2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness Review. Real Off-Road Capability or Just the Look?

2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness Review. Real Off-Road Capability or Just the Look? Driven Car Reviews · Jul 6, 2026

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Car

Subaru Forester Wilderness

This is a tougher version of the Subaru Forester. It’s meant to handle rough roads better, not just look rugged, with changes like bigger tires and more ground clearance.

Car

The Ford Bronco is an SUV designed for off-road driving, like dirt roads and trails. Some versions are built to be especially tough and powerful. It comes up a lot because it’s meant to handle more than just normal city driving.

Car

F-150 Raptor

The Ford F-150 is a large pickup truck made for hauling and towing, but it can also be used like a normal vehicle. It’s popular because there are many versions with different power and features. It’s often discussed when people talk about how capable a vehicle is in real life.

Term

Bronco Raptor

The Bronco Raptor is a tougher, more off-road-focused Ford Bronco. People bring it up when comparing how “serious” a vehicle is about dirt and rough trails.

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all-terrain tires

All-terrain tires are made to grip on more than just smooth roads. They’re built for dirt, gravel, and rougher surfaces while still being usable for daily driving.

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retuned suspension

A retuned suspension means the suspension settings are adjusted for the new trim’s goals—often to better control the vehicle with different tires and to improve ride quality over rough surfaces. In practice, it can involve changes to spring/damper behavior and how the suspension responds to bumps.

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ground clearance

Ground clearance is how much space the car has between the ground and its bottom. More clearance helps you avoid hitting the undercarriage on bumps and rough trails.

Car

Forester Hybrid

The Forester is a compact SUV, and some versions are hybrid. It’s meant to be a practical vehicle for everyday driving, including in different weather. In the podcast context, it’s mentioned as a way to get a capable SUV for less money.

Car

Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV that’s designed for everyday driving. Some versions have a more rugged look, even if they’re still mainly meant for normal roads. It’s mentioned because it’s popular and recognizable, including in “off-road style” trims.

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naturally aspirated

Naturally aspirated means the engine draws air in without a turbocharger or supercharger. That typically changes how power is delivered—often with more linear response—compared with forced-induction engines.

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boxer engine

A boxer engine is a flat engine where the cylinders move sideways in opposite directions. Because it sits low in the car, it can help the car feel more stable when turning.

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center of gravity

Center of gravity is basically where the car’s weight balances. Lowering it can help the car feel steadier and less tippy when you turn.

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upgraded transmission cooler

A transmission cooler is like a radiator for the transmission fluid. It helps the fluid stay cooler, which can make the transmission work better when you tow or drive hard.

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continuously variable tranny

A CVT is an automatic transmission that can smoothly change “gears” without distinct steps. Here, they’re saying the Wilderness is geared to feel more responsive for off-road driving.

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final drive ratio

Final drive ratio is the gearing that determines how strongly the car pulls versus how fast it goes at a given engine speed. A shorter ratio usually helps with getting moving and climbing slowly.

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rear differential

The rear differential is the part that sends power to the rear wheels and lets them turn at different speeds when you corner. A temperature sensor helps keep it from overheating under tough conditions.

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simulated shifts

Because a CVT doesn’t have real gears, it can “fake” gear changes to make the driving feel more like a normal automatic. It helps the car react in a more familiar way when you accelerate or slow down.

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X mode

X Mode is a special Subaru setting for slippery or rough roads. It changes how the AWD system and throttle work so the car can grip better and feel more controlled.

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all-wheel drive system

All-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels. That can help the car grip better on wet, snowy, or bumpy roads.

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SI drive

SI-Drive is Subaru’s way of changing how the gas pedal responds. Depending on the mode, the car can feel more eager or more smooth.

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approach, break over and departure angles

These angles describe how “tall” a bump or dip a car can handle without scraping. Bigger/better angles mean you’re less likely to hit the front bumper or the underside when going over rough terrain.

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GoPro's with wide-angle lens

A wide-angle lens exaggerates the apparent distance and can make terrain look less severe on camera than it feels in person. The host is using this to explain why the footage may understate how rough the bumps and ruts actually are.

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Forest Service road

This is a real kind of government-maintained road used to get into forest areas. It’s often bumpy or uneven, so it’s a good place to see how a car handles rough conditions.

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symmetrical all-wheel drive

This means the car sends power to all four wheels in a balanced way. Subaru’s setup is designed to help the car feel more predictable when the road is slippery or uneven.

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star-text seating surfaces

Star-text is a specific type of seat fabric Subaru uses. The point is that it’s meant to hold up better to everyday messes and heavy use.

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heated seats

Heated seats warm you up using built-in heaters in the seat. It’s a comfort feature, and here they’re also talking about how tough the seat material is.

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synthetic leather

Synthetic leather is fake leather made from materials like polyurethane. It’s used in car interiors to get the leather look without using real animal leather.

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user interface

The user interface is the dashboard screen’s layout and how you use it. Here, the host says it feels slow/laggy and isn’t available on the Forester yet.

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Starlink

Starlink is Subaru’s built-in infotainment/connected system. It’s the software and services that run on the car’s screen for things like navigation and other connected features.

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laggy

“Laggy” means the screen takes a moment to respond when you tap it. That can be annoying and distracting when you’re trying to change settings quickly.

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defrost

Defrost is the feature that clears the windshield when it’s foggy or icy. The host is pointing out that the Wilderness has physical buttons for it, not just touchscreen menus.

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wireless charger

A wireless charger is a pad where you set your phone down to charge it. You usually don’t plug in a cable, but you may have to place the phone in the right spot.

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Android Auto

Android Auto lets you use your Android phone through the car’s screen. It brings up things like maps and music in a car-friendly interface.

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Apple CarPlay

Apple CarPlay lets you connect an iPhone to the car so you can use apps like maps and music on the car’s screen. In this case, it can work without plugging in a cable.

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Harman Kardon system

Harman Kardon is a brand used for upgraded car audio systems. The host is saying this one sounds strong and has good impact.

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zero to 60 benchmark

Zero to 60 is a simple test of how fast a car can go from stopped to 60 mph. It’s often used to compare acceleration between cars.

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Subaru Groni Growl

The “Groni Growl” is a nickname for the distinctive sound Subaru engines make. It’s the recognizable rumble you hear when the car starts moving and you give it some throttle.

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continuously variable transmission

A CVT is an automatic transmission that can change ratios smoothly instead of shifting gears like a normal automatic. Some CVTs can feel a little noisy or “rubbery,” but this one doesn’t feel as bad.

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simulated gear shifts

Because a CVT doesn’t shift like a normal automatic, some cars add “simulated” shifts. They try to make the driving feel more like real gear changes.

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IIHS top safety pick plus award winner

IIHS is a crash-testing organization. A Top Safety Pick+ means the car did very well in their tests and met strict safety requirements.

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ADAS Active Safety Tech

ADAS is the set of safety features that help the driver avoid crashes. “Active Safety Tech” means it can intervene or warn you, and here the host says it uses a camera to do that.

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lane keeping

Lane keeping is a safety system that helps the car stay in its lane. If the road markings are visible, it can gently steer to keep you from drifting.

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adaptive cruise control

Adaptive cruise control is like cruise control, but it also watches the car in front of you. It can slow down and speed up to keep a safe distance.

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EPA rates

The EPA is a government agency that tests cars and publishes fuel-economy numbers. The host is using those official MPG ratings to compare different Forester versions.

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dual pockets

These are two storage areas on the back of the front seats. They help rear passengers keep small items within reach.

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center belt

The center belt is the seatbelt for the middle rear seat, and in this Forester it’s mounted up near the roof. The host says it can get in the way when you fold the seats down to carry big stuff.

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TP trunk test

The “TP trunk test” is a simple way to judge how useful a car’s trunk is. They use toilet paper as a stand-in for everyday items to see how much and how easily it fits.

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hybrid's battery pack

In a hybrid, the battery pack is the big battery that stores electricity to help the car run more efficiently. Here they’re saying it takes up space in the car, which changes what storage you can use.

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security shade

A security shade is a cover that you pull over the trunk area so people can’t easily see what’s inside. When it tucks away, it can change how much space you have underneath.

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full-size spare

A full-size spare is a spare tire that’s meant to be used like a normal tire, not just for a short emergency. That’s especially helpful if you’re driving off-road or far from help.

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cubic feet

Cubic feet is a way to measure how much space something takes up. They’re using it to say how much cargo room you get when you fold the back seats down.

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Generation 6

“Generation 6” means the current major version of the Forester. It’s basically the “newest redesign,” with updated design and layout compared to older Foresters.

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wilderness cladding

Wilderness cladding is the tougher-looking outer trim on the Forester Wilderness. It’s meant to protect the body a bit and also makes the car look more rugged for off-road use.

Car

Outback

The Subaru Outback is another Subaru wagon/crossover that’s built for everyday practicality. They’re comparing the look of the Forester Wilderness to the newer Outback and saying the Outback looks more extreme.

Term

off-road ability

Off-road ability refers to how well a vehicle can handle uneven surfaces, traction-limited conditions, and obstacles compared with a standard road-focused setup. It’s usually supported by features like tires, suspension tuning, and drivetrain calibration, even if those specifics aren’t listed in this excerpt.

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fuel economy

Fuel economy is how far the car can go on a tank of gas. If it’s lower, you’ll stop for gas more often.

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drivability

Drivability is how pleasant and easy the car feels to drive in normal situations. The host is saying the Wilderness setup may feel a bit different if you mostly drive on highways.

LIVE

Subaru Forester has its wilderness trim back.

I'm here to tell you all about it.

On-road, off-road, the tech, everything.

And I won't waste your time.

Let's get right to it.

["Middle School R&B Music"]

In a world that's less recognizable every day,

familiarity and normals, he are valuable commodities.

Subaru certainly stands for that.

And no subi epitomizes the brand's practicality

more than Forester.

The wilderness trim is back after a year in the,

well, wilderness.

It's perfect for rational folks craving

extra off-road capability, but no in their heart of hearts.

A Bronco Raptor is akin to melting butter

with a flamethrower.

The wilderness formula is well known.

All-terrain tires are paired with a retuned suspension.

Ground clearance gets hiked to smidge to 9.3 inches.

Of course, there are copper accents

and enough cladding to make a dozen plastic dog crates.

Arguably, it's what makes a Subaru a Subaru.

A base Forester is quite affordable

with destination and standard symmetrical all-wheel drive

because this is a Subaru.

Pricing starts at around $31,400.

Wilderness is one of the top trims.

And as tested with the only real option package available

and extra-cost Riverrock Pearl paint,

this one retails for $42,400.

Devil's Advocate, that same coin buys a Forester hybrid

in limited trim that's still capable

and scores much better fuel economy.

But wilderness tells the world you're happy camping.

It's very Instagrammable.

CRV, RAV4, Rogue and Equinox sport the off-road look too.

I'd argue Forester Wilderness and Broncosport Badlands

add the most capability, you know,

if you need the extra stuff to go further into the woods.

Like other gas-only Foresters,

this one runs with a revised 2.5-liter four-cylinder,

naturally aspirated.

For those that don't know about Subaru's boxer engine,

the pistons don't fire vertically like most.

They pump horizontally, you know,

like boxers punching at each other.

And the flat design lets it sit low in the engine bay

for a lower center of gravity, always good.

The only other automaker that uses a boxer engine, Porsche.

Subaru's happy to point that out, Porsche, not as much.

There's 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque on tap here.

Wilderness adds an upgraded transmission cooler,

so it tows more than other Foresters, 3500 pounds.

The continuously variable tranny

has a shorter final drive ratio.

There's a temperature sensor in the rear differential,

simulated shifts too.

X mode optimizes the all-wheel drive system to conditions,

sharpen or relax the throttle response with SI drive.

Let's take this off pavement first.

I found this new place, a moderate off-road site.

I was really excited to try it, but you might have heard

the Pacific Northwest has been deluged with rain

a lot more than usual, and the roads to this site are closed.

So this is my normal spot.

I'll argue this is Wilderness's natural habitat.

Here in the upper left-hand corner of the country,

folks depend on Subaru's to get to the good hiking

and biking trails.

I hear there's good fishing somewhere up ahead too.

Wilderness does have better approach, break over

and departure angles than civilian Foresters.

Those could still navigate this poorly maintained route

without trouble, but this suspension shrugs off

big bumps and ruts better.

I've said it before, I'll say it again,

cameras, especially GoPro's with wide-angle lens,

make this kind of terrain look tamer than it is.

I mean, this is a standard Forest Service road,

you know, actually a little bit tougher than most,

and the Wilderness is tackling it no sweat.

I mean, it's got symmetrical all-wheel drive.

Subaru's always done a good job with that.

The all-terrain tires are adding a little extra bite.

And really, this is the kind of road

that Forester owners will drive on, on a regular basis.

The extra half-inch or so of ground clearance

isn't critical in this case.

Engage X mode, and the front camera view pops up

between the lower-res display and the rain.

It's not the best, but it would help to position

the wheels away from big rocks.

This isn't a tool for intense off-roading and boulder hopping.

It's a pragmatic solution for pragmatic owners.

Subaru interior designers must consult

with Forest Service Rangers.

The only Wilderness colorway would pair well

with their uniforms.

The heated seats use durable star-text seating surfaces,

aka synthetic leather.

There are some interesting textures and patterns,

all of it very familiar to Subaru owners.

Overall, it's a bit drab and dark,

even with the pop of color and light coming in from the roof.

If this were denim colored,

leaf eyes might have a case to sue.

For certain, you'll never forget you're in the Wilderness.

Subaru is introducing an all-new user interface.

Unfortunately, it's not on Forester, at least yet.

This is called Starlink.

I've had people tell me they won't buy a Subaru

because of Elon Musk.

No connection.

The screen looks great.

It's about the size of an iPad,

and it's laid out okay.

My big issue has been, as you can see,

it's very, very laggy.

It's been that way for a while,

and Subaru has done nothing to fix it.

Not everything is in the menu.

There are some hard controls, including defrost.

That's just smart.

There is this nice slot for phones.

Most of the time,

you're gonna be using the wireless charger.

I find that mine has to be positioned perfectly

for it to actually operate.

There is phone projection, Android Auto,

and Apple CarPlay, and it's wireless.

Functionally, larger water bottles fit here.

Spring-loaded fingers hold coffee mugs in place

on tough trails.

There are the usual spaces to stash stuff away, too.

Nothing cavernous, but it's all usable,

and I do like the sunglasses garage.

It keeps them scratch-free.

Oh, and the Harman Kardon system is loud and punchy.

Arguably, most miles will be on the road.

This is not a performance vehicle.

It's not meant to be one.

This is a Subaru Forester.

If the zero to 60 benchmark is important to you,

know that this will do that dash

in about eight and a half seconds.

The engine note off the line is the classic Subaru Groni

Growl, and once you're at speed, not an awful lot

of passing power, you know, this is fine.

It's fine.

All sixth-generation Foresters get a more rigid architecture,

and the structure feels stout when hitting potholes and such.

If it were sunny, the hood's patch of matte paint

would reduce glare, not an issue this week.

Forester is a box, which means great visibility.

There are no real blind spots here.

This is moderately comfortable and moderately quiet.

I do believe that there's a little hum

coming off the all-terrain tires,

and because of those and the suspension setup,

this is a little less dialed in than a regular Forester.

Wilderness does have a slight penalty

because of its off-road prowess.

This is true of all Subarus with the wilderness treatment.

While not significant, it's a thing.

Test drive back-to-back if you relate

to the Princess and the P sensitivity.

This has a continuously variable transmission,

and normally that means kind of a rubbery, droney dynamic.

But here, it's not bad.

Subaru does CVTs pretty darn well.

Plus, simulated gear shifts, they feel real.

Subaru is known for protecting passengers.

Forester is an IIHS top safety pick plus award winner.

Its ADAS Active Safety Tech is a camera-based system

called iSight.

In these inclement conditions,

I occasionally get warnings it's not at full effectiveness,

but generally, the lane keeping

and adaptive cruise control work pretty well.

The EPA rates the fuel economy average

of the standard Forester as high as 29 miles per gallon.

The wilderness is the least efficient at 26 MPG.

Also, there is a hybrid Forester,

and it scores 35 miles per gallon.

It is not available as a wilderness, though.

Forester's cube shape creates a back seat

that's roomy and comfortable.

Loads of headroom, good knee, leg, and footroom,

thighs get excellent support.

Storage is great, especially the dual pockets

on each seatback.

Adjustable vents and power ports,

the center spine is fairly low profile too.

My gripe is the center belt that's built into the roof.

When it's hooked up and the backs need to be dropped

to load big things, it gets in the way.

The bench width is good for three smaller adults

when taking shorter distances.

For happiest campers, limit it to two.

Forester is a big box, and as we all know,

boxes are very efficient spaces.

That's why Amazon uses boxes, unless they're using bags,

but bags don't work for cars.

All Foresters score nine in the TP trunk test.

It was too wet to do it this week.

Toilet paper and rain, they do not mix well.

The hybrid's battery pack fills this cavity

where the security shade tucks away.

A full-size spare is good to have on the trail too.

It's easy to drop the backs,

opening up nearly 30 cubic feet to a solid 74.

Courtesy of that tall roof.

And remember, this isn't an overly large vehicle.

Forester has never been about design,

and Generation 6 stays true to Subaru's

form follows function North Star.

The wilderness cladding and more aggressive grille,

well, this is tame in comparison to the new Outback.

At the end of the day, this is a practical vehicle,

like all Foresters.

It's a box, so it's got a lot of room for cargo

and kids and dogs.

This ability is terrific.

A lot of vehicles are lacking that these days.

And the off-road ability of the wilderness

really does help if you're going off-road.

The thing about this is,

if you're often just on the highway,

you'll lose a little bit of drivability,

plus the fuel economy is lower.

Also, acceleration is fine.

It's okay.

Also, the screen.

That new interface can't come soon enough.

Above all, Forester maintains its familiarity

as a capable, useful machine in all of its iterations.

Can't decide between wilderness and the standard versions?

Well, maybe ask your dog.

Normally, this is where I thank Martin Campbell,

but the video part of that got screwed up.

I'm still thanking him, though.

I couldn't do these videos without him driving,

so I can shoot the car motoring about.

I think it's important to show what the body is doing.

I'll leave you with this.

These machines are sold for their extra capability, right?

Well, they're only as good as the driver behind the wheel.

For example, the Pacific Northwest here

has been hit by biblical rain.

You might have heard in the news

that houses and roads have washed away.

In fact, where Martin and I were shooting,

the water was up to the pavement.

Bad, bad, bad, bad stuff.

And as a former news photographer,

I've actually seen vehicles swept away

by just a couple inches of water rushing across the roadway.

So if you're not an experienced off-roader

and you come across a situation you're not familiar with,

maybe just turn around.

It could save your vehicle or your life.

Thanks for watching.

Hey, I will of course suggest

that you subscribe to the channel,

but you do what you wanna do,

but you're here at the end,

so I'm assuming you enjoyed the video.

You can follow me on all the major social media platforms.

And if you have a question, leave it in the comments.

I'm good about getting back to people

or one of my followers will,

because this has become a very good community

with smart people.

Check it out, okay?

All right, that's Driven.

I'm Tom Volk, who's going to go dry off

and maybe get a cup of hot chocolate.

About this episode

The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness returns with the familiar “go anywhere, stay practical” formula: all-terrain tires, retuned suspension, and about 9.3 inches of ground clearance, plus more cladding and approach/breakover/departure improvements. The review covers real-world off-road behavior on rough Forest Service roads, Subaru’s boxer 2.5L (180 hp/178 lb-ft), towing up to 3,500 pounds, and how X mode and the CVT feel in practice. On-road, it’s comfortable and safe, but less efficient (26 mpg) and slightly less dialed-in. The new Starlink interface is praised for looks but criticized for lag.

adaptive cruise control ADAS Active Safety Tech all terrain tires all wheel drive system Android Auto Apple CarPlay boxer engine Bronco Raptor center belt center of gravity

Ford Bronco Ford F-150 Subaru Forester Subaru Outback Toyota RAV4

Original notes

Subaru's Forester is back with the Wilderness treatment the brand is known for. There's extra ground clearance, an off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, upgraded cooling, and of course, Subaru's signature symmetrical all-wheel drive.

In this in-depth review, Tom Voelk tests the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness both on road and off pavement to see how much real capability it adds — and what you give up in the process.

As always, this review is about the good, the bad, and the mildly annoying.

Driven Car Reviews

Tom Voelk

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