2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness vs. 2025 Forester Wilderness: What Changed?

If you're weighing the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness against the 2025 version, you're comparing two capable vehicles built for Montana's gravel roads and winter commutes. Subaru made real updates for 2026, but plenty carried over too. Whether you're eyeing a new Forester Wilderness or a well-kept 2025 on our used lot, here's where the two actually differ.

2026 vs. 2025 Forester Wilderness: What Changed at a Glance

Here's the context that shapes everything else: the 2026 Wilderness moves onto the sixth-generation Forester platform, the one the rest of the lineup adopted for 2025. The 2025 Wilderness was the outgoing fifth-generation model, which Subaru kept building for one more year while the new version was finished. The headline changes are a 500-pound jump in towing capacity, a much larger multimedia screen, wider all-terrain tires, and a tighter turning circle. What didn't change much may surprise you: the off-road angles are nearly identical, both years share the same Wilderness-specific final drive ratio, and rear legroom is unchanged. If you'd rather start browsing now, our new inventory and used inventory are updated regularly.

   

Ground Clearance and Off-Road Capability Updates

Ground Clearance and Approach/Departure Angles

The 2026 Forester Wilderness ground clearance comes in at 9.3 inches, up a tenth from 9.2 inches on the 2025. The off-road angles, though, are essentially a draw: both years carry a 23.5-degree approach angle and a 21-degree breakover angle, with departure moving from 25.4 degrees to 25.5. Where the 2026 does gain ground is maneuverability and braking: the turning circle tightens to 34.5 feet from 35.4, which matters on a narrow forest-road turnaround, and the rear discs grow from 11.2 to 11.8 inches.

X-MODE and All-Terrain Tire Updates

Both model years ride on 17-inch matte-black wheels wrapped in all-terrain rubber, and the 2026 runs wider tires: 235/60R17 versus the 225/60R17 Yokohama Geolandar A/T raised-white-letter tires on the 2025. The traction electronics carry over almost unchanged. Both years get Subaru's dual-mode, dual-function X-MODE with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings, Hill Descent Control, and Low Speed/Low Ratio Gradient Control, which shifts the CVT into a low ratio when it detects a steep grade. That's a genuinely useful system, and it's one reason a well-kept 2025 still holds up on rough ground.

Subaru Symmetrical AWD and Drivetrain Refinements

Subaru revised the Symmetrical AWD system for 2026 with faster center differential lockup and reduced wheelspin when the terrain gets loose. The system now also factors in steering angle input for added stability, which helps when you're threading a gravel switchback with a load of camping gear in the back.

Power comes from the same 2.5-liter Boxer family, with a twist. The 2026 makes 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft, while the 2025 makes 182 horsepower but 176 lb-ft. The more useful difference is where the torque arrives: 3,700 rpm on the 2026 versus 4,400 rpm on the 2025, meaning more pull at the low engine speeds you actually use crawling a rutted road. Both use a Lineartronic CVT with 8-speed manual mode and share the Wilderness-specific 4.111 final drive ratio, noticeably shorter than the 3.700 ratio in other Forester trims. The 2026 adds an uprated transmission cooler, which is what enables its higher tow rating. EPA ratings are nearly identical, at 24/28/26 for the 2026 and 25/28/26 for the 2025, with a 16.6-gallon tank in both.

Towing capacity is the clearest upgrade, with the 2026 rated for 3,500 pounds against 3,000 on the 2025, thanks to that uprated transmission cooler. For perspective, a standard 2025 Forester tops out at 1,500 pounds, so both Wilderness years are well ahead of the regular lineup. There's no turbo or hybrid option on the Wilderness in either year; both use the naturally aspirated flat-four Boxer.

Exterior Design and Wilderness Styling Cues

Visually, the two model years share more than they differ. Both carry the anti-glare hood decal, copper-finish accents, matte-black 17-inch wheels, and standard roof rails that have become signature Wilderness styling. The 2026 grows slightly in every direction, measuring 182.9 inches long, 72.4 wide, and 69.3 tall against 182.7, 72.2, and 68.9 on the 2025, and it carries 55 more pounds, at 3,675 versus 3,620. That extra height comes with a slightly taller cargo liftover, at 29.5 inches versus 29.1, which is worth knowing if you're loading a heavy cooler or a dog crate on your own.

Interior, Technology, and Cargo Updates

Cabin Materials and Comfort Features

Both years use Subaru's water-repellent StarTex upholstery, with the 2026 adding copper stitching that ties back to the exterior accents. Rear legroom stays at 39.4 inches for both years, with 43.3 inches up front, so passenger space hasn't budged. Cargo is close too: the 2026 offers 27.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.1 with the seats folded, against 26.9 and 69.1 on the 2025. The 2026 gives you a slightly longer load floor with the seats down, at 70.7 inches versus 69.9, while the 2025 has a wider rear gate opening, at 51.2 inches versus 49.2, which can matter for awkward loads like a bike or a kayak.

Infotainment and Driver-Assist Technology

The 2025 uses an 8.0-inch STARLINK multimedia screen, with navigation available as an option alongside Harman Kardon audio and a power rear gate. The 2026 moves to an 11.6-inch tablet-style multimedia display, and buyers can opt for a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with built-in navigation and Apple Maps integration. Both years support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the safety side, the 2025 comes standard with EyeSight, covering adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot detection. The 2026 carries the latest version of EyeSight, building on that same foundation with better detection performance.

Both model years carry a 5-star overall NHTSA safety rating. The IIHS picture is where they part ways: the 2026 Forester earned TOP SAFETY PICK+ under the institute's tougher 2025 criteria, and Subaru says that rating applies across all trim levels, Wilderness included. The 2025 Forester earned TOP SAFETY PICK, but IIHS excluded the Wilderness trim from that award, so the outgoing Wilderness doesn't carry an IIHS designation of its own. Subaru also lists the Forester Wilderness as a 2026 Consumer Reports Top Pick, and notes that Subaru is Consumer Reports' Best Overall Automotive Brand for the second year in a row.

How These Changes Fit Montana Driving Conditions

The jump in towing capacity gives 2026 buyers real margin if they're pulling a small trailer of firewood or camping gear up toward Lewistown. Its torque arriving 700 rpm earlier helps on a steep, loose climb where you'd rather not rev the engine out. The tighter turning circle pays off on a narrow forest-road turnaround outside Choteau, and the wider all-terrain tires add grip in mud and soft gravel. On an icy Cascade County driveway in January, though, both years bring the same Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and the same dual-function X-MODE, so winter confidence is a wash between them.

The 2025 model still earns its keep. It matches the 2026 on approach and breakover angles, shares the same Wilderness final drive ratio and dual-function X-MODE, and carries the same 5-star NHTSA overall rating, so it's worth a serious look if you're browsing used inventory and want to save money without giving up real off-road capability.

Availability of New 2026 and Used 2025 Forester Wilderness Models

The 2026 Forester Wilderness reached retailers in fall 2025 and is on sale now, though availability tightens heading into winter. We'd rather give you accurate, current pricing over the phone or in person than post a figure that could be outdated by the time you read this, so give us a call at 406-727-2100 for current numbers on either model year.

Inventory levels for both new 2026 and used 2025 Forester Wilderness models shift regularly based on demand and what's coming off leases or trade-ins, so we won't promise specific stock numbers here. The most reliable way to know what's actually on our lot right now is to check in directly or browse what's currently available online.

Explore Forester Wilderness Inventory at Great Falls Subaru

Find Your Fit, New or Used

Whether you've settled on the 2026 model's higher tow rating and larger screen, or the 2025 makes more sense because it delivers nearly the same off-road hardware at a used-vehicle price, we can help you find the right fit. You can view the Forester Wilderness lineup to see what's currently in stock, and check our current new-vehicle offers and promotions to see if there's a deal that lines up with your timing. We're an approachable, local resource for Montana drivers who want straight answers on both model years.

Get in Touch

If you'd rather talk it through, reach out through our online contact form or call 833-620-6334. We're happy to walk you through the differences in person and get you behind the wheel of whichever Forester Wilderness fits your driving.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the biggest difference between the 2026 and 2025 Forester Wilderness? Towing capacity and cabin technology. The 2026 tows 3,500 pounds versus 3,000, moves from an 8-inch screen to an 11.6-inch display, and is built on the newer sixth-generation platform. Both carry a 5-star NHTSA overall rating, though only the 2026 Wilderness is covered by the Forester's IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award.

Does the 2026 Forester Wilderness have a turbo engine? No. The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness engine is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer producing 180 horsepower, not a turbocharged unit.

Is ground clearance much different between the two years? Barely. The 2026 offers 9.3 inches versus 9.2 on the 2025, and the off-road angles are nearly identical, with both at 23.5 degrees approach and 21 degrees breakover.

Did rear legroom change for 2026? No, rear legroom remains 39.4 inches for both the 2025 and 2026 Forester Wilderness.