- The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness has been revealed by YouTubers, ahead of schedule.
- The model features a new front fascia, an aggressive skid plate, and a lifted suspension.
- The crossover could have a hybrid powertrain that produces a combined output of 194 hp.
Subaru just can’t seem to keep a secret. Nearly a year after the redesigned Forester broke cover online ahead of its debut, YouTubers have now (likely unintentionally) revealed the upcoming Forester Wilderness. Apparently, the rugged crossover briefly made a cameo in the background of several videos of the 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid posted online, but those clips have since been edited to blur or obscure the vehicle entirely.
More: New Subaru Forester Hybrid Coming In Mid-2025
Before the videos could be edited, eagle-eyed observers snapped screenshots and posted them to Reddit and Instagram, among other places. Thanks to their quick action, we can see the crossover will be getting an aggressive makeover that includes a silver skid plate and a new front bumper that thinks plastic is fantastic.
The model also has additional body cladding and what appears to be a unique rear bumper. They’re joined by a lifted suspension and new wheels.
We’ll likely learn more in the coming weeks, but the 2026 Forester Wilderness will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor. The outgoing model starts at $34,995 and features 9.2 inches (234 mm) of ground clearance as well as standard all-terrain tires. It’s powered by a 2.5-liter boxer engine that produces 182 hp (136 kW / 185 PS) and 176 lb-ft (238 Nm) of torque.
However, the redesigned model could be a hybrid. While that remains to be seen, the Wilderness edition was shown at a Crosstrek Hybrid event and the company has already announced a Forester Hybrid is coming later this year. Both will share an eco-friendly powertrain that consists of a 2.5-liter engine, two electric motors, and a 1.1 kWh battery pack. This produces a combined output of 194 hp (145 kW / 197 PS).