This review first appeared in the December 2025 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."
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Sacramento, California -- Back at the turn of the millennium, it seemed like I was getting a Subaru Forester to test every week.
Not that I was complaining.
Great engineering. Peppy boxer-style engine. World-class all-wheel drive.
And yeah, I could appreciate that. But frankly, I spent the majority of my time enjoying the on-pavement charms of those Foresters.
Recently, I spent a week in a new-for-2026 Forester called the Wilderness edition.
Simply put, it delivered on the off-roading promise of all those other Foresters put together.
For starters, the 2026 Subaru Forest Wilderness just LOOKS like a backwoods tamer. Just the right ride height. Armor in just the right places. Sophisticated differential. All-time-high towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Who's ready to go camping? With this Forester Wilderness, just about everybody is my guess.
And the state-of-the-art features add a feeling of confidence and security. That included deep snow/mud modes designed to drive one out of tight spots, should that happen.
Attention to detail is a treat.
Water-resistant seating surfaces include copper stitching with the Wilderness logo embossed on the front headrests and other surfaces. A rugged cargo area is built to handle heavy loads. Tie-down hooks, of course.
Beyond its off-road charms, the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine is nicely capable at 180 horsepower. And even at full song on the pavement, the power plant is smooth and not noisy.
As with past Foresters, freeway runs were silky, and the vehicle felt lighter in my hands than the advertised curb weight of 3,675 pounds.
My tester was stickered at $42,430 -- reasonable for the numerous features in the package.
Overall, this Wilderness version was the most enjoyable Forester in my experience -- a pleasing combination of the rugged, the technical and the luxurious.
