{"id":35057,"date":"2025-10-02T08:59:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T12:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=35057"},"modified":"2025-10-02T08:59:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T12:59:48","slug":"payne-vanilla-no-more-subaru-forester-wilderness-goes-wild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/payne-vanilla-no-more-subaru-forester-wilderness-goes-wild","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Vanilla no more, Subaru Forester Wilderness goes wild."},"content":{"rendered":"

Portland, Oregon<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 The Forester used to be vanilla in Subaru\u2019s delicious store of off-road flavors. No more.<\/p>\n

My white 2026 Forester Wilderness swaggered up to the foothills of the Cascade Mountains sporting a chocolate grille, syrup-black hood decal, bold lines, chiseled rocker panels and sinewy Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires.<\/p>\n

Forester Vanilla just got a healthy shot of Chunky Monkey.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness gains an inch of ground clearance to 9.3 inches to take on uneven roads.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n

I nailed the throttle and the rugged \u2018Ru clawed up a dirt trail flinging chocolate chips \u2014 er, gravel \u2014 behind it. To my right the trail was bordered by a sheer drop into the valley below. Forester dispelled my acrophobia. Geolander A\/Ts gripped the slippery surface and we charged on while drinking in the breathtaking view.<\/p>\n

Along with Jeep, Subaru pioneered the off-road SUV space with standard all-wheel-drive machines that can go anywhere all the time. That fundamental goodness has won over generations of fans who confess undying loyalty to \u2018Ru even as other brands have begun to crowd the shelves with their own affordable off-road flavors. Badges like Toyota RAV-4 TRD, Honda CR-V TrailSport, Mazda CX-50 Meridian, Nissan Rogue Rock Creek, and, most significantly, Ford Bronco Sport Badlands.<\/p>\n

Bronco Jr. has stomped into the segment sporting Ford\u2019s full off-road arsenal: all-terrain tires, ubiquitous storage cubbies, sub-rear-seat storage, twin-bicycle-friendly cargo bay, twin-rear clutch packs, and a 250-horse turbo-4 mill. Go to the head of the class, Sport.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness is built on a unibody chassis but can go deep into the wilderness thanks to all-terrain tires, skid plate and a big 16.6-gallon gas tank.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

Curiously, the Jeep Cherokee didn\u2019t show up for the popular compact segment in model years 2024-25 \u2014 and Forester Wilderness is jumping in with all fours.<\/p>\n

If the subcompact Crosstrek looks like a running shoe and the midsize Outback is a hiking boot, the Forester has been a … shoebox.<\/p>\n

Square, tall and roomy, it lacked the personality of its teammates even as it offered excellent all-season utility, interior ergonomics, even a sippy hybrid model. The Wilderness edition brings the wardrobe to match its off-road capabilities. I mean, just look at those bronze tow hook\/roof rail highlights and Wolverine-like front fascia lamb chops that complement its big claws.<\/p>\n

Those claws are assisted by a front skid plate to protect the jaw, and a 9.2-inch ride height so I could sail over pointy rocks and splash across creek beds.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The cockpit of the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness boasts excellent steering wheel ergonomics and an 11.6-inch digital screen.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

Those athletic attributes outside are mirrored with digital tech inside. I kept a window open in the digital instrument display to monitor tire pressure (35 pounds) as I charged across the rocky landscape. Get a flat tire? A handy spare is right underneath the rear hatch.<\/p>\n

Never mind off-roading out West; I\u2019d recommend the Forester Wilderness as a daily driver for Metro Detroit, where the always-under-construction roads can feel like the Cascade trails. WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP! How many low-profile wheels have I scarred across Motown\u2019s lunar landscape? Better to have tall-sidewall Geolanders at the ready. WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP!<\/p>\n

Inside this little tank, Subaru has created a sanctuary from the mayhem outside.<\/p>\n

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The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness options a sunroof for better sightlines in the outdoors. Wilderness-branded seats are also standard for your $42k.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

Product chief Bill Stokes and his Jersey-based elves have outfitted Wolverine with gritty all-terrains that are quiet as a mouse in daily driving. How? By designing a new chassis from the ground up, with the Wilderness bruisers in mind \u2014 more welds, isolated wheel wells, cabin soundproofing.<\/p>\n

On the way back into Portland from the Cascades \u2014 the Forester Wilderness caked with dirt \u2018n\u2019 dust \u2014 I sat in the back seat while a colleague took the wheel and quickly forgot this was an off-roader while catching up with email and texts.<\/p>\n