Subaru

Some vehicles are dressed for adventure, and others are mechanically prepared for it. In the compact SUV world, that distinction has become harder to see at first glance. Chunky tires, protective cladding, copper accents, red hooks, roof rails, stitched logos—everybody is selling some version of the same weekend fantasy now. But the 2026 GMC Terrain AT4 and 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness aim to serve that same fantasy from opposing directions.

Ultimately, this comparison really comes down to the basics: pricing, packaging, drivetrain character, interior space, trail hardware, and which compromises are easier to live with once the novelty of rugged cosmetics wears off. These two may occupy the same part of the market, but they do not serve the same buyer equally well.

Cole Attisha

The 2026 GMC Terrain AT4 starts at $39,400, while the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness starts at $38,385. Start ticking some extra boxes for additional options, packages, and accessories, and both can end up well over $45,000 after fees. So, clearly, this is not a case where one is dramatically cheaper than the other and thus offers obviously superior value. The difference here is what each brand gives you for the money.

The GMC leans hard into presentation. Its AT4 trim includes the big 15-inch infotainment screen, 11-inch driver information center, AT4-exclusive Terrain mode, 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, a lifted ride height, a front skid plate with steel underbody shield, red recovery hooks, and a factory-installed trailer hitch with wiring. Subaru, meanwhile, gives the Wilderness 17-inch matte black wheels, all-terrain tires, a full-size spare, X-Mode Dual Mode with hill descent control, a front-view monitor, a Wilderness-tuned suspension, and 9.3 inches of ground clearance. Subaru's $2,200 option package adds navigation, Harman Kardon audio, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a power rear gate.

Find the perfect tires for your exact vehicle and driving style. Click here to shop all top-tier brands, including Michelin, Bridgestone, and more, directly at Tire Rack.

Cole Attisha

The GMC uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission in AWD AT4 form. Subaru counters with its 2.5-litre naturally aspirated boxer four, good for 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. On paper, the Subaru has the slight power edge. In day-to-day driving, the GMC feels like the more agreeable thing to live with, especially thanks to its extra torque, which makes inner-city stop-and-go acceleration seem effortless.

That also comes down to the transmission. The Terrain's conventional automatic gives it a more natural, less strained feel in traffic and around town. It is not fast by any means, and on longer highway pulls, it can still feel a bit short of breath, but it responds more cleanly and more intuitively than the Subaru does. The Forester Wilderness's revised CVT does help low-speed off-road work with a shorter final drive ratio, but it still feels elasticky when you are just trying to pass somebody or merge onto a highway. That tracks with the broader character of each SUV. The Subaru's drivetrain feels engineered in service of capability, whereas the GMC's feels engineered in service of livability.

Fuel economy is similarly close, though the Subaru has a modest edge. The Forester Wilderness is rated at 24 mpg city, 28 highway, 26 combined. The Terrain AT4 AWD is rated at 24 city, 26 highway, 25 combined. Neither is exceptional in the age of hybridized rivals, but the Subaru squeezes out a little more.

Subaru

If your idea of adventure involves actual terrain rather than just the occasional muddy forest service road, the Forester Wilderness is undoubtedly the better buy. Subaru gives it 9.3 inches of ground clearance, a revised CVT with a shorter final drive, dual-function X-Mode, improved approach, departure, and breakover angles, a front-view monitor, standard all-terrain tires, a full-size spare, and an uprated transmission cooler that helps support a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Subaru also says the Wilderness benefits from faster center-differential lockup and reduced wheelspin off-road, plus steering-angle integration for better stability at higher speeds.

Cole Attisha

The GMC Terrain AT4's off-road credentials aren't just for show, but they are far from what the Subaru boasts. GMC gives it an off-road-tuned suspension, a lifted ride height, an AT4-exclusive Terrain mode, a skid plate, a steel underbody shield, all-terrain tires, and 1,500 pounds of towing capacity. That is enough to make it genuinely useful on rougher forest roads, muddy tracks, pothole-ridden cut-throughs, and the kinds of trails most buyers in this category will actually attempt. But it is still operating with substantially less ground clearance than the Subaru at just 6.52 inches, and, even when equipped with a tow package, the Terrain AT4 caps out at just 1,500 pounds of towing capacity.

Cole Attisha

The Forester Wilderness deserves respect for how much real hardware Subaru has packed into it without making it utterly undrivable off forest trails, unlike some off-roaders. But the Terrain AT4 is still the more polished road car. It is quieter, more settled, and more upscale in its overall demeanour. GMC's official positioning emphasizes the AT4's off-road-tuned suspension and lifted ride height, but what stood out to me during my time with it wasn't how aggressive it felt as an off-roader—it was how comfortable and composed it remained, even on all-terrain tires and off-pavement. The Subaru is better suited to harder use, but the GMC is easier to appreciate every single day.

Subaru

Subaru says the sixth-generation Forester lineup was improved for ride quality without sacrificing handling or capability, and the Wilderness still benefits from the brand's stiffer platform and raised suspension. But even then, its basic mission is more obvious from behind the wheel. The powertrain is more utilitarian. The calibration feels more trail-oriented. The whole thing asks you to accept a bit more compromise in exchange for the extra toughness. If you live in a city, deal with uneven road surfaces, and only occasionally get your SUV properly dirty, the GMC is, plainly, the better-mannered machine.

GMC

Inside, the GMC feels more expensive. The Terrain's dashboard is dominated by the 15-inch center screen and 11-inch digital display, and it immediately gives the cabin a more modern, more premium-looking layout than the Subaru. GMC also does a better job than many rivals at combining that big-screen visual drama with usable physical controls. It feels contemporary without feeling like UX beta testing.

The Subaru's cabin feels more purpose-built. The Wilderness gets water-resistant StarTex upholstery, all-weather mats, a cargo tray, copper stitching, a front-view monitor, and easy-clean surfaces that feel better suited to muddy boots, wet gear, and dogs that have no respect for your detailing bill. Its optional 12.3-inch digital cluster helps modernize the experience, but the Subaru still feels more functional than fancy.

Subaru

The GMC Terrain offers 29.8 cubic feet behind the second row and 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Forester Wilderness offers 27.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.1 cubic feet with the seats down, thanks in part to the standard panoramic moonroof on upper trims, which affects cargo packaging. So the GMC is slightly ahead with the rear seats up, while the Subaru opens up more with everything folded flat. Subaru also provides an edge in offering practical adventure kit. The Wilderness includes a full-size spare, raised ladder-type roof rails with an 800-pound static load capacity, and more obvious trail-ready trim-specific hardware. GMC's packaging feels more upscale, whereas Subaru's feels more utilitarian.

Subaru

Subaru continues to make a strong case for itself in terms of safety packaging. Every 2026 Forester gets the latest version of EyeSight, and the Wilderness adds automatic emergency steering, blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, emergency lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. Subaru also says the new system operates more smoothly and in a broader range of conditions, thanks to a wider field of view, revised software, and an electric brake booster.

Cole Attisha

GMC's Terrain offers more than 16 standard safety and driver-assistance features across the lineup, plus available camera views and the big-screen layout that makes interacting with the vehicle’s systems feel more modern and easier to parse at a glance. Plus, fewer of the GMC's controls are integrated into its central infotainment system, unlike the Subaru, which also takes a substantial amount of time to load up and to register inputs. That alone makes the Terrain less distracting from behind the wheel. So the Subaru has the stronger old-school safety résumé on paper, whereas the GMC tends to feel cleaner and more intuitive in actual interaction.

Cole Attisha using Gemini 3 Pro

The answer depends almost entirely on how honest you are with yourself. Buy the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness if you want the more serious machine. It has better clearance, better off-road geometry, better towing capacity, better trail hardware, and more durable packaging. It is the one I would trust more the farther I get from town. It is not pretending to be an off-roader; "Wilderness" really is its middle name.

Buy the 2026 GMC Terrain AT4 if most of your life behind the wheel takes place on paved roads and only occasionally wanders off them. It is quieter, easier to drive in town, and more upscale in the way it goes about being a compact SUV. It is still useful on rougher terrain, but it understands that most buyers will spend far more time in traffic than in mud. The AT4 is, if nothing else, honest with itself. All things considered, the Subaru is more rugged, whereas the GMC is more rounded. One belongs deep in the woods, but the other makes more sense on the way there.

Subaru's claim to fame would be its performance-oriented reputation. Starting as rugged, dependable, and unbreakable cars, quickly translated into success in the world of motorsports, particularly rallying. While the Symmetrical AWD system is a feat of engineering, another aspect Subaru really leaned into is the perfection of the Boxer engine layout.

Boxer engines aid handling and stability; the flat construction and lower placement in the engine bay help lower the car's overall center of gravity. Another key aspect is that the engine is supposed to be smoother because opposing piston movements naturally cancel each other's vibrations. In other words, there are many reasons the Boxer layout still exists today. That hasn't stopped some curious people from experimenting with the layout.

YouTube channel Garage 54, known for its wild automotive experiments, is making the rounds for taking on a daunting challenge. These Russians have decided to convert Subaru's patented Boxer engine into the more normal inline-4 layout used by other brands. At the beginning of the video, it is quickly explained that the task itself will be intensive, requiring them to source another donor Boxer engine to complete the conversion.

One of the first steps they needed to do was to chop the engine block in half to separate the left cylinder bank from the right cylinder bank. This process destroys the engine's naturally flat geometry design.

Next up was the rotation; instead of having the banks face each other like a Boxer, both were rotated upwards to 90 degrees. The layout that Garage 54 went with was an inline-4 similar to what Toyota or Honda does.

According to them, one of the hardest parts of the construction was the welding. Making two separate aluminum banks back together isn't easy by any means, but in this case it was made harder by the fact that the cast aluminum was oil-soaked and porous, which caused the metal to boil and crack under the heat of welding. Custom pins were needed to align the parts before fusing them into a singular vertical block.

Garage 54/YoutTube

After they reconstructed the engine, they moved on to other vital parts of the engine's internals. The crankshaft was cut into pieces, then each piece was reinstalled to properly simulate the right firing order of an inline-4.

In the end, Garage 54 managed to actually make the Boxer engine resemble the form of an inline-4. Though they admitted that the process turned out to be more than what they initially thought. As for the function, they ended the video without starting it yet, but they are confident it'll work and have promised to post more videos about this experiment soon.

Garage 54/YoutTube

Key Points

• The Subaru Forester Wilderness is the more capable soft roader, thanks to its higher ground clearance, standard all-terrain tires, and off-road-focused drivetrain tuning that make it genuinely effective on trails and in harsh weather.
• The Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition is significantly more powerful and spacious, offering a 269-horsepower turbo engine, three-row seating, and a more refined interior that makes it the better choice for families and long-distance comfort.
• The decision ultimately comes down to use case: choose the Forester for real off-road capability and efficiency, or the Atlas for size, performance, and everyday versatility.

If you’re shopping for a rugged-looking SUV that can handle dirt roads without sacrificing daily comfort, the “soft roader” category is hot right now among car buyers. They offer the rugged look and, in some cases, actual mild off-road capability. The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness and 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition take very different approaches—one is compact and trail-focused, the other is larger, more powerful, and built with families in mind.

For the 2026 model year, the Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition is priced at $48,060 MSRP. The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness Edition is quite a bit less expensive at $38,385 MSRP. Both vehicles represent the most rugged interpretations of these popular models. Despite the fact that they're both soft-roaders, in that they elevate the model for increased toughness, each one is unique. Which one works best for you?

The Subaru Forester Wilderness is designed with real off-road intent, and the numbers reflect that. It rides on 9.3 inches of ground clearance and uses 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, giving it a noticeably more capable stance than the standard Forester. Subaru also improves its approach and departure angles for better trail performance, and the roof can support up to 800 pounds when parked, making it ideal for rooftop tents and outdoor gear. It's styling is less conservative than the other trims, but it's more purposeful in in its appearance. The gold trim bits, chunky all-terrain tires, and blackened features give it presence.

The Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition takes a different approach, focusing on a more commanding size and presence. It measures roughly 200.7 inches in length with a 117.3-inch wheelbase, making it significantly larger than the Forester. Its styling upgrades are mostly cosmetic, including blacked-out trim and unique wheels, but they give it a more rugged visual identity. It doesn't get more ground clearance than the rest of the Atlas line, but it looks more capable thanks to the dark wheels and all-terrain tires.

Inside, the Forester focuses on durability and usability. It features StarTex water-resistant upholstery designed to handle mud, snow, and wet gear, along with an available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The upright design and large windows create excellent outward visibility, reinforcing its practical, adventure-ready feel. Wilderness trim bits on the steering wheel, shift knob, and seat headrests help set it apart.

Inside, the Atlas feels more premium and spacious. It offers three-row seating for up to seven passengers and provides a more modern aesthetic. If you have a larger family, the Atlas Peak Edition is the soft roader for you, but you have to accept its compromised off-road abilities in the process. It's also more technology focused, erring on the side of aesthetics versus functionality. Its look showcases vivid displays and fresh and customizable ambient lighting. The materials are softer and more refined, and the cabin layout is more modern overall. It’s a noticeably more premium environment than the Forester.

Find the perfect tires for your exact vehicle and driving style. Click here to shop all top-tier brands, including Michelin, Bridgestone, and more, directly at Tire Rack.

There are pros and cons to each model's tech set, and they're very different approaches. The Forester Wilderness has the brand's old interfact that comes with an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It has a tendency to be slow to respond on startup, and its climate controls are crammed in the lower portion of the touchscreen, making it challenging to use while driving. Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance system is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and emergency steering assistance, making it a strong performer in safety and ease of use.

The Atlas Peak Edition offers a more polished tech experience in terms of looks, but its functionality is overly complex. Climate menus are confusing with icons that don't control the temp or seat heat/ventilation, acting only as the initial menu item that leads to the actual controls. It features a fully digital cockpit paired with a larger horizontal infotainment display. The major downside are the slider controls that are hard to use while driving and impossible to see at night due to the lack of backlighting. The VW Atlas's tech also includes features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and available surround-view cameras for easier parking and maneuvering.

The Forester is a compact SUV, but it makes excellent use of its space. Visibility is outstanding, headroom is tremendous, and cargo capacity is generous for the class. It seats five passengers and offers 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. With a curb weight of roughly 3,500 pounds, it feels lighter and more maneuverable in daily driving, especially in tight urban environments.

The Atlas is significantly larger and offers far more interior space, including available third-row seating. It’s the better choice for families, road trips, and carrying more passengers comfortably. It seats up to seven passengers and provides 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space even with the third row in place, with significantly more room available when the rear seats are folded. Its curb weight is closer to 4,600 pounds, which contributes to a more planted feel on the highway but makes it less nimble in tighter settings.

The Forester Wilderness is tuned for ride comfort rather than speed or agility. Its naturally aspirated engine delivers adequate power, but acceleration is modest. Where it shines is in stability, traction, and confidence on uneven or slippery surfaces. The Forester Wilderness is built for stability and traction rather than speed. It uses a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Acceleration is modest, but the vehicle feels composed and confident on rough or slippery surfaces.

The Atlas feels more powerful and refined on the road. Its turbocharged engine provides stronger acceleration, and it’s more comfortable and composed at highway speeds. It’s the better long-distance cruiser. The Atlas Peak Edition delivers significantly more power. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine produces 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, giving it noticeably stronger acceleration and better performance at highway speeds. It also offers all-wheel drive, which comes standard on this trim, and provides a smoother, more refined ride overall.

This is where the two SUVs diverge the most. The Forester Wilderness is genuinely capable for a soft roader. It offers increased ground clearance (9.3 inches versus 8.7 inches on other trims), all-terrain tires, specialized drive modes, Dual-Function X-MODE, and improved approach and departure angles. It’s built to handle trails, snow, and rough terrain with confidence. Unlike the Atlas Peak Edition, the Subaru Forester has a front skid plate to protect the engine. While you won't do any bouldering with it, it's capable of more than just gravel roads.

The Atlas Peak Edition, despite its rugged styling, is more limited. While it offers all-wheel drive and decent capability for dirt roads and light trails, it lacks the specialized hardware needed for more demanding off-road situations. It also has the same ground clearance as the other Atlas trims, at a rather modest 6.3 inches. That's a full three inches less than the Forester Wilderness. Expect most owners to use this for car camping trips and to manage inclement roads, versus mountain trails and steep inclines.

The Forester Wilderness is the better soft roader, while the Atlas Peak Edition is the better all-around family SUV. Both are great at all-wheel drive family transportation, road trips, and modest amounts of cargo hauling. Your decision comes down to whether you need room for five or seven, and whether you need real off-road capability or just the look of it. Keep in mind that the tech interfaces are not at the top of their game in either vehicle, but they both offer modern looks and handsome interiors.

Some buyers refuse to be categorized. Though they may prefer boxy cars, they don't often appreciate being placed into boxes in the categorical sense within the automotive industry, instead preferring something that transcends strict segment rulings—one vehicle that just makes sense. One that can handle the school run, a Costco stop, a road trip, maybe a muddy trailhead, maybe a ski weekend, and maybe a life that is split between the denseness of urban civilization and the freedom of the great outdoors.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and the all-new 2026 Subaru Outback are not identical competitors in the standard sense. The Hyundai is a three-row midsize crossover with a boxy shape, a hybrid option, and a cabin designed with families very much in mind. The Subaru is still, in spirit, the thinking person's wagon-turned-SUV-adjacent Swiss Army knife, now in its seventh generation and visually pushed further toward traditional SUV territory than ever before. But once you look at how people actually shop, especially in the mid-$40,000 range, these two undoubtedly collide. A Santa Fe Hybrid SEL AWD starts at $40,240, a Limited Hybrid AWD starts at $47,250, and a Calligraphy Hybrid AWD lands at $50,250. Subaru's Outback lineup starts at $34,995, but the trims that really overlap with the Santa Fe Hybrid are the Limited XT at $44,365, Touring XT at $47,995, and even the Wilderness at $44,995.

Driving them back-to-back makes the contrast obvious. The Outback feels like it was engineered for people who would rather be driving out of a city rather than towards one. The Santa Fe Hybrid feels like a family-first machine that knows most of its life will be spent in suburbia, heavy traffic, and chaotic parking lots, but is smart enough not to become useless the moment it leaves city limits and paved roads. Both SUVs aim to tackle the same problems for buyers, albeit with different priorities and execution strategies.

Cole Attisha/Autoblog

The Santa Fe Hybrid's core mechanical package is straightforward enough: a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor, good for 231 combined horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque, routed through a six-speed automatic rather than the sort of power-sapping CVT that makes car enthusiasts mutter obscenities under their breath. Hyundai's non-hybrid Santa Fe, meanwhile, gets a 277-hp, 311-lb-ft 2.5-liter turbo with an eight-speed automatic. The Hybrid is the one that makes the most philosophical sense in the lineup, though, because it best suits the vehicle's character. It is smoother, more relaxed, and more cohesive than a lot of family crossovers that try too hard to be athletic at every moment.

That is what makes the Santa Fe Hybrid so easy to recommend to people who spend most of their time in gridlock traffic. It does not feel especially eager, but it feels properly sorted. The steering is nicely weighted, the ride is polished, and the whole thing carries itself with a comfort-first maturity that families will appreciate. In my Santa Fe review, I likened it to something of a modern-day reincarnation of the Ford Flex, because the Hyundai has that same squared-off practicality and that same sense of being designed around passengers rather than around image. The difference is that the Hyundai is vastly more modern and far more efficient. Officially, AWD hybrids are rated at 35 city, 34 highway, and 34 combined, while FWD versions are rated at 37/36/36.

Find the perfect tires for your exact vehicle and driving style. Click here to shop all top-tier brands, including Michelin, Bridgestone, and more, directly at Tire Rack.

Cole Attisha

The Subaru offers two different personalities depending on trim. Premium, Limited, and Touring models use a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-four with 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. Limited XT, Touring XT, and Wilderness models move to the turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft. Every Outback uses a CVT and standard symmetrical all-wheel drive. On paper, the turbo Outback XT is the Santa Fe Hybrid's more direct rival in both price and output. In feel, though, the Santa Fe Hybrid and Outback XT arrive at competence from opposite directions. The Hyundai feels cleaner and more conventional in the way it delivers power. The Subaru feels torquier and more muscular in the midrange, but never entirely escapes the elastic character of its CVT.

The Outback, by contrast, still feels like it has one boot in the wilderness, even in its new, more polished form. Subaru says the new generation improves quietness, introduces dual-pinion steering, and leans into greater overall refinement, and those improvements are tangible. The naturally aspirated version is the one that makes the most emotional sacrifices. It will do the job, and for many buyers that will be enough, but once you have driven the turbo XT, it is hard not to see the base engine as the one you buy because you value simplicity and price rather than delight.

Still, the Subaru has an earthy sense of all-terrain competence the Hyundai never fully replicates, even in XRT guise. Standard all-wheel drive, 8.7 inches of ground clearance on most trims, available 9.5 inches in Wilderness form, X-Mode, and the Outback's long-standing sense of mechanical robustness all make it feel more at home the farther you get from dense urban life. The Santa Fe can absolutely play adventurer, especially in XRT or AWD Hybrid form, but the Outback still feels like the one that isn't just wearing a costume.

Hyundai

The Santa Fe's cabin is one of the main reasons it makes such a strong case for itself, especially since Hyundai claims it was designed from the inside out. Hyundai has become extremely skilled at giving mainstream buyers an interior that feels more expensive than the badge (or four dots) on the steering wheel might suggest, and the Santa Fe is one of its best recent examples. Most trims seat seven, while Limited and Calligraphy can be configured with either a bench or second-row captain's chairs depending on spec. Higher trims add a 12.3-inch digital cluster, surround-view monitor, dual wireless chargers, Hyundai Digital Key 2 Premium, and on Calligraphy, Highway Driving Assist 2. It feels modern, thoughtful, and family-centric without looking like it was designed by a committee of accountants.

Subaru

The Subaru, to its credit, has moved in a smarter direction than before. The new Outback gets a standard 12.1-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital cluster across the lineup, and crucially, Subaru brought back dedicated hard-button climate controls instead of burying every basic interaction inside a glossy slab of digital inconvenience that never seemed eager to load up. The new infotainment system uses a Snapdragon 8 Automotive processor, Subaru says processing speed is up to 2.5 times faster, and Touring/Touring XT trims add a more advanced highway-assist suite with limited hands-free capability on major highways at speeds up to 85 mph. For a company not always known for class-leading cabin tech, this is a legitimate step forward towards technological seamlessness.

Still, the Hyundai feels more special inside. The Santa Fe understands that family buyers still appreciate visual drama, nice materials, clever storage, and the simple emotional relief of sitting in something that does not feel cheap or joyless. The Subaru’s interior is arguably more ergonomic and more honest. The Hyundai’s is more stylish and more overtly upscale. Which you prefer depends on whether you want your family vehicle to feel like a tool or like a reward for surviving the week.

Cole Attisha

The Santa Fe Hybrid offers 79.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row, 40.5 behind the second, and 14.6 behind the third. Total interior volume comes in at 165.6 cubic feet for the hybrid. That is the benefit of Hyundai's boxy, upright shape: it is not just a styling exercise meant to evoke Land Rover Defenders and Ford Broncos. The thing is genuinely engineered around people who need to carry kids, friends, sports gear, groceries, weekend luggage, or perhaps even an inflatable air mattress. In practical, family-use terms, the Santa Fe simply has more bandwidth, and yet it's still perfectly suited to in-car camping.

Chase Bierenkoven

The Outback remains practical in a different, more Subaru-ish way. Subaru says cargo capacity is 34.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 80.5 with them folded, with a 28.3-inch cargo lift-over height and a lower, longer load floor than many conventional SUVs. For couples, dog owners, hikers, skiers, and people who don't need a third row, its shape may actually be more useful than the Hyundai's. The Outback still feels like it was designed by a team that understands its owners need to throw awkwardly-shaped outdoor gear in the back instead of just square-shaped weekend luggage and matching hard-shell carry-ons.

Cole Attisha

Every 2026 Outback comes standard with Symmetrical AWD, X-Mode, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Wilderness raises that to 9.5 inches, adds all-terrain tires, electronically controlled dampers, and more aggressive off-road geometry. Subaru also quotes approach, departure, and breakover angles of 18.0, 21.4, and 19.4 degrees for standard Outbacks, with the Wilderness stretching those to 20.0, 23.6, and 21.2 degrees. None of this is theoretical. The Outback's whole demeanor suggests it was designed around inclement weather and rough roads. Although naturally aspirated Outbacks can only tow up to 2,700 pounds, turbocharged models can haul up to 3,500 pounds.

Cole Attisha

The Santa Fe can absolutely handle more than many buyers will ever ask of it, but it is still playing a different game. Standard ICE and hybrid models have 7.0 inches of ground clearance, while the XRT pushes that to 8.3 inches and improves approach and departure angles. Hyundai rates most ICE models at 3,500 pounds of towing with trailer brakes, bumps XRT to 4,500 pounds, and caps the hybrid at 2,000 pounds. So yes, the Santa Fe is capable enough for camping trips, forest service roads, ski weekends, and the usual crossover-adventure fantasy, but the Outback still feels more authentic in those settings. It is not just more capable on paper in the rough stuff, it carries itself like it belongs there.

Cole Attisha

The Santa Fe lineup runs from $34,800 for an SE FWD to $49,150 for a Calligraphy AWD in ICE form, while hybrid models span from $36,150 for an SE Hybrid FWD to $50,250 for a Calligraphy Hybrid AWD. The Outback starts at $34,995, rises to $41,715 for a Limited, $45,395 for a Touring, $44,365 for a Limited XT, $47,995 for a Touring XT, and $44,995 for a Wilderness. With destination, Subaru's Touring XT lands at $49,445 and a fully optioned Wilderness reaches $50,535. In other words, the Santa Fe Hybrid and the turbocharged Outback trims sit right on top of each other in the market.

The naturally aspirated Outback makes most sense against lower-grade non-hybrid Santa Fe trims. The turbocharged Outback XT is the cleaner match for the Santa Fe Hybrid in both price and usable pace. From there, the value argument is mostly philosophical. The Hyundai gives you more cabin theater, more family functionality, a third row, and dramatically better fuel economy in hybrid form. The Subaru gives you standard AWD, more convincing off-pavement credibility, and an identity that still feels tied to an of out-of-town sense of freedom.

Cole Attisha Using Gemini 3 Pro and Midjourney 7.0

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is the one I would recommend to the broader audience. That's not because it is more charming. It is not. The Outback still has more renegade blood in it, more of that anti-urban streak that makes sense if you live farther out and resent what society has become, see harsh weather as pleasant white noise, and prefer your daily driver to feel like a willing accomplice for escaping civilization. But the Santa Fe Hybrid is the more complete answer for modern American life. It is more efficient, more spacious, more family-friendly, and more premium-feeling inside. It understands school runs, airport pickups, Costco hauls, traffic, and long family road trips better than the Subaru does.

The Outback, though, is still the better fit for a different kind of buyer. The person who doesn't need a third row, and whose weekends involve tough trails, snow, gravel, and gear. The person who values standard AWD, lower-slung practicality, superior ground clearance, and a more honest sense of ruggedness over a fancier cabin and hybrid thrift. And if that is you, the XT is the version to get. It is the one that gives the Outback enough power to feel like a companion rather than a compromise. The Santa Fe is better for the life most people live. The Outback is better for the life some people have chosen very carefully. That, in the end, is the most honest answer.

The Legacy can be credited with bringing Subaru into the mainstream. The first model still had the hallmarks of a Subaru, namely the boxer engine and all-wheel drive, but wrapped in a design that was far more modern than past models. It was a gamble for the brand, as it was its first foray into the then-competitive midsize sedan market, but it paid off.

Fast forward to today, and the Legacy is no more. Last year was its final production run, ending after 36 years and seven generations. This final generation ran from 2019 to 2025 with a facelift in 2023, and it's unlikely that Subaru will ever revisit this segment in the near future. Thanks, crossovers.

We're three months into the year, and Subaru still has a lease deal for its departed midsize sedan. Just like last month, it's only for the Premium trim, which sits just above the base model. The rates are the same as before: $319 for a 36-month term, with $3,959 due at lease signing.

Of course, this means that Subaru still has a fair bit of stock left for this sedan, and offers like this will keep on running until it's finally depleted. This particular offer, however, is only valid until March 31, 2026. Per the usual, it's $0.15 per mile for miles over 10,000 per year.

Subaru

Prices are still unchanged for the Legacy, meaning it still ranges from $26,810 to $40,110. There are also six trims to choose from, namely Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring XT. That said, it's worth contacting your nearest Subaru dealer if there are any runout discounts available for it.

All 2025 Legacy models come with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, EyeSight advanced driver assists, active torque vectoring, steering-responsive headlights, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Premium comes with a larger 11.6-inch infotainment screen, wireless phone integration, and a driver's side power seat. Limited adds leather, Harman/Kardon audio, and rides on 18-inch wheels. Sport models get trim-unique exterior and interior accents. Touring XT gets additional driver assists, heated and ventilated seats, and Nappa leather.

Legacy models from Base to Limited use a 2.5-liter boxer engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. For those looking for more pull, there's the 2.4-liter boxer turbo putting out 260 hp and 277 lb-ft. That engine is only for Sport and Touring XT trims.

Subaru

It's normal to ask if it's still worth going for a brand-new Legacy. After all, it's been discontinued, and there are fresher models around. But for those who like the peace of mind of standard all-wheel drive in a midsized vehicle that isn't a crossover, then the Legacy is worth a punt. The lease offer isn't all too expensive, and with this specific trim going for under $30,000, it's one of the larger sedans you can get for the money.

Subaru

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle.

Mazda has earned the most Top Safety Pick+ awards from the IIHS this year, marking the third consecutive year the automaker has led the industry. A total of eight models have received the honor so far, surpassing brands like Hyundai and Audi, which have six each.

The list of Top Safety Pick+ recipients includes the 2026 Mazda3 Sedan, Mazda3 Hatchback, CX-30, CX-50, CX-70, CX-70 PHEV, CX-90, and CX-90 PHEV. Genesis ranks fourth with five models, followed by Kia with four, Nissan and Subaru with three each, and BMW and Honda with two each. Infiniti, Lexus, Rivian, Tesla, Toyota, and Volvo each have one winner.

That brings the total to 45 Top Safety Pick+ awardees so far, with 18 other models earning the lower-tier Top Safety Pick – though both awards reflect strong performance in crash tests.

Mazda kept the streak despite the IIHS imposing stricter requirements for earning the 2026 Top Safety Pick+ award. According to the press release, the revised criteria aim to improve crash avoidance and rear-seat passenger protection. The IIHS also requires front crash prevention systems to come standard for a vehicle to qualify for an award.

As such, the Japanese marque noted that all of its new models come standard with advanced driver-assistance features, including Lane Departure Warning and Smart Brake Support.

Since 2008, the company has earned 99 Top Safety Pick awards, 73 of them Top Safety Pick+ honors. Commenting on this year’s eight winners, Jennifer Morrison, director of vehicle safety strategy at Mazda North American Operations, said, “Earning eight Top Safety Pick+ awards shows what happens when you stay true to your philosophy: driving stays engaging, and families stay protected.”

Mazda

This year, the IIHS has emphasized that class-leading safety does not have to come with a high price tag. Citing the average new-car price in the U.S., which topped $50,000 last year, the nonprofit noted that more than a dozen models starting under $30,000 earned the 2026 Top Safety Pick+ award.

In Mazda’s own lineup, four 2026 Top Safety Pick+ winners start at under $30,000. They include the Mazda3 at $24,550, Mazda3 Hatchback at $25,550, CX-30 at $25,975, and CX-50 at $29,900, all before destination fees. IIHS President David Harkey said, “They (Mazda) are providing consumers with the best in safety features at a range of prices.”

Chase Bierenkoven

After a few years when Subaru’s only EV was the slightly underwhelming Solterra, the Japanese marque has stepped up its game with several new fully electric models. The Solterra itself was substantially updated for 2026, before the smaller Uncharted and larger Trailseeker were unveiled. Now, Subaru is planning to launch a fourth electric SUV in the U.S., and it’s easily the most powerful one so far. The new vehicle was teased this week ahead of a planned unveiling in April.

Subaru

Although Subaru said very little about the new SUV, it confirmed an output of 420 horsepower—more than the already rapid Trailseeker, which has 375 hp. It’s exactly as much power as you’ll get from a new Dodge Charger R/T.

The vehicle will have the brand’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, so it’s very likely to have dual electric motors. In the teaser, the new SUV’s front lighting signature mirrors what we’ve seen on the likes of the Solterra and Trailseeker, and it also has an illuminated logo. Not much else can be gleaned from the sole, shadowy image provided.

The Trailseeker can achieve a 0-60 mph time of around 4.4 seconds, suggesting that this new SUV will be capable of inching closer to four seconds. That’s quicker than any Subaru with a WRX or STI badge, and it’s all the more impressive when you consider the Trailseeker is a spacious midsize SUV. 

Related: Subaru’s Fastest Car Ever Isn’t an STI, It’s an Electric SUV

Subaru

While we don’t know how large the new SUV is, its high output and the presence of three smaller two-row electric SUVs in the Subaru lineup suggest this will be a three-row model. Subaru doesn’t yet have a three-row electric SUV to match the versatility of the Ascent, and the company confirmed that a three-row EV would be on its way this year.

What’s interesting is that the smaller Subaru electric SUVs share their powertrains and outputs with various Toyotas; the Trailseeker is Subaru’s version of the Toyota bZ Woodland, for instance. Therefore, it would make sense for Subaru to launch an equivalent of the 2027 three-row Highlander, but that model only has up to 338 hp—far less than the 420 hp of Subaru’s new model.

We’ll know more about the new Subaru when it’s revealed at the 2026 New York International Auto Show on April 1.

Subaru

Three-row electric SUVs were rare until recently. In the non-luxury segment, the only options were the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. But the new Toyota Highlander and Subaru’s new entry—assuming it’s a three-row model—will significantly bolster the choices in this category.

Whether or not it’s a three-row model, Subaru’s EV expansion may just be coming at the perfect time. Gas prices have increased sharply over the last month or so, reviving interest in EVs for many buyers. Four electric SUVs will put Subaru in a strong position to take advantage of the current dilemma facing owners of gas cars.

Say what you want about Subaru, but the brand still enjoys a respectable reputation globally. It remains a force in the automotive space largely because it stays true to its core competencies and strengths. Instead of making hard pivots to keep up with the times, this brand chooses to be pragmatic and still offer rugged, dependable, and dynamic driving cars in our world of sustainability.

It has to be commended that Subaru can still be one of the very few brands left that have cars for all types of owners. From the practical to the emotional, we see the BRZand the WRX as part of a dying breed of affordable performance. Each model honed through decades of racing experience on the road and off. In a shocking turn of events, the automaker has announced it'll be taking the BRZ rallying.

rallyplus.net

You read that right, Subaru is going rally racing with its 2-door sports car. It was announced during the opening round of the Japanese Super Taikyu Series in Motegi, a premier touring car series held in Japan. The report comes fromRally Plus, along with photos of the BRZ rally car render Subaru showcased. It will be raced in the All Japan Rally Championship this year.

The first question is: why would they race a rear-wheel-drive car? Well, probably keen to show off their expertise, the Subaru team will be converting the BRZ into an all-wheel-drive turbocharged race car. They even announced that the car will be piloted by Toshihiro Arai, suggesting the project is in an advanced stage.

In true Subaru fashion, the engine will be a turbocharged boxer unit coupled with the legendary symmetrical AWD system beefed up for racing. It seems the ingredients for this project's success are all there. Based on the renders, we can see an aggressively wider fendered BRZ in motion, which also shows that the car has been lifted to Rally racing height.

Also stated in the report is Subaru's claim that more details on the car will be shared soon, but the car itself will be launched during the first half of this season's All Japan Rally Championship. Toshihiro Arai currently races for Subaru in the All Japan Rally, still using last year's WRX S4.

It'll be interesting to see just how good the AWD BRZ rally car will be; furthermore, we're certain that fans the world over are crossing their fingers and toes that a special-edition road-going model will be introduced.

Subaru BRZ X Concept Art

Cole Attisha Using Midjourney 7.0 & Gemini 2.5 Flash Image

Key Points

• The Subaru Forster was redesigned for the 2025 model year, carrying over the same interior technology but with a more refined exterior and numerous cabin improvements.
• The Wilderness Edition, with its rugged look and additional off-road capability, has been proven to be a hot seller for the brand.
• The Forester keeps comfort and efficiency at the top of its list, while driving dynamics and power take a back seat.

Subaru has applied its Wilderness trim to three of its biggest sellers. The mid-tier Forester, also the brand's second best-selling model, received the ruggedized trim in 2024, which carried over for the 6th-generation redesign. In a new sub-segment of soft-roaders, it has quickly become a big success for the brand, across the Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback.

Amos Kwon

The Subaru Forester Wilderness Edition trim integrates genuine off-road upgrades rather than cosmetic add-ons, and that's a smart move compared to some other brands' versions. With increased ground clearance, revised gearing, all-terrain tires, and trail-focused technology, it aims to be equally comfortable on muddy trails and commutes.

My tester's base price was $38,385. Key standard features included 17-inch matte black alloy wheels, raised suspension with 9.3 inches of ground clearance, revised Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system with center locking differential, all-terrain tires, Wilderness exclusive exterior trim and badging, dual front and rear recovery points, aluminum underbody protection, heated front seats, dual automatic climate control, EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, power panoramic moonroof, X-MODE Dual-Mode System, StarTex upholstery, Harman Kardon premium audio, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen. The total price came to $42,035 including a $2,200 options package and a $1,450 destination fee.

Amos Kwon

The Forester Wilderness lookslike no other Forester in the lineup, and Subaru made sure it stands out as a truly capable soft-roader, even moreso than the last generation's trim level. The hex fog lights, matte black hood treatment, unique grille, and anodiized copper trim bits set it apart. Matte-black 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires reinforce its trail-ready intent. From the side view, it's apparent that this trim level is different. It looks like it would rather be camping than going to the strip mall.

Amos Kwon

The increased 9.3 inches of ground clearance and revised bumpers improve approach and departure angles, making the Wilderness visibly more capable than standard Forester trims. The special badging on the front door and the chunky tires meld incely with the matte black roof rails and ruggedized body cladding. The angular fender trim is a bit busy, but that's the look Subaru wants across its model line. While we wouldn't call it an stunning vehicle, it's hard to mistake the Forester Wilderness for anything else.

Amos Kwon

Inside, the cabin doesn't look all that much different from the last Forester. It's purposeful but ruggedly appealing. The grey StarTex water-resistant upholstery is easy to clean after muddy hikes or dog-filled adventures, while copper accents and Wilderness badging provide visual continuity with the exterior. The big touchscreen overwhelms the dash, but it incorporates most of the vehicle's climate and audio controls, so it comes as no surprise.

Amos Kwon

There is a lot of grey plastic inside, but it's all well done. The broad seats have contrast stitching to break up the darkness, and the StarTex logos on the seat inserts and the embossed headrest logos help to further distinguish the trim level. The little copper tags on the seats and doors are a little gimmicky, but the outdoorsy types should like that.

Amos Kwon

The large 11.6-inch touchscreen anchors the dashboard, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad included as standard. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with Wilderness-specific graphics adds a modern touch while keeping critical off-road data easy to read. What I don't get is why the 2025 redesign didn't get the redesigned Outback's much better interface and portrait orientation. That system looks better, is more responsive, and ditches the poor on-screen climate controls. The redesign came a year after the Forester, but could the brand not have foreseen this?

Amos Kwon

Subaru’s dual-function X-MODE system offers terrain settings for snow, dirt, mud, and deep snow, allowing controlled wheel slip for improved traction in challenging conditions. While the interface is feature-rich, the vertically oriented infotainment layout still requires multiple taps for some climate and vehicle controls, which can be distracting on rough terrain. Modern and capable, though the touchscreen-heavy interface isn’t ideal off-road.

Amos Kwon

The Forester has long excelled at everyday usability, and the Wilderness Edition maintains that reputation. The upright greenhouse provides excellent outward visibility, while the suspension tuning absorbs potholes, gravel chatter, and highway seams with ease. The huge airy cabin has a colossal amountof headroom, more than just about any vehicle we've tested. The SofTex upholstery is perfect for the outdoors and for families. It wipes clean easily, and all of the interior surfaces minimize filth, except for the piano black on the center stack.

Amos Kwon

39.4 inches of rear legroom is class-leading, and the seats are very comfortable for rear occupants. The cushioning and the back rests are just right, and even the middle position is good for longer trips thanks to minimal bulging. The rear side windows and the large panoramic moonroof help to minimize motion sickness. My kids marveled at the cabin space and felt comfortable stretching out.

Amos Kwon

The reinforced roof rails can support up to 800 pounds of static load, enough for a rooftop tent, while the 3,500-pound towing capacity expands its utility for small campers or boats. In fact, it's the most of any Forester, ever. It also boasts real-word practicality with a full-size spare tire, durable cargo-area materials, LED cargo lighting, and flexible 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The cargo section is capacious with a total of 74.4 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

Amos Kwon

Power comes from a revised 2.5-liter BOXER engine producing 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque and paired with a CVT featuring a shorter final drive ratio for improved low-speed control. On pavement, the Wilderness feels composed and surprisingly refined. Subaru retuned the suspension to maintain ride comfort while preserving off-road articulation, and the all-terrain tires remain relatively quiet at highway speeds. While the Forester Wilderness is excellent in a straight line and on trails, that's the limitation of its capabilities.

The steering, handling, and accleration are lackluster, but Subaru doesn't excel at those with its family-friendly models. 0-60 comes in about 8.8 seconds, which is far from blistering. It's adequate for daily driving, but it's challenged when it comes to passing and merging into moving traffic on highways. Expect sufficient body roll and that floating feeling in the turns.

Off-road, the Wilderness proves its legitimacy. Dual-function X-MODE, revised AWD programming, and extra ground clearance allow it to tackle rutted trails, snow, and rocky terrain with confidence. That said, acceleration is modest, and the CVT prioritizes efficiency and traction over driving excitement.

The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness Edition successfully transforms a practical compact SUV into a genuinely capable adventure vehicle without sacrificing everyday livability. With increased ground clearance, all-terrain tires, revised gearing, and trail-focused drive modes, it’s built to handle snow, mud, and rough trails while remaining comfortable and efficient for daily commutes and long highway drives.

It isn’t quick, and the touchscreen-heavy interface can be frustrating off-road, but those compromises feel intentional in a vehicle designed for control and confidence rather than speed. For drivers who need one SUV to tackle Midwest winters, pothole-ridden streets, and weekend escapes beyond the pavement, the Forester Wilderness stands out as one of the most well-rounded and purpose-driven choices in the compact SUV class.

In the '90s, the world of rallying was taken over by the Japanese. What used to be dominated by the Europeans was now in the hands of Mitsubishi's Lancer and Subaru's WRX STI. One reason the STI gained so much following was the man behind the wheel, no-fear driver Colin McRae.

He was responsible for piloting the GC8 generation Impreza to multiple wins and a WRC Title. His tenure with Subaru gave birth to many special-edition models, and while all the attention usually falls on the 22B, a post-McRae limited edition was also created.

Cars and Bids

In the year 2000, just as the GC8 generation's production was coming to an end, the brand decided to make it stand out one last time. It was then that the S201 was born, a special, limited edition performance version. In fact, this is the first S-series Impreza, and it set the precedent as the ultimate STI before production ended and the next generation's introduction.

One such car is now for sale on Cars and Bids. This car is a right-hand drive model listed in New Hampshire and is finished in a combination of Silver and Grey. It was reportedly imported back in December of 2025, and it has 159,000 kilometers (99,200 miles) on the clock.

What looks like an aftermarket body kit is actually the factory kit for the S201; it was considered polarizing back in the day, but an interesting tidbit is that the rear wing was developed by the aerospace division of Fuji Heavy Industries. It also features a set of 16-inch forged Rays wheels finished in the iconic gold.

In terms of capabilities, the S201 underwent many modifications; the EJ20 boxer 4 was widely considered the first motor to break the old Japanese gentlemen's agreement of just 276 horsepower. The S201 advertised a 300 hp power output. It featured a special sports ECU and enhanced intake/exhaust systems.

Cars and Bids

Power is delivered through a 5-speed manual transmission and an all-wheel-drive system with a front helical limited-slip differential (LSD). A standout S201 feature would have been the suspension system, which was reinforced with height-adjustable parts, but that is gone, and in its place is a TEIN coilover kit. Other non-factory parts include an HKS blow-off valve, an exhaust, and a Seibon carbon fiber hood.

Originally, 300 S201s were slated for production, but for some reason Subaru never made it to 300. Some people have said that they stopped production after just 87 cars, making number 20/300 even rarer than the famed 22B STI.

The current bid is at $9,555 and has days left. If you want a rare piece of Subaru's golden years, this is your chance.

Cars and Bids