Auto NSider | 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness
There’s More Here Than You May Think
Sure…you can tell from the name and see from the pictures that this is Subaru’s most “outdoorsy” Forester.
If the all-terrain tires don’t give it away, the trim package might. You get a gold-accented roof rack with an 800 lb load rating that’ll even support a roof-top tent…and black anti-glare trim.
And if you have really sharp eyes, you might notice the Wilderness’ extra half-inch of ground clearance and slightly re-configured bumpers that give the all-wheel-drive Wilderness sharper approach and departure angles.
You’ll have to crawl around, tho’, to see some of the other distinctions that separate the Wilderness from Subaru’s other Foresters. A front skid plate is standard, as is a full-sized spare. And you’ll get a slightly revised CVT giving you not only snow, dirt, mud and deep snow settings, plus hill descent.
Inside you’ll find easy to clean textured “factory leather” and a forward-vision monitor to show you a clear picture of what you’re about to climb over.
Subaru’s 2.5 boxer four is the only engine available, and it’s probably the only engine needed, as you’ll have no trouble keeping up with traffic while getting a respectable 25 City and 28 Hwy MPG.
You’ll have ample room for five, or 69 cu ft of cargo room if you flip the rear seats down and just want to make it a twosome trip.
And you’ll find Subaru’s “Eyesight” technology standard…optimizing your cruise control and warning you if you start to drift out of your lane.
So where’s the “more” that I referred to at the top of this review?
Well, while the Wilderness would be on a lot of folks’ “must have” lists if they routinely encounter serious snow or mud, my week in Subie’s new Wilderness was spent just bumping along among my usual assortment of tire-popping potholes, rough rail crossings, unexpected 2x4’s in the middle of the freeway and other roadway surprises.
And my big surprise was that Subaru’s Widerness delivered one of the most comfortable rides that I’ve experienced in the past year. Comfort and control…a combination that you don’t usually expect in a genuine off-road-capable vehicle.
And to get it all for less than $36,000 is just another pleasant surprise.
