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Caraganza Review 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness: The Forester Finally Learns to Get Dirty

Last year, I spent a week with the 2025 Forester and came away thinking: “Reliable, sensible, utterly unexciting, and perfect for someone whose knees ache more than their sense of adventure.” That Forester was the automotive equivalent of a cozy cardigan: comforting, dependable, and safe—but hardly a companion for anyone who might, I don’t know, want to get muddy.

Enter the 2026 Forester Wilderness, Subaru’s overdue “I’m not just a sensible family SUV” statement. If the standard Forester got a refresh in 2025, the Wilderness apparently missed the memo—last year it was basically the same old all-terrain vehicle dressed in off-road garb. This year, though, Subaru has finally fixed that oversight, and the Wilderness now wears the same styling update as the rest of the lineup. That’s the same clean, modernized look—subtle but sensible—sprinkled with a dash of rugged charm.

The most obvious change isn’t just visual. The Wilderness trim now sits higher, with 9.3 inches of ground clearance (8.7 on the standard Forester), giving it the posture of a little trail warrior. It’s no full-sized Jeep Wrangler, but suddenly you feel like you could actually leave the pavement without feeling like you’re committing vehicular suicide. Approach, departure, and breakover angles have all been improved, meaning rocks, roots, and random tree stumps stand less chance of halting your forward momentum. Subaru didn’t stop there. Dual-mode all-wheel drive now includes Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings, and a locking center differential steps in when things get truly gnarly. These are not gimmicks. Set the system to Deep Snow/Mud, and the Wilderness feels like a compact tank, digging through gravel, mud, and snowy forest roads with impressive composure. Even when I tried to find trouble—loosely defined as a puddle with an attitude—the SUV remained resolutely upright and committed, reminding me that Subaru actually built this to leave the parking lot.

Under the hood, the 2.5-liter flat-four is as familiar as your Aunt Martha’s casserole recipe. It won’t thrill you with brute force, but paired with a shorter final drive ratio, it’s responsive enough for trails, creek crossings, and whatever suburban potholes dare to appear on your way home. Subaru has also upgraded the transmission cooler, ensuring that long climbs or heavy towing don’t turn the CVT into a melting pile of anxiety. Speaking of towing, the Wilderness can now haul 3,500 pounds—2,000 more than a standard Forester—so whether it’s a trailer for kayaks, motorcycles, or an Airstream micro-adventure, the little Subaru can handle it.

The suspension is tuned differently from the standard Forester, striking a balance between off-road capability and on-road comfort. It’s firm without being punishing, soaking up bumps on asphalt yet absorbing uneven terrain on the trail without sending your lunch airborne. The ride is notably higher, but the vehicle doesn’t feel top-heavy—a testament to Subaru’s careful engineering. And the new Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires aren’t just there for show; they provide grip in places where most compact SUVs would leave you cursing at your fate.

Inside, Subaru has made thoughtful tweaks that make you wonder why they weren’t included sooner. The center console has been redesigned with a smartphone slot ahead of the now-larger cupholders, a center armrest that actually feels like an armrest, and a console storage box underneath that could hide a small camping arsenal if needed. The redesigned shifter sits closer to the driver, improving ergonomics in a way that subtly elevates the experience. Rear passengers are not forgotten. The cupholders are now large enough to swallow a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle—a small but important detail for outdoorsy types who treat hydration as a survival tactic. Seatbelt mounting points have been adjusted for comfort and safety, which might not sound exciting, but it’s the sort of attention to detail that separates “generic SUV” from “SUV you actually want to live with.”

The infotainment system carries over from last year’s refresh, now slightly larger and more responsive, with a simple interface that won’t frustrate anyone over 60—or anyone who grew up thinking a touchscreen was witchcraft. Connectivity options are plentiful, and Subaru hasn’t sacrificed practicality for style: every button is reachable, and everything has a purpose. It’s the kind of cabin where you can find what you need without playing a game of automotive Where’s Waldo.

On-road, the Wilderness still has the familiar Forester temperament: composed, predictable, and surprisingly competent at highway speeds. Cornering is not thrilling, but the steering is precise enough to instill confidence, and the higher ride height doesn’t come with the dramatic lean of some SUVs. It’s a smooth, competent cruiser, with just enough engine note to remind you it’s not completely domesticated. Where the Wilderness really shines is the transition from asphalt to trail. Drive over gravel, mud, or shallow streams, and it feels like the Forester has discovered a new sense of purpose. It’s not a brute-force off-roader like a Wrangler or Tacoma TRD, but it’s agile, competent, and ready for real-world outdoor adventures without demanding a full weekend of preparation. You feel like you could genuinely escape the city without having to park the SUV halfway up the hill and continue on foot.

Compared to other small SUVs, the 2026 Wilderness occupies an interesting middle ground. It’s not trying to be a lifted Bronco or a tiny Land Cruiser. Instead, it’s the Subaru philosophy incarnate: sensible, reliable, and practical, with just enough dirt-ready hardware to give you confidence without feeling like a stunt vehicle. You could take a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 off-road, sure, but you’d be kidding yourself. The Wilderness, however, feels like it was built with that weekend adventure in mind.

In short, the 2026 Forester Wilderness is a paradox: it remains a Forester at heart—safe, reliable, and eminently practical—but it now carries an air of defiance. It’s still the sort of SUV your grandparents might appreciate, but finally, it feels like it could stand up to the forest, the dirt, and the snow without needing a valet on standby. For anyone who has wanted a Subaru that doesn’t just talk about off-roading but actually does it, this is the one that makes you believe the badge has teeth.

The 2025 Forester was the cardigan. The 2026 Wilderness is a cardigan with mud on its sleeves—and somehow, that makes it infinitely more interesting. You can drive it home, take it to soccer practice, or push it into the woods, and it won’t bat an eye. At long last, Subaru has made a Forester that doesn’t just keep you safe—it dares you to have a little fun along the way.

The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness
MSRP: $38,385
MSRP (as tested): $42,450
Engine: 2.5 liter Flat 4, 180 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm, 178 lb-ft torque @ 3,700 rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable-speed automatic
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 26 city, 33 highway, 29 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested, mixed conditions): 31 mpg
Base Curb weight: 3,675 lbs.

Exterior Dimensions
Length: 182.9 in.
Overall width with mirrors: 81.2 in.
Overall width without mirrors: 72.4 in.
Height: 69.3 in.
Wheelbase: 104.9 in.
Ground clearance: 9.3 in.
EPA interior volume: 134.1 cu.ft.
Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 29.9 cu.ft.
Maximum cargo capacity: 69.1 cu.ft.

Interior Dimensions
Front head room: 40.0 in.
Front leg room: 43.3 in.
Front shoulder room: 57.7 in.
Front hip room: 54.7 in.
Rear head room: 37.7 in.
Rear leg room: 39.4 in.
Rear shoulder room: 56.7 in.
Rear hip room: 53.7 in.

Warranty
Basic: 3 yr./ 36,000 mi.
Drivetrain: 5 yr./ 60,000 mi.
Rust: 5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside assistance: 3 yr./ 36,000 mi.

Greg Engle
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