How much does the 2019 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 6.87% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,123 listings available, which suggests you should have a reasonable amount of inventory to compare. If you find a listing below $18,707.35, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2019 Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — the 2019 Subaru Forester earns a 4.9/5 user rating and an 8.17/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

Owners consistently praise its spaciousness, safety features, visibility, comfort, smooth performance, and all-wheel drive capability. That lines up well with the Forester’s practical, family-friendly mission and its focus on everyday usefulness rather than flash. The main trade-offs are fairly pedestrian performance and uninspired styling, so you’re buying it for confidence and utility more than excitement. With 34.0% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market still gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2019 Subaru Forester reliable?

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

The owner feedback also points to reliability-minded traits such as dependable everyday use, trouble-free ownership, and a vehicle you can count on for family duty and all-weather driving. The expert evaluation reinforces that impression by emphasizing Subaru’s long-running crossover formula, standard all-wheel drive, and sensible packaging. It also notes that the Forester’s smooth, low-stress driving character and efficient CVT are part of its appeal for long-term use. If you’re buying used, the main ownership risk is less about the concept and more about finding a well-kept example with a clean history and no neglected maintenance.

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

At 72.6% 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 considering a higher-mileage example or one with incomplete service records. Focus on overall condition, signs of prior bodywork, and whether the cabin and technology still feel consistent with the mileage. Because this model is valued for practicality and safety, you’ll want to make sure those strengths haven’t been compromised by accident damage or deferred maintenance.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base trim comes well equipped, but it still lacks the larger touchscreen and the extra comfort and convenience features found higher up the range. Every trim gets standard LED headlights, symmetrical all-wheel drive, and EyeSight driver-assistance systems.
• Powertrain: The 2019 Forester uses a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. It’s tuned more for efficiency and smoothness than quick acceleration.
• Safety package: EyeSight is standard and includes forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, adaptive headlights, and lane-keeping Assist. Standard safety equipment also includes a reversing camera and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags.
• Infotainment: The base and Premium trims use a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while the Limited and Touring get an 8-inch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the system is responsive and easy to use.
• Fuel efficiency: The Forester is rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined.

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 trim: This is the value play if you want standard all-wheel drive and EyeSight without paying for extras. It includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen, dual front USB ports, split-fold rear seats, and useful storage features, but it skips the larger screen and the more upscale comfort items.
• Sweet-spot trim: The Premium trim is the best balance for most shoppers because it adds a panoramic moonroof, 10-way power front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, reclining rear seatbacks, and 4G Wi-Fi capability.
• Premium/top trim: The Touring trim is the most upscale choice, adding heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, navigation, and one-touch quick-release folding rear seats, along with the larger touchscreen and premium audio found on upper trims.
• Off-road trim: The Sport trim adds dual-mode X-Mode, a windshield wiper de-icer, heated front seats, paddle shifters, and larger brakes, but it’s still best viewed as a style-and-feature upgrade rather than a true off-road specialist.

Every trim comes with EyeSight and standard all-wheel drive, so even the lower trims cover the core safety and traction story well.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory to shop carefully and enough pricing softness to reward patience.

• Deal availability: 34.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,123 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.87% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 72.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $18,707.35, 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 $18,881 sits slightly below last year's $20,275.

That price movement suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer today but may also limit upside if you plan to resell soon. For a future seller, the key takeaway is that a well-kept Forester should still appeal to shoppers who value safety, space, and all-wheel drive, but pricing discipline matters more when the market has softened. Strong condition, a clean history, and desirable equipment will matter more if you want to protect resale value later.

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?

It earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

The Forester’s safety story is built around Subaru’s EyeSight suite, which comes standard and includes forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, adaptive headlights, and lane-keeping Assist. It also includes a reversing camera and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. Standard all-wheel drive and strong outward visibility further support its safety case, and the expert evaluation highlights safety as the model’s standout strength. Every trim gets the core safety package, so you don’t need to move up the lineup just to access the main driver-assistance features.

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:

• 34.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 72.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.87% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2019 model year brings standard all-wheel drive, standard EyeSight safety tech, and a practical, space-first design that fits buyers who want utility over flash.

The bottom line: If you want a used Forester that emphasizes safety, visibility, and everyday practicality, the 2019 is a strong choice. If you’re especially price-sensitive, you can shop carefully for a lower-priced listing near the bottom of the range, but you should still prioritize condition and history over chasing the cheapest example.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.