Not soft-roader: Subaru reveals 2022 Forester Wilderness

After the Outback, Subaru reveals new Forester Wilderness model

Fans of the Subaru Forester that want a more rugged crossover can now get one straight from the dealership.

After releasing several teaser photos last month, Subaru has officially launched the 2022 Forester Wilderness. Aimed to deliver better off-road performance, it now serves as the second Wilderness model in Subaru's lineup (together with the Outback) and features unique upgrades both inside and out.

Beginning with the most obvious, the Forester Wilderness gets an extensive suspension upgrade. Thanks to longer coil springs and bigger dampers, Subaru claims the Forester Wilderness now has 233 mm of ground clearance, 25mm more than the standard model. Complementing the uprated suspension are new 17-inch matte black alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires.

To further distinguish the Forester Wilderness from the standard model, Subaru gave it a unique front fascia that consists of a new grille, front skid plate, LED foglights, and a matte-finished anti-glare hood decal. To top it all off (no pun intended), the Forester Wilderness gets a ladder-type roof rack that can hold up to 100 kg of cargo. Subaru adds that it can hold a roof tent - perfect when you're in the great outdoors.

In keeping with the off-road theme, the seats are covered in water-resistant StarTex material with special contrast stitching. When it comes to amenities, the Wilderness comes equipped with an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, dual-zone automatic climate control, a Harman Kardon sound system, and a power tailgate.

Under the hood, the Forester Wilderness is powered by a 2.5-liter, naturally-aspirated flat-four. It makes 185 PS with 239 Nm of torque and is connected to a Lineartronic CVT with Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive (S-AWD).

While some might easily dismiss crossovers as station wagons on stilts, Subaru wants to change that notion by offering rugged models that can take on any terrain with ease. Perhaps they can do that with the all-new Forester (and Outback) Wilderness models. We're keeping our fingers crossed Motor Image Pilipinas decides to bring in a few units here.