- Subaru adds 194-hp hybrid option to Forester Wilderness for 25% fuel economy boost.
- Keeps full off-road hardware, including AWD and useful ground clearance.
- Luggage space is untouched by the hybrid system and its battery pack.
Going hybrid doesn’t have to mean going soft. That’s the message Subaru is sending out from this week’s New York Auto Show, where the brand has pulled the covers off an electrified 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid that’s as happy to get its boots dirty as the non-hybrid version we’re familiar with.
This is the first time Subaru has given its most off-road-focused Forester the hybrid treatment. Under the hood, there’s a 2.5-liter boxer engine paired with electric assistance, delivering 194 hp (197 PS).
Related: Subaru’s New Getaway Is Basically A Faster, More Powerful Highlander
That’s a nice bump over the 180 hp (183 PS) of the regular Wilderness model, and perhaps even more importantly, Subaru claims up to 25 percent better fuel economy versus the existing Wilderness’s 28/24 city/highway numbers.
And instead of dialing the trail attitude back, it’s kept all the good stuff existing Wilderness owners have been enjoying since the model debuted last year. So it has 9.3 inches (236 mm) of ground clearance and a proper mechanical all-wheel drive setup. That last bit matters, Subaru claims, because it means this thing isn’t just pretending to be capable when the tarmac disappears.
Other Wilderness upgrades include specially tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, and enough approach and departure angle improvements to make trail driving less stressful. Sure, a Jeep Wrangler will take you further into the Wilderness, but Subaru’s wagon-shaped SUV is still very much designed for people who see dirt roads as an invitation rather than a warning sign.
Wipe-Clean Interior
Inside, there’s the now familiar 11.6-inch central screen, a configurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and plenty of EyeSight driver assistance tech. But Subaru has kept it practical, with durable weather-resistant materials and easy-clean surfaces that won’t panic at the sight of mud or wet gear.
One neat detail is that the hybrid system doesn’t eat into cargo space. You still get the same 27.5 cu-ft (779 litres) luggage capacity offered by the non-hybrid, which can be extended to 69 cu-ft (1,954 litres) by dropping the rear seats.
The Forester Wilderness Hybrid is expected to arrive in late 2026, so Subaru isn’t talking prices yet. But looking at the premium applied to other hybrid Foresters, we can probably expect electrification to add around $3,000 to the Wilderness’s current $38,385 base price.
