Is the 2026 Subaru Forester a good car?

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

It’s the Forester built for you if you want a crossover SUV that can go well beyond pavement. Subaru gives it all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, added underbody protection, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire, so it’s clearly aimed at rough conditions rather than just light-duty dirt roads. The model also adds a new center console design and updated rear-passenger protection, which broadens its appeal beyond trail use.

The trade-offs are just as clear: the design may be polarizing, performance is sluggish, and the infotainment system is a weak point. Even so, the Wilderness brings a useful mix of utility and reassurance for buyers who want more capability than a typical crossover SUV.

Good and great deals account for 31.1% of listings, which gives you a decent amount of market choice.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester reliable?

The 2026 Forester Wilderness is presented as a reassuring choice for long-term use because Subaru leans hard into durability-minded hardware and safety-focused updates. The all-wheel-drive system is tuned for faster center-differential lockup on loose surfaces, and the Wilderness adds more underbody protection, a full-size spare tire, and improved transmission cooling, all of which support dependable use in tougher conditions.

The performance setup is straightforward rather than complicated: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a CVT with eight programmed ratios, and standard AWD. That simplicity can be a plus for ownership confidence, especially if you plan to keep the vehicle for a while. Subaru also says the Wilderness gets a shorter final-drive ratio for better low-speed responsiveness off-road.

If you’re buying used, the main long-term risk is that the vehicle’s extra capability may have encouraged harder use than a typical family crossover.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 97.5% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the vehicle has seen trail use or towing. Focus on signs of underbody contact, tire wear, suspension condition, and any evidence that the cabin or cargo area has been heavily used for outdoor gear. Because this version is built for rougher terrain, condition matters more than mileage alone.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Wilderness stands apart with a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, extra body cladding, anodized copper accents, Wilderness badges, and an easy-clean interior. It also lacks seat ventilation.
• Powertrain: It uses a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. Subaru says the Wilderness does not get turbocharging, but it does gain a shorter final-drive ratio and improved transmission cooling.
• Safety package: 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 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, SiriusXM satellite radio, Wi-Fi hotspot access, and connected services. A 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel is available with the option package.
• Fuel efficiency: Subaru estimates 26 mpg in combined driving.

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 and standard all-wheel-drive character without paying for the Wilderness’s extra hardware.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim if you want a more rounded everyday Forester without jumping to the most specialized version.
• Sport: Choose this if you want a more style-forward Forester with a little more personality.
• Limited: This is the better pick if you want a more upscale-feeling Forester for daily use.
• Wilderness: This is the one to buy if you want the most capability, the most rugged hardware, and the strongest off-pavement focus.
• Touring: Pick this if you want the most comfort-leaning, fully equipped Forester experience.

The Wilderness trim also comes with the safety-focused EyeSight suite, plus blind-spot monitoring, 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, selective-buyer market, so you have room to shop, but the best examples still deserve quick action.

• Deal availability: 31.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,122 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 97.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $34,378.72, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester safe?

The 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 package 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 into an obstacle and Lead Vehicle Start Alert. Beyond that, 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 improved the 2026 Forester’s rear seatbelts to enhance occupant safety. The main caveat is that the previous Forester did not earn the highest IIHS honor because of rear-passenger protection performance, so that area is worth keeping in mind when you shop used examples.

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:

• 31.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 97.5% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Subaru adds a redesigned Wilderness model with stronger off-road capability and updated rear-passenger protection.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It refines the formula with a better-equipped base model, more advanced tech and safety, and a quieter cabin.

The bottom line: You should lean toward the 2026 if you want the most capable and most safety-forward Forester variant, especially the Wilderness. If your priority is value and you don’t need the extra trail hardware, the 2025 remains the more straightforward alternative for price-sensitive buyers.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.