Used 2019 Subaru Forester for Sale near California

Compare 2019 Subaru Forester Trims

The 2019 Subaru Forester offers a range of trims from budget-friendly to adventure-ready, all featuring AWD for versatile driving.

• Starting at $16,922
• Best MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Most Popular: 2.5i Premium AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

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

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Trim Deep Dives

2.5i AWD — "Who It's For"

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

• Avg. market price: $16,922 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 263 listings
• View 2.5i AWD listings

2.5i Premium AWD — "Who It's For"

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

• Avg. market price: $17,611 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 710 listings
• View 2.5i Premium AWD listings

2.5i Sport AWD — "Who It's For"

The 2.5i Sport AWD is the pick for shoppers who want sporty features and tech without stepping up to a higher price point.

• Avg. market price: $18,800 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 437 listings
• View 2.5i Sport AWD listings

2.5i Limited AWD — "Who It's For"

The 2.5i Limited AWD is the pick for shoppers who want luxury features and advanced technology in their SUV.

• Avg. market price: $19,662 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 499 listings
• View 2.5i Limited AWD listings

2.5i Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The 2.5i Touring AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the ultimate in features and comfort for their adventures.

• Avg. market price: $20,365 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 334 listings
• View 2.5i Touring AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — 2.5i Premium AWD

With 710 active listings, the 2.5i Premium AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse 2.5i Premium AWD listings

Best Budget Option — 2.5i AWD

At $16,922 avg market price — below the lineup median of $18,800 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse 2.5i AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — 2.5i AWD

The 2.5i AWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup with 26/33 MPG/MPGe.

Browse 2.5i AWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2019 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 5.00% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,283 listings available, which suggests you have a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2019 Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — the 2019 Subaru Forester earns a 4.9/5 user rating and an 8.2/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

Owners consistently praise its spaciousness, safety features, visibility, comfort, and all-wheel-drive capability. That lines up well with the Forester’s practical, family-friendly mission, especially if you want a compact SUV that’s easy to live with and useful for everyday driving.

The trade-offs are clear: performance is fairly pedestrian, and the styling is uninspired. The overview also points to a lack of a standard transmission option and some Android connectivity frustrations, so you should expect utility and ease of use more than excitement.

The market still shows healthy interest, with 35.5% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2019 Subaru Forester reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience centered on spaciousness, safety, comfort, and all-wheel-drive confidence. The expert summary also frames the Forester as a model that helped define the crossover formula and highlights its long-standing reputation for being easy to live with.

The performance write-up emphasizes smooth operation from Subaru’s boxer engine and a ride that stays composed and refined in daily use. Subaru also positions the Forester as a value-focused SUV, which can help reduce ownership stress when you’re shopping used.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about outright durability and more about living with its modest acceleration and CVT-driven character over time.

What should I look for when buying a used 2019 Subaru Forester?

At 72% 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 you’re comparing multiple listings at similar prices. Focus on body condition, signs of prior repair, and whether the cabin and technology features still work as expected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Base trim comes with standard LED headlights, symmetrical all-wheel drive, EyeSight, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and useful cargo-friendly touches, while Premium adds a panoramic moonroof, 10-way power front seats, and 4G Wi-Fi capability. Sport adds unique styling, heated front seats, paddle shifters, and a windshield wiper de-icer, while Limited and Touring bring the larger 8-inch touchscreen and more upscale comfort features.
• Powertrain: The Forester uses a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine with 182 horsepower and a CVT, and it comes standard with symmetrical AWD. Subaru also makes SI-Drive standard, and X-Mode is included across the lineup, with dual-mode X-Mode on Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring.
• Safety package: EyeSight is standard on every trim and includes forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, adaptive headlights, lane-keeping Assist, and Lead Vehicle Alert. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on Limited and Touring.
• Infotainment: Lower trims use a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while Limited and Touring get an 8-inch screen with Subaru’s Starlink system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the larger screen is optional on Sport.
• Fuel efficiency: The Forester is rated at 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

Which 2019 Subaru Forester trim should I buy?

The 2019 Subaru Forester is offered in 5 trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Base: This is the value play if you want the essentials without paying for extras. You still get standard all-wheel drive, EyeSight, LED headlights, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and practical cargo features, so it covers the core Forester experience well.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds a panoramic moonroof, 10-way power front seats, raised roof rails, and 4G Wi-Fi capability without jumping too far up the price ladder.
• Sport: Choose this if you want more style and a few useful upgrades, including heated front seats, paddle shifters, dual USB ports for the second row, and a windshield wiper de-icer.
• Limited: This is the sweet spot if you want the more upscale feel, since it adds leather upholstery, a power rear tailgate, dual-zone climate control, the larger 8-inch touchscreen, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
• Touring: Pick this if you want the most comfort and convenience, including heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, navigation, and one-touch quick-release folding rear seats.

Every trim includes EyeSight, and Limited and Touring add blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2019 Subaru Forester?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 35.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,283 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.00% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 72.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $18,571, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2019 Subaru Forester's resale value?

The current average of $18,571 sits slightly below last year's $19,549.

That decline suggests the market has become a bit more favorable for buyers, but it also means future sellers may need to price competitively to stand out. If you’re planning to resell later, the current trend points to a model that still has demand, but not enough pricing power to ignore condition, mileage, and equipment.

The Forester’s practical reputation and strong owner satisfaction should help support interest over time. Well-kept examples with desirable features are likely to hold up better than rougher, higher-mileage listings.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.9/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2019 Subaru Forester safe?

The 2019 Subaru Forester earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

EyeSight is standard on every trim and includes forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, adaptive headlights, lane-keeping Assist, and Lead Vehicle Alert. Standard safety equipment also includes a full array of front- and side-impact airbags and a reversing camera.

Limited and Touring add blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, so those trims give you a little more confidence when changing lanes or backing out of tight spaces. The Forester’s strong visibility also helps you keep tabs on your surroundings.

Should I buy a 2019 Subaru Forester or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2019 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2019 if:

• 35.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 72% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.00% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2019 model year pairs standard all-wheel drive with standard EyeSight and a strong expert safety score, making it especially appealing if you want a practical, safety-focused compact SUV.

The bottom line: If you want a used Forester with strong safety equipment, standard AWD, and a lower average price than last year, the 2019 is a sensible buy. If you’re especially price-sensitive, keep shopping the market closely and focus on the cleanest, best-maintained examples rather than chasing the cheapest listing.

How does the 2019 Subaru Forester compare to the 2019 Honda CR-V?

Our experts score the 2019 Subaru Forester 8.2/10 and the 2019 Honda CR-V 8/10. The Forester stands out for standard all-wheel drive, stronger accident-free share, and a lower average used price. The CR-V has slightly more horsepower, a bit more inventory, and a slightly higher share of good and great deals. If you want the more value-oriented, safety-focused choice, the Forester has the edge; if you want a broader used market and a little more power, the CR-V is worth a look.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.