Model research hub
Subaru Forester
Car and Driver says an electric motor doesn't solve all of the bland Subaru Forester's problems, but it does make the model more powerful, by 14 ponies, and more efficient, thus a stronger contender in the highly contested compact-crossover arena, quieter than the nonhybrid thanks in part to more sound deadening, without losing any cargo capacity to powertrain packaging, though the pokey compact SUV still isn't very fun to drive, recommending the Honda CR-V Hybrid or Mazda CX-50 Hybrid for those who feel the same way. MotorTrend says with the arrival of the Forester Hybrid in 2025, Subaru began to catch up in the hybrid SUV space, building on the standard Forester's strengths of space, safety, and capability with gains in power and fuel efficiency, delivering a smooth, composed ride thanks to Subaru's renowned AWD system, though the Forester Hybrid is still very slow and its infotainment feels dated compared to segment rivals.
Better, but still not fun to drive
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says an electric motor doesn't solve all of the bland Subaru Forester's problems, but it does make the model more powerful, by 14 ponies, and more efficient, quieter than the nonhybrid, and without losing any cargo capacity to powertrain packaging, though the pokey compact SUV still isn't very fun to drive, recommending the Honda CR-V Hybrid or Mazda CX-50 Hybrid for those who feel the same way.
Catching up in the hybrid SUV space
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says with the arrival of the Forester Hybrid in 2025, Subaru began to catch up in the hybrid SUV space, building on the standard Forester's strengths of space, safety, and capability with gains in power and fuel efficiency, delivering a smooth, composed ride thanks to Subaru's renowned AWD system.
Still very slow, with dated infotainment
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the Forester Hybrid is still very slow and its infotainment feels dated compared to segment rivals.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Subaru Forester Hybrid quick?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says no, it's still very slow.
How much more power does the Forester Hybrid have over the gas model?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says 14 more horsepower.
Research map
Every major decision path.
Gas models have 180 horsepower. Subaru lists the hybrid at an estimated 194 horsepower of total system net power.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 6 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityMost Forester trims are rated for 1,500 pounds; Forester Wilderness is rated for 3,500 pounds.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2026 Forester.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Subaru Forester
The 2026 Subaru Forester range includes six gas trims and four hybrid trims. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard throughout. Conventional models use a 180-horsepower 2.5-liter boxer engine; hybrid grades are listed at an estimated 194 horsepower of total system net power. Forester Wilderness raises towing capacity from the normal 1,500-pound rating to 3,500 pounds.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
6 indexed Subaru Forester model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 1 | 2026 record → |
| 2025 Subaru Forester | 2025 record → | |
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 2021 record → | |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 2019 record → | |
| 2016 Subaru Forester | 2016 record → | |
| 2015 Subaru Forester | 2015 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Subaru Forester.
The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV that has been manufactured by Subaru since 1997. The first generation was built on the platform of the Impreza in the style of a taller station wagon, a style that continued to the second generation, while the third-generation model onwards moved towards a crossover SUV design. A performance model was available for the second-generation Forester in Japan as the Forester STi.
- Awards
- Winner of Wheels Gold star cars award for best compact SUV 2008 Winner of Motor Trend magazine's Sport/Utility of the Year Award in 2009 Best Small Utility in MotorWeek's 2009 Driver's Choice Awards Winner of Motor Trend Magazine's SUV of the Year Award in 2014 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+ Subaru Forester Claims Top Honours as AJAC's 2017 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year Winner of New Zealand Motoring Writers Guild Car of the Year Award in 2018
- Safety
- MY03-04 Models has a 4-Star ANCAP safety rating. MY05 Forester Model had a mid-life update, which increased its ANCAP safety rating to 5 Stars. In 2006, the turbocharged engine (powering the Forester XT) was awarded International Engine of the Year.
- Engines
- The fifth-generation Forester was presented on March 28, 2018, at the New York International Auto Show. Like contemporary Subaru models, the fifth-generation model moved the Forester to the Subaru Global Platform. The new platform is said to provide greater handling capability, agility, ride comfort and crash protection.
Source: Subaru Forester (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Subaru Forester at a glance
- Production
- 1997–present
- Class
- Compact crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, all-wheel drive
- Related models
- Subaru Impreza
NHTSA rated the 2025 Subaru Forester overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (7 campaigns across the latest model years)
- July 2026, Equipment:Other:Labels. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply… Consequence: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- May 2026, Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid vehicles. The sliding glass panel of the power moonroof assembly may have been improperly bonded to the sliding frame, allowing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle. Consequence: A detached glass panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- December 2025, Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning. Consequence: A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.
Owners filed 93 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Subaru Forester, most often about unknown or other (19), fuel/propulsion system (13), visibility/wiper (13).
Year by year
The Subaru Forester across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 26–35 | $1,850–$2,500 | 4 | 3 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Subaru Forester | 26–35 | $1,800–$2,400 | 4 | 3 | 90 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Subaru Forester | 26–29 | $2,150–$2,400 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Subaru Forester | 26–29 | $2,150–$2,400 | 2 | 1 | 73 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Subaru Forester | 26–29 | $2,150–$2,400 | 2 | 1 | 97 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 29 | $2,150 | 1 | 207 | 5 stars | |
| 2020 Subaru Forester | 29 | $2,150 | 1 | 596 | 5 stars | |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 29 | $2,150 | 1 | 3 | 832 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Subaru Forester | 24–28 | $2,250–$3,100 | 3 | 3 | 493 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Subaru Forester | 24–28 | $2,250–$3,100 | 3 | 1 | 583 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Subaru Forester | 25–27 | $2,300–$3,100 | 3 | 3 | 411 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Subaru Forester | 25–27 | $2,300–$3,100 | 3 | 3 | 613 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Subaru Forester, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 2 to 4 | 27.5 to 30.5 | Labels: Forester Hybrid AWD, Forester Sport/Touring AWD; Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S6) | |
| 2023 to 2024 | Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S7) | |||
| 2021 to 2022 | 1 to 2 | 29.0 to 27.5 | Labels: Forester Wilderness AWD; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S8) | |
| 2018 to 2019 | 3 to 1 | 26.0 to 29.0 | Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S7) | Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (AV-S8), Manual 6-spd; Fuels: Premium |
| 2017 to 2018 | Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S6) | Transmissions: Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
Buying used
What the Subaru Forester recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | structure (body); visibility (sun/moon roof assembly); equipment (other) | None |
| 2025 | 3 | wheels; child seat; equipment (other) | None |
| 2024 | 2 | engine and engine cooling; power train (driveline) | None |
| 2023 | 1 | power train (driveline) | None |
| 2022 | 1 | power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2019 | 3 | steering (electric power assist system); engine and engine cooling (exhaust system); suspension (rear) | None |
| 2018 | 3 | tires; air bags (sensor); fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| 2017 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2016 | 3 | engine and engine cooling; exterior lighting (brake lights); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2015 | 3 | engine and engine cooling; exterior lighting (brake lights); air bags (sensor) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| visibility/wiper | 986 | 24% | 2019 (370) |
| unknown or other | 678 | 17% | 2019 (144) |
| electrical system | 645 | 16% | 2019 (134) |
| engine | 503 | 12% | 2015 (131) |
| air bags | 473 | 12% | 2017 (164) |
| power train | 273 | 7% | 2015 (95) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Subaru Forester trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 178 | 3,510 | – | 29 | – |
| Premium | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 178 | 3,569 | – | 29 | $34,835 |
| Sport | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 178 | 3,611 | – | 28 | $37,555 |
| Sport Onyx Edition | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 178 | 3,611 | – | 28 | $37,945 |
| Limited | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 178 | 3,613 | – | 28 | $39,145 |
| Wilderness | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 178 | 3,675 | 3,500 | 26 | $39,835 |
| Touring | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 178 | 3,664 | – | 28 | $43,045 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Subaru Forester model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 3,510–3,675 | 3,500 | 16.6 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 180 | 3,510–3,664 | 3,000 | 16.6 |
| 2024 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,454–3,620 | 1,500–3,000 | 16.6 |
| 2023 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,454–3,620 | 1,500–3,000 | 16.6 |
| 2022 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,454–3,620 | 1,500–3,000 | 16.6 |
| 2021 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,453–3,589 | 1,500 | 16.6 |
| 2020 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,449–3,589 | 1,500 | 16.6 |
| 2019 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,449–3,588 | 1,500 | 16.6 |
| 2018 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170–250 | 3,349–3,717 | 1,500 | 15.9 |
| 2017 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170–250 | 3,349–3,686 | 1,500 | 15.9 |
| 2016 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170–250 | 3,285–3,651 | 1,500 | 15.9 |
| 2015 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170–250 | 3,366–3,651 | 1,500 | 15.9 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Subaru Forester.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2025 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2024 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2023 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2022 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2021 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2020 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Subaru Forester: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | not available | structure, visibility/wipers, equipment |
| 2025 | 3 | 90 | wheels, child seat, equipment |
| 2024 | 2 | 29 | engine cooling, powertrain |
| 2023 | 1 | 73 | powertrain |
| 2022 | 1 | 97 | powertrain |
| 2021 | 207 | ||
| 2020 | 596 | ||
| 2019 | 3 | 832 | suspension, engine cooling, steering |
| 2018 | 3 | 493 | fuel system, airbags, tires |
| 2017 | 1 | 583 | airbags |
| 2016 | 3 | 411 | exterior lighting, airbags, engine cooling |
| 2015 | 3 | 613 | exterior lighting, airbags, engine cooling |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Subaru Forester model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Subaru Forester?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Subaru Forester model year: recall counts across the 10 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 2.3 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Subaru Forester by model year?
2026: structure, visibility/wipers, equipment. 2025: wheels, child seat, equipment. 2024: engine cooling, powertrain. 2023: powertrain. 2022: powertrain. 2019: suspension, engine cooling, steering.
Q03Why do some Subaru Forester model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Subaru Forester model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Climate and electrical, Buying, records and recalls, Engine and cooling, Brakes, tires and steering, Transmission and drivetrain.
Trim ladder
1 Subaru Forester trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Subaru Forester is most often compared with.
Nearest Subaru models
Other Subaru models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01Is all-wheel drive standard on the 2026 Forester?
Yes. Subaru lists Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard on all ten 2026 Forester trims.
Q02How much horsepower does the 2026 Forester have?
Gas models have 180 horsepower. Subaru lists the hybrid at an estimated 194 horsepower of total system net power.
Q03How much can the 2026 Forester tow?
Most Forester trims are rated for 1,500 pounds; Forester Wilderness is rated for 3,500 pounds.
Q04How many 2026 Forester trims are available?
Subaru lists ten trims: six gas configurations and four hybrid configurations.
Q05What is the Forester Hybrid EPA estimate?
Subaru lists hybrid grades at 35 city and 34 highway mpg in its current trim comparison.