The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness got a bunch of off-road upgrades, but are they actually useful or just for show? It’s got more ground clearance, better suspension, new all-terrain tires, and a beefed-up AWD system. Subaru also threw in a front skid plate, a full-size spare, and some waterproof interior materials. But are these real improvements, or is this just marketing hype?
Anyone thinking of getting one, or is it just another SUV pretending to be off-road-ready?
I actually like the changes. The extra inch of ground clearance and the upgraded AWD system should make a difference. Not sure if it justifies the price hike though.
Zev said:
I actually like the changes. The extra inch of ground clearance and the upgraded AWD system should make a difference. Not sure if it justifies the price hike though.
Isn’t 9.3 inches of clearance still kinda low for serious off-roading? My Tacoma sits at like 10 inches stock.
@Tracy
Yeah, it’s not a rock crawler or anything, but it’s solid for an SUV in this category. The Wilderness trim isn’t about extreme off-roading, just making the Forester more capable for trails, snow, and rough roads.
@Tracy
9.3 inches is enough for most overlanding and mild off-roading. Plus, the approach and departure angles got better too, so less scraping.
I feel like the biggest improvement is the suspension. The longer coil springs and better shocks should make a big difference, especially on washboard roads.
vinic said:
I feel like the biggest improvement is the suspension. The longer coil springs and better shocks should make a big difference, especially on washboard roads.
Yeah, Subaru improved the suspension for better handling on and off-road. It’s supposed to be more stable now.
vinic said:
I feel like the biggest improvement is the suspension. The longer coil springs and better shocks should make a big difference, especially on washboard roads.
I hope it doesn’t make it too stiff on pavement. Some off-road-tuned suspensions make daily driving kinda rough.
@Merrill
Good point. I think Subaru tuned it so it’s still comfortable for everyday driving. The independent suspension helps a lot.
X-Mode Dual-Mode seems cool, but does it really help that much?
Barrett said:
X-Mode Dual-Mode seems cool, but does it really help that much?
It’s actually useful for snow, mud, and steep trails. It changes how the engine and AWD system behave to improve grip. The Wilderness trim has a better version with extra settings for deep snow and mud.
@Sable
So it’s like a terrain management system?
Barrett said:
@Sable
So it’s like a terrain management system?
Yeah, pretty much. It helps prevent wheel slip and adjusts power distribution. Some people say it works really well in tough conditions.
Larger all-terrain tires sound good, but I wonder if they hurt fuel economy. Geolandars are solid though.
Alton said:
Larger all-terrain tires sound good, but I wonder if they hurt fuel economy. Geolandars are solid though.
Yeah, they’re a little wider and taller. That usually means more rolling resistance, so I’d expect a small drop in MPG.
@RoadWarriorX
Makes sense. Worth it for the extra traction though?
Alton said:
@RoadWarriorX
Makes sense. Worth it for the extra traction though?
Depends on how much off-roading you actually do. If you stick to pavement, probably not worth the MPG loss. If you hit dirt and snow a lot, then yeah, they’ll help.
The full-size spare is a great addition. More SUVs need to bring that back.
Patrice said:
The full-size spare is a great addition. More SUVs need to bring that back.
For real. Space-saver spares or repair kits are useless if you’re actually off-roading. A full-size spare is a must.
@Monty
Especially when you’re in the middle of nowhere. A donut spare won’t get you far if you’re miles from help.
