Subaru rolled into the 2025 Chicago Auto Show with a bold reveal: the completely redesigned 2026 Forester Wilderness. This isn’t just a mid-cycle nip and tuck. Subaru rebuilt the look, updated the cabin, and sharpened its already strong off-road formula. On paper, this Wilderness is the most capable Forester ever.

Yet it still faces the same risk that has followed the model for years: being overshadowed in a crowded SUV market.

The exterior changes finally give the Forester some attitude

A more aggressive grille, new headlight design, and chunkier protective cladding set it apart from the daily commuter crowd.

Matte-black 17-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires complete the trail-ready stance.

Subaru also tweaked the approach and departure angles to work with the raised ride height, now 9.3 inches. That’s a number that leaves mainstream competitors like the Honda CR-V in the rearview.

Step inside, and the difference is immediately clear

Subaru ditched the practical-but-plain look of the old Wilderness for something more polished. 

The cabin uses redesigned soft-touch materials and water-repellent StarTex upholstery, which can take abuse without sacrificing comfort.

Drivers now get access to an available 11.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus wireless device charging. It’s a welcome step forward for an SUV that has often felt function-first, design-second.

Of course, Subaru didn’t forget the hardware that makes the Wilderness badge matter

The standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive pairs with dual-function X-MODE, letting drivers switch between Snow/Dirt or Deep Snow/Mud.

A skid plate guards the underbody, and the raised roof rails can support a rooftop tent…signaling Subaru knows its buyers want real adventure gear, not just plastic trim.

Still, here’s where the story turns

For all of its upgrades, the Forester Wilderness doesn’t shout the way rivals do. The engine remains a 2.5-liter flat-four with modest output.

Subaru prefers balanced capability over bragging rights. And while the redesign brings sharper lines and a richer interior, it won’t steal glances like a Bronco Sport Badlands or a Toyota RAV4 TRD Pro. Those SUVs market themselves loudly, while Subaru relies on quiet substance.

That’s why the Subaru Forester Wilderness risks underappreciation

It’s arguably the most complete Forester yet: capable, durable, and now stylish enough to hold its own. But in a market chasing horsepower, screens, and flashy branding, the Forester’s steady competence may again fly under the radar.

We’re talking about its rival sales, here. While the Forester is a contender in the compact crossover class, it touts less than half the sales of either the Honda CR-V or the Toyota RAV4. For context, in 2024, the Forester sold about 175,000 units.

Subaru doesn’t break out Wilderness sales, so we don’t know the trim’s exact slice. Anecdotally and in owner forums, some Wilderness models have sat on dealer lots longer than Subaru expected. That suggests the rugged trims may not be pulling in proportionally as much attention as Toyota’s TRD Off-Road or Honda’s TrailSport.

The irony is that its strengths are exactly what make it valuable

It’s practical for daily driving, comfortable for road trips, and tough enough for real trails. For buyers who care about doing more than just looking rugged in the REI parking lot, the 2026 Forester Wilderness may be the smartest SUV in the room. The question is whether enough people will notice.