Used 2023 Subaru Forester for Sale nearChicago, IL

Compare 2023 Subaru Forester Trims in Chicago, IL

The 2023 Subaru Forester offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to adventure-ready models, all featuring AWD for enhanced traction.

• Starting at $24,998
• 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: $24,998 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 45 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 without stepping up to the higher trims.

• Avg. market price: $26,384 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 128 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 advanced tech features and sporty styling without a luxury price tag.

• Avg. market price: $28,087 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 53 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 going for the top-tier trim.

• Avg. market price: $31,797 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 90 listings
• 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 and off-road features without a hefty price tag.

• Avg. market price: $27,994 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 61 listings
• View Wilderness Crossover AWD listings

Touring Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the most refined features and luxury without compromising on performance.

• Avg. market price: $27,800 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 45 listings
• View Touring Crossover AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Premium Crossover AWD

With 128 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 $24,998 avg market price — below the lineup median of $27,897 — 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/MPGe.

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 4.88% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,640 listings available, which suggests solid inventory for shoppers comparing prices and trims.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — the 2023 Subaru Forester earns 4.6/5 from owners and 7.3/10 from our experts. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10.

Drivers consistently praise its safety features, reliable performance, and overall value, and many also like the smooth driving experience and comfortable interior. The Forester’s AWD capability and rugged design come through as recurring positives, which fits its role as a practical compact SUV for everyday use and outdoor-oriented buyers.

The trade-offs are familiar: the engine is underwhelming, and the voice recognition is poor. Even so, the Forester’s usefulness, roomy cabin, and straightforward controls make it a strong fit if you want utility over excitement.

With 36.1% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s enough market activity to give you options without making the model feel scarce.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester reliable?

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

User feedback points to reliable performance, and drivers also describe the Forester as dependable and well suited to long-term ownership. The expert review also emphasizes good reliability over time and notes that the SUV’s practical, confidence-inspiring nature supports that reputation.

The Forester’s standard AWD and durable, easy-to-use layout reinforce the sense that it’s built for steady everyday service. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is less about basic dependability and more about living with its weaker powertrain and mixed comfort and tech quirks.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 87.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because accident-free listings are common but not universal. Prioritize a thorough inspection of the cabin, infotainment behavior, and rear-seat comfort, since those are the areas most likely to affect day-to-day satisfaction. It also makes sense to confirm which driver-assistance features are present, because some safety equipment varies by trim.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: Base trim is the most stripped-down version, while higher trims add more comfort, convenience, and appearance upgrades. The Touring trim stands out with Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, metallic accents, and an upscale interior presentation.
• Powertrain: Every Forester uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and a CVT. It’s tuned for everyday usability rather than strong acceleration, and the review notes that it still lacks a turbocharged or electrified option.
• Safety package: EyeSight is the core driver-assistance suite, and models with blind-spot monitoring add Automatic Emergency Steering. Blind-spot monitoring is unavailable on Base, optional on Premium, and standard on all other trims.
• Infotainment: Base models get a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An 8-inch touchscreen is available, along with navigation and Harman Kardon audio, while wireless smartphone charging is not offered.
• Fuel efficiency: The review says the Forester returned 25.9 mpg on a test route and cites an official combined rating of 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 entry point, and it gives you the Forester’s core strengths without the extra equipment. It makes sense if you want standard AWD and the lowest starting price, but it’s the least equipped version and misses blind-spot monitoring.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds useful convenience and safety upgrades without pushing too far up the price ladder. You get blind-spot monitoring as an option, plus satellite radio, HD Radio, and connected services.
• Sport: This trim adds more capability from the X-Mode system, including Deep Snow and Mud settings, so it suits you if you want a little more traction-management flexibility.
• Wilderness: Choose this if you want the most off-road-focused Forester. The review describes it as the most capable version when conditions get tough.
• Limited: This is a good pick if you want more comfort and convenience, and it can be equipped with Rear Automatic Braking.
• Touring: This is the most upscale Forester, with the best interior presentation, the available 8-inch touchscreen setup, navigation, premium audio, Rear Automatic Braking, and DriverFocus.

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

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you have room to shop carefully.

• Deal availability: 36.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,640 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.88% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 87.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $26,411, 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 $26,411 sits slightly below last year's $27,767.

That price movement suggests the Forester has softened a bit, which can help you as a buyer now but may temper short-term gains if you plan to resell soon. For a future seller, the current trend implies you should expect a more competitive market rather than a rising one.

Even so, the model’s practical reputation and broad appeal can help support demand over time. 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 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 EyeSight suite is the key safety story here, with updated software and cameras that Subaru says improve performance. Models with blind-spot monitoring also add Automatic Emergency Steering, and that feature is standard on all trims except Base, where blind-spot monitoring is unavailable.

There are a couple of caveats to keep in mind. IIHS gave it an Acceptable rating in a new side-impact test and a Marginal rating in a small-overlap frontal-impact assessment, so its crashworthiness is not flawless.

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:

• 36.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 87.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.88% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.6/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2023 adds next-generation EyeSight safety features and an improved standard infotainment system.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $23,990, the 2022 costs less than the current year's $26,411 average.
• It emphasizes practical utility, standard AWD, and a spacious cabin.

The bottom line: If you want the newer safety and infotainment updates, the 2023 is the better all-around pick. If your priority is saving money and you’re comfortable giving up some of the newer refinements, the 2022 is the value play.

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 Forester leans harder into practicality, standard AWD, and everyday usefulness, while the CR-V brings a more comfortable ride and stronger overall balance. If you care most about utility and all-weather confidence, the Forester has the edge; if you want a more polished drive, the CR-V is the better fit.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.