynamic load capacity (while driving) has been reduced from 220 pounds to 176 pounds, a small but notable downgrade.

Cargo space remains consistent with other Forester models, offering 27.5 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 69.1 cubic feet with them folded—plenty of room for gear, camping equipment, and adventure essentials.

Inside, Subaru continues the Wilderness theme with rugged touches:

• StarTex Synthetic Leather Seats: Durable, water-resistant, and easy to clean after muddy adventures.
• 12.3-inch Digital Instrument Cluster: A new addition displaying Wilderness-specific graphics and the ability to show Apple Maps directly in the cluster.
• Wilderness-Specific Styling Elements: Hexagonal LED foglights, aggressive body cladding, and anodized copper accents inside and out.

Availability and Expected Pricing

The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness will hit dealerships sometime in the fall of 2025, but Subaru is keeping a few details—most notably, pricing—under wraps for now. Given that the previous-generation Forester Wilderness was priced near the top of the lineup, we estimate a starting price of around $37,000.

For adventure-seekers looking for a well-rounded off-road crossover that retains excellent on-road manners, the 2026 Forester Wilderness continues to be one of the most compelling options in its class. Subaru has made incremental but smart refinements, ensuring that this Wilderness edition stays true to its rugged roots while enhancing capability where it matters most.