2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness vs Ford Bronco Sport Badlands: Which Adventure SUV Actually Tows and Hauls Your Gear
This question comes up all the time. Is the new Forester Wilderness truly capable, or is it just looks. The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness arrives with real mechanical upgrades, not just trim changes. It now lines up directly against the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands. At Premier Subaru of Middlebury, shoppers want to know which one works better for New England weekends that include towing gear, muddy trails, snow, and tight parking at trailheads.
Ground clearance and off road hardware
The 2026 Forester Wilderness now rides at about 9.3 inches of ground clearance. That is higher than the standard Forester. Subaru also adds all terrain tires, revised suspension tuning, and a shorter final drive ratio. These changes improve low speed control and traction when climbing hills or moving through mud.
The Bronco Sport Badlands offers about 8.8 inches of ground clearance. It includes Ford GOAT drive modes and off road tuned suspension. Ford also promotes trail control features that act like low speed cruise control for rough terrain.
Real world takeaway: Both sit higher than normal crossovers. The Forester Wilderness now has the edge in clearance, which helps on rutted trails and snowy back roads.
Towing capacity that actually matters
This is where the Forester Wilderness makes a big statement. Subaru rates it to tow up to 3500 pounds. That is a serious increase and higher than many compact SUVs in this class.
The Bronco Sport Badlands is rated to tow about 2700 pounds when properly equipped. That is fine for small trailers, but it comes up short when loads get heavier.
The difference is about 800 pounds. That can be the weight of a small utility trailer with paddleboards, a lightweight snowmobile trailer, or camping gear plus water and fuel.
Cargo space and everyday usability
The Forester Wilderness keeps Subaru strong points intact. Cargo space reaches close to 69 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The shape is wide and square, which makes loading bikes, coolers, and dog crates easy. Rubberized surfaces are designed to handle wet boots and muddy paws.
The Bronco Sport Badlands offers a tall and upright cargo area. It fits gear bins and recovery tools well. Total cargo volume is good, but it usually trails the Forester in overall usable space.
Winter control and traction
- Forester Wilderness: Symmetrical All Wheel Drive comes standard. Subaru adds X Mode traction settings and quicker center differential response for loose surfaces.
- Bronco Sport Badlands: GOAT modes adjust throttle and traction for Sand Mud and other surfaces. Trail focused features help in slow speed off road driving.
Both systems work well. The Forester setup favors balance and predictability in snow and slush, which matters on New England back roads.
Which one makes more sense for Connecticut and western Mass weekends
Choose the Forester Wilderness if you tow more than bikes or kayaks. A 3500 pound tow rating in a compact SUV is a real upgrade. You also get Subaru practicality and strong winter control.
Choose the Bronco Sport Badlands if you love the Bronco style, want Ford trail culture, and value trail focused tech over towing capacity.
Bottom line
The Forester Wilderness finally answers a long time request from Subaru fans. It keeps everyday comfort but adds real towing power and tougher hardware. The Bronco Sport Badlands is still capable and fun, but Subaru has clearly raised the bar. For many shoppers at Premier Subaru of Middlebury, the Forester Wilderness now checks more boxes for real New England use.
