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The New Subaru Wilderness Truck You Want In Your Garage Next Year

Check out a new rendering of a Subaru midsize pickup you want in your garage and why Subaru should build a new Wilderness truck.

The rendering from Subtle Solutions pictured above of a new Subaru midsize pickup is what performance and truck fans want in their garage. A new Subaru truck with a hood scoop would have an FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine producing close to 300 horsepower and extra torque for towing. We think it’s the missing vehicle in Subaru of America’s all-wheel-drive lineup, and it would be a top-seller for the Camden, N.J. automaker.

Pickup trucks are hot sellers, and Subaru would be in a great position to cash in if they would go even further and build a new Wilderness truck to join the Outback and Forester Wilderness sub-brand. Hyundai introduced the all-new Santa Cruz Sport-Adventure Vehicle (SAV), and a Subaru Wilderness truck would raise the bar.

All-new 2023 Subaru Wilderness truck
photo credit: KDesign AG (Kleber Silva)

A midsize Subaru Ascent-based Wilderness pickup would likely succeed and fill a hole in the Japanese automaker’s all-wheel-drive lineup. The brand’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system would be a perfect fit for the new pickup and would likely be a big hit with truck buyers who want to go off-road.

The new Subaru Global Platform would allow the Japanese automaker to use the Ascent platform without significant changes. Engineers could easily cut off the back, make exterior design changes, and Subaru would have a good-looking 4-door all-wheel-drive truck for its U.S customers.

All-new 2023 Subaru Wilderness truck
photo credit: KDesign AG (Kleber Silva)

It would be manufactured alongside the 2022 Ascent 3-Row family hauler in Lafayette, Indiana, with its 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder boxer engine for power. The new Wilderness truck would sit higher off the ground with at least 9.4-inches of ground clearance like the Outback Wilderness with an upgraded suspension.

The new truck would come in Base, Premium, Limited, Sport, and Wilderness trim levels. The Wilderness would feature black alloy wheels, interior, exterior accents and badging, and Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode all-terrain all-wheel-drive system.

An all-new Ascent-based pickup would be right in Subaru’s wheelhouse of niche all-wheel-drive models and appeal to tens of thousands of midsize truck buyers. The Ascent platform gives Subaru a truck to compete in the hot midsize pickup segment with the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Chevy Colorado, and GMC Canyon. It would be the missing piece in the Subaru all-wheel-drive lineup.

We want Subaru to bring back the Baja nameplate for its new midsize truck. Would you buy a new rugged 2023 Subaru Baja Wilderness midsize pickup if the Japanese automaker offered it next year?

You Might Also Like: Why The All-New Wilderness Trim Could Launch Subaru To New Heights

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: main image used with permission from Subtle Solutions @subtlesolutions

Comments

Ted Bandaruk (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 11:44AM

Love the idea of a Subaru truck, don't know that the roll bar is needed as it seems it would take up room in the bed. But get on it and get it done.

Lowell R Stephens (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 12:16PM

NO CVT! Offer as a manual 5 speed. Better for off road and opens up for flat towing to the RV community!
Searched 6 months for a manual Crosstrek AWD to flat tow!

Bill Robertson (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 12:28PM

SUBARU TRUCK - YES PLEASE!!! Between my family and extended family we have owned at least 10 Subarus, LOVE THEM!!! Several owned into the 200K - 300K miles range. We also love our trucks, including my beloved early 90’s Toyota Hilux 4x4 V6. Getting ready to pass our 2011 outback on to our son, and buy a new Ascent or Outback in the next year, but would happily add a new Subaru truck to the mix. Affordable base price is must also must.

A well thought out, functional compact UTE, and/or capable but Subaru comfortable and fun to drive Mid-Size would both have my attention. The UTE could carry the Baja badge, and the Mid-Size a new wilderness inspired badge name.

I see a need and market for 2 Subaru Trucks, a smaller CVT AWD Maverick sized, car based (Think UTE’s from NZ/Australia) and separate more traditional Mid-Size truck that can tow/haul weights comparable with the competition with a maybe a off the shelf transmission from Toyota (Toyota essentially has partial ownership already). A mid size cannot be ugly, but more traditional cab and bed like the top mock-up with the Outback inspired nose (somehow the Acsent nose on the a truck mock up doesn’t look as good) and with cab and bed proportions similar to F150 or Chevy/GMC or even Honda Ridgline and a clean looking but functional tailgate. Obviously the look should include signature styling cues from other vehicles in the Subaru line-up, but mid size cab and bed needs traditional truck styling or my interest would quickly turn to a pass. Bed and tailgate ready to accept aftermarket speciality or ‘wilderness’ products would be a plus, and keep with Subaru enthusiasts expectations.

Do it Subaru! Add a truck or two to your line up, you loyal fans are ready to buy one!

Mark (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 12:57PM

Ok, you took a butt ugly truck front and slapped it on a Hennessy F150 Velociraptor. This is a dumb joke and not even done correctly because it very clearly says Velociraptor behind the front wheel, geezes! Subaru has never designed anything remotely close to looking as cool as the image does but again this is merely plagiarism and a joke

Jeffrey M (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 2:23PM

I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Don't care if it's CVT - it would be fine for you light hauling runs to Home Depot and Lowe's.

Thomas J Bakken (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 2:52PM

For towing purposes, put a 6 or 8 speed automatic or manual transmission in it instead of the CVT. My next vehicle is going to be a midsized truck in 1 to 2 years, and I'd like it to be this one. If you build it they will come, so to speak. Love the Subaru all wheel drive system and safety features.

Tom (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 3:31PM

Two things.
1. It must have towing power! Enough to pull a mid size trailer.
2. With the push for electricity vehicles this should be an option.

Clinton (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 4:56PM

5-speed please with difflock you can pull it from wrx and sti no big deal that x-mode with cvt will get you stuck fast

Jessie A Caron (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 5:04PM

My 2009 Subaru Forester with a 2.5 back when they used to make real Subarus has 96,000 miles on it and I wouldn't trade it in for one of these if my life depended on it

Steve Abernathy (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 7:20PM

If you build it, they will come! Buy one!!! I’m all in! My wife wanted a new cross trek in lieu of a new Lexus. I showed her this and she said I’ll wait. I love that design. She said the blue was bluebonnet blue. The state flower of Texas.

Build it! Build it! Build it!

Taco (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 7:31PM

I would buy this yesterday. VW is flailing in recent years. All their fun stuff has been discontinued. The Touareg was brilliant. The Tiguan is weak. The Atlas is too big. Put a V6 in the Tiguan and see sales soar.

Jody Claypool (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 10:22PM

I would buy this in a heartbeat! I've been waiting for Subaru to come out with a truck. If not, my Subaru will be gone next year and I will have a Tacoma sitting in my driveway again.

Michael (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 10:50PM

It would be great to see this truck come with a 6 cylinder option. That would give it some decent towing capacity.

Godzilla (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 11:31PM

Uumm reminded me of a rebadged Toyota 4 door pickup. First thought it was another coop like the BRZ

Bob Gerard (not verified)    October 29, 2021 - 11:59PM

One can only wish..... Subaru would make me very happy if this truck became a reality! Have Owned 5 Subaru's. Never a Subaru truck !! Although there's lots of storage in the back ends with seats down in Subaru's, But I own a truck because I need one and a Subaru Crosstrek currently.

Bob Gerard (not verified)    October 30, 2021 - 12:00AM

One can only wish..... Subaru would make me very happy if this truck became a reality! Have Owned 5 Subaru's. Never a Subaru truck !! Although there's lots of storage in the back ends with seats down in Subaru's, But I own a truck because I need one and a Subaru Crosstrek currently.

Tom H (not verified)    October 30, 2021 - 12:42AM

I would prefer something more Maverick sized. For me, I just need a little more towing capacity than my Forrester or an Outback. The only argument for basing it on the Ascent is the towing capacity. As I understand it, the limit on the smaller bodies is cooling capacity. They can fix that without going bigger.