Used 2023 Subaru Forester for Sale nearSan Jose, CA

Compare 2023 Subaru Forester Trims in San Jose, CA

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 $23,814
• 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: $26,584 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 32 listings
• View Crossover AWD listings

Premium Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Premium Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want adventure-ready features without stepping up to higher trims.

• Avg. market price: $23,814 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 83 listings
• View Premium Crossover AWD listings

Sport Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want sporty features and tech without the highest price tag.

• Avg. market price: $25,537 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 35 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 going for the top-tier trim.

• Avg. market price: $25,872 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 55 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 unique styling for outdoor adventures.

• Avg. market price: $29,446 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 47 listings
• View Wilderness Crossover AWD listings

Touring Crossover AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring Crossover AWD is the pick for shoppers who want premium features and a refined driving experience.

• Avg. market price: $29,438 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 31 listings
• View Touring Crossover AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Premium Crossover AWD

With 83 active listings, the Premium Crossover AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse Premium Crossover AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Premium Crossover AWD

At $23,814 avg market price — below the lineup median of $26,228 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Premium Crossover AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Crossover AWD

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

Browse Crossover AWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2023 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 4.31% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,736 listings available, which suggests you should have a reasonable range of choices.

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, and many also like the smooth driving experience and comfortable interior. The AWD capability and rugged design come up often as reasons it fits outdoor-oriented use cases well.

The trade-offs are familiar: the engine is underwhelming, voice recognition is poor, and the back seat is uncomfortable. Even so, the Forester’s practical, daily-driver focus makes sense if you want a roomy, easy-to-live-with SUV with broad all-weather usefulness.

The market also looks healthy, with 33.5% of listings marked as good or great deals.

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, trouble-free ownership, and long-term value, while also emphasizing that many owners feel confident counting on it for everyday use. The expert review also describes it as a vehicle with good reliability over time and a practical, durable character.

Its standard AWD and straightforward mechanical setup support that reputation, and the cost-effectiveness review notes that it should deliver good reliability over time. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is less about basic dependability and more about living with its weaker powertrain, noisy voice-recognition system, and comfort compromises.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 88.9% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because accident-free listings are common but not guaranteed. Prioritize a thorough inspection of the cabin, infotainment behavior, and driver-assistance features, since those are the areas where this model’s usability can vary most. It also makes sense to focus on overall condition and how well the vehicle has been maintained, especially if you plan to keep it for the long haul.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Base trim is the most stripped-down version, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen and fewer convenience features than higher trims. Premium adds more connected features, while Touring brings the most upscale interior touches and extra equipment.
• Powertrain: Every Forester uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a CVT and standard all-wheel drive. The setup is tuned for everyday usability and confidence, but it is not quick, and the review notes that a turbocharged or electrified option would be welcome.
• 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, but wireless smartphone charging is absent.
• Fuel efficiency: The Forester returned 25.9 mpg in testing, and the official EPA 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 entry point if you want the Forester’s core strengths at the lowest price, but it leaves out blind-spot monitoring and some of the nicer convenience features found higher up the range.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds satellite radio, HD Radio, connected services, and blind-spot monitoring availability without jumping too far in price.
• Sport: This trim adds more off-road traction capability than the Base and Premium, including additional X-Mode settings, so it suits you if you want more capability without going all the way to Wilderness.
• Wilderness: Choose this if you want the most rugged version, with the strongest off-road focus and extra capability for tougher terrain.
• Limited: This is the trim to consider if you want more comfort and convenience, plus the option for Rear Automatic Braking.
• Touring: This is the most upscale Forester, with the best-looking exterior details, an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, premium audio, Rear Automatic Braking, and DriverFocus.

The safety package is strongest on the higher trims, while the Base trim misses blind-spot monitoring entirely.

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 without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,736 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.31% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 88.9% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $26,716, 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 $26,716 sits slightly below last year's $27,919.

That softer pricing can help you buy more affordably now, but it also means the market has already adjusted downward from a year ago. For a future seller, that suggests resale value may be steadier than flashy, with demand supported more by practicality than by trend-driven appeal. If you keep the vehicle in strong condition and avoid accident history, you should be in a better position when it’s time to sell.

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 five-star ratings across the board from NHTSA, plus a four-star rollover resistance rating from NHTSA.

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

The standard safety suite centers on next-generation EyeSight, which uses updated software and cameras with a wider 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 the Touring trim also gets DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System.

There are a couple of caveats to keep in mind. IIHS rated the Forester Acceptable in a new side-impact test and Marginal in a small-overlap frontal-impact assessment, so its crashworthiness is not flawless even though the NHTSA results are 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:

• 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 88.9% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.31% 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 $24,135, the 2022 costs less than the current year's $26,716 average.
• It adds fresh design details and an upgraded EyeSight package.

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

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 AWD and practicality, while the CR-V edges it on overall score, comfort, and ride quality. If you want the more straightforward all-weather utility vehicle, the Forester makes a strong case; if you care more about comfort and handling polish, the CR-V has the advantage.

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