Wilderness off-road models from Subaru are finally coming to Australia, but the brand is coy on which one will be first, and when they're due.
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After years of speculation, Subaru has finally confirmed the Wilderness range of off-road specials is coming to Australia.
But it has refused to announce which of the three Wilderness variants sold in the US – Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback – is coming to local roads, and when.
The Japanese car maker has previously expressed interest in the vehicles, which offer all-terrain tyres, new wheels and styling, lifted suspension, and extra underbody armour for improved off-road capability.
It is long been expected that plans for Wilderness locally would depend on new-generation vehicles, but as these models have been shown overseas, none have been locked in for local roads.
"We have confirmed Wilderness will be on Australian soil," Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence told local media this week.
"What I'm not going to confirm is when and what model. All I can say is watch this space, I'm going to maintain a bit of anticipation for that for a bit longer."
All three Wilderness variants have undergone a 'full model change' in the past two years, most recently the 2026 Outback Wilderness unveiled alongside the latest model.
It is the most likely of the three, as it is the only Wilderness produced in Japan – where Subaru cars for Australia are made – rather than the US.
"[We’re] very keen to have Wilderness. We've been working on [these models] for a while now," he said in March 2024.
"[But] with the way model launch timings are working… with the order bank situation we've been in and the industry's been in, it [has] provided some challenges for us.
"We now are looking more to the new-generation models for Wilderness to be coming to market, watch this space. But we're still working hard to bring that here."
Arrival timing for the new Outback for Australia is yet to be announced, while the new Forester is due in showrooms this July, and the Crosstrek has been on sale locally for two years.
The Outback Wilderness offers 17-inch black alloy wheels wearing Bridgestone Dueler all-terrain tyres, and a 20mm suspension lift (for 241mm of clearance).
Styling differences include unique front and rear bumper, a black grille with 'SUBARU' script, additional body cladding, copper-coloured highlights inside and out, and hexagonal LED fog lights.
Its styling tweaks deliver improved off-road angles of 20-degree approach, 21.2-degree breakover, and 22.5-degree departure – up from 18, 19.4, and 21.4 degrees respectively quoted by the standard Outback.
It is powered solely by a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 194kW/376Nm, matched with symmetrical all-wheel drive.
Other Wilderness models offer similar upgrades, but without turbocharged power.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
