How much does the 2021 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 4.56% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,047 listings available, which suggests solid inventory for comparison shopping.

If you find a listing below $21,774.51, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Subaru Forester earns a 5/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating.

The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its spacious feel, safety features, and reliability, and many also like its attractive design and good handling. The Forester fits you well if you want a practical compact crossover with standard all-wheel drive and a straightforward, useful layout. The trade-offs are uninspired styling, sluggish performance, and interior materials that feel cheap. With 33.3% of listings marked as good or great deals, there is still room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Subaru Forester reliable?

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

Owner feedback points to reliability, trustworthiness, and a car you can count on over time. The expert evaluation also emphasizes the Forester’s practical, durable character, with an interior built to stand up to years of use. Subaru’s three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty are standard for the segment, and the first scheduled maintenance visit is on the house. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about outright fragility and more about finding a well-kept example that hasn’t been worn down by heavy daily use.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Subaru Forester?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 81.6% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any candidate, even if the listing looks clean at first glance. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that checks the drivetrain, brakes, tires, and suspension, since those are the areas most likely to reveal how the vehicle was treated. Focus on cabin wear, infotainment operation, and any signs that the vehicle’s safety equipment or driver-assist features were not working as intended.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Base trim looks plain with its 17-inch steel wheels, while Premium and higher trims add more comfort and convenience equipment.
• Powertrain: You get one 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. It delivers adequate power, but it can feel slow when merging or passing.
• Safety package: EyeSight is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beams, and a rear seatbelt reminder are also standard, while blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking are optional.
• Infotainment: The standard setup uses a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models add an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio, while Limited and Touring add navigation and rear USB ports.
• Fuel efficiency: It returns 29 mpg combined (26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway), which is solid for a compact SUV.

Which 2021 Subaru Forester trim should I buy?

The 2021 Subaru Forester is offered in 5 trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: It gives you standard all-wheel drive and the core safety package, but it looks plain and misses some of the comfort and convenience upgrades found higher up the range.
• Sweet-spot trim: Premium is the best value pick because it adds the All-Weather Package, including heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer.
• Premium/top trim: Touring is the most upscale choice, with leather upholstery and the most complete feature set in the lineup.
• Off-road trim: Sport adds Dual X-Mode, which is useful if you expect to drive on snow, dirt, or mud more often than the average commuter.

EyeSight is standard across the lineup, but blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert remain optional.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Subaru Forester?

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 33.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,047 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.56% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 81.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $21,774.51, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Subaru Forester's resale value?

The current average of $22,522 sits slightly below last year's $23,599.

That price movement suggests the market has cooled a bit, which can help you buy at a more favorable entry point today. For a future seller, the softer current pricing means resale upside may be more gradual than dramatic. Even so, the Forester’s broad appeal, standard all-wheel drive, and strong owner satisfaction should help keep demand steady.

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

Is the 2021 Subaru Forester safe?

The 2021 Forester received the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS, with top Good ratings in all crash tests, a Superior rating for front-crash prevention tech, and a Good rating for headlights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it a five-star overall rating, with five-star ratings in frontal-crash and side-crash tests and four-star ratings in rollover crash tests.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

EyeSight is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beams, and a rear seatbelt reminder are also standard for 2021. Subaru also offers DriverFocus, a driver-monitoring system that checks for distraction. Optional safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.

Should I buy a 2021 Subaru Forester or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 33.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 81.6% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.56% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It adds standard steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beams, and a rear seatbelt reminder.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $24,897, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $22,522 average.
• It adds the Wilderness trim and updated driver-assistance tech.

The bottom line: the 2021 is the better value if you want a proven Forester with strong safety, standard AWD, and a lower entry price. If you want the newer updates and are willing to pay more, the 2022 is the better path; if price matters most, the 2021 is the smarter buy.

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