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Bringing the Subaru Wilderness sub-brand to Australia has been years in the making, though Aussies will have to continue holding their breath.
Subaru has no news to share regarding the Australian arrival of off-road-focused Wilderness variants, based on long-running nameplates such as the Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek models.
Subaru’s distributor, Inchcape Australia, has been interested in the North American-only Wilderness versions as far back as 2021, but still has yet to announce an arrival date.
Drive previously reported that the introduction of Wilderness specifications – which feature enhancements including an increased ride height, all-terrain tyres, unique wheels, and extra underbody protection – hinged on the arrival of all-new models such as the 2025 Subaru Forester.
“[We’re] very keen to have Wilderness,” said Subaru’s then-general manager Blair Read in March 2024.
“[But] with the way model launch timings are working… 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.”
Twelve months down the line, Subaru’s current GM Scott Lawrence, has again told customers to “stay tuned.”
“We see a great future for the prospect of Wilderness [in Australia],” Lawrence told Drive.
“We work closely with [Subaru’s global parent company], [but we] can't give any more news on it right now.”
“All I can say is watch this space.”
Meantime, Hyundai has begun selling XRT-branded Hyundai Santa Fe off-road special edition in Australia. However, this is upgraded through dealer-fit accessory packs rather than the factory-produced XRT models sold in the United States.
If the new Subaru Forester Wilderness does come to Australia, it’s likely to follow the variant’s launch in the United States which takes place between September and November 2025.
Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.
