New 2022 Wilderness model is Subaru Forester’s most capable

Subaru’s Forester compact SUV is updated for 2022 with some distinct exterior styling revisions, the latest version of the brand’s EyeSight driver assistance technology, a new ladder-type roof rail, and newly available automatic emergency steering. But most notable is the introduction of a new Wilderness trim level.

This is the second Wilderness model in Subaru’s lineup. It was preceded by the Outback Wilderness in March 2021.

Without diminishing Forester’s aptitude for carlike ride and handling, the Wilderness model is equipped to tackle off-pavement roads and trails more challenging than its cultivated stablemates are willing to face.

A suspension lift gives the Wilderness a ground clearance of 9.2 inches, a half-inch higher than the other Forester models, whose own height is already considered noteworthy. A front skid plate, large wheel-arch cladding, and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires with raised white letters reinforce Wilderness visually and functionally as a trail hound. There’s a standard full-size tire stored beneath the cargo floor, so a puncture along a rugged remote trail would be a mere inconvenience, not cause for an emotional episode. However, if it happened to me and there was no one else to do the tire changing, I’d cry and scream.

The new ladder-type roof rack increases capacity over the previous version. It can support 220 pounds when the Forester is in motion, and 800 pounds when parked. Car campers who use roof tents on their 2022 Forester can enjoy the luxury of a larger tent.

There’s a lot more to tell about the Forester Wilderness model’s off-highway proficiency, but let’s take a look into its appeal as a daily driver, which is how it will be used most often if not always by actual owners.

There are six trim levels of the 2022 Forester: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited and Touring. The Wilderness is built on the Premium model. Forester pricing starts at $26,320 for the Base model with destination charge included, and tops out at $35,295 for the Touring. Wilderness comes in at $33,945.

If you enjoy reading long paragraphs of listed items, here are some standard features of the Wilderness: the Subaru tried-and-true AWD system, durable StarTex better-than-leather upholstery that is water-resistant but also breathable, a 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, an all-weather package (heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer) all-weather floor mats and cargo area mat, a moonroof, exclusive Wilderness stitching and interior accents, remote keyless entry, 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, LED fog lights, LED lights on the liftgate to illuminate the cargo area, blind-spot monitoring with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, and a 6.5-inch multimedia system with Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, SiriusXM and a CD player.

Every 2022 Forester is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), but the Wilderness version of the CVT has been tweaked for the better. Fuel economy ratings are 25 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined.

The Forester has been around for quite a while and has never pretended to be a powerhouse. So sue Subaru. Forester is great at what buyers buy it for, and it is generally beloved. In my week with the Wilderness, I became a believer, too.

There’s a single option package available for the 2022 Forester Wilderness that includes an 8-inch multimedia navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power liftgate. The package costs an extra $1,850 and I recommend it. My test car didn’t come with it, and that liftgate is heavy. Power liftgate operation is also beneficial if you do contactless curbside pickup shopping. And, no amount of money spent on a premium audio system for listening to your favorite music is ever a waste.

2022 SUBARU FORESTER WILDERNESS

Base price, including destination charge: $33,945

Price as driven: $34,165

Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.