Set to Buy a Subaru Outback Wilderness, We Ended Up With a 2026 Subaru Forester. Here’s Why
Choosing the right car for you sometimes feels like picking the right partner. Here's why we passed over the Subaru Outback Wilderness to welcome a new Forester.
Let’s face it: choosing a vehicle sometimes resembles choosing a life partner. Which direction should you go? Is a good time filled with numerous off-road adventures what you want in life? Or, is a stable companion that’s reliable but also easy on the eyes what you’re seeking? My husband, Greg, and I just experienced this decision-making process—not with each other, but with the purchase of our most recent Subaru Forester.
Greg proposed we consider buying a 2025 Subaru Outback Wilderness. Infatuated by the Subaru Outback‘s whispered promises of mud, mountains, and reputation for capability. But it took actual ownership to realize what we needed was a reliable and stable companion that was also easy on the eyes.
Then there was the 2026 Subaru Forester. Newly refined and effortlessly cool, the Forester is like the one that shows up every day looking good, driving right, and fitting seamlessly into real life. It doesn’t shout for attention; it earns it.
Somewhere between off-road fantasy and on-road reality, our lust for adventure gave way to love, as the Forester offered a compelling case for commitment.
So, we pulled the trigger. And it wasn’t easy. But here’s why we made the switch.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Why We’re a Subaru Family
Our relationship with Subaru began the way it does for many people, with the purchase of the iconic Subaru Outback. The last vehicle we owned before entering the world of Subie Lovers was a VW Passat. While it was a reliable vehicle, Greg decided he needed something more adventurous after we were stuck in the snow on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on our way home from a long flight. A few months after that incident, we bought a 2017 Subaru Outback.
Once you fall in love with Subaru, it’s a lasting feeling. Our Outback carried us on long drives, weekend escapes, and everyday errands with equal ease. We also enjoyed being part of the adventurous, outdoorsy reputation that comes with owning an Outback. However, after four years and countless road trips, Greg wanted to try another Subaru.
It was 2020, and, as you’ll recall, travel primarily revolved around road trips. The 2021 Subaru Forester Touring captured our attention with its panoramic moonroof and expansive windows. Since I love taking photos of everything we pass on the road, the spacious windows made it much easier to capture those moments!
We live in New York City and rarely drive during the week, but we make up for it with weekend hikes and numerous road trips. Our faithful 2021 Subaru Forester accompanied us on trips from New York to Maine, Chicago, Tennessee, Florida, the Carolinas, and beyond. As our girl—which Greg thoughtfully named Abeona for the Roman Goddess of Safe Journeys—reached 65,000 miles, we decided it was time to choose Subaru #3.
Now, Why Did We Want Another Subaru Outback Wilderness?
I’ll be honest: I don’t monitor every new Subaru model released each year, but Greg does. When he read that 2025 would be the final year of the Subaru Outback’s iconic wagon style, he became sentimental. Although I’ve always been partial to the SUV style of the Forester, he knew the Outback Wilderness would tempt me. I had always loved the idea of the Outback Wilderness. It represented a Subaru ready for mud, snow, and trails we might one day explore.
When the Outback Wilderness was first released, I had the good fortune to test drive it at a media event. That unforgettable adventure allowed me to do some serious off-roading—I even drove through a river! So, yes, I was definitely tempted to choose the Wilderness.
But, just like choosing a life partner, admiration doesn’t always equal alignment. While the Wilderness beckoned with its off-road potential, we both knew our reality is measured in miles, not mud.
After test-driving both vehicles, we both knew the 2026 Subaru Forester Touring would be our next girl—Abeona 2.
Saying Goodbye to 2025 and Saying Hello to Adventures with Abeona 2
We said goodbye to Abeona 1 just before Christmas and started our next chapter of adventures with Abeona 2 the following week. She was tested right away, with a major New York City snowstorm the day before we were set to drive to my original hometown, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Of course, snow doesn’t stop a Subaru, so we loaded her cargo space with suitcases, hiking gear, and yoga mats for pre-hike stretching. Meanwhile, her interior carried its share of road trip snacks! Over the next 10 days, we covered 2,300 miles, taking her to Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee for a few days of fisherman’s cabin life and waterfalls. From there, we drove to the Carolinas, splitting our time between South Carolina and the North Carolina mountains.
Abeona 2 tackled the winding mountain roads and steep hills like a boss. She even tackled her first off-roading adventure and got a little mud on her tires—with country music playing on the radio, of course.
Being down South, she was also introduced to Buc-ees, where gas prices were fabulously low, and the car wash left her shiny and mud-free for the drive back to New York.
Approaching New Jersey, the road trip morphed into a shopping trip as Abeona’s cargo space was packed with Costco and Wegman purchases, along with all the travel gear. She managed it all and was truly the Goddess of our journey.
Things We Love About Our 2026 Subaru Forester Touring
We had no complaints about Abeona 1, as it was well-equipped with the features available in 2021. But, of course, a new model means upgrades. Here are a few of our favorite things Abeona 2 brought us, all for a starting price of $41,595:
- Updated bolder, more rugged design with a boxier stance and larger wheel arches
- More modern interior design with more tech integration
- Larger multimedia screen (11.6″) with standard navigation
- Leather with Ultrasuede® accents
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- DriverFocus® Driver Monitoring System – watches for distraction/fatigue
- 360-Degree Surround View camera
- A rear vision camera that allows you to see what’s behind you, despite an overloaded cargo space
- Hands-Free Power Rear Gate with Foot Activation Sensor
A New Era, Same Subaru Forester Spirit
In choosing the 2026 Subaru Forester, we didn’t turn away from Subaru’s heritage. We carried it forward. The confidence, reliability, and all-weather capability remain, now paired with comfort, efficiency, and a sense of openness that suits our journeys across the country perfectly.
The Outback was where our Subaru story began, but the Subaru Forester Touring is where it continues. Mile after mile, road trip after road trip, the horizon is wide open, and we are ready to roll!
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