New 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid Combines Capability and Efficiency
What Car Shoppers Should Know
- Subaru says the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid is 25% more fuel-efficient than the gas-powered Forester Wilderness.
- The Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid gets 0.6 inches more ground clearance versus the regular Forester Hybrid, among other things.
If you’ve been hoping a vehicle comes to market that marries fuel efficiency and off-road outdoorsiness, you’re in luck. Subaru is giving the Forester Hybrid the Wilderness treatment for 2027, which means better fuel economy and more off-road capability than most people will ever need in one tidy compact SUV package.
Efficiency and Capability
Takeaways:
- The Forester Wilderness Hybrid is powered by the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine as the standard Forester Hybrid.
- It also gets the same off-road goodies as other Wilderness models, including standard all-wheel drive and drive modes.
Subaru is sticking to its playbook with the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid, which makes its debut at the 2026 New York International Auto Show. Under its hood resides the same Atkinson/Miller-cycle 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine as the regular Forester Hybrid. That engine is paired with a lithium-ion battery and electric motors for a total combined output of 194 horsepower. That power rating is unchanged from the standard Forester Hybrid and 14 more than the gas-only Forester Wilderness, but this is more about efficiency than power. Subaru says the Forester Wilderness Hybrid is 25% more fuel-efficient than the gas-powered Forester Wilderness.
Capability for the Forester Wilderness Hybrid starts with Subaru’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Subaru made a point to highlight that this system is unique compared to other players in this segment — such as the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek and Honda CR-V TrailSport — in that there’s an actual mechanical connection between the front and rear axles, making it a true full-time system; other AWD systems usually operate as front-wheel drive until wheel slippage is detected before engaging AWD. Ground clearance on the Wilderness Hybrid increases to 9.3 inches, 0.6 inches more than the regular Forester Hybrid. This is all further aided by more underbody protection, Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, and Subaru’s X-Mode Dual Mode drive mode system with hill descent control and Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings.
For those that like to venture out into nature and camp, the Wilderness Hybrid comes equipped with ladder-type roof rails that have an 800-pound static load capacity. Interior cargo capacity is unchanged. Open the power rear liftgate, and you’ll find 27.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity by Subaru’s measurements; that increases to 69 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Those numbers match the regular Forester Hybrid and gas-only Forester when equipped with a panoramic moonroof.
Technology and Design
Takeaway: Subaru has given the Forester Wilderness Hybrid a few more standard features versus the gas-powered Forester Hybrid.
Aside from trim-specific “Subaru Wilderness Hybrid” badging on the side fenders and rear liftgate, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid is virtually identical to the regular Forester Wilderness, from its black hood strip and 17-inch matte-black wheels to its bronze accents.
Inside, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid includes a few standard features that are optional on other Forester trims. In addition to easy-to-clean features like StarTex upholstery and all-weather floormats, there’s a standard 11.6-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features.
If you’re wondering just how much this will all cost you, you’ll have to wait a bit. Subaru isn’t talking pricing just yet but says that we’ll know more closer to the SUV’s on-sale date later in the year.
More on the Subaru Forester From Cars.com:
- How Much Is the 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid?
- We Take the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid on Our MPG Loop to See if It Delivers the Goods
- How Much Did Subaru Prices Increase After Tariffs Went Into Effect?
- 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Review: Say Hello to the New Cult Leader
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