2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness

According to the head honchos at Subaru, the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness is the most rugged and trail-capable Forester ever built. It also happens to be the most popular vehicle in their lineup. The gang at Napleton News decided to give the new Forester a go to see what the dust-up is all about. Here’s what we thought.

What’s the Subaru Forester Wilderness all about?

Think of it as you would a Swiss Army Knife. The Subaru Forester Wilderness is a crossover, a station wagon and even a mini-van all in one. In other words, it is many things to many different buyers. Now in its fifth generation, the Forester continues to cater to those who need it all, along with 9.2 inches of ground clearance to take you a long way from home and back again. For comparison’s sake, the Wilderness offers a half-inch more than the regular model.

Power for the Forester comes from a four-cylinder engine that delivers 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. Configured in Subaru’s famous horizontally-opposed layout, the flat-four includes two pistons on each side that oppose each other, hence the horizontally-opposed designation. The power is delivered to a continuously-variable transmission that tends to drone on with a slight thrum as its revs climb.

The torque from the four-banger heads to Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Specially revised this year, it features standard X-MODE for added low traction capabilities. When you combine it with the added ground clearance and Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires, you have a vehicle that bests the competition without even breaking a sweat. That’s because they don’t offer standard AWD.

How does the new Forester look?

Having undergone a facelift for 2022, the Subaru Forester Wilderness features a new front bumper and revised headlamps, among other design cues. The first thing we noticed on the Forester is the large greenhouse with vast expanses of glass on the sides. It lets a lot of light inside and gives a great view of the outdoors, so bring your sunnies. Or tint the glass. Yes, you have been warned!

On the hood is an anti-glare hood decal in matte black. It helps to dial down the bright sunlight that reflects off the hood. It’s joined by anodized copper-finished accents between the roof rack mounts and other design cues of the Wilderness. Finally, Subaru lets everyone else know you are behind the wheel of the Forester Wilderness through a logo on the rear hatch.

Interior decorating on the Subaru Forester Wilderness

There is a ton of space inside the Subaru Forester. In fact, there’s so much space that some sedans may become jealous. The interior is similar to other Foresters you may come across with one added signature touch: Copper accents are located throughout, including that on the steering wheel, gear selector and drive mode dial. It even shows up in the stitching!

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also in the mix. So is the Subaru Starlink 8.0-inch Multimedia Navigation system that includes Bluetooth phone, text and streaming. There’s even the complete SiriusXM Platinum plan, with Traffic and Travel Link. Finally, a Haman Kardon Premium Audio system with nine speakers and a 575-watt equivalent amp.

The Forester Wilderness, as is the case with all Foresters, has considerable headroom. This is even true when equipped with a sunroof. In fact, if you were into ten-gallon hats, yours should fit just fine inside the vehicle. We’re kidding. And who goes around with a ten-gallon hat anyway?

Into the wild with the Wilderness

The Forester offers adequate power from its flat Boxer four-cylinder engine. Consider it sensible for the average buyer. But our right foot isn’t average and as such, we wish it had a turbocharger to huff things up a bit. That’s because when this naturally-aspirated flat-four is combined with a CVT transmission, it’s loud on the noise but slow on the uptake. Meaning the powertrain is not fast!

It does have a saving grace in its Active Torque Vectoring, which helps put the rubber to the road while cutting a corner.

About that CVT transmission: It’s a slow-reacting slushbox (We can’t call it a gearbox in the traditional sense since there aren’t any gears involved). We found the lane-keep-assist a bit intrusive and quick to react, especially when just knicking the painted lane divider. Do yourself another favor and turn the Auto Start/Stop function off after you start the car. It’s disturbing to feel the engine jar as it refires from a stoplight.

Despite these minor quirks, the Subaru Forester still manages to draw a group of followers who won’t drive anything else. Get behind the wheel of one of them to see for yourself.

Subaru Specifications