Subaru revealed the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid and the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show. But no Wilderness Hybrid. Why Not?!

Subaru revealed two new Foresters at the Chicago Auto Show. First, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid. Built off the new for 2025, sixth-generation Forester. And second, the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness. 2026 marks the first year the Wilderness comes from the sixth-generation platform as well.

But the two new versions of Forester remain mutually exclusive. Curious, I asked Subaru why. More specifically, I asked Bill Stokes, the Car Line Planning Manager of the Subaru Forester this, “Will there be a Wilderness Hybrid, or are we getting ahead of ourselves?”

Stokes replied, “That’s definitely something that we can consider, if customers are saying ‘hey, we like this flavor, we like that flavor, let’s try to put them together,’ we are certainly open to the possibility. And, if customers are looking for that, they can certainly let us know. But, at the moment, it’s just going to be Forester Wilderness, Forester Hybrid as two separate models. And maybe at some point in the future, they will be combined as one.”

But, based on what I learned about the new hybrid powertrain, it would only help the Wilderness feel even more capable off-road. Why wait? Let me explain.

THE NEW HYBRID

The first Forester hybrid Subaru will sell in North America makes use of the technological partnership the brand has with Toyota. But Subaru takes a distinctly different path in the way it uses the technology.

The hybrid starts with the same fundamentals as the base Forester, a 2.5-liter flat-four engine. But it uses the Atkinson/Miller combustion cycle to improve efficiency. As a result, the engine makes less power than its non-hybrid counterpart. But it then pairs with an electric generator motor and traction motor to make a total system 194 horsepower or 14 more than the standard 2.5-liter. And an unspecified, but also higher, amount of torque.

Unlike Toyota, Subaru houses all the motors within the CVT. And it continues to use a mechanical all-wheel-drive system, which delivers power to all four wheels, all the time. Subaru’s choice is not the most efficient way to go, but this maintains familiar Forester driving feel and capability. By the way, a lithium-ion battery pack supplies the engine for the aforementioned electric motor torque.

THE NEW WILDERNESS

One year behind the other trims, the 2026 Forester Wilderness also starts life on the sixth-generation platform, whereas the 2025 Forester Wilderness is still built from the outgoing, fifth-generation model. The 2026 Wilderness adds more capability and refinement when compared to the current example.

Mechanically speaking, the new Forester Wilderness is much like the old one. And, generally speaking, also like the Outback and Crosstrek Wilderness models. It rolls on 17-inch wheels with Yokohama Geolander, all-terrain tires mounted. New for 2026, those tires measure 10 mm (0.4-in) wider than before.

You also get a different suspension and suspension tune. That makes it more off-road friendly generally but also raises the vehicle to 9.3-inches of ground clearance, up a tenth from 2025.

And, like all Wilderness models, you get hulky roof rails on top. Subaru says you can load up to 800 pounds when the Forester is at rest. It will handle 176 pounds when on the go. It also adds to the off-road styling of the vehicle, as do LED hexagonal fog lights and various copper accents sprinkled throughout.

BENEFITS of COMBINING THE TWO

Because the Subaru hybrid setup maintains a mechanical, full-time four-wheel-drive system, you retain all the inherent tractive benefits that ICE system generates. You also gain additional power and additional torque. And that extra torque is available effectively immediately, no need for engine revs to reach a certain point and slip clutches, etc.

Going hybrid also noticeably improves fuel economy (35/34/35 city/hwy/cmb MPG in the standard hybrid) and, as a result, improves driving range. That gives Subie adventurers more distance to travel—father off the pavement—before worrying about a fuel stop. Not to mention the availability of a nice, lithium-ion electricity source to enhance accessory use with A/C power.

THE DRAWBACKS OF COMBINING THE TWO

On the other hand, you do have the added weight of a battery pack to carry-around. But, since we are talking hybrid, not plug-in hybrid, that’s a minimal worry.

Less minimal, the price. Compared to the standard Forester, the Forester Hybrid adds between $1400 – $3185 difference to the price, depending on which trim you select. The Wilderness will not slot into the line-up at the tippy top, but definitely close to it. Considering that both the Limited and Touring trim Foresters hybrids cost more than $40k, I expect a Wilderness hybrid would as well.

CONCLUSION

To me, the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks. And they do so at the most visceral level. The Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid would be more capable than a standard Wilderness. It would also achieve greater fuel economy and offer more flexibility in its use.

Of course, Mr. Stokes’ answer indicates that Subaru already thought of this. And, based on his wording, Subaru is likely to already have a Wilderness Hybrid in the works. I just do not see the point in waiting.

You have the technology, Subaru. Use it!