The bright blue 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness that I nudged up a rocky, off-camber logging trail on the Washington State side of the Columbia River did not protest — at least until its right-front wheel encountered a rock with a surface far too vertical to easily surmount. Even with its X-Mode off-road traction-control mode engaged, the Forester Wilderness finally met its match. I sighed in exasperation, and then I looked rearward: the Forester Wilderness had just climbed the kind of steep grade that would have stopped every single one of its direct competitors dozens of feet earlier.
In the world of cosplay off-roading, the redesigned Forester Wilderness stands head and shoulders — or at least all-terrain tires and chunky roof rack — above its competition.
Forester Wilderness Builds On a Strong Starting Point
Though its boxy proportions and big glass may have you thinking otherwise, Subaru reworked its Forester for the 2025 model year. While it retains a familiar 2.5-liter flat-four engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the updated Forester features a far stiffer platform than before, which Subaru says utilizes modern adhesives to help keep its curb weight low. The result is a standard Forester that’s more polished than ever.
Barely a year on, the new Wildneress takes the basic Forester and walks it through an off-road parts store. Unlike its predecessor, the latest Forester was designed from the get-go to include a Wilderness configuration, and the result is something that feels more cohesive than before. You’ll find 17-inch wheels wearing mild all-terrain tires rather than the all-seasons that wrap 18- or 19-inchers in higher-spec Foresters, and there’s a matching spare tire under the cargo floor. A slightly taller suspension affords 9.3 inches of ground clearance, up from 8.7 inches in the base setup, and it’s a bit softer to increase wheel droop. Skid plates cover the expensive bits underneath. The roof rack has more tie-down points, and each of the bumpers, revised for improved approach and departure angles, has two tow points. (You’ll have to pop off a cover and screw in a towing eye, though.) Synthetic leather seats and rubber slush mats make the cabin easier to clean out after. Mechanically, an engine oil cooler, a revised final drive ratio, and a more robust off-road traction control system serve as the only major upgrades.
It’s no Wrangler Rubicon or Tacoma TRD Pro, but the package is remarkably comprehensive. At $39,835, including a mandatory $1,450 destination charge, the Forester Wilderness is pricier than rivals that do the off-roady looks thing but lack serious capability enhancements, but it’s less than genuinely capable compact SUVs such as the Ford Bronco Sport ($42,110 with the Badlands trim).
Where the Forester Wilderness Proves Its Mettle
With that extra bit of ground clearance and those slightly knobbier tires, the Forester Wilderness is perfectly adept at handling light trails, mud, and even snow — though drivers in especially snowy climates will want dedicated winter tires. It’s no serious off-roader, but those features alone add up to more capability than any other Forester, let alone any of its serious rivals.
Subaru also sweated the details; the Wilderness has just enough unpainted plastic to look more rugged than other trims, and its wide grille manages to look better integrated. Copper-finished bits and pieces finish things up; the Forester Wilderness looks like it would park next to the kayaks inside your local REI, not in the parking lot. Those copper bits continue inside, where they grace the dash, door panels, and seat stitching.
A new center console this year — for all Foresters — sees a downsized lever for the CVT that opens up better cupholders and bins for smaller items, plus a wireless device charging pad. As with the rest of the Forester lineup, the Wilderness offers ample space for four passengers, though five is wishful thinking due to the somewhat narrow rear bench.
Where the Forester Wilderness Misses Out
It would also be nice to see height adjustment for the passenger’s seat at this price point, as well as a heated steering wheel. It gets cold out in the woods, after all.
But those are minor complaints compared to the four-cylinder’s lack of power. It’s not slow by segment standards, but the Forester Wilderness can’t keep up with the turbocharged Bronco Sport. Long, steep grades leave it gasping for air. Though the CVT behaves well overall, there’s not much it can do to combat a relative lack of power.
At least for now, there’s no Forester Hybrid Wilderness. Such a vehicle would provide a little better low-end and passing power plus improved fuel economy, but its battery sits right where the Wilderness keeps its spare. Off-roaders need the safety net of a real spare tire more than they need hybrid fuel efficiency and refinement.
While I didn’t have the opportunity to tow with the Forester Wilderness, its 3,500-pound towing capacity suggests that Subaru is confident in the mechanical improvements it made. Hitch up a 2,500-pound camper or a small utility trailer, and the Forester Wilderness will be fine. Anything more than that and you should be after something with more muscle and wheelbase.
And while the 2026 Forester hasn’t made its way through the EPA’s full certification process yet, last year’s 26 mpg combined figure for the Wilderness trim seems like a realistic guess. That’s 2 to 3 mpg lower than other trims, a difference that might cost you a few hundred bucks a year in fuel.
Where the Forester Wilderness Makes Sense
The off-road upgrades that come with the Wilderness package will be lost on anyone who plans to stick to pavement. Its incremental towing increase isn’t worth it alone, either.
But at a price that essentially matches the not-sporty Forester Sport or the not-luxurious Forester Limited, the Wilderness trim brims with personality. It’s the one to get if you’re after a moderately capable SUV for $40,000 or less.
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