Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid Aims To Maximize Your Adventure

• The Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid adds power and fuel efficiency to the off-road-focused model.
• Subaru claims a 25 percent increase in fuel efficiency over the standard Forester Wilderness.
• This is the first Wilderness model to receive a hybrid powertrain.

Subaru clearly has a winning formula with its Wilderness lineup. Slap on a set of all-terrain tires, raise the suspension, and make sure the roof can handle a tent. Voila, instant uptick in sales, and Subaru delivers a product aimed right at its own demo.

The latest model to get the Wilderness makeover is the Forester Hybrid. The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid aims to deliver the same solid off-road capability, but with better range for exploring.

Subaru quotes a 25 percent fuel-efficiency gain for the Wilderness hybrid compared to the standard Forester Wilderness. The automaker hasn’t posted actual numbers, but doing some basic math, I land at 35 mpg on the highway and just over 31 mpg in the city.  That’s based on an EPA rating of 28/25 mpg for the non-hybrid version.

Strong numbers for an off-road capable machine, certainly. Of course, real-world numbers will vary. Regardless, adding the hybrid powertrain here is a no-brainer.

The Forester Wilderness Hybrid features 9.3 inches of ground clearance. all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels, and a bump in power. You’ll see 194 horsepower versus the 180 hp of the non-hybrid version.

It’s not much, at first glance. But the hybrid system should fill in low-end torque gaps, which is a huge boost when you’re driving off-road.

This one wears all the familiar Wilderness traits: large badges, upgraded roof rails, and those copper trim accents. Inside, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid features an 11.6-inch center display, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, StarTex upholstery, and an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system.

There’s no word yet on price. Subaru plans to announce closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date, slated for late 2026.

Motor1’s Take: This one is a no-brainer, and a smart move by Subaru. The Wilderness models are quickly becoming the must-buys in the automaker’s lineup. Pair the adventure mindset of a Wilderness model with improved fuel efficiency and more power, and you have a winner on your hands.

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