Subaru is extending its Wilderness subbrand into hybrid territory. The 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid is the first electrified vehicle to carry the Wilderness name, and if the subbrand's track record is any guide, it almost certainly won't be the last.
The reason is simple math: Subaru reports selling nearly 250,000 Wilderness-branded vehicles since the subbrand launched in 2021. The non-hybrid Forester Wilderness alone accounts for more than 13 percent of total Forester sales, and making a hybrid version available should expand that share further.
The Forester Wilderness Hybrid will be offered in a single configuration, though it arrives well-equipped as standard. Standard features include an 11-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, built-in navigation, and a powered liftgate — all items that require an extra charge on the standard Forester Wilderness.
The exterior reflects the Wilderness formula with off-road-ready styling and matte black 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. Ground clearance measures 9.3 inches, giving it an advantage over other Forester Hybrid models when the terrain gets rough. Additional skid plate protection has also been added underneath.
The hybrid system produces slightly more horsepower and torque than the non-hybrid version, though our testing revealed the hybrid Forester is actually a touch slower to 60 mph, lagging behind the conventional model by 0.3 second. Fuel economy should be an improvement, but a full evaluation on our 75-mph highway fuel economy loop will have to wait until we get one to our test facility.
The 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid is expected to reach Subaru showrooms before the end of 2026. Pricing hasn't been released, but we anticipate a starting point near $40,000.