Does the 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness Dominate or Disappoint in the TFL Slip Test & Off-Road?

Register today at SalvageReseller.com and start bidding on salvage auto auctions without needing a dealer license. Register for free and use code TFLC20 to save 20%. Go find your salvage car gem now! www.salvageres...
( www.alltfl.com/ ) Check out our new spot to find ALL our content, from news to videos and our podcasts!
( / tflcar ) Visit our Patreon page to support the TFL team!
Watch more videos from TFL Studios:
The Fast Lane Truck ( / tfltruck )
The Fast Lane Car ( / tflcar )
TFLoffroad ( / tfloffroad )
TFLbike (www.youtube.co... )
TFLnow ( / tflnow )
TFLclassics ( / tflclassics )
TFLtalk ( / tfltalk )
TFL Podcasts:
TFL Talkin' Cars Podcast ( redcircle.com/... )
TFL Talkin' Trucks Podcast ( redcircle.com/... )
#subaru #car #review

[@bluceree7312]

That's a car geek at his finest. The amount of details he knows about his car.

[@jacobshort5378]

Almost like it's their job to know about the cars or something.

[@Maryland_Kulak]

I have this exact car. Same color and everything. I recently took it on Peters Mill Run in the George Washington National Forest. This is an 8 mile ATV trail that Jeep owners use to earn a “Badge of Honor”. It was crazy, but my Subie never came close to getting stuck. My biggest fear was having the rocks damage the underside of my car, but there were no problems. I did the whole thing in the Dirt Snow X-Mode.

[@matts5515]

Did this trail in my Compass Trailhawk for the badge- was an absolute blast. Beautiful trail.

[@Baked13]

... I have this exact same vehicle , off road it does everything my Taco did in more comfort - I bought it due to the review [Sarah n'tuned] did . I'm 70 , not brand loyal , this is my first Subie and not sorry I traded my 2 yr old Wrangler for it ... nice job Tommy ...

[@sktona]

KZbin bots love shilling that tranny

[@ronaldrrootiii6040]

Well then you didn't take your Tacoma on very hard stuff😂

[@doom8274]

@@ronaldrrootiii6040 99% of taco drivers never do lmaooooo if you're rock crawling? should've bought a jeep. you're mudding? you're going to want something that isn't so anemic that it struggles to hit 60mph with big mud tires on. the taco is the ultimate compromise truck and a half step from an SUV but somehow they've got a cult around them like they can do everything

[@Paragon_Reason]

So we just bought a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek wilderness and I'm wondering what the sport mode does on it basically if I was to be off-roading on say like a muddy incline or something what I want it in sport {S} mode or the regular {I} setting in steering wheel

[@doom8274]

@@Paragon_Reason sport is for on road, faster acceleration etc. X-Mode is for off road

[@shanesnyder7359]

Absolutely love this test and kudos to this owner for bringing his car to you for review. That is such an awesome gesture for those of us who love these videos. Thank you so much You are fantastic! Thank you Tommy for explaining all of this and working with this owner as you did. I am very disappointed that Subaru is still holding a grudge against you guys, but I admit, I've had a Forester for a few years and absolutely love the product. I've been contemplating trading on an Ascent, but I don't know if that car would be as fun to drive as the Forester. Curious to see what the 2024 Forester will bring.

[@nodak81]

I've heard the Ascent has CVT issues more than the other models. It's too heavy for such a wimpy transmission design.

[@717dash_cam]

We should get good hybrid tech for the next generation, whether it's 2024 with the redesign if they do it this year... or if they'd wait until 2025/26 to introduce it. My partners Ascent is nice, but I felt like the steering is way overboosted and the stock tires do not inspire confidence in something its size. Overalll, it's just too heavy for what it's been given for tires, brakes, and transmission. He's struggling to get 22 out of it, but has a lead foot, drives aggressively and does a lot of hilly/mountainous driving.

[@phild9813]

I agree with you, although we’ve had an Outback since purchased new in 2019 that is an okay car that I can’t complain too much about, but I wish we would’ve just ponied up for an AWD Toyota.

[@zogadwoe]

​@nodak81 not for my 2021 ascent limited. It's been trouble-free, so far.

[@calvin-]

​@@nodak81 I can generally confirm this. I have worked for Subaru for 3 years, and we have seen more problematic Ascent CVTs than we should have. On the plus side, Subaru has a CVT warranty extension. The customer gets a loaner while their tranny is swapped at no cost to them. 👍🏻

[@hollowpoint185]

I love this test. Having the owners' input adds so much more real-world feedback and information.

[@andyorr1597]

Here in Colorado, Subaru’s might be considered the official state car. I owned a 2006 Outback with that Boxer 2.5 engine. It was a rocket ship. At the time, we were spending most of our winters at 9,000 feet in Winter Park. With snow tires that Subie was like a super comfy snow mobile. When I put it up for sale, it sold in an hour for full price. You really can’t go wrong with Subaru.

[@dgunearthed7859]

Im the anomaly...2017 forester. Rear struts broke under warranty w almost no miles and NO offroading. AC never worked right and so recall or bulletin for I think the condenser got it fixed free. THEN the compressor went out just after 36k miles and so no warranty and not covered by that bulletin! A few other things and off to the kia dealer it went. KIA Soul has been great (they were both the wifes cars) with now about that same 36k miles. I know it's just luck of the draw. In fact I just sold my 2003 f-150 and am actually considering a new Forester Wilderness. Made in Japan HAS to still mean something.

[@chriscon8463]

Thanks to that Subaru owner for letting you test his car! My wife has a ‘21 Forester “Base”; we put 4 studded snow tires on it for the NWPA winters & it’s a tank in the snow.

[@paulholterhaus7084]

Mine was a TANK with just BLIZZAKS..............Paul

[@abilityboatworks5024]

Good for you. I've not bought one since they started being childish with TFL.

[@fredharvey2720]

Subarus are snow tanks by default

[@user-tb7rn1il3q]

@@layne4376 If that. They don’t have enough power to spin a bald summer tire on glare ice. I remember merging in my Mom’s Subaru Legacy. I cut in and then tried to push the pedal down. It was already floored. We were almost hit. I told her to buy a Jeep but she didn’t listen. The Subaru didn’t even last 60k miles before that transmission self destructed. The AC barely worked and it only got 20 mpg even though it had no power. The whole car fell apart. They are not good cars.

[@vincentmiller7090]

@@user-tb7rn1il3q Shit my 08 hatch impreza could spin the tires... plus put ya in ur seat! then again it dont have a crappy cvt

[@kjamesjr]

Just bought one. Everyone bashing the non-turbo or CVT thing haven’t actually driven one of these. They are exceptional for reasons I’ll list if asked.

[@NoQuarterNoMercy1]

My wife has a 2022 Forester Wilderness. In this same color. We’ve had it in sugar sand here in Florida and it handled it well. We’ve also driven to WV with it and taken it on some simple trails. I’d love to see a full off-road review. Subaru needs to play ball.

[@27Zangle]

Most Subaru's are fantastic in soft sand and tight trails. I've owned two older Subaru's and beat the living snot out each, down old ski trails, beaches, and even racing around the lake when frozen. I was able to easily get places some larger vehicles struggled due to size, weight, or both.

[@JDS-Dalton]

I've got a lifted forester wilderness, and recently did a trip with about 20 other rigs that were all built up 4x4 jeeps or toyotas on some pretty difficult trails, and I kept up with them pretty well from the hard trails, to the beach.

[@Jackknifexi]

i have an outback wilderness, and decided to take a mountain road on cape breton thinking it cant be that bad.... i ended up on an advanced atv trail and this car cruised though it. It had rained for the past four days, wash outs on the right cliff on the left. xmode downhill control probably saved our lives out there. dumb tourist mistake. But the Subaru got us through it. thankfully I got my Wilderness with the metal skid plates before they became plastic because that would have failed.

[@weatherornotsubaru]

Check out "Driving Sports TV" youtube channel. They took their forest wilderness rock crawling at one point, plus a lot of other offroad/snow driving.

[@adam_mawz_maas]

@@27Zangle As a former Forester owner (2015), the only complaint I had with it on dirt road is the poor turning circle. I definitely notice that I can turn my JLU much tighter than the Forester (I have a stock 4-door Sahara, so it's a close comparison than a Willys/Rubicon or a 2-door JL would be). That can be a real advantage when trying to turn around in tighter spots.

[@Doc1855]

I absolutely Love my Forester Touring with the dual Xmode. We live in a very mountainous area of WA state, 5 miles from town further up the mountains. We get 5-7 feet of snow in the winter and live on a private road that we have to plow and maintain ourselves. Our Forester is my vehicle and our Outback is my wife’s.

[@circlesthesun]

Purchased a FW in Santa Fe in Dec 2023. A smooth and quiet ride versus the sport. Drove the Southside entrance of Chaco Canyon and was impressed.

[@krashanb5767]

Cool test. Forester is very nice. Dan is a smart guy, nailed all the potential issues for Chicago driving.

[@williampierce5615]

If you want a reliable car. Subaru is the way to go. On my 4th crosstrek.

[@justinkundert3383]

Ha, well, although I do agree they're reliable, unless you've been buying and driving Subaru vehicles for a good 40 years (I buy a vehicle about every 10 to 15 years), I'm not sure "4th crosstrek" equals reliability. I know this is also unfair, since, you know, mileage per year and all. I do get your point :)

[@saltyt.1886]

Hey Jessica from Subaru - please let TFL back in with the other automotive journalists to review your products! Tommy - fantastic job with the review. That was really generous for a fellow TFL viewer to bring their personal rig in for you to test. Especially since Subaru is still unfairly keeping TFL out of the loop since the accidental “scratching of the paint” incident years ago. (SMH)

[@chuckpatterson8895]

Great video. Real people with their real rides. Much better than manufacturer provided vehicles. Subaru has to be smiling after watching this.

[@pm_davidjones]

Also just outside Chicago and got the Forester Wilderness. For the first time I was actually looking forward to winter driving to play in the snow. Sadly, it hardly snowed at all this winter, but on the few nights we did get over 4 inches, I was having a BLAST! As far as everyday driving goes I am really enjoying it. With all of the road construction that seems to be always going on here I don't even blink when half the road is missing in this car. I did have to disable the auto lane centering as it gets confused in construction areas where the stripes in the road mean pretty much nothing. It kept trying to stay in the stripes kinda fighting with me to follow reality. I've had it for about 9 months and I like it more every day. It's my first Subaru and I'm guessing it won't be my last. My only gripe is the Start/Stop "feature" that you have to turn off every time you start the car, but soon that will be mandatory on all cars. I know there is a way around it for about 100 bucks. Leave it to the government to screw up perfectly good cars. Really I'm not all that excited about saving .03 gallons of gas per year to beat the crap out of my starter and battery every day.

[@natef1212]

I was originally glad it had that feature until I looked at stats on my dashboard. After 45 minutes total(over 1000 miles) of auto stop start turning the engine off, it only saved about half a gallon. Yep. Now I'm not liking it. Really doesn't save anything

[@Deetroiter]

There’s quite a few other manufacturers who let you actually keep it turned off by simply setting it in the menu settings. Why Subaru doesn’t allow you to do the same is beyond me.

[@rollie8069]

Truthfully most auto stop/start vehicles are just like that. Everyone I know that has one hates it so your not alone and it’s def not a Subaru thing

[@angusmacdonald5300]

The thing I don’t like about Subaru auto stop/start is that it’s not smooth like some other brands I’ve driven. Both on my previous Outback and my new Forester, there is a jolt when it auto starts. Can’t be good for the engine and it’s just annoying.

[@dennisjanwolterding384]

I own a 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness after having owned a 2021 Subaru Forester Touring. I took the Touring cross-country and off road, including on steep quarry roads, and it was excellent. The Wilderness has not yet been so thoroughly challenged, but it has manifestly more torque and I can't imagine it's not an offroad hero.

[@mrelac6817]

Thanks for the video actually bought the exact same car with the exact same color for 2024. This is my introduction video. Thank you. lol .

[@TheBioAbyssal]

My wife started with a Jeep and it wasn't too long she got tired of how noisy, clunky, and overall how poorly the car was built and designed. She wanted something fun, safe, capable, and pleasing both inside and out. It wasn't long until she found herself inside an Outback Wilderness Edt. I will say first hand that car is such a treat to drive, to own, and have fun with offroad. We loved the outback so much within a week we back to the dealership and purchased another Outback, this time an XT Touring with all the extras. There's nothing like a Subaru!

[@tertlordert]

I’m currently driving a Jeep Cherokee rental for 6 weeks while my OBXT Touring being repaired was hit from behind. Everything about the Jeep is just 2nd rate, actually shoddy everything, very disappointing.

[@JohnSandovalesq]

I bought my Wilderness in March. One thing I'm surprised the owner from Chicago didn't mention is that the Wilderness comes with all terrain tires that are snow rated. This was one of many reasons I got one for winter life in Northern NY. Also, the car IMO handles really well considering the taller tires and ground clearance. I agree with all the points this owner made, acceleration is surprisingly good, at least if you live near sea level.

[@Draconis8888]

Great demo of the X drive and real owner input. Thanks for showing this off.

[@FlowJunkie65]

The Wilderness model's dual X mode adds more traction control for really tough, slippery, snowy, muddy, rocky, etc. terrain. But, in some other tests, I wasn't completely convinced that it was always better than the standard X mode, so I bought a Premium model. The Premium also gets 5 MPG more on highway than the Wilderness, 3 MPG more for combined driving than the Wilderness, but only 1 more MPG for city driving over the Wilderness. Like your dad, I have zero complained about my Forester Premium.

[@ronmanson3000]

this owner really did his homework on this car. Good subie content.

[@Deetroiter]

The thing I really like about subaru is I can almost guarantee that they take all of that crash data and analysis from their rally racing heritage and apply it to their production vehicles. If it’s good enough for rally, it’s good enough for getting to the grocery store or to a camping trip. Pretty much all vehicles are safe in 2023, but subaru does it just that much better! “They Lived…”

[@fredharvey2720]

That's how you do it 👍

[@STRIKER520]

I would agree if they didn't rely on a CVT . Definitely not a good transmission for long term.

[@sfshilo]

There is zero chance they do that. They haven't done rally in years, and they didn't do it with a Forester....

[@MstaEd]

Ford does that.

[@SteveLEKORodrigue]

@@sfshilo : It's not because Subaru don't have a WRC presence they don't have a ton rally drivers worldwide that provides feedback and data. Look at the Canadian and American rally championship, there's many Subarus and they sponsor many teams and evens.

[@717dash_cam]

I'm on my 2nd Forester, a 22 Wilderness and am really impressed with it. It's smooth, comfortable, and responsive enough. My complaints are mostly the cup holders and front cubby. The removable divider gets pulled out too easily with cups and bottles, and square water bottles don't fit so well. The storage cubby in front of the shifter is still small, I wish it was either deeper or wider, to better fit devices. For the refresh, I would have liked to have seen the larger screen, but knowing I would have given up physical HVAC controls, I'll live with what we have until the next generation infotainment comes out. I briefely had a CRV Hybrid, and also a 22 Legacy XT; The CRV was disappointing for hybrid fuel economy, and their electronics were glitchy. I've already dealt with a couple lemon laws and wasn't starting another. The Legacys 11.6 infotainment is why I'm okay with the Foresters current version, love the turbo but missed the ride height. Oddly enough, I'm getting better economy out of the FW than I was the Legacy; that's not to say the Legacy got bad economy... I managed 34 average from MD to southern NC, but struggeled to get 26 out of it on my normal drives, the FW I'm getting 27-29 average. I'm sure had I adjusted my routes on the Legacy, I could have managed better, things did get better as I learned its ideal power/efficency band.

[@RepublicanPugChavez]

I have a 2022 Subaru wilderness and live in Bozeman Montana. I drive all around southwest Montana and bring this car on rough terrain, it does great. Deep snow, mud is good and does well on ice. Driving down to yellowstone is great, only thing is the car feels weird on the highway above 80 mph especially in wind. The car is light and wants to fly away lol but just driving in rough terrain it’s great. SW Montana certified

[@joesteel]

after much reading and watching reviews I negotiated over the phone and online and locked a decent interest rate before the went up in late december which held on until end of January. Once a shipment came in I went in, barely tested my 2023 Forrester Wilderness in the dealership cul de sac and negotiated a $2000 discount off the $37430 price. I had originally priced a premium at around $32500, however after losing that while negotiating over the phone I read more about the wilderness and the increased height to 9.2 inch ground clearance from 8.7, double towing capacity to 3k lbs from 1,500 on the regular. and the tiny extra torque making the 0 to 60 a 8.02 and the washable seats; I decided to just go for the Wilderness. So far I have o barely reached the 1,000 miles. I'll say it's as quick as my 2004 bmw 325i. Handles well, and much smoother and comfortable than both my BMW and muy 2007 Tundra. In traffic it does well but I honestly don't think the mileage is much greater than the bmw and just slightly better than the tundra. What I dislike about smaller cars is they tend to have smaller gas tanks. I don't understand that if a car is better on gas mileage that you should reduce the gas tank. All in all, it's not an eye catcher but when you're inside and the road feels smooth, you know you can tackle off road if you need to, you're commute home is much more fun and relaxing. It's still new to me but so far I have no regrets. I'm picky and hate paying these new high prices, but I'm content with my purchase. It's roomy, quieter than what reviewers i saw stated and quick and fast enough, as opposed to what youtube reviews stated. It reminds me of the build quality hand had back in the late 80s. Also, the fact that I was able to get full coverage at $600/year due to subaru being the safest rated vehicle.

[@anthonyc1883]

I like that owner and his car. I live in suburban Chicago too, so perhaps I'll see him someday. OK, yeah not likely, lol. The suburbs of Chicago are vast. Anyway, he's obviously well aware he's doing a lot of short trip driving, but over time it can be really detrimental. There can be oil dilution issues and more. I can definitely relate to his comments about potholes and RR grade crossings, especially the later. The Chicagoland metro area has lots and lots of them, many which are rough.

[@calvin-]

I love that the vehicle owner knew so much about his Forester. 👌🏻 I also have a 2023 Forester, but mine is the Sport trim. I like the car even more than I thought I would. I also work for Subaru, but have owned more Silverados than any other product. 😂

[@EchoSigma6]

The only thing I would add is a wider wheel and tire package but overall very nice and a good value as well.

[@patonbike]

X-Mode does a lot for sure. When wheeling on deep, soft sand, with Low PSI (16-ish psi), good tires and single X mode our Ascent does quite well. I'm waiting for a Wilderness Ascent.

[@650tonyd]

I hope they make a wilderness ascent

[@SpiseyMcHaggis]

Dan hit every reason that I personally bought a 2024 Forester Wilderness in Indianapolis! I have zero complaints once I got used to my first CVT.

[@tritchie6272]

I gotta say, I'm impressed by that car and I think Tommy gave it a fair review. I hope he don't get in to much trouble with his Dad over that. But truly I think the car performed well and Tommy was fair with it. And I also like how he took care of it, respected and engaged the owner. And he even asked relevant questions. Now I feel like I need to find something to complain about.

[@anthonyc1883]

lol! ;-)

[@joelweststrate7914]

Thanks for this review. Love having the opinion of the vehicle owner, the controlled tests, and the real-life off-road driving. Additionally, the commentary is very helpful. This video is one of the reasons I've purchased the 2024 Wilderness Forester (in Geyser Blue, however)

[@ralkros681]

Not sure what the beef subaru has is. But you make a great point at the start of this video. Subaru makes some of the best value vehicles on the market and they do not receive as much as love as they should (at least here in the SE of USA). I am trying to convince a coworker to buy a Subaru forester/outback instead of a highlander as he is a new father but we work at Toyota so it is kind of difficult to convince him 😅 No. 1 I love about my 2020 forester is the suspension. It is so nice and I feel like I practically float over our rough roads. Rav4 ain’t got nothing on that

[@natef1212]

Just tell him to test drive one. Biggest seller for me Is how huge the windows are. Better visibility also more room

[@Anhedonis]

I bought my mine during the Great Forester Famine of 2022 here in Georgia. Demand far outstripped supply, so I had to wait weeks for a Sport. I think the love is spreading and word is getting around in these parts (also, Mr Subaru 1387 is in South Carolina).

[@TheTubaMan2]

The one wheel peel on the three roller tests is truly impressive. Getting that much torque to one tire with just the traction control system...

[@ronaldrrootiii6040]

Sad that it took so much throttle for it to even do that. For such an advanced vehicle you can get an old Land Rover Discovery 2 1999 and it would pop right off that thing in high range no modes at all no Center diff locked just the way you drive down the street the traction control is much stronger. Why get a vehicle with no low range no articulation and all-wheel drive that is not that great that everyone thinks it's because Subaru is great at marketing when other vehicles clearly Beat It side by side during testing but everyone just as excited because Subaru people live in an echo chamber😂 the traction control is not that great it grabs but it doesn't grab that hard it makes you try way too long

[@loriz68]

I really appreciated this real world owner review and experience of the forester wilderness, thank you! I have a 2024 FW and I love the car. No regrets or second thoughts on getting it

[@BBQDad463]

I have just purchased a 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness. It runs well, handles well, rides nicely, and is comfortable and quiet. It has already shown itself to be capable of climbing the small, modest hill that leads to my woodlot in the back yard. I think Subaru has hit a home run with this car

[@jeffer1101]

We bought one of these a few weeks ago and also love it. I can mirror the same ownership experience as this owner. Ride and handling are very good. Despite many reviewers panning the engine and transmission at times (CVT and no turbo option), I find the power around town great and the CVT works very well here. It was also well priced and the dealer had it in stock so we were able to get it in a few days.

[@ph1shstyx]

I've had mine for a week and do not understand those reviews at all. I'm driving through town, I don't need to blast off the line. All I care about with it is can I drive highway speeds and how it does on forest roads when I go fishing and hiking.

[@incasejstn]

I agree on everything you said 100%. I have a wrx and when I found out that after the tfl incident Subaru came and took the 2 loaner vehicles from them without their knowledge I was appalled, embarrassed and infuriated beyond comprehension. Furthermore, the fact that Subaru accessed one of the crew members’ PERSONAL garages to take back the vehicle is absolutely unforgivable in my opinion despite it being on loan. Their actions were exceedingly unprofessional and the extent to which they mishandled the situation is disappointing and immature.

[@anthonyc1883]

Wow. I was following TFL back then, as now, and although I was aware of the Subaru incident I didn't know those details.

[@TheOutdoorBeerReview]

@@anthonyc1883 yeah iirc they basically went into Andre's personal garage to take back whatever car he had at the time. Their PR team should be fired lol

[@dinkata2005]

What's the whole story, which year was this and what "incident" happened exactly? I`m just curious, because I have obviously started watching TFL after that. I just know they don't get along with Subaru USA.

[@jayhiggins5239]

​@@dinkata2005 Roman made a comment using a Subaru employees name in a way that they found personally offensive.

[@mujjuman]

I cant watch every single TFL video across all their different channels so I'm not aware of this Subaru incident. Can someone post the link on here

[@ltwig476]

I own a 2022 Touring. with 22,000 miles on it. I drive mostly 4 hr hi-way trips twice per month. What I like best is the comfort. 2nd I like the space. Once I fold down the rear seats I can comfortably get all of our camping gear in it for 2 people camping for 3 days. The Mazda CX5 really sucked for space because of that sharp rake in the back. 3rd I love the visibility of the large windows all around. It really feels like you're out into nature instead of stuffed in some sporty looking wannabe Forester. 4th Subaru's unique all wheel drive system was not new to me, I owned a Tribeca for 15 years. Once you drive wet curves in any Subaru, everything else feels like crap , with exception of an Audi for $15,000 more. But some of Subbies great handling is do to those low slung boxer engines. The downers: While I am impressed with how much power they get out of the 2.5 non turbo, it seems to scream a bit to do it, like upward of 3,000rpm. The other issue is if I drive it closer to 80mph very much, it gets 27.6 mpg. If I drive just a tad over 70 mph =29 mpg. In both cases the car is loaded with camping gear and stuff tied on to the roof racks. While I very much enjoy the hight of the Forester, its skinny wheel base in proportion is a little scary when driving through heavy side winds. Except that's coming from owning the heavier, wider stance of my Tribeca at 22 mpg. The factory tires that come with it are mediocre at best. Except that goes for all vehicles in its class. I was expecting a bit more $tire out of their top Touring model. While all the Subbies come with excellent rubber rear cargo mats, it is insulting to have to pay extra for the rear bumper mat. I mean, it's a freaking Subaru, you are going to be dragging massive items in and out all the time and your yellow lab will be using that bumper to heave himself into car.

[@PresidentBusiness47]

My brother just got an Outback Wilderness 2024 and can't stop talking about it. Big upgrade from his 2011 Mazda CX-7.

[@YtRando69]

Yeah that 180 hp is amazing 😂😂😂

[@sapperROSS]

​@@YtRando69getting passed by semis going up hills lol

[@jjdub35]

Outback Wilderness has 260 hp

[@cofffeejoe2079]

I love my 23 Outback Wilderness, no complaints about it.

[@shawnmccutchan6025]

I am a lifelong subaru fan. My first subaru was a 1976. In 1976 there was not a lot of comfort items built in, but it was reliable. I have always found them a good value, as long as you take care of them. I just bought a 2023 wilderness cause it was "Pretty". But from my experience here shows quality has only gotten better.

[@ActualAnchy]

I bought the 2022 Wilderness. Been very pleased with it, haven’t done any off-roading or inclement weather conditions. But knowing it can, if needed - is a great peace of mind. If they can add a hybrid that would be nice, my gas mileage isn’t that great - I get about 19 to 20 mpg mix. But I’m glad this was a real world test and I’m happy to have the wilderness trim!

[@Holtenstein]

I bought this model. Been off-road multiple times and haven't had any issues. It just works. Although I haven't even gotten 26mpg ever!

[@beaglesinthesun]

I have a 22 SFW and I keep it in "I" mode and drive conservatively. The best I have ever gotten (in the city) is 22 mpg. I think this guy must be mistaken. The MPG is a trade off for it's off road prowess.

[@gunmetalblue6965]

I bought a 23 Forester Wilderness and it's wild on the fuel economy. On average I get 25 city highway combined. Highway I can get anywhere between 24-25 (Texas 80mph speeds). But when I'm taking back roads while being gentle on the gas I have almost gotten 28-30mpg

[@RKmndo]

Even my 1st-gen Crosstrek offers impressive traction. It can drift very neutrally on snow and dirt too. The Crosstrek Wilderness sounds interesting with 3500lb towing capacity, and likely still better MPG hwy than the heavier Forester. A 4500-5500lb winch and a rear diff-locker are pretty affordable too.

[@kenhoward3512]

"We have no working relationship with Subaru because they didn't like the outcome of a past review." This is the problem with most reviews/reviewers: honesty is hard to come by. Reviewers, I'm sure, feel that if they are critical, the test fleet manager will cut them off from free loaner test vehicles - so we get most reviewers acting like (disgustingly-) enthusiastic salespeople, never voicing any real criticism. Consumer Reports - *buying* their own test vehicles - often discusses negatives about a vehicle that no one else touches. I hope TFL can afford to continue to have integrity.

[@johnwayne8475]

That's funny, if that was the case, all of the car reviews on KZbin would all be positive and that's simply just not the case. TFL claims to be experts but they do not even do basic research of reading the manufacturers handbook to understand how the vehicle works before they do a review and they make reports which are inaccurate. When the manufacturer refuses to lend them cars to test, they abuse their media power to slander them to pressure them to loan cars to them. This is very unprofessional.

[@treborheminway3814]

How did they slander them? BTW: It's not slander if it true.

[@johnwayne8475]

You make the assumption that TFL's perspective is right without knowing the full story from the other party's perspective.

[@PittiesAndMore]

@John Wayne Didn't they damage an Outback a few years ago? I could be wrong, or was it when they compared the off roadness of the Outback with street tires to the Ford Raptor? 🤷🏽‍♂️ Of course, the Raptor was far more capable than the Outback.

[@treborheminway3814]

@@johnwayne8475 what was untrue. The problems they had are on film. If it was slander, Subaru should have publicly addressed it. Instead, they just took the car back and essentially said " no soup for you,".

[@Anhedonis]

Tommy, in X mode 1, the computer assumes that traction is limited and will try to find the tire with the most grip and apply enough torque to it without breaking traction (while distributing to other wheels in case traction shifts). In x mode 2, the computer assumes that no tires have traction, so it sends power to all 4 wheels and allows for some slip, the idea being instead of maximizing grip at one wheel, it needs to utilize the little bit of grip that all 4 wheels provide. Long story short, I wonder if X mode 1 would have been better on the slip test where 1 wheel has all the traction.

[@SuperMaverick1966]

Love TFL reviews and testing! Subaru needs to loan them vehicles. I have the same Subaru Forester as in this video except mine is a 2022 Wilderness. I just really like this Forester Wilderness. It is just all around great! One thing if Tommy reads these reviews -how did you like the headroom in that Forester? Also, at 9.2 clearance, it was so easy to get in and out of it. One more thing, check out the room in the backseat - this has to be one of the most comfortable and most leg room. Love the reviews when Tommy and his Dad get in the front and back seats as it gives you a good idea of the room! Again Love TFL - they are just Awesome reviews and the pioneers of the wheel slip test! Also, so far, I love Subaru Forester Wilderness! Thanks to the owner! I would driven mine out there if I knew ya needed it for a review.

[@chemuzio-ssir2015]

I’m also in Chicago and I have a 2023 Crosstrek Sport with the 2.5L I can totally relate to everything the owner said about his Wilderness. I might upgrade to the Crosstrek Wilderness next year or 2. Cheers!!! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@macmichaelhenson-rogers9850]

Just bought a 23 Outback Limited XT. We’re planning to move to the Denver area sometime in the next year. When it happens,I’ll bring the Outback to y’all to play with 😄

[@regsparkes6507]

I never ever thought I would say this, let alone let myself think it, this Subaru Forester just impressed me. Tommy's test on the skid pad proved that Subaru does indeed have a system that 'works'. Thanks to Dan ( did I get the owner's name correct?) and Tommy for a job well done here. P.S. Wake up Subaru, I think you are losing out on some truthful advertising here. A Car maker that doesn't like being told and shown that they have faults ( as well as good points ) , does not get my dollars.

[@Michael-rp7gh]

So I have 2 Subarus currently. My wife drives a 2022 forester touring and we love it. I also have a 2013 Subaru legacy that I bought used in 2015. The 2022 forester is amazing and I have very few complaints with it. My 2013 has had some issues along the way but Subaru has gone above and beyond to take care of the vehicle. In 2019 I noticed my legacy was using about 2 quarts of oil in 3,000 miles. I took it in for an oil proficiency test and it was found to be burning oil. Subaru changed the engine under warrant at 87,000 miles. The new engine runs great and no problems with the vehicle until 2 months ago when I went to get it inspected. Dealership said that a 900 dollar emergency break cable was no serviceable and wouldn’t pass inspection. The legacy has 144,000 miles on it and no warranty. Subaru said they will change the emergency break under warranty to my supersize. I had to ask why because it seemed to good to be true. The dealership said it probably should have been a recall but they are just covering it as a extended warranty. Subaru has given me 2 loaners while they wait on parts. So far I have not had my legacy for 2 1/2 months so for approximately 1 month was in a 2022 accent. Nice suv but terrible on gas which is whatever cause the thing has some good pickup and go. My main thing I dislike about this vehicle is the front driver and passenger side doors. I drive with my left hand on the wheel for the most part. The top of the driver door is so narrow you can’t put your elbow on the top of the door. Yes this sounds silly but I drove the vehicle on a 4 hour trip and it got real annoying at hour 2. By hour 3 my left arm was tired from not having an arm rest. I know people will say I’m dumb for not switch to my right arm or adjusting my left arm. I just personally think it is an uncomfortable position to drive. My new loaner vehicle is a 2022 Outback wilderness addition. Awesome vehicle so far. The suspension is much softer then my wife’s touring forester. It is less fuel officiant but not buy much. I have two things I don’t like about it lol. The first one just annoys me. If you sit in the wilderness there is a tag (like the one on the back of a new shirt) that says wilderness on both driver and passenger doors (not removable). Yes I know that I’m dump for having a problem with this but it looks terrible and really makes my ocd go crazy lol. The biggest complaint I have is the front and backup camera are terrible quality compared the the back up camera on my wife’s forester. Idk why but it’s just really bad quality. All in all I love my Subarus but yes there have been some hick-ups along the way, but subaru always covers there mistakes unlike other company’s.

[@videowsatcher]

had a cvt replacement at about 45 000 miles on a 2017 Outback 3.6. Thankfully mine was under extended warranty and Subaru did the 6 to 6.5k USD job for free; I was lucky only a week or so was left. My friend decided to check up on his 2.4 Outback at a transmission specialist and he was told it is not uncommon. Also worthwhile keeping in mind I got my brand new CVT shipped within 48 hours, indicating plenty of stock

[@rol_rob2603]

That's a reason for not buying any Subaru with CVT automatic transmission. 45,000 miles is nothing for any car. With that price of any Outback or Forester I could buy a 4runner SR5.

[@iancollings5047]

I think you are on to something having a real world owners perspective in addition to yours. Makes for a more interesting and engaging review. Well done.

[@subiesojourner777]

I'll be getting the 2024 version of this in the next few months. I'm not real fond of the looks of the 2025 nor that big honking infotainment screen. PLUS, the no one has a clue when the Wilderness will be available.

[@BigJim5754]

I'd love to see what video was problematic enough for Subie to not wanna work w you. Your vids seems straight forward and fair. I'm a 22 Outback Onyx owner, love it, only complaints, infotainment system is slow and the hvac buttons are very small and the mpg does come @3-4 miles less then stated in city, hwy right on. Otherwise super comfy, safe, fun to drive (turbo) family car. I'm in Ca so not much weather to deal w but the autobraking, rear backing alerts, lane keep, basically ALL the eyesight saftey systems are great! Oh and I'm 6'5" 300lb and both forester and slightly wider outback comfy for the big man :)

[@CGunRanch]

So my wife has this same Subaru. I was driving it and went to back up only to have it automatically slam on the brakes just like it did in this video. I guess the sensors saw some tall grass. I also have had it slam on the brakes because it saw a large tractor moving slow coming towards us. Pretty annoying in an off road grocery getter, but I guess it’s all there for a reason. I have just learned to turn off all of the safety sensors every time I drive it. It is pretty amazing in the snow and will drive circles around my 3/4 ton truck.

[@billricheter5678]

Can’t decide between this and ford bronco sport badlands. Advise please

[@darrenmorreale1922]

You nailed it. I have the same one. Factoring in features,safety, ride and capability it’s the best value out there. Not to mention good reliability

[@makinawake9178]

Yeah our X mode on the 18 XT was a significant functionality. Living close to the mountains it was helpful more than once. We lifted ours with ADF and have a bit better ground clearance :)

[@GeorgeGeo]

I am currently cross shopping the new Outback and Forester. Here in SW Florida we dont need 4wd/AWD but we tend to flood a few times a year now and I want more ride height.. both of these have great ride height.. i just have to get down to a dealer and test them out. Love the Green and the Blue color so it will be one of those choices.

[@KosmicKorgi]

Perfect 10! I think this is one of the best softroaders on the market. hopefully we can see some more vids with the SUV!

[@stanleeikki]

I have owned two Subaru Outbacks. Both.performed flawlessly in severe Oregon winter conditions. Not a single problem with either car. Would not hesitate to buy another Subaru.

[@jonathanyoung5448]

I have a forester touring with the same dual x mode, I agree you can really instantly tell the difference when you switch them on. Not as noticeable as dropping from 4 hi to 4 low in my f150 or anything like that, but you can definitely tell it shifts down and increases the torque vectoring. It really is pretty impressive for what it is.

[@patrickempty]

Our non-wilderness forester has been great on mogul laden beaches and sandy desert roads. You might want to mention that the Subaru is a great awd for people over 6 feet tall who don’t want to be cramped.

[@BigJim5754]

I'm 6'5" 300lbs and you are correct! If you'd told me 5 yrs ago I'd own a Outback I'd have said u crazy lol. My mom bought a 19 Forester sport and I was amazed how comfy it was. When it came time to buy a new family car for myself I went w the outback xt as its even more comfy then Forester as its alittle wider. Can't go wrong w either as a big man!

[@busydadscooking001]

you're right but many of them complain about short seat cushions and "thigh pain". luckily, i am short :D

[@BigJim5754]

@@busydadscooking001 I have two bad hips unfourtunetly and I can honestly say the seats are very comfy and I don't notice them feeling short. I know the touring outback has a slide extender on the front of the seat but the outback seat is bigger all around then the forester. I still drive my moms forester once in awhile, still better then other similar sized suv's :)

[@tommyd1963ify]

I am on my 13th Jeep(TJ on 37"s), have a Powerwagon with 37"s, and honestly, I am the guy who normally makes fun of Subarus and sing "Move *****, get out the way" when one is in front of us in the dirt. Well, due to fuel prices we bought a Crosstrek Sport last year. Dual X mode, 2" lift, Wildpeaks, and skidplates. It is no Jeep, but it has been MUCH better than expected offroad. It rides great on bumpy, rock imbedded roads(even with the little tires that will fit on it, my biggest complaint). It is good in the milder mud and sand we have put it through, and even made its way through very deep gravel washes that are so common in the desert. You do have to watch the nose in cross washes and drop-offs, but we haven't broken anything yet. Basically, in the Jeep, we tend to look for trouble. In the Subaru, we avoid it, and it has been good to us. Also, the new version of the Grand Cherokee it replaced would have been close to DOUBLE the price. Apples to oranges I know, but still a factor.

[@simonshift]

Angle of approach 18.6 degrees Angle of departure 21.7 degrees. This beast is perfect for your mom that goes on gravel road and say:" Oh Wow! I'm doing offroad!!"

[@vipvip-tf9rw]

buy jimny

[@gordon3988]

Per subaru for the wilderness. Not great if want a truck (actually about the same as the F150) , but not bad for a car! Approach angle: 23.5 degrees - raised from 22.9 degrees Departure angle: 25.4 degrees - raised from 24.6 degrees Breakover angle: 21.0 degrees - raised from 19.6 degrees

[@kevincraftsbcs4488]

X mode clearly works and makes a difference. I wonder why the system programing isn't set up to transfer torque that effectively all of the time.

[@4x4.tests.on.rollers]

Cause braking the slipping wheels is not always the best option, it depends on conditions.

[@OneTallMF98]

Love my Subaru always a great reliable car. The go to when the guys wanna go camping or road trips

[@1607rosie]

Don't like your roller gage. The car drifted off and got traction off side of roller platform. They say the suspension is softer than the RAV4 adventure but adventure has a tow cap of 3500 lbs which requires heavier springs. Did you get the upgrade tow hitch and tow package?

[@sacramentofoodforest]

I love that the owner is hella knowledgeable 😂 it’s so cool

[@wild_lee_coyote]

One of the things about the Wilderness edition is the fact that it actually has off-road tires. I have an Ascent and have also switched to the Geolanders and they work well in sand and snow and have a lot more grip than standard SUV tires. I wouldn’t call this a true off-road car, but more of a trail car. One you can take down dirt roads that haven’t seen any maintenance in decades. The tires fit that spec perfectly and have low road noise but provide superior dirt, snow and mud performance.

[@Bobcat9]

The obvious difference between x-mode on/off is when off, the slipping wheel continues to slip, and when on, the slipping wheel is intermittently braked. I bet in double X mode, that intermittent braking is increased and constantly brakes. This is relatable to Toyota's A-trac. With AWD systems, the mechanical aspect of transferring power is directly related to how much slip is occurring at any given wheel. When the computer realizes the slipping wheel is still slipping, it brakes that wheel so the power spinning that sipping wheel can be redirected to the wheels which are not slipping. For example, if two are slipping, and two have traction, all four wheels are still powered, but half of that power is wasted on the slipping wheels; brake those slipping wheels and that power moves to the gripping wheels.

[@JURASSICEDITS09]

Subaru needs to start giving you guys cars again.

[@Zanderthelab]

I highly agree.

[@adamavery5813]

I'm glad it's not just mine that the automatic braking goes off for no reason offroading. I wish there was a fast way to turn it off while backing up

[@wmsatic]

Just got my 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness yesterday. However, I forgot one item on my must have options checklist. A steering wheel heater. Grrrr. My fault: but grrr. I remembered to check on my other test drives. So I now have several winters ahead with a pet peave. Time to see how painful a strap-on plug-in steering wheel heater will be. Who would have thought a "Wilderness" trim (heated seats, additional defrosting, ...) wouldn't include a steering wheel heater in the Midwest.

[@U2WB]

I have a 2024 Forester Wilderness. I love the car, and though I have not yet owned it through a winter here in the northeast, I notice one aspect simply because it is taller and narrowed than an Outback: it is prone to wind gusts. I wish that some reviewers would demonstrate comparisons of this vs. other small SUVs. I drove home on one rainy day over the Mario Cuomo Bridge and found it hard to keep the car driving a straight line because of wind sheer.

[@MidValleyMusic]

Great video, so Subaru AWD vs Honda IVTM-4 which is better?

[@dbwater5154]

Love these tests. Great example of real world abilities. One thing Id like to see done better though. When on the rollers. The remaining wheel that is in contact with the surface should be level with the rollers. Leaving it hang of course will create spin. But the point is to see how it transfers around. On icy street surfaces. You wont have 3 up one down. All would be level but with ice under, that wheel could have more traction IF it was level and not hanging... That's the only complaint or change Id like to see.

[@jmichael6931]

A direct comparison of the Rav4 Woodland trim would be great to see against the Wilderness since it has the the Wildpeaks and a TRD tuned suspension. I was between the two and ultimately got the Woodland. I do think the Dual X mode slightly beats out the Toyota AWD, but the massive difference in MPGs was too much to swallow.

[@SyrupCanuck]

How much does your yoda eat in mpg?

[@jmichael6931]

@@SyrupCanuck currently sitting at 40.0mpg for the life of the car (5.8l/100km). That's with the Wildpeak AT Trail tires

[@SyrupCanuck]

@@jmichael6931 Wow that's pretty solid.

[@xfozzypx115]

There’s videos of the wilderness versus the rav 4 trd off-road. The wilderness does quite a bit better. That gas mileage in the hybrid rav is pretty great though.

[@l...]

Can you make ac test specially behind driver back ( between driver and seat ) glove box and center console

[@anthonyjulson8840]

I've been waiting to see you guys review this one!

[@Hard_7_Iron]

Not bad… I’d say the 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness is a good option in the Mid-West snow country.

[@JHuffPhoto]

As long as they have fixed the rust issues. Had a 03 Forrester and it was a great car until it literally disintegrated into a pile of rust. Also noticed repairs on Subarus tend to cost more. I have finally heard that they fixed the oil leak issues. I've owned two Subarus and they both burned and leaked oil on my driveway. Granted they were relatively high mileage cars. Thanks for the video.

[@B...H]

That's a nice car. But then again, I have one just like it in my garage.

[@Wes147]

Have the same vehicle and functionally it’s amazing. Only slight gripes are the seat isn’t very forgiving for long road trips if you aren’t one to stop frequently, after a couple hours I find my back needs a break. The cup holders are also small and not in the easiest of locations but neither of those are dealbreaker issues, still love it.

[@WayApp]

Subaru has truly delivered an outstanding vehicle for adventure enthusiasts.

[@icare7151]

Tommy, greetings from the Springs. It would be awesome to do a slip test with my 2015 Lexus RX450h AWD. For max traction it has SNOW MODE for the Sport, ECO and Normal mode settings. It would be awesome to also test without using the Snow Mode and without using traction control. It would be interesting to do the same test with a new RX450h comparing how well older vehicle technology performs as the pre-owned market is booming with the outrageous new vehicle price increases.

[@4x4.tests.on.rollers]

We tested 450h, unfortunately result was quite poor.

[@flyguy2021]

Great video. The forester or outback wilderness is in my near future. Just trying to decide.

[@ocratitude]

My 1st gen grosstrek has really impressed me with its capabilities over the years, currently have 28" tires and 2 inches of lift. Likely, I will be buying a forester wilderness when the time comes to buy another vehicle.

[@mirceamunteanu4791]

Crosstrek wilderness version will be available by the end of the year

[@Lord_Verge]

It's as if TFL knew I was looking into a Forester lol. Hopefully the rumored re-design for 2024 will bring even more refinement (and a little more power).

[@GooseWurkz]

Video quality was great! What camera / lens were you using?

[@simonbroddle754]

I'm in the UK and have a Subaru Forester manual diesel and do quite a lot of off roading with my work. I've looked at the new ones but they're petrol and I need to be closer to 50mpg (They're also £40k+ in the UK!). My only wish would be a locking diff. Ideally both but definitely rear. Once you get any slip as seen in this video you've lost momentum and that can mean a tow strap is needed. Still love the car.

[@rapide12345]

We need a roller slip test between the 2023 Outlander PHEV and the 2023 RAV4 Prime.

[@4x4.tests.on.rollers]

Rav4 Prime cannot pass any three roller test.

[@Amberdogproductions]

Thanks for this one. I'm feeling a bit better about my upcoming reception of my 1st subaru

[@billricheter5678]

Why are Subaru sales reps so arrogant. Have been looking at around 4 models and everyone I spoke with had bad attitudes. Really weird. Might still buy though just not with them

[@justinkundert3383]

Same. Walked into a dealership last week with a tape measure for "sleeping in the car" measurements, and the sales rep gave off such a bad vibe, like I wasn't up to their show room standards. Sorry, man. Next time I'll come wearing a tuxedo, or bring a dog...

[@BillyBobTup]

Hold on a second. It did great in the trenches anyway, but, when it slipped sideways on the rollers, did it contact the solid metal sides and gain traction from that? I know that has happened in the past with other vehicles, and it looked like it was doing that here on the "3 wheels stuck" test. Was it? The yellow Ford Bronco sport( "One Clear Winner" ) that you just tested , for one example, did not do that.

[@4x4.tests.on.rollers]

It could have touched the frame but I can confirm that Subaru can pass these tests, we tested current and previous generations of Forester, both did great.

[@blooddrunk1432]

48k for a brand new in Canada... thats alot of money man . Also i wish they put the 2.4 from the wrx inside of that Forester

[@kjamesjr]

I bought mine well below msrp yesterday. North east USA.

[@busydadscooking001]

I don't think it's passing Tommy, sorry to say, as a Subaru owner. Like you said, the car is twisting due to the torque and eventually one of the roller wheels is making contact with the frame of the 3 rollers. At THAT point you get torque going to the "good" wheel :) System hasn't fundamentally changed for Subaru in years and earlier Subarus you tested also couldn't pass this. (In even earlier times, they could, although several systems were in use over the years). Still .. better than the open diff Real Time 4WD system Honda CRV uses along with similar systems from MANY manufacturers, which will get stuck if any one wheel is made entirely grip free. Fortunately, in the real world most wheels are never fully grip free.

[@4x4.tests.on.rollers]

I tested a lot of Subarus and majority of them pass these tests. When it comes to CR-V - front and rear diffs are open (just like in majority of Subarus from recent years) but there's no center diff at all, there's a clutch-pack instead (just like in majority of Subarus). However CR-V cannot pass all of these tests, especially gen IV, but it's not true that it gets stuck when one wheel loses grip.