The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid arrives late this year as the first Wilderness model to pair legitimate off-road hardware with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. Subaru announced the model today at the 2026 New York International Auto Show, claiming up to 25% better city fuel economy than the gas-only Forester Wilderness.
Final EPA figures have not been disclosed, but Subaru estimates the hybrid could return 32 or 33 mpg combined if the 25% improvement holds across the cycle. The gas Forester Wilderness is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. Subaru also estimates 481 miles per tank, though tank capacity was not specified.
The powertrain is a series-parallel hybrid using an Atkinson/Miller-cycle 2.5-liter flat-four, a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, and electric motors for a combined 194 horsepower. That is 14 horsepower more than the gas Forester Wilderness delivers. Power routes through a Lineartronic CVT and Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, which maintains a mechanical connection between front and rear axles rather than relying on an electronically controlled rear clutch pack.
Ground clearance remains 9.3 inches, matching the gas Wilderness and topping the Honda CR-V TrailSport, Hyundai Tucson XRT, Jeep Cherokee, Kia Sportage X-Pro, and Toyota RAV4 Woodland. Subaru accomplished the clearance increase over the standard Forester Hybrid’s 8.7 inches with longer coil springs and shock absorbers, and the suspension has been retuned for on- and off-road comfort with added sound-absorbing materials and structural adhesives on the sixth-generation Forester’s lighter, stiffer chassis.
Approach angle improves to 23.5 degrees from the Forester Hybrid’s 19 degrees. Breakover angle is 20.6 degrees versus 19.3, and departure angle is 25.5 degrees versus 24.6. Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires come mounted on Wilderness-exclusive 17-inch matte black wheels. The X-MODE Dual-Mode System with Hill Descent Control offers Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings, both of which are meant to work with the hybrid system’s torque delivery rather than in spite of it.
Cargo capacity is 27.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up, expanding to more than 69 cubic feet with the seats folded. Subaru states that no cargo space was sacrificed to accommodate the hybrid components, which is a claim some compact hybrid crossovers cannot make. Raised ladder-style roof rails carry an 800-pound static load rating.
The interior is carried over from the Forester Hybrid with an 11.6-inch touchscreen running Subaru’s multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with Apple Maps integration. The Wilderness Hybrid gets gray-textured StarTex upholstery, which Subaru describes as animal-free, weather-resistant, and easily cleanable. A Harman Kardon 11-speaker system with a 576-watt-equivalent amplifier is standard, as are all-weather floor mats and a cargo-area protector.
EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is included across the board, bundling Automatic Emergency Steering, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, and Emergency Stop Assist.
Pricing has not been disclosed. The 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid goes on sale late this year, which positions it as a model-year 2027 vehicle arriving in calendar 2026. Whether buyers waiting for a hybrid off-roader are willing to accept a CVT and 194 horsepower in exchange for 32 mpg and mechanical all-wheel drive is the question Subaru is betting on.
Source: Subaru. Images courtesy of Subaru.
