The Subaru Wilderness trim level, available on the subcompact Crosstrek, compact Forester, and midsize Outback crossovers, brings lots of capability thanks to added ground clearance, more aggressive all-terrain tires, and some clever computerized traction management. The only complaint we have is that, except for the turbocharged Outback Wilderness, the off-road Subies can feel a little gutless when traversing low-speed obstacles or merging onto the highway. That is apparently about to change, as the automaker announced it will give one of its Wilderness products an available hybrid powertrain, meaning more torque and better fuel economy is on the way. Going Green And Getting Outdoors The company didn't specify which model would be getting a Wilderness hybrid trim, only admitting that the new product would be revealed on April 1 at the 2026 New York International Auto Show and revealing the badge it would wear. The same copper-toned text and towering mountain motif appear above the word "hybrid," setting this Wilderness just slightly apart from its non-electrified siblings.Brett T. Evans / CarBuzz / ValnetAs for which model will get the badge, that remains to be seen. Subaru currently makes two hybrid products based on the Forester and the Crosstrek, both of which get the same 2.5-liter flat-four mated to two electric motors inside its e-CVT transmission. As with all internal-combustion Subarus, the hybrid system sends power to all four wheels via a physical driveshaft, which the company says ensures good traction and responses at any speed.The electrified Forester and Crosstrek both get a handy little horsepower bump to 194 – up 12 over the non-hybrid 2.5-liter – and while that doesn't sound like much, the behavior of the e-CVT makes the absolute most of that grunt. Furthermore, those two electric motors provide a healthy 199 pound-feet of added torque right off the line, helping both crossovers feel much more confident in all driving conditions. SubaruAn unfortunate side effect of the hybrid transition is that on both SUVs, the high-voltage battery takes up space where a spare tire would otherwise go, a problem we hope Subaru will solve with the forthcoming Wilderness trim. Not having a spare all-terrain to swap on in case the sidewall encounters a sharp rock would be a great way to get lost in the woods and require professional rescue. Perhaps the company will make an external tire mount an option, which would add peace of mind while also looking pretty bitchin'. Our Experiences With The Hybrids Although we haven't sampled the electrified Forester just yet, our time behind the wheel of the Crosstrek hybrid was a hugely pleasant surprise. The traction motor's added torque helped the little crossover step off the line with a lot more authority, easily chirping its front tires if we were injudicious with the accelerator pedal. Furthermore, the added weight of the battery over the rear axle actually made handling feel more neutral, a nice surprise in a subcompact SUV. Brett T. Evans/CarBuzz/ValnetAdding to the appeal is a fuel economy rating of 36 miles per gallon in city, highway, and combined driving, a tidy upgrade over the non-hybrid Crosstrek's 26/33/29 mpg. Applying the same science to a potential Crosstrek Wilderness hybrid could yield fuel economy of 33 mpg or so, a big upgrade from the gas-only model's 26 combined. A potential Forester Wilderness hybrid could see similar gains, attaining 32 mpg instead of 25.Brett T. Evans / CarBuzz / ValnetUnfortunately, Subaru isn't ready to confirm which SUV family is getting electrified, but we don't have to wait long to find out. The first-ever Wilderness hybrid model debuts in T-minus seven days.Source: Subaru