2023
Subaru Forester

Starts at:
$26,495
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New 2023 Subaru Forester
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Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • CVT *Ltd Avail*
    Starts at
    $26,395
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • CVT
    Starts at
    $26,495
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • Premium CVT
    Starts at
    $29,695
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • Sport CVT
    Starts at
    $31,265
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • Limited CVT
    Starts at
    $33,375
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • Wilderness CVT
    Starts at
    $34,320
    25 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • Touring CVT
    Starts at
    $36,795
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester 2023 Subaru Forester

Notable features

Five-seat compact SUV
All-wheel drive
Subaru EyeSight suite of active-safety features
Lane-centering steering
Off-road-oriented Wilderness trim
182-hp, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine
8.7-inch ground clearance (9.2 inches for Wilderness)

The good & the bad

The good

Roomy, comfortable interior
Smooth ride
Excellent outward visibility
Expansive cargo area
Large liftgate

The bad

Meager acceleration
Wind, road noise on the highway
Some poorly arranged controls
Minimal cabin storage
Base trim looks and feels the part

Expert 2023 Subaru Forester review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Cars.com Editors
Full article
our expert's take

What Is the 2023 Subaru Forester?

The 2023 Subaru Forester is a five-seat compact SUV with standard all-wheel drive. Getting the Forester down the road is a 182-horsepower, 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Fuel economy is class-competitive at an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving, but it dips to 26 mpg if you choose the off-road-themed Wilderness trim, which rides on a raised suspension and all-terrain tires. The Forester competes against popular models such as the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson

What’s New on the 2023 Subaru Forester?

Other than slightly higher prices, the Subaru Forester carries over essentially unchanged from 2022.

What Features in the 2023 Subaru Forester Are Most Important?

Standard features include:

  • 6.5-inch touchscreen
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Split-folding second row
  • Satellite radio
  • Four-speaker stereo
  • 17-inch steel wheels
  • LED headlights
  • Automatic high-beam headlights
  • Lane departure steering assist
  • Rear-seat reminder
  • Adaptive cruise control with lane centering

Available features include:

  • 8-inch touchscreen
  • Heated front seats
  • Leather seating
  • Keyless entry
  • Push-button start
  • Raised suspension (Wilderness)
  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Rear air vents
  • Dual-zone climate control
  • Power liftgate
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Blind spot warning

Should I Buy the 2023 Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester has a low entry price, a fuel-efficient engine, and a spacious interior that’s attractive and feels built to last. The four-cylinder engine is wheezy when you ask too much of it, but standard AWD is something many SUV shoppers will appreciate more than oodles of horsepower. The base Forester is a bargain, but moving up at least one trim level gets you handy features like keyless entry, push-button start, rear air vents and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. We think it’s worth the upgrade.

2023 Subaru Forester review: Our expert's take

What Is the 2023 Subaru Forester?

The 2023 Subaru Forester is a five-seat compact SUV with standard all-wheel drive. Getting the Forester down the road is a 182-horsepower, 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Fuel economy is class-competitive at an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving, but it dips to 26 mpg if you choose the off-road-themed Wilderness trim, which rides on a raised suspension and all-terrain tires. The Forester competes against popular models such as the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson

What’s New on the 2023 Subaru Forester?

Other than slightly higher prices, the Subaru Forester carries over essentially unchanged from 2022.

What Features in the 2023 Subaru Forester Are Most Important?

Standard features include:

  • 6.5-inch touchscreen
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Split-folding second row
  • Satellite radio
  • Four-speaker stereo
  • 17-inch steel wheels
  • LED headlights
  • Automatic high-beam headlights
  • Lane departure steering assist
  • Rear-seat reminder
  • Adaptive cruise control with lane centering

Available features include:

  • 8-inch touchscreen
  • Heated front seats
  • Leather seating
  • Keyless entry
  • Push-button start
  • Raised suspension (Wilderness)
  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Rear air vents
  • Dual-zone climate control
  • Power liftgate
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Blind spot warning

Should I Buy the 2023 Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester has a low entry price, a fuel-efficient engine, and a spacious interior that’s attractive and feels built to last. The four-cylinder engine is wheezy when you ask too much of it, but standard AWD is something many SUV shoppers will appreciate more than oodles of horsepower. The base Forester is a bargain, but moving up at least one trim level gets you handy features like keyless entry, push-button start, rear air vents and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. We think it’s worth the upgrade.

Available cars near you

Safety review

Based on the 2023 Subaru Forester base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Overall rating
5/5
Combined side rating front seat
5/5
Combined side rating rear seat
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
5/5
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
5/5
Overall side crash rating
5/5
Rollover rating
4/5
Side barrier rating
5/5
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
16.9%
Risk of rollover
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
16.9%
Risk of rollover

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
5 years / 60,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
5 years / 80,000 miles
Basic
Coverage available for purchase
Dealer certification
152-point inspection

Compare similar vehicles

Select cars to compare for more detailed info.
  • 2023
    4.9
    Subaru Forester
    Starts at
    $26,395
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
    Compare
  • 2023
    4.3
    Subaru Outback
    Starts at
    $28,395
    26 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
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  • 2025
    5.0
    Honda CR-V
    Starts at
    $30,100
    28 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
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    Engine
    Front-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
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  • 2022
    4.9
    Subaru Forester
    Starts at
    $25,895
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded H-4
    Engine
    All-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
    Compare
  • 2024
    4.4
    Toyota RAV4
    Starts at
    $28,675
    27 City / 35 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded I-4
    Engine
    Front-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
    Compare
  • Compare more options
    Use our comparison tool to add any vehicle of your choice and see a full list of specifications and features side-by-side.
    Try it now

Consumer reviews

4.9 / 5
Based on 19 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.9
Interior 4.9
Performance 4.7
Value 4.9
Exterior 4.8
Reliability 4.9

Most recent

Likes: spacious interior despite modest exterior

Likes: spacious interior despite modest exterior dimensions, easy to maneuver, great visibility all around, comfortable ride, good traction, handling, and braking, nice interior finish on sport model, strong steering responsive headlights yet they don't blind opposing traffic, very good optional Harmon sound system, numerous effective safety features, low insurance premiums, adequate acceleration..a few cons: actual economy slightly under EPA estimates, seat may be a bit too firm for some but easy to address by adding a thin seat cushion, mandatory sunroof on all but the base model..I wish Subaru would just make that a single option..rough engine start-stop ..however I disable it each time I start engine so it can be a non issue...no reliability issues yet but since this has a cvt and fairly complex safety features, long term reliability is unknown..
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 4.0
Value 4.0
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 5.0
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Safety first

This is our second Forester. Our first was a 2011 Premium we bought as a CPO in 2014 and unfortunately went through the headache of excessive oil consumption within months of buying it. Subaru did eventually replace the engine short block on their dime, but only after repeated oil consumption tests and being told by the dealer service department that it was within normal limits. Calling Subaru of America was the only way we got it resolved. I was impressed that they approved the service, and that's the reason we bought another Subaru. We also have a 2018 Outback Premium in our garage--no oil consumption, and no major issues except replacing the radio for failed lighting behind the volume knob and a minor leak in the oil pan (no dripping underneath the car though) at about 42k miles. We like our 2023 Forester Sport overall, and first and foremost we like its excellent safety ratings and features. I will say the ride is much firmer than our Outback which is only a couple hundred pounds heavier. Wish it had a little more storage in the center console and beneath the climate controls. We look forward to many years of driving with the Forester (and our Outback). Based on our experience, I do feel getting a Subaru-backed extended warranty is worth it for peace of mind (we bought them for our first Forester and now our Outback and both eventually paid for themselves). You DON'T have to buy the warranty when you purchase the vehicle. Call different dealers in your state and ask for their price on an extended warranty for your vehicle--we saved hundreds of dollars by doing this. You have until your manufacturer warranty expires to add an extended warranty.
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 4.0
Interior 4.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 4.0
4 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2023 Subaru Forester?

The 2023 Subaru Forester is available in 6 trim levels:

  • (2 styles)
  • Limited (1 style)
  • Premium (1 style)
  • Sport (1 style)
  • Touring (1 style)
  • Wilderness (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2023 Subaru Forester?

The 2023 Subaru Forester offers up to 26 MPG in city driving and 33 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2023 Subaru Forester?

The 2023 Subaru Forester compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester reliable?

The 2023 Subaru Forester has an average reliability rating of 4.9 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2023 Subaru Forester owners.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2023 Subaru Forester. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.9 / 5
Based on 19 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.9
  • Interior: 4.9
  • Performance: 4.7
  • Value: 4.9
  • Exterior: 4.8
  • Reliability: 4.9

Subaru Forester history

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