Subaru applies Wilderness gear to Forester

Subaru has added a second off-road focused Wilderness model to its line-up in the United States, this time based on the Forester.

Arriving five months after the Outback that debuted the moniker, the Forester Wilderness forms part of an updated line-up in the States, which sees all models benefitting from new headlights, a revised grille, new fog light surrounds and a selection of model bespoke exterior and interior trim.

Slotting-in above the unbadged base model, the Premium and Sport but below the Limited and flagship Touring models in the Forester line-up, the Wilderness boasts a ground clearance of 233 mm, 12 mm more than standard, thanks to a raised suspension, in addition to longer coil springs, new shock absorbers and model exclusive 17-inch matte black alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tyres.

Also included is black cladding around the wheel arches, at the base of the doors and on the bumpers, a black finish for the grille, silver front and rear skidplates, a matte black bonnet insert, uniquely designed LED fog lights and inside, the water resistant StarTex seat upholstery as well as anodised copper inserts derived from the Outback.

ALSO READ: Subaru Outback treks deeper into the Wilderness

A full-size alloy spare wheel, two additional cargo hooks integrated into the roof and revised roof rails capable of carrying items weighing up to 100 kg on the move or 363 kg when stationary completes the changes.

Up front, and like the rest of the US Forester range, the Wilderness derives momentum from the carryover normally aspirated 2.5-litre flat-four Boxer petrol engine that produces 136kW/238Nm. As ever, Subaru’s trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system sends the amounts of twist to all four corners via a reworked CVT.

Now on sale in the US, the Forester Wilderness carries a sticker price of $32 820 (R473 884) with the only option, priced at $1 850 (R26 711), being an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, electric tailgate and the eight-inch Starlink infotainment system with embedded satellite navigation.

Like the Outback Wilderness, no plans are in place to bring the Forester Wilderness to South Africa at present.