2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness 2.5L CVT AWD (185 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Subaru refreshed the sixth generation of the Outback lineup in the spring of 2022, and along with the rest of the range, it also updated the Wilderness version of its crossover.

Subaru tried to do something different with the Wilderness version than just a trim level. While the car was based on the same refreshed 2024 Outback, it had many different features and exclusive details that made some customers wonder if these two vehicles were closely related. Moreover, regardless of its trim level, the regular Outback couldn’t chase its Wilderness sibling everywhere.

With its specific front bumper, the Wilderness version was clearly aimed at customers different from those looking for a daily-driving sporty station wagon on stilts. At the front, Subaru added bright orange trims in the bumper’s mid-section. At the same time, the lower side featured multi-LED fog lamps that flanked a lower air intake adorned by a hexagonal pattern mesh. Furthermore, the entire lower side was black and unpainted to better withstand scratches from stones and roots.

While the Outback looked like a station wagon on stilts, the Wilderness version looked more like an Outback with army boots. The extended plastic cladding around wheel arches and side sills emphasized its 9.5-inch (24 cm) ground clearance, up from 8.7-inch (22 cm) of its sibling. Since Subaru made this version for those craving sleeping in the woods, it added a reinforced roof rack that could withstand a 700-lbs (318 kg) static load, built to support roof-camping gear. At the back, the Outback Wilderness featured a black bumper adorned by two bright orange trims that echoed those from the front of the car.

Inside, Subaru added a specific upholstery to the car, adorned by bright orange tags on the door cards. Furthermore, the automaker added copper-gold trims on the lower spoke of the steering wheel and the gear selector housed by the center console. The front high bolstered bucket seats were upholstered with StarTex water-repellant upholstery and provided excellent side support. Fronting the driver was a mixed instrument panel that featured large dials for the analog speedometer and tachometer that flanked a TFT screen that showed data from the car’s onboard computer. In the back, the automaker added standard vents for the rear-seated passengers.

Subaru offered the Outback Wilderness with one engine option, a 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four powerplant, which sent its power in all corners via the same Lineartronic (CVT) gearbox. The 18” alloy wheels wrapped in AT tire were specific for this car version. The revised suspension and transmission programs could help the vehicle reach remote areas deep into the forest. It wasn’t afraid to have its wheels or bodywork dirty. Last but not least, the metallic shields under the bodywork offered improved protection for the car against stones, branches, or roots.