Official Forester gallery, click images to enlarge
2027 Subaru Forester release date at Planet Subaru: fall of 2026
On its volume products, including Forester, Subaru
typically introduces all-new models on a five-year product cycle. Take a
look at the way this cycle unfolds on the Forester:
| Model year (and sequence in product cycle): | Change: |
| 2025 (first year) | All new design from the ground up |
| 2026 (second year) | Very similar to prior year |
| 2027 (third year) | Very similar to prior year |
| 2028 (fourth year) | "Refresh": exterior and interior revisions |
| 2029 (fifth year) | Very similar to prior year |
| 2030 (first year) | Cycle repeats...all new design from ground up |
The big news for 2027 is the arrival of the first hybrid in the Wilderness family, the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid. (You can also get the 2027 Forester Wilderness with the standard gas engine.)
 |  |
- First-ever Subaru Wilderness Hybrid and the most efficient Wilderness model ever
- 9.3 inches of ground clearance and Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
- 194 total system horsepower, up from 180 horsepower in Forester Wilderness
- Available at Planet Subaru late 2026
The newest addition to the Subaru Wilderness lineup
pairs the go-anywhere capability of the Forester Wilderness with a
next-generation, fuel-efficient Subaru Hybrid powertrain with up to 25%
better fuel economy. The Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid retains the
same 9.3-inch ground clearance, X-MODE® Dual Mode System, Subaru
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, upgraded suspension, and all-terrain tires
as the non-hybrid model, in addition to its fuel-saving powertrain and
interior refinements for around-town comfort.
Like the Subaru Forester Hybrid, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid uses an Atkinson/Miller-cycle 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® engine optimized for efficiency, paired with a high-capacity lithium-ion battery and electric motors to produce 194 horsepower. The next-generation Subaru Hybrid system uses a series-parallel configuration to seamlessly integrate with the existing Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
Like the Forester Hybrid, the 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid is equipped with an 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen for infotainment, a 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster with navigation and Apple Maps integration, animal-free StarTex® interior upholstery, and Subaru's award-winning EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid will go on sale in late 2026, with pricing announced closer to launch.
Capability and Efficiency
The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid utilizes longer coil springs and shock absorbers to increase ground clearance from 8.7 inches in the Forester Hybrid to 9.3 inches in the Forester Wilderness Hybrid. Along with a revised suspension, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid is tuned for on- and off-road comfort thanks to added sound-absorbing materials and structural adhesives, as well as a lighter, stiffer chassis shared with all sixth-generation Forester models.
A Lineartronic® CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) helps the next-generation Subaru hybrid system remain efficient, while the X-MODE® Dual-Mode System with Hill Descent Control -- with settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud -- provides extra confidence off-road. Larger all-terrain Yokohama Geolandar® tires mounted on Wilderness-exclusive 17-inch matte black wheels help grip gravel or muddy terrain.
Unlike many competitors, the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid uses Subaru's legendary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with a mechanical connection between the front and rear axles. Compared to the standard Forester Hybrid, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid offers improved approach (23.5 degrees vs. 19 degrees), breakover (20.6 degrees vs. 19.3 degrees), and departure angles (25.5 degrees vs. 24.6 degrees).
Raised, ladder-type roof rails with an 800-pound static load capacity are standard on all Forester Wilderness Hybrid models, along with a 27.5 cubic foot cargo area with a power rear gate. With the rear seats folded forward, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid offers more than 69 cubic feet of cargo space, with no space lost due to the hybrid powertrain components.
Technology and Comfort
The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid is equipped with a Subaru 11.6-inch Multimedia System with Navigation, including wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. A configurable 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster with Apple Maps integration is standard, as well as a Harman Kardon® Speaker System with 11 speakers and a 576-watt equivalent amplifier.
Wilderness-exclusive gray textured StarTex® seating surfaces offer a weather-resistant, easily cleanable interior that's perfect for adventure, while standard all-weather mats and a cargo area protector help to keep muddy boots and gear in place.
Every Forester Wilderness Hybrid is equipped with Subaru's award-winning EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, including 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, Emergency Stop Assist, and more.
Like the Subaru Forester Hybrid, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid uses an Atkinson/Miller-cycle 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® engine optimized for efficiency, paired with a high-capacity lithium-ion battery and electric motors to produce 194 horsepower. The next-generation Subaru Hybrid system uses a series-parallel configuration to seamlessly integrate with the existing Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
Like the Forester Hybrid, the 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid is equipped with an 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen for infotainment, a 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster with navigation and Apple Maps integration, animal-free StarTex® interior upholstery, and Subaru's award-winning EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid will go on sale in late 2026, with pricing announced closer to launch.
Capability and Efficiency
The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid utilizes longer coil springs and shock absorbers to increase ground clearance from 8.7 inches in the Forester Hybrid to 9.3 inches in the Forester Wilderness Hybrid. Along with a revised suspension, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid is tuned for on- and off-road comfort thanks to added sound-absorbing materials and structural adhesives, as well as a lighter, stiffer chassis shared with all sixth-generation Forester models.
A Lineartronic® CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) helps the next-generation Subaru hybrid system remain efficient, while the X-MODE® Dual-Mode System with Hill Descent Control -- with settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud -- provides extra confidence off-road. Larger all-terrain Yokohama Geolandar® tires mounted on Wilderness-exclusive 17-inch matte black wheels help grip gravel or muddy terrain.
Unlike many competitors, the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid uses Subaru's legendary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with a mechanical connection between the front and rear axles. Compared to the standard Forester Hybrid, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid offers improved approach (23.5 degrees vs. 19 degrees), breakover (20.6 degrees vs. 19.3 degrees), and departure angles (25.5 degrees vs. 24.6 degrees).
Raised, ladder-type roof rails with an 800-pound static load capacity are standard on all Forester Wilderness Hybrid models, along with a 27.5 cubic foot cargo area with a power rear gate. With the rear seats folded forward, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid offers more than 69 cubic feet of cargo space, with no space lost due to the hybrid powertrain components.
Technology and Comfort
The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid is equipped with a Subaru 11.6-inch Multimedia System with Navigation, including wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. A configurable 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster with Apple Maps integration is standard, as well as a Harman Kardon® Speaker System with 11 speakers and a 576-watt equivalent amplifier.
Wilderness-exclusive gray textured StarTex® seating surfaces offer a weather-resistant, easily cleanable interior that's perfect for adventure, while standard all-weather mats and a cargo area protector help to keep muddy boots and gear in place.
Every Forester Wilderness Hybrid is equipped with Subaru's award-winning EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, including 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, Emergency Stop Assist, and more.
See a digital brochure of the current model with lots of useful content
These are the changes that Subaru has made to prior Foresters.
| 2025 and newer | Subaru stiffened the chassis by 10% to improve ride and handling, further refined the award-hogging Eyesight
driver assistance technology, installed an 11.6" infotainment system
with wireless CarPlay/AndroidAuto capability, and even added a kick
sensor for the rear tailgate. The first-ever Forester with a hybrid engine arrived for 2026. |
 2019 through 2024 | The
first Forester built on Subaru's "Global Platform," handling agility
improves and cabin noise decreases. It's Subaru's safest-ever Forester,
loaded with technology including first-in-its-class DriverFocus, a driver-distraction mitigation system. Eyesight active safety suite is standard. Horsepower increases to 182 and fuel economy lifts to 33mpg highway. |
 2014 through 2018 | Slightly larger inside and out than the generation it replaces, Introducing a continuously variable transmission lifted fuel economy to 32 mpg from 27. Other new features include the Eyesight driver assistance system, power tailgate, and X-Mode traction control. Outward visibility remains tops in the industry. |
 2009 through 2013 | Prior Foresters felt a little cramped, but sales took off with this larger Forester, bigger than its predecessor in every dimension. Subaru poured on the technology, with standard Vehicle Dynamics Control and six airbags. Optional equipment included touchscreen navigation and Bluetooth. |
 2003 through 2008 | Size remained the same, but Subaru modernized everything. Side air bags became standard on every model, the interior moved upscale, ride quality improved, and appearance moved from utilitarian to stylish. |
 1998 through 2002 | Subaru created the Forester on the Impreza platform, installing a square body and bigger engine. Along with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V (both introduced in 1997), Subaru pioneered the "Small Crossover" segment. It combined the ride height, style, and versatility of a truck-based SUV without the poor fuel economy and sloppy handling. |
For
anyone in the Boston metro area, including the north shore and south shore, Planet is
your source for info about revisions to the 2027 Forester, including
sale and release dates, leasing info, and great deals.
