Used 2023 Subaru Forester for Sale near California

Compare 2023 Subaru Forester Trims

The Forester lineup offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to adventure-ready models, all featuring AWD for enhanced capability.

• Starting at $21,212
• Best MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Most Popular: Premium Crossover AWD

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

Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

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

• Avg. market price: $21,212 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 468 listings
• View Crossover AWD listings

Premium Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Premium Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-equipped vehicle for adventures without going overboard on price.

• Avg. market price: $24,628 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,765 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Premium Crossover AWD listings

Sport Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty feel with added features for an adventurous lifestyle.

• Avg. market price: $26,014 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 762 listings
• View Sport Crossover AWD listings

Limited Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want luxury features and comfort without compromising on capability.

• Avg. market price: $26,795 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,201 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Limited Crossover AWD listings

Wilderness Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Wilderness Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want rugged capability for off-road adventures without sacrificing comfort.

• Avg. market price: $27,169 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 914 listings
• View Wilderness Crossover AWD listings

Touring Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a premium experience with advanced features for everyday driving.

• Avg. market price: $28,224 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 736 listings
• View Touring Crossover AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Premium Crossover AWD

With 1,765 active listings, the Premium Crossover AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse Premium Crossover AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Crossover AWD

At $21,212 avg market price — below the lineup median of $26,404 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Crossover AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Crossover AWD

The Crossover AWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup with 26/33 MPG.

Browse Crossover 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 2023 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 4.54% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,703 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — the 2023 Subaru Forester earns a 4.6/5 user rating and a 7.3/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10.

Drivers consistently praise its safety features, reliable performance, and overall value. The user feedback also points to a smooth driving experience, a comfortable interior, and strong AWD capability with rugged appeal. In practical terms, that lines up well with a compact SUV built for daily use, outdoor errands, and all-weather confidence.

The trade-offs are clear: the engine is underwhelming, and the back seat and voice recognition are weak spots. Even so, the Forester’s practicality-first layout and roomy cabin make it easy to recommend if you value usefulness over flash.

The market shows 37.7% of listings as good or great deals, which is a decent sign of shopping opportunity.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester reliable?

Owners rate it 4.6/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback repeatedly points to reliable performance, trouble-free ownership, and confidence in the Forester’s long-term value. The expert review also describes it as a vehicle that should deliver good reliability over time, with a practical setup that’s built to handle everyday use without much drama.

Its standard AWD, straightforward controls, and durable-feeling cabin all support that reputation for dependability. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is less about mechanical complexity and more about living with its modest power and dated voice interface.

What should I look for when buying a used 2023 Subaru Forester?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 88.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the vehicle history report carefully and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re shopping outside the cleanest listings. Focus on overall condition, signs of heavy use, and whether the cabin and cargo area match the seller’s description. If you want the best ownership experience, pay close attention to how the vehicle’s safety and convenience equipment is configured.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Base trim is the most stripped-down version, while higher trims add more comfort, convenience, and upscale touches. The Touring trim stands out with Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, metallic accents, and an 8-inch touchscreen, while the cabin overall stays button-friendly and easy to use.
• Powertrain: Every Forester uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and a CVT. The setup is tuned for everyday drivability and confidence, but it remains merely adequate rather than quick.
• Safety package: EyeSight is the core driver-assistance suite, and blind-spot monitoring adds Automatic Emergency Steering. Blind-spot monitoring is unavailable on the Base trim, optional on Premium, and standard on all other trims.
• Infotainment: The Base trim gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An 8-inch touchscreen is available, and upper trims can add navigation and Harman Kardon audio.
• Fuel efficiency: The Forester returned 25.9 mpg in testing, and the official combined rating is 29 mpg.

Which 2023 Subaru Forester trim should I buy?

The 2023 Subaru Forester is offered in 6 trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Base: This is the least expensive way into the Forester, but it’s also the most basic. You get the core practicality and standard AWD, yet you miss out on blind-spot monitoring and several convenience upgrades that make the higher trims easier to live with.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds useful equipment without pushing too far up the price ladder. It brings blind-spot monitoring as an option, plus satellite radio, HD Radio, Starlink connected services, remote engine start, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
• Sport: Choose this if you want more traction-management capability and a little more versatility. It adds X-Mode with deeper off-road settings than Premium, making it a stronger fit if you regularly deal with rough weather or unpaved roads.
• Wilderness: This is the one to buy if you want the most rugged version of the Forester. It’s the most capable choice for tougher terrain and also gets Rear Automatic Braking.
• Limited: This trim adds more comfort and convenience, and it can be a smart middle ground if you want a more upscale feel without going all the way to Touring. Rear Automatic Braking is optional here.
• Touring: This is the most upscale Forester, with the richest interior presentation, the available 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, premium audio, Rear Automatic Braking, and DriverFocus. It’s the right pick if you want the most features and don’t mind paying for them.

Blind-spot monitoring is unavailable on the Base trim, optional on Premium, and standard on all other trim levels.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2023 Subaru Forester?

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

• Deal availability: 37.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,703 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.54% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 88.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $26,586, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2023 Subaru Forester's resale value?

The current average of $26,586 sits slightly below last year's $27,852.

That price movement suggests the Forester has softened a bit in the used market, which can help you buy at a more favorable point. For a future seller, that also means resale value may depend heavily on condition, mileage, and equipment level rather than just model-year appeal.

The Forester’s practical reputation and broad buyer appeal should help support demand over time. Well-kept examples with strong equipment and clean history are likely to remain easier to move than neglected ones.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.6/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester safe?

The 2023 Subaru Forester earns a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, and it receives five-star ratings across the board from NHTSA, plus a four-star rollover resistance rating.

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

The Forester’s next-generation EyeSight system is the big safety update for this year, with updated software and cameras that widen the field of view. Blind-spot monitoring adds Automatic Emergency Steering, and that feature is unavailable on the Base trim, optional on Premium, and standard on all other trims.

There are a couple of caveats to keep in mind. IIHS gives it an Acceptable rating in a new side-impact test and a Marginal rating in a new small-overlap frontal-impact assessment. Rear Automatic Braking is also standard only on Wilderness and Touring, optional on Limited, and can be overly sensitive in some situations.

Should I buy a 2023 Subaru Forester or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2023 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2023 if:

• 37.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 88.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.54% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.6/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• This year brings next-generation EyeSight safety features and an improved standard infotainment system.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $24,060, the 2022 costs less than the current year's $26,586 average.
• It adds fresh design details, upgraded EyeSight tech, and improved utility features.

The bottom line: If you want the better-balanced shopping opportunity, the 2023 is the stronger pick because it combines softer pricing, solid inventory, and updated safety tech. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2022 is still appealing and keeps the Forester’s core practicality intact.

How does the 2023 Subaru Forester compare to the 2023 Honda CR-V?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2023 Subaru Forester:

• Pros: Standard all-wheel drive, Spacious interior, Exceptionally practical.
• Cons: Underwhelming engine, Poor voice recognition, Uncomfortable back seat.

2023 Honda CR-V:

• Pros: Comfortable, Plenty of cargo space, Great ride and handling.
• Cons: Irritating transmission, Uninspired styling, Lacks technological innovation.

Our experts score the 2023 Subaru Forester 7.3/10 and the 2023 Honda CR-V 7.8/10. The CR-V edges ahead on overall score, comfort, and ride quality, while the Forester counters with standard all-wheel drive and a more practical, rugged personality. If you want the easier all-weather choice, the Forester makes a strong case; if you want the more polished daily driver, the CR-V has the advantage.

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