Subaru is keeping things refreshingly straightforward with the 2027 Forester, holding the starting price at $29,995 while making some meaningful changes farther up the lineup. Most Forester trims carry over their 2026 pricing, and the Forester Hybrid continues to start at $34,730. The bigger news, however, is the arrival of the 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid, a new $40,495 model that combines the brand’s more adventurous Wilderness treatment with its latest hybrid powertrain.

The regular Forester lineup has also been reshuffled for 2027. Gas-powered models are now offered in Base, Premium, Wilderness, and Limited trims, while the hybrid side expands to Premium Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Wilderness Hybrid, Limited Hybrid, and Touring Hybrid. The gas-only Sport, Sport Onyx Edition, and Touring trims have been dropped, suggesting Subaru sees hybrid power becoming increasingly important for buyers shopping beyond the entry-level Forester. The standard Forester Premium starts at $31,995, the Limited comes in at $37,595, and the gas-powered Wilderness is priced at $39,495.

Regardless of trim, the Forester continues to lean heavily into the attributes that have made it one of Subaru’s core products. Every 2027 Forester gets Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, EyeSight driver-assistance technology, and at least 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Most versions also receive Subaru’s 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Wilderness and all hybrid trims get a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. Gas models use Subaru’s familiar 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower, while hybrid models pair a specially developed 2.5-liter Boxer engine with electric motors and a lithium-ion battery for 194 combined horsepower.

Of course, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid is where the 2027 lineup becomes much more interesting. It is Subaru’s first Wilderness-badged hybrid, and it retains much of the hardware that gives the regular Wilderness genuine trail capability. Ground clearance increases to 9.3 inches, Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires wrap 17-inch wheels, and Subaru includes enhanced underbody protection along with Dual-Mode X-MODE. Inside, buyers get StarTex upholstery, a heated steering wheel, Harman Kardon audio, a power rear gate, the digital gauge cluster, and several other features that make the $1,000 jump from the gas-powered Wilderness look fairly reasonable.

There is something particularly interesting about seeing automakers increasingly pair hybrid powertrains with their off-road-oriented trims. For years, electrification was largely associated with maximizing efficiency in vehicles designed around commuting and everyday pavement use. That line is beginning to blur. Vehicles such as the Forester Wilderness Hybrid show how electric assistance can potentially complement an adventure-focused SUV by adding efficiency, useful low-speed response, and additional driving range without requiring owners to abandon the all-wheel-drive capability and rugged hardware they actually want. As more automakers apply hybrid systems to trail-focused models, these vehicles could eventually appeal to a much larger audience, especially buyers who want legitimate weekend capability without accepting poor fuel economy during the other five days of the week.

Subaru is also keeping the rest of the hybrid lineup relatively approachable. The Premium Hybrid remains at $34,730, while the Sport Hybrid costs $37,930 and adds distinctive styling, 19-inch wheels, Harman Kardon audio, Blind-Spot Detection, Reverse Automatic Braking, and Dual-Mode X-MODE. The Limited Hybrid checks in at $38,995, while the range-topping Touring Hybrid remains $41,545 and adds niceties such as ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a 360-degree camera system, DriverFocus, and a Smart Rearview Mirror. Considering how quickly new-vehicle prices have climbed in recent years, simply keeping most of these figures unchanged from the previous model year is noteworthy.

The gas-powered Wilderness is still around for buyers who would rather stick with a conventional powertrain. At $39,495, it brings 9.3 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, additional underbody protection, a revised final-drive ratio, a transmission cooler, and a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Subaru also makes equipment that was previously optional standard for 2027, including its larger infotainment system with navigation, Harman Kardon audio, a power rear gate, StarTex upholstery, and a 180-degree front-view camera. Heated rear outboard seats and a StarTex-wrapped heated steering wheel are newly added as well.

Taken as a whole, the 2027 Forester lineup looks less like a dramatic overhaul and more like Subaru carefully refining an already successful formula. Holding the $29,995 base price gives the company an important affordability story, while expanding the hybrid lineup gives shoppers more ways to balance capability with fuel consumption. Most importantly, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid demonstrates that rugged SUVs and electrification do not have to live at opposite ends of the showroom. If buyers respond well to that combination, we would not be surprised to see hybrid power become increasingly common across off-road-focused trims throughout the industry.