Subaru Plays Catchup With 2026 Forester Wilderness
Subaru redesigned its Forester SUV for the 2025 model year with an updated infotainment system and additional convenience features, but the rugged Wilderness version was left behind and stayed on the old platform. For 2026, the Wilderness gets its turn and makes its debut at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.
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The 2026 Forester Wilderness’ highlights include all of the updates the regular Forester received, such as the availability of the latest version of Subaru’s infotainment system, as well as additional ground clearance and enhanced mechanicals for more go-anywhere prowess.
Rugged Looks Inside and Out
Like the previous-generation Forester Wilderness, the 2026 version follows suit with outdoors-inspired styling extras including standard roof rails with an 800-pound static and 176-pound dynamic load-capacity rating, LED hexagonal foglights, underbody protection and copper-finish exterior accents on the front and rear bumper tow hook covers. The new Wilderness also gets 9.3 inches of ground clearance — a smidge more than its predecessor’s 9.2 inches — and wears larger Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires mounted on exclusive 17-inch anthracite-gray wheels.
Inside, the Forester Wilderness wears water-resistant synthetic leather upholstery and surfaces that Subaru says are easy to clean, as well as matching copper-finish interior accents. The Wilderness comes standard with a large tablet-style 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with full-screen display, a big upgrade from the dual 7-inch touchscreens standard on the regular Forester. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with Wilderness-exclusive graphics, a Wilderness first for 2026, with navigation and Apple Maps integration is available.
Off-Road Extras
Although the 2026 Forester Wilderness shares its powertrain with the regular model (a 180-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission), its mechanicals are different in a couple of ways.
Subaru says the Wilderness uses an upgraded suspension, an uprated transmission cooler and a rear differential temperature sensor that provides more confidence on the trails. It also has more off-road-friendly approach, departure and breakover angles than the regular Forester. The approach angle has been increased to 23.5 degrees from 19 degrees; ramp breakover improves up to 21 degrees from 19.6 degrees; and the departure angle is up slightly to 25.5 degrees from 24.6 degrees.
The Wilderness shares its all-wheel-drive system with the regular Forester and adds an advanced dual-mode X-Mode with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud terrain settings. It’s also rated to tow more than the regular model: The Wilderness is good for up to 3,500 pounds, while regular Foresters have a 1,500-pound towing capacity.
As with the regular Forester, however, Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite is standard on the Wilderness; it includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert and emergency steering assist.
Pricing and On-Sale Date
Subaru says pricing for the 2026 Forester Wilderness will be released closer to the SUV’s launch in the fall. For reference, the 2025 Forester starts at $31,230 and the 2025 Forester Wilderness at $36,415 (prices include $1,420 destination charge).
More From Cars.com:
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- Is the 2025 Subaru Forester a Good SUV? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
- 2025 Subaru Forester Wilderness Stays on Last-Gen Platform, Starts at $36,415
- Redesigned 2025 Subaru Forester Stays the Course, Gets Enhanced Tech Features
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