The 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness gets offroad upgrades and a new look.
The new Subaru Forester Wilderness is ready to rumble. That’s an intentional word choice: With increased ground clearance, added skid plates, and an upgraded suspension, it’s equipped to handle the tough going.
It joins the existing 2022 Outback Wilderness and the upcoming 2023 Crosstrek Wilderness under the new sub-brand.
But while the Wilderness definitely stole the show, Subaru did reveal a refreshed Forester across the line and a new feature — automatic emergency steering available as an option.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2022 Forester Wilderness.
2022 Forester Wilderness Upgrades (and a Shortfall)
First on the docket are exterior upgrades. New styling upfront includes updated headlights, a new bumper, and a hexagon grille. The new dynamics introduce better approach and departure angles for steeper climbing and avoiding larger obstacles.
Other offroad improvements include 9.2-inch ground clearance — a half-inch more than other models. Longer coil springs and shock absorbers provide the added road clearance, while special tuning helps maintain Forester’s ride and handling performance with the increased height.
It also has skid plates standard all around (distinct from the Outback, which only gets a front skid plate standard). The suspension gets a refresh with a new rear differential that delivers a final drive ratio of 4.44:1. The 17-inch wheels wear Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires.
And just in case it gets really hairy out there, the Forester Wilderness will carry a full-size spare.
Nodding toward the current trend of rooftop tents, the Wilderness has one tough roof. The ladder-type roof rack has a dynamic load capacity of 220 pounds. And it can support up to 800 pounds when parked, a capacity increase that allows for larger roof tents.
The update is not part and parcel, and the decision on the engine has been a disappointment to some: the Forester Wilderness gets the same 2.5L Boxer engine as the standard models.
Some hoped for the Outback Wilderness’s 260-horsepower 2.4L turbocharged powerplant, which delivers 277 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the 2.5L engine pushes 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque.
Forester Wilderness Pricing
The Forester Wilderness pricing begins at $32,820. Options will obviously bump that price up, but for a very capable vehicle, it hits an approachable price for many consumers.
Subaru revealed the new Forester Wilderness online today. If you haven’t been trolling the internet for information for weeks, we don’t know what to tell you other than, “This is your moment!” See all the details.
