New & Used 2026 Subaru Forester for Sale nearAmes, IA

Compare 2026 Subaru Forester Trims

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

• Starting at $29,363
• 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: $29,363 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 670 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: $32,526 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 3,155 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 design and features without stepping up to a higher price point.

• Avg. market price: $35,826 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 1,483 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• 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 the highest price tag.

• Avg. market price: $36,049 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,793 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 and outdoor features without compromising on comfort.

• Avg. market price: $37,115 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 1,509 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• 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 premium features and technology without going for the highest MSRP.

• Avg. market price: $39,091 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 1,170 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Touring Crossover AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Premium Crossover AWD

With 3,155 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 $29,363 avg market price — below the lineup median of $35,937 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse 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 September 12, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester a good car?

The 2026 Subaru Forester earns a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

It’s built for buyers who want extra confidence when the road gets rough, with off-road-focused hardware and a rugged identity that goes beyond a typical crossover SUV. The tradeoff is that the design may be polarizing, performance is described as sluggish, and the infotainment system is dissatisfying.

Even so, it offers lots of utility and good safety ratings, and the market shows 33.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester reliable?

The 2026 Subaru Forester is presented as a confidence-inspiring choice for rough roads and unexpected conditions, with standard all-wheel drive, traction-focused drivetrain changes, and added underbody protection that support durability in tougher use. Its off-road hardware and full-size all-terrain spare tire also suggest a vehicle built to handle more than routine commuting.

Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance package and the updated rear-seat safety improvements reinforce the sense that this model is engineered with long-term peace of mind in mind. The performance notes also point to a CVT that keeps the engine in a responsive range and a shorter final-drive ratio that helps low-speed responsiveness off-road.

If you plan to keep one used, the main long-term ownership risk is that its rugged mission may mean more wear from harder use than you’d see on a standard crossover.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Subaru Forester?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 97.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the Forester you’re considering has seen trail use or towing. Focus on tire wear, underbody condition, and signs of hard use in the cabin and cargo area.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The gas-only lineup includes base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Wilderness, and Touring trim levels. The Wilderness stands apart with a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, extra body cladding, anodized copper accents, water-resistant artificial leather, all-weather floor mats, and a cargo-area rubber mat, while the base trim is the most likely to leave you wanting more equipment.
• Powertrain: The Wilderness uses a normally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. Subaru says the shorter final-drive ratio improves low-speed responsiveness off-road, and towing capacity rises to 3,500 pounds.
• Safety package: EyeSight includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Wilderness also adds active blind-spot monitoring with steering intervention, rear cross-traffic alert, Automatic Emergency Steering, and Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection.
• Infotainment: The Wilderness uses an 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi hotspot access, and Subaru Multimedia Plus software. A 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel is available with the option package.
• Fuel efficiency: Subaru estimates 26 mpg in combined driving for the Wilderness.

Which 2026 Subaru Forester trim should I buy?

The 2026 Subaru Forester is offered in 6 trim levels: base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Wilderness, and Touring.

Here's the short version:

• base: This is the entry point if you want the Forester’s core practicality at the lowest price, but it’s also the trim most likely to feel stripped down compared with the better-equipped versions.
• Premium: This is the sensible step up if you want a more balanced everyday Forester with added comfort and convenience without chasing the highest-priced trims.
• Sport: Choose this if you want a more expressive version of the Forester lineup with a stronger personality than the base and Premium trims.
• Limited: This is the best-value trim if you want a more upscale feel and broader equipment without going all the way to the top of the range.
• Wilderness: This is the one to buy if you want the Forester’s most capable off-road setup, with the rugged hardware and trail-focused upgrades that define the model.
• Touring: Pick this if you want the most fully equipped Forester and are willing to pay for the highest level of comfort and convenience.

The Wilderness also gets the strongest safety emphasis in the lineup, with EyeSight plus blind-spot steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, Automatic Emergency Steering, and Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Subaru Forester?

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

• Deal availability: 33.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,126 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 97.3% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester safe?

The 2026 Subaru Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, and the redesigned 2025 Forester received five-star ratings in each individual NHTSA assessment, plus a four-star rollover resistance rating.

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

Subaru’s EyeSight suite includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also adds automatic throttle management when you accelerate toward an obstacle and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.

Beyond EyeSight, the Forester Wilderness includes active blind-spot monitoring with steering intervention, rear cross-traffic alert, Automatic Emergency Steering, and Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection. Subaru also says it has improved the 2026 Forester’s rear seatbelts to enhance occupant safety.

Should I buy a 2026 Subaru Forester or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 33.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 97.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• It adds a redesigned Wilderness model with stronger off-road capability and updated rear-passenger protection.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It refines the Forester with a better-equipped base model and a quieter cabin.

The bottom line: Choose the 2026 if you want the most capable and safety-forward Forester, especially in Wilderness form. If you’re more price-sensitive and mainly want a practical compact crossover, the 2025 remains the easier-value alternative.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.