The Chicago Auto Show is this week, and while it might not be as exciting as events of years past, Subaru has a few treats for attendees. The automaker announced the 2026 Forester Wilderness and 2025 Forester Hybrid at the show, previewing new variants of its popular SUV.
The 2025 Forester Hybrid launches this spring. It gets a revised 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motors, producing a combined 194 horsepower. Subaru said it offers up to 40 percent better fuel economy than the gas-only model and, like most other models in the automaker’s catalog, comes standard with all-wheel drive. The new Hybrid returns an EPA-estimated 35 mpg combined and can travel up to 581 miles on a tank of fuel.
Inside, Subaru equips an 11.6-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. While the system has plenty of features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it also absorbs most of the vehicle’s physical controls, which can feel clunky and unintuitive at times. Subaru’s infotainment is also far from the most responsive system on the market, and it can be frustrating to “hunt and peck” for settings and other controls.
The 2026 Forester Wilderness arrives late in 2025, offering 9.3 inches of ground clearance and upgraded suspension with all-terrain tires. Subaru reworked the X-Mode driving system for better off-road performance, and the Forester’s cooling system received an upgrade. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The continuously variable transmission has been retuned with a shorter final drive ratio for better off-roading, and the Wilderness also offers snow/dirt and deep snow/mud driving modes.
The Wilderness gets a unique interior with accent stitching and water-resistant synthetic leather upholstery. It has the same 11.6-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster as the Hybrid.
[Images: Subaru]
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