Used 2023 Subaru Forester for Sale nearHickory, NC

Compare 2023 Subaru Forester Trims

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

• Starting at $20,511
• 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.

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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: $20,511 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 435 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: $24,610 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,778 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: $25,821 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 751 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 without stepping up to the highest trim.

• Avg. market price: $26,577 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,160 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 compromising comfort.

• Avg. market price: $27,096 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 837 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 comfort in their vehicle.

• Avg. market price: $27,966 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 730 listings
• View Touring Crossover AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Premium Crossover AWD

With 1,778 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 $20,511 avg market price — below the lineup median of $26,199 — 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 November 12, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2023 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 4.89% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,669 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — 4.6/5 owners’ rating points to strong overall satisfaction, and our experts rate it 7.3/10. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10.

Drivers consistently praise its safety features, reliable performance, and overall value, and they also like the smooth driving experience and comfortable interior. The Forester’s AWD capability and rugged design come through as recurring positives, especially if you want something that fits outdoor use and everyday practicality.

The trade-offs are clear: the engine is underwhelming, and the voice recognition is poor. The model also leans more toward utility than excitement, which fits the Forester’s use case as a practical compact SUV rather than a sporty one.

The Forester is a rational pick if you want a straightforward, easy-to-live-with SUV with standard all-wheel drive and a roomy cabin. Good and great deals account for 36.1% of listings, so there is still room to shop selectively.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester reliable?

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

Drivers describe it as reliable and dependable, with a reputation for trouble-free ownership and strong long-term value. The expert review also points to good reliability over time, and the Forester’s practical, confidence-inspiring driving character supports that impression.

The powertrain is described as adequate and trustworthy in normal use, even if it is not especially quick. Subaru also notes that the first scheduled maintenance visit is on the house.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that the Forester’s age-related weaknesses show up more in refinement and crashworthiness than in day-to-day usefulness.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 86.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because accident-free listings are not the same as problem-free vehicles. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on the condition of the drivetrain, cabin wear, and any signs that the vehicle has been used hard off pavement. It also makes sense to pay close attention to how the safety and infotainment systems operate, since those are major parts of the Forester’s appeal.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Base trim is the most stripped-down version, while higher trims add more comfort, convenience, and appearance upgrades. The Touring trim stands out with exclusive Saddle Brown leather and trim, 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. The setup is tuned for everyday usability and all-weather confidence rather than strong acceleration, and there is no turbocharged or electrified option.
• Safety package: EyeSight is the standard 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. Higher trims can add an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, and Harman Kardon audio, but there is no wireless smartphone charger.
• 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 value entry point, but it is also the most basic version and misses blind-spot monitoring. Choose it only if you want the lowest price and can live with fewer convenience and safety extras.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds more everyday convenience, including satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services, while also making blind-spot monitoring available.
• Sport: This trim builds on the Premium’s equipment and adds more capability from the X-Mode system, including Deep Snow and Mud settings, so it suits buyers who want a little more versatility.
• Wilderness: This is the choice if you want the most off-road-focused Forester, with numerous modifications that make it more capable when conditions get rough.
• 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.
• Touring: This is the most upscale Forester, with the best-looking exterior treatment, the richest interior materials, the 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, premium audio, Rear Automatic Braking, and DriverFocus.

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 is a moderate market for selective buyers, so it makes sense to shop carefully and compare listings.

• Deal availability: 36.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,669 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.89% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 86.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $26,309, 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 $26,309 sits slightly below last year's $27,662.

That softer pricing can help you as a buyer now, but it also means a future seller may need to be realistic about expectations if the market stays loose. The Forester’s value story is still supported by its practical reputation, standard all-wheel drive, and broad appeal to shoppers who want a dependable compact SUV.

Because the model has strong owner satisfaction and a reputation for usefulness, it should continue to attract steady demand. 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 Forester earns a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and 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 standard EyeSight suite is the big safety update for this model year, with updated software and cameras that widen the field of view. Blind-spot monitoring adds Automatic Emergency Steering, and that system is standard on all trims except Base, where it is unavailable. Rear Automatic Braking is standard on Wilderness and Touring, optional on Limited, and not mentioned as standard elsewhere.

There are also some caveats to keep in mind. IIHS gives the Forester an Acceptable rating in a new side-impact test and a Marginal rating in a new small-overlap frontal-impact assessment, so you should not assume every crash scenario is equally strong.

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 86.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.89% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.6/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It adds next-generation EyeSight safety features and an improved standard infotainment system.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $23,960, the 2022 costs less than the current year's $26,309 average.
• It emphasizes practical utility, standard all-wheel drive, and a spacious cabin.

The bottom line: If you want the newer safety and infotainment updates, the 2023 is the better all-around choice. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2022 is the more budget-friendly path and still delivers the Forester’s core strengths.

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 standard all-wheel drive and practicality, while the CR-V gets the edge for comfort and ride quality. The Forester’s weaker engine and back seat are notable drawbacks, but its utility-focused character may suit you better if all-weather confidence matters more than polish.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.