Used 2016 Subaru Forester for Sale nearSanta Clarita, CA

Compare 2016 Subaru Forester Trims

The 2016 Subaru Forester offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to adventure-ready models, all featuring AWD for versatile driving.

• Starting at $11,620
• Best MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 32 hwy
• Most Popular: 2.5i Premium

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

2.5i — "Who It's For"

The 2.5i is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features.

• Avg. market price: $11,620 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 705 listings
• View 2.5i listings

2.5i Premium — "Who It's For"

The 2.5i Premium is the pick for shoppers who want a well-equipped SUV for adventures without going over budget.

• Avg. market price: $12,079 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 1,888 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View 2.5i Premium listings

2.5i Limited — "Who It's For"

The 2.5i Limited is the pick for shoppers who want luxury features and comfort without stepping up to the highest trim.

• Avg. market price: $12,624 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 907 listings
• View 2.5i Limited listings

2.0XT Premium — "Who It's For"

The 2.0XT Premium is the pick for shoppers who want a sportier performance without sacrificing comfort and features.

• Avg. market price: $13,082 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 23 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 173 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View 2.0XT Premium listings

2.5i Touring — "Who It's For"

The 2.5i Touring is the pick for shoppers who want a fully loaded SUV with all the luxury features for family trips.

• Avg. market price: $14,384 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 508 listings
• View 2.5i Touring listings

2.0XT Touring — "Who It's For"

The 2.0XT Touring is the pick for shoppers who want the ultimate performance and luxury in a compact SUV.

• Avg. market price: $15,527 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 23 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 314 listings
• View 2.0XT Touring listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — 2.5i Premium

With 1,888 active listings, the 2.5i Premium is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse 2.5i Premium listings

Best Budget Option — 2.5i

At $11,620 avg market price — below the lineup median of $12,853 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse 2.5i listings

Best for Fuel Economy — 2.5i

The 2.5i offers the best fuel economy in the lineup with 24/32 MPG/MPGe.

Browse 2.5i listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 12, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2016 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 2.78% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,739 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2016 Subaru Forester a good car?

Generally — the 2016 Subaru Forester earns a 4.33/5 user rating and a 6.83/10 expert rating, which points to a well-liked, well-rounded crossover rather than a standout in just one area. The overview frames it as a practical choice for you if you want broad appeal, with strengths in style, off-road capability, on-road manners, and nearly class-leading space.

Owners most often praise the smooth ride, spacious interior, excellent safety features, and all-wheel drive for winter conditions. That mix makes it especially appealing if you want a compact crossover that can handle daily commuting, family duty, and bad weather without feeling specialized.

The standout strength is Safety at 8/10.

With 32.4% of listings priced as good or great deals, you have some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2016 Subaru Forester reliable?

Owners rate it 4.33/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a vehicle that many drivers find dependable in everyday use, with praise centered on its smooth ride, spacious interior, and all-wheel drive confidence. The expert notes also describe Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system as a strength, and the cost-effectiveness commentary says Subaru has addressed the oil-consumption issue that hurt earlier versions.

If you’re buying used, the main long-term ownership risk is making sure the specific vehicle you choose has been maintained well and hasn’t been affected by the model’s past reliability concerns.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Subaru Forester?

At 64.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the listing price looks unusually attractive. Focus on condition details that matter most in a used crossover: signs of prior body repair, interior wear, and whether the technology and safety systems work as intended.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base trim includes a 6.2-inch touchscreen, rear-view camera, app integration, and HD radio, while Premium trims add a power driver’s seat, sunroof, upgraded stereo, and a larger 7-inch touchscreen. Limited trims add automatic headlights, foglights, a power liftgate, leather, and automatic climate control, while Touring trims add 18-inch alloys, xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, Harman Kardon audio, and keyless entry and ignition.
• Powertrain: The standard 2.5-liter boxer engine makes 170 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, while the turbo 2.0-liter raises output to 250 hp and 258 lb-ft. The CVT improves efficiency, but the manual is described as smoother in delivery.
• Safety package: EyeSight adds adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision avoidance. It is not standard on every trim, and the text notes the absence of blind-spot monitoring.
• Infotainment: The system uses a 6.2-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 7-inch unit on Premium and above, with smartphone app integration and MirrorLink phone pairing. The text also notes that the screen can wash out in sunlight.
• Fuel efficiency: The CVT-equipped 2.5-liter returns a combined 27 mpg, the manual returns 25 combined, and the turbo 2.0-liter returns 25 combined.

Which 2016 Subaru Forester trim should I buy?

The 2016 Subaru Forester is offered in 6 trim levels: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 2.5i Touring, 2.0XT Premium, and 2.0XT Touring.

Here's the short version:

• 2.5i: This is the entry point, and it gives you the core Forester formula with the standard touchscreen, rear-view camera, app integration, and all-wheel drive. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the model, but it leaves out the comfort and convenience upgrades that make the higher trims feel more complete.
• 2.5i Premium: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds the power driver’s seat, sunroof, upgraded stereo, and larger 7-inch touchscreen without jumping into the pricier luxury-oriented trims. If you want the sweet spot between price and equipment, this is the one to target.
• 2.5i Limited: This trim adds automatic headlights, foglights, a power liftgate, leather, and automatic climate control. It also brings X Mode and the CVT, so it suits you if you want a more upscale, better-equipped Forester with extra traction-focused capability.
• 2.5i Touring: This is the most comfort- and convenience-focused 2.5-liter trim, with 18-inch alloys, xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, Harman Kardon audio, and keyless entry and ignition. Choose it if you want the most polished non-turbo Forester.
• 2.0XT Premium: This is the pick if you want the turbo engine, sport suspension, and a leather steering wheel. It stands apart for stronger performance, so it fits you best if acceleration matters more than value.
• 2.0XT Touring: This combines the turbo powertrain with the Touring equipment set, making it the most fully featured version in the lineup. It’s the right choice if you want the strongest engine and the richest feature content together.

Higher trims can also be paired with EyeSight, so check whether the specific listing includes that safety package before you buy.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Subaru Forester?

The market looks moderate, so you can shop selectively without expecting a deep buyer’s-market discount on every listing.

• Deal availability: 32.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,739 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.78% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 64.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $12,419, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Subaru Forester's resale value?

The current average of $12,736 sits slightly below last year's $13,100.

That softer pricing trend suggests the model has already given up some value, which can help you as a buyer today but may limit upside if you plan to resell soon. For a future seller, the current market implies you should expect value to depend heavily on condition, mileage, and equipment rather than on broad price appreciation.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.33/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Subaru Forester safe?

The 2016 Subaru Forester earns a four-star rating in the NHTSA frontal impact test.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The safety package includes antilock disc brakes, a full suite of airbags, traction and stability control, and Subaru’s Starlink Plus telematic system with automatic collision notification. Higher trims get an upgraded version that can unlock doors, locate the vehicle, and send alarm notifications through your phone, and EyeSight adds adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision avoidance.

One caveat is that EyeSight is camera-based, so snow, mud, dirt, sunlight, and fog can temporarily disable it. That means you should verify that the system works properly and understand its limits before relying on it as a major part of your safety plan.

Should I buy a 2016 Subaru Forester or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 32.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 64.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.78% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.33/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• It adds a new touchscreen interface and remains competitive in space, safety, and all-around usefulness.

Consider the 2015 if:

• At $11,345, the 2015 costs less than the current year's $12,736 average.
• It is a practical, value-focused Forester with strong safety and a fresh redesign.

Consider the 2017 if:

• At $14,713, the 2017 costs more than the current year's $12,736 average.
• It offers two distinct personalities, with a sensible 2.5i and a more powerful 2.0XT.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, features, and broad appeal, the 2016 is the right place to start. If your priority is saving money, the 2015 is the better value play. If you want to spend more for a newer-feeling alternative, the 2017 is worth a look, but it asks for a higher budget.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.