Subaru Forester Wilderness Breaks Cover Ahead Of Official Debut

Subaru has been teasing a new Wilderness variant for nearly a month, leaving us to guess which model it is. However, it appears Subaru has blown its own surprise as Subaru’s Canadian website (since taken down) reveals the next Wilderness variant is a Forester. Evidence in Subaru’s teasers pointed to this being the next Wilderness model, but its premature reveal confirms it.

The new Forester Wilderness gets a host of upgrades that make it more capable than your standard Forester. It’s not a dedicated off-roader, but it does feature some serious upgrades that should please some enthusiasts. Subaru improved the looks by adding extra body cladding, 17-inch black-painted wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and a raised ride height thanks to a suspension tune. Subaru also increased the roof rails’ load capacity, which should be able to handle extra gear you’d need off-roading.

The upgraded looks arrive with some upgraded mechanicals. The Forester Wilderness receives a new CVT with a lower gear ratio designed for better low-range power. Subaru also modifies the transfer case and rear differential reduction gear ratio. Sadly, the gearbox pairs with Subaru’s non-turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 182 horsepower (135 kilowatts) and 176 pound-feet (239 Newton-meters) of torque. Subaru does give the oily bits added protection with underbody skid plates.