How much does the 2025 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 5.10% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 5,583 listings available, which suggests solid inventory for comparison shopping. If you find a listing below $31,764.26, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2025 Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — the 4.5/5 user rating points to strong owner satisfaction, and the expert rating is 7.83/10. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

The Forester fits you well if you want a practical compact crossover that emphasizes continuity, standard all-wheel drive, and everyday usefulness over flash. The 2025 update also brings a better-equipped base model, more advanced tech and safety offerings, and a quieter cabin.

The trade-offs are clear: generic styling and dated infotainment graphics remain part of the package, and there are no hybrid options available. Even so, the model’s balanced setup and confident handling in adverse conditions make it appealing if you value function-first usability.

33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2025 Subaru Forester reliable?

Owners rate it 4.5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The 2025 Forester is built around a familiar formula, and Subaru’s focus on refinement rather than reinvention can work in your favor if you want a proven, low-drama ownership experience. The quieter cabin and standard all-wheel drive support the sense that this is a vehicle designed for steady daily use, not constant attention.

Its performance setup is straightforward: every 2025 Forester uses a 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine with a CVT and standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Subaru also says the model is quieter for 2025, and the cabin improvements back that up in everyday driving.

Subaru’s Starlink connected services suite adds convenience features, and the model’s maintenance coverage includes a first scheduled maintenance visit on the house.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about complexity and more about whether the vehicle was maintained and used in line with its practical mission.

What should I look for when buying a used 2025 Subaru Forester?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one with off-pavement use. Focus on overall condition, cabin wear, and whether the vehicle’s equipment matches the trim level you expected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base model comes with cloth upholstery, while higher trims add more upscale materials and visual differentiation. The base setup also starts with simpler exterior and interior equipment than the upper trims.
• Powertrain: Every 2025 Forester uses a 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT and standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Fuel economy is rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, 29 combined, while Sport and Touring trims return 25/32/28.
• Safety package: Subaru’s EyeSight suite comes standard, along with a rear seat reminder system and a wider field of view from a third standard camera. Emergency Stop Assist is limited to vehicles equipped with the driver distraction-mitigation system, which essentially confines it to the Touring trim.
• Infotainment: The base trim uses two 7-inch touchscreens with wired smartphone projection and USB-A only. Higher trims get the 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus OTA update capability.
• Fuel efficiency: The EPA rates the Forester at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, 29 combined. Sport and Touring trims take a slight hit at 25/32/28.

Which 2025 Subaru Forester trim should I buy?

The 2025 Subaru Forester is offered in 5 trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: It gives you standard all-wheel drive and the core Forester formula, but it starts with the simpler dual 7-inch touchscreen setup, wired smartphone projection, and cloth upholstery.
• Sweet-spot trim: Premium is the value play because it adds Subaru’s X-Mode with Hill Descent Control, the 11.6-inch infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and more convenience tech.
• Premium/top trim: Touring is the most fully equipped choice, with navigation, an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a digital rearview mirror, surround view monitor, reverse automatic braking, and access to Emergency Stop Assist.
• Off-road trim: Sport is the one to consider if you want the dual-function X-Mode setup and a more rugged look, but it also carries a fuel-economy penalty versus the base model.

The Touring trim is also the one tied to the driver-distraction mitigation system needed for Emergency Stop Assist.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2025 Subaru Forester?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop carefully without expecting a deep bargain on every listing.

• Deal availability: 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 5,583 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.10% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 96.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $31,764.26, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2025 Subaru Forester's resale value?

The current average of $31,756 sits slightly below last year's $33,461.

That price movement suggests the market has eased a bit, which can help you buy more selectively now. For a future seller, the current softness means resale upside may depend more on condition, mileage, and trim than on broad market momentum. Well-kept examples should still benefit from the Forester’s practical reputation and standard all-wheel drive.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2025 Subaru Forester safe?

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

Subaru’s EyeSight suite comes standard, and for 2025 it gains a wider field of view thanks to a third standard camera that can spot cyclists and pedestrians earlier. A rear seat reminder system is also standard, and an electric brake booster has been added.

The available safety tech is strongest on the Touring trim, which adds a digital rearview mirror, surround view monitor, reverse automatic braking, and Emergency Stop Assist. That last feature is tied to the driver distraction-mitigation system, so it is not broadly available across the lineup.

The 2025 Forester is too new to have been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA yet, so you should lean on the standard safety equipment and the model’s strong expert safety score when evaluating it.

Should I buy a 2025 Subaru Forester or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2025 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2025 if:

• 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.10% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It adds a quieter cabin, a better-equipped base model, and more advanced tech and safety features.

Consider the 2026 if:

• It adds all-terrain hardware and a more rugged, off-road-focused setup.

The bottom line: If you want the most balanced buy, the 2025 is the better path because it improves the Forester formula without changing its core strengths. If you’re price-sensitive and find a clean, well-equipped 2025 at the low end of the range, that’s the move; if your priorities lean heavily toward rugged trail use, the newer direction may be worth waiting for.

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