Typically, you can’t go wrong with the Subaru Forester. It’s a well-rounded, solid choice in the SUV segment. Aside from one potential drawback, the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness trim makes this SUV even better. 

The 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness has a disappointing fuel economy 

According to Cars.com, the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness is mostly incredible. But they couldn’t help being disappointed by its MPG. The Forester Wilderness gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg in the city. 

Other Forester trims get an EPA-estimated 33 mpg on the highway and up to 26 mpg in the city. So the Wilderness trim reduces the fuel economy by about five miles on the highway and by two mpg in urban areas. 

While these numbers don’t seem too far apart at first, they could make a difference with rising gas prices. Also, it does a bitter better than rivals. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city. 

What’s good about the Forester Wilderness? 

The 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness packs a more powerful punch. It uses the same 2.5-liter flat-four cylinder engine with 182-hp and 176 lb-ft fo torque as other Forester trims. 

However, it has a shorter final drive ratio and revised transmission tuning for a faster throttle response and quicker acceleration. The Wilderness can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.6 seconds, while other trims reach 60 mph in about 9.6 seconds. 

Revised gearing also increases the towing capacity. Regular Forester trims can tow up to 1,500 lbs, while the Wilderness can tow up to 3,000 lbs. A more robust radiator fan, reinforced transfer case, and external transmission oil cooler also help. 

Other rivals like the Toyota RAV4 can tow up to 3,500 lbs, so the increase in power is a step in the right direction. It’s especially helpful if you want to tow smaller campers or boats. 

The Subaru Forester Wilderness also features rugged upgrades to dominate the wild. Thanks to suspension upgrades such as longer springs and shock absorbers, the ground clearance is increased from 8.7 inches to 9.2 inches. 

LED foglights, a front-facing camera, protective plastic cladding on the bumpers and fenders, and a matte black anti-glare decal on the hood help improve its off-roading characteristics. Plus, it rides on 17-inch Yokahama Geolander all-terrain tires. 

Is the Forester Wilderness worth buying? 

Yes, the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness is worth buying if you want to enhance the Forester’s off-roading capabilities and power. The 2022 Forester has an MSRP of $25,395, and the Forester Wilderness starts at about $33,020. 

So it does come with a $7,625 price increase before destination fees, and dealership markups are added. It’s also worth noting that rivals such as the Cherokee Traihawk offer more hard core off-roading equipment, such as a locking rear differential and 4WD Low settings. 

The Cherokee Trailhawk also costs about $4,000 more. So, the Wilderness provides attractive upgrades at a bit of a reduced price. It’s a pretty good deal for the most capable Forester ever.