The Forester Wilderness Hybrid’s big trade-off

Subaru expanded its rugged lineup at the 2026 New York International Auto Show with the debut of the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid. This marks the first time Subaru’s rugged Wilderness treatment has been paired with a hybrid powertrain, offering a 25% boost in fuel economy without sacrificing the brand’s signature off-pavement performance.

The Wilderness builds on the foundation of the 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid, sharing its efficient 194-horsepower system.

While the 2026 Forester Hybrid is already a capable choice for daily driving and those weekend camping trips, the 2027 Wilderness Hybrid is tuned for longer excursions away from home. In so many words, Subaru is bridging the gap for buyers who want a lifted, trail-ready SUV but are tired of the gas-guzzler fuel costs usually associated with off-road tires and high-clearance suspensions.

Base Trim Engine: 2.5L H4 ICE
Base Trim Transmission: 8-speed Lineartronic CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive

Best of both worlds

Just without the spare

Typically, adding a high-capacity lithium-ion battery to an off-roader forces a choice: raise the floor (losing cargo space) or lower the chassis (losing ground clearance). Subaru managed to avoid both.

By using longer coil springs and upgraded shock absorbers, the Wilderness Hybrid increases its ground clearance to 9.3 inches, a step up from the already impressive 8.7 inches of the Forester Hybrid. There is no loss in cargo space either, as the Wilderness Hybrid offers 27.5 cubic feet with the seats up and over 69 cubic feet with them folded forward, matching the gas-only version exactly.

However, this does come with a specific packaging trade-off. In most hybrid SUVs, the high-voltage battery occupies the space beneath the cargo floor where a spare tire would normally live.

To maintain the full 69.1 cubic feet of cargo volume, Subaru does not include the full-size spare tire found in the gas-only Wilderness. Instead, it utilizes a repair kit to make room for the battery pack. For serious overlanders who frequent trails where a sidewall tear is a possibility (which a tire repair kit cannot address), this is an important detail to consider.

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Subaru takes a unique approach

Symmetrical all-wheel drive is a key differentiator

Unlike many competitors that use independent electric motors to power the rear wheels, the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid utilizes Subaru’s proven Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with a mechanical connection between the front and rear axles. Subaru’s approach is quite different than something like the 2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid e-POWER, which effectively has no transmission.

While the merits of Nissan and Subaru’s individual approaches to hybrid design can be debated, one thing is for sure: Subaru’s all-wheel drive system is regarded for its engineering, design, and performance. It’s a key aspect of the brand’s affordable performance cars, like the WRX, and of its rugged (and also affordable) SUVs, like the Crosstrek.

The hybrid system comprises a 2.5-liter Atkinson/Miller-cycle Boxer engine matched to a Lineartronic CVT, paired with an electric motor generator and an electric traction motor. The system, with a combined 194 horsepower, uses the electric motor, engine, or both simultaneously to turn the wheels.

The Forester Wilderness Hybrid is further enhanced by:

Improved Geometry: Compared to the standard Forester Hybrid, the Wilderness offers better approach (23.5 degrees), breakover (20.6 degrees), and departure angles (25.5 degrees).

X-MODE Dual-Mode System: Includes settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud, plus Hill Descent Control.

Enhanced Grip: Larger Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires mounted on Wilderness-exclusive 17-inch matte black wheels.

Refined Chassis: Additional sound-absorbing materials and structural adhesives for better on- and off-road comfort.

Organizer Dimensions: 21″L x 14.6″W x 10.3″H
Special Feature: Foldable

This 13.5-gallon trunk organizer features compartments to organize and store groceries, sports equipment, emergency supplies, and other daily essentials.

Connected and rugged interior

EyeSight safety tech is standard

Subaru has ensured the Wilderness Hybrid is as functional as it is efficient. Standard on all models are raised, ladder-type roof rails with an 800-lbs. static load capacity, designed to support rooftop tents and heavy outdoor gear.

Likewise, the interior is built for durability, featuring gray textured StarTex seating surfaces that are weather-resistant and easy to clean. Standard all-weather mats and a cargo area protector are included. On the tech front, the cabin features:

11.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Configurable 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster with Apple Maps integration.
11-speaker Harman Kardon system with a 576-watt amplifier.

Every Forester Wilderness Hybrid also comes with Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist technology, which includes safety features like automatic emergency steering, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, and emergency stop assist.

With emergency stop assist, if the driver becomes unresponsive while using adaptive cruise control, the feature will stop the Forester Wilderness Hybrid, turn on the hazard lights, and unlock the doors. From there, Subaru Connected Services will place a 911 call to first responders.

Total package ownership experience

Beyond the fuel savings and off-road capability, the ownership experience of a Forester Wilderness Hybrid is ultimately connected to the brand’s community-focused values. About two weeks after purchase, Subaru invites owners back to the retailer to meet with a delivery specialist who can answer any lingering tech or feature questions. As a thank you, Subaru has partnered with Gifts for Good to offer customers a choice of impact-driven gifts.

The 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid is scheduled to go on sale in late 2026, with pricing announced closer to that time.

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Stephan Dorsey

Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.

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I Wish My Brother Had Been Diagnosed With Schizophrenia Before He Turned 18

Do you ever walk past a person on the streets exhibiting mental health issues and wonder what happened to their family? I have a brother—or at least, I used to. I worry about where he is and hope he is safe. He hasn’t taken my call since 2014.

James and his brother as young children playing together before his brother became sick. James is on the right and his brother is on the left.

When I was 13, I had a very bad day. I was in the back of the car, and what I remember most was the world-crushing sound violently panging off every surface: he was pounding his fists into the steering wheel, and I worried it would break apart. He was screaming at me and my mother, and I remember the web of saliva and tears hanging over his mouth. His eyes were red, and I knew this day would change everything between us. My brother was sick.

Nearly 20 years later, I still have trouble thinking about him. By the time we realized he was mentally ill, he was no longer a minor. The police brought him to a facility for the standard 72-hour hold, where he was diagnosed with paranoid delusional schizophrenia. Concluding he was not a danger to himself or others, they released him.

There was only one problem: at 18, my brother told the facility he was not related to us and that we were imposters. When they let him out, he refused to come home.

My parents sought help and even arranged for medication, but he didn’t take it. Before long, he disappeared.

My brother’s decline and disappearance had nothing to do with the common narratives about drug use or criminal behavior. He was sick. By the time my family discovered his condition, he was already 18 and legally independent from our custody.

The last time he let me visit, I asked about his bed. I remember seeing his dirty mattress on the floor beside broken glass and garbage. I also asked about the laptop my parents had gifted him just a year earlier. He needed the money, he said—and he had maxed out my parents’ credit card.

In secret from my parents, I gave him all the cash I had saved. I just wanted him to be alright.

My parents and I tried texting and calling him; there was no response except the occasional text every few weeks. But weeks turned into months.

Before long, I was graduating from high school. I begged him to come. When I looked in the bleachers, he was nowhere to be seen. I couldn’t help but wonder what I had done wrong.

The last time I heard from him was over the phone in 2014. I tried to tell him about our parents and how much we all missed him. I asked him to be my brother again, but he cut me off, saying he was never my brother. After a pause, he admitted we could be friends. Making the toughest call of my life, I told him he was my brother—and if he ever remembers that, I’ll be there, ready for him to come back.

I’m now 32 years old. I often wonder how different our lives would have been if he had been diagnosed as a minor and received appropriate care. The laws in place do not help families in my situation.

My brother has no social media, and we suspect he traded his phone several years ago. My family has hired private investigators over the years, who have also worked with local police to try to track him down.

One private investigator’s report indicated an artist befriended my brother many years ago. When my mother tried contacting the artist, they said whatever happened between them was best left in the past and declined to respond. My mom had wanted to wish my brother a happy 30th birthday.

My brother grew up in a safe, middle-class home with two parents. He had no history of drug use or criminal record. He loved collecting vintage basketball cards, eating mint chocolate chip ice cream, and listening to Motown music. To my parents, there was no smoking gun indicating he needed help before it was too late.

The next time you think about a person screaming outside on the street, picture their families. We need policies and services that allow families to locate and support their loved ones living with mental illness, and stronger protections to ensure that individuals leaving facilities can transition into stable care. Current laws, including age-based consent rules, the limits of 72-hour holds, and the lack of step-down or supported housing options, leave too many families without resources when a serious diagnosis occurs.

Governments and lawmakers need to do better for people like my brother. As someone who thinks about him every day, I can tell you the burden is too heavy to carry alone.

James Finney-Conlon is a concerned brother and mental health advocate. He can be reached at [email protected].

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