The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness ditches the previous generation a year later, debuting on a new platform with taller tires and slightly increased ground clearance. Model-wide upgrades introduced to the regular Forester last year now reach the Forester Wilderness, including a more responsive center differential. Pricing and fuel-economy details are still unavailable, but the most rugged Forester in the compact SUV lineup will hit dealerships this fall. The normal Forester was updated to the sixth-generation base at the end of last year, which meant that the Subaru Forester Wilderness would no longer be made. New clothes were made for the normal 2025 Subaru Foresters, but the 2025 Forester Wilderness kept driving old models for another year. It was possible to buy two versions of Foresters at the same time. Subaru is turning things right by moving the Forester Wilderness to the new platform in 2026. Increased Torque, Larger Tires Power goes down from 182 horsepower to 180 horsepower, but torque goes up by the same amount, from 176 to 178 pound-feet. The important thing is that you should be able to feel the small torque boost in both town and the woods since it hits its peak at 3700 rpm instead of 4400. We don’t know yet what the fuel economy is. Ratings didn’t change when the other Forester, which wasn’t a hybrid, got the same engine upgrade in 2025. This time will be the same. Like with the last version of Wilderness, the approach (23.5 degrees), departure (25.5 degrees), and break-over (21.0 degrees) angles are much better than those on a regular Forester. However, the Yokohama Geolandar A/T tires are a bit bigger this time; they are 235/60R-17 instead of 225/60R-17 like they were last time. They are about a half-inch higher and almost a quarter of an inch across. Because of this, the 2026 Wilderness has a slightly higher ground clearance than the 2022 model (9.2 inches vs. 9.3 inches). Subaru also says that the 2026 Forester Wilderness has a better suspension that has been tuned to make it more stable and comfortable on and off-road. Other Updates The Lineartronic continuously variable automatic gear in the Wilderness now has a final drive ratio of 4.11 instead of 3.70. It has two X-modes, one for snow and mud and one for deep snow and mud. Also, the usual symmetrical all-wheel-drive system on other 2025 Foresters has been improved to have a faster center differential lockup that makes off-roading less likely to cause wheelspin. The technology also records information about the steering position to make turning and cornering more stable at high speeds. The towing ability has also been increased to 3500 pounds thanks to a redesigned transmission cooler. Subaru has the Starlink 11.6-inch multimedia system, which looks like a computer and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built-in. It also has the newest EyeSight technology to help the driver. You can choose the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which can show you directions right in front of you. The Wilderness also doesn’t have any animals inside, has copper-themed decorations, and comes with normal roof rails that can hold up to 800 pounds in place (176 pounds when moving). Releasing This Fall Not much more is known at this time, but as the fall 2025 arrival date for the new Wilderness gets closer, we’ll learn more about how much it costs and how well it uses gas. The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness will have the same engine and internal design as any other Forester from 2025 onwards. It will also keep the jacked-up stance of the current Forester Wilderness. Until then, all you have to do is think of a way to mix the two.
