Outback Wilderness Vs Forester Wilderness, Which Wins Out?
Known for its reliable and highly capable lineup, Subaru has continued to accumulate awards and accolades that raise its status as a top automaker. One vehicle in the spotlight is the Subaru Outback which recently earned a top IIHS award. The Outback is equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite and offers impressive capability and versatility. By providing a Wilderness trim for the Outback, Subaru managed to increase this capability and versatility further. Another Subaru vehicle offered with a Wilderness trim is the Subaru Forester. While both vehicles are offered with the powerful Wilderness trim, one proves more impressive. As such, we’ll compare both the 2023 Outback Wilderness and the 2023 Forester Wilderness and see which one outperforms the other.
Subaru Outback Wilderness
The 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness has a turbocharged 2.4L engine that offers 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Like many Subaru vehicles, the mid-size SUV utilizes an all-wheel drive system. The Outback sees improved low-speed climbing thanks to Subaru retuning the front and rear gear ratios. This helps when traversing rugged and challenging terrain. The Outback Wilderness also rides on 17-inch all-terrain wheels and features 9.5 inches of ground clearance. With these off-road capabilities, owners will have no problem tackling trails and off-road terrain. They will also be able to take advantage of 3,500 pounds of towing capacity.
Inside the Outback Wilderness, owners will note a StarTex upholstery with copper-finish accents. As a mid-size SUV, the Outback offers owners a total of 75.6 cubic feet of storage space. When traveling, owners will be able to store all the essentials. An 11.6-inch touchscreen serves as the infotainment screen. Drivers can take advantage of convenience and safety features like X-mode. This mode allows drivers to switch automatically from lower speeds to over 25 mph without sacrificing performance. As for fuel economy, the Outback gets 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
Subaru Forester Wilderness
The 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness comes equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.5L engine that provides 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with an all-wheel drive system. The Forester Wilderness has also received a retuning, so it gets impressive stability and power distribution when driving on and off trails. The compact SUV rides on 17-inch all-terrain wheels and features 9.2 inches of ground clearance. It also offers 3,000 pounds of towing capacity.
The interior cabin of the Forester Wilderness consists of high-quality materials with contrast stitching. Drivers and passengers will note the amount of space afforded. For storage, there’s up to 74.2 cubic feet of space available. The infotainment screen is an 8-inch touchscreen, and it is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Owners can also take advantage of X-mode and Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite. As for its fuel economy, Forester Wilderness gets 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
Verdict
The 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness and the 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness are two reliable and highly capable SUVs. The Outback Wilderness starts at an MSRP of $38,445 (plus destination fee), and the Forester Wilderness starts at an MSRP of $34,020 (plus destination fee). While the Forester is more affordable, the Outback is the better Wilderness trim overall. The mid-size SUV features higher performance and increased ground clearance. Outback owners will also receive greater towing capacity and additional storage space. One thing the Forester has over the Outback is fuel economy. For the slight price difference, however, it doesn’t prove worth it. For those interested in a highly capable off-road SUV, the 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness proves to be an optimal choice.
Come Test Drive a Brand-New Subaru at Southern Team Auto Mall!
Interested in a 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness? Come visit us today at Southern Team Auto Mall, where we’re all about helping our customers enjoy their shopping experience. We have a friendly and passionate sales team that will make your buying, leasing, or selling needs easy. Browse our new vehicle inventory or check out our quality pre-owned inventory. We can offer suggestions like auto financing to help make paying for a vehicle easier.
Don’t forget we have a trained service team that can help with an online appointment to get started on all maintenance work and repairs. Stop by today and see what we can do for you at Southern Team Auto Mall.
Photo Credit: Subaru