New & Used 2026 Subaru Forester for Sale nearDurham, NC

Compare 2026 Subaru Forester Trims in Durham, NC

The 2026 Subaru Forester offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to adventure-ready models, all featuring AWD for enhanced capability.

• Starting at $29,410
• Best MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Most Popular: Premium 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

AWD — "Who It's For"

The AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a reliable and affordable SUV without paying for extra features.

• Avg. market price: $29,410 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 13 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View AWD listings

Premium AWD — "Who It's For"

The Premium AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-equipped SUV with modern features for everyday adventures.

• Avg. market price: $32,455 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 33 listings
• View Premium AWD listings

Sport AWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty look and feel without sacrificing practicality.

• Avg. market price: $33,838 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 16 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Sport AWD listings

Limited AWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited AWD is the pick for shoppers who want luxury features and advanced technology in their SUV.

• Avg. market price: $36,635 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 31 listings
• View Limited AWD listings

Wilderness AWD — "Who It's For"

The Wilderness AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a rugged SUV designed for off-road adventures.

• Avg. market price: $35,474 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 16 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Wilderness AWD listings

Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a fully loaded SUV with premium features for a comfortable ride.

• Avg. market price: $34,005 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 25 listings
• View Touring AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Premium AWD

With 33 active listings, the Premium AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse Premium AWD listings

Best Budget Option — AWD

At $29,410 avg market price — below the lineup median of $33,921 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — AWD

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

Browse AWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 8, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester a good car?

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

For you, the key appeal is that Subaru gives this Forester a more rugged, capability-focused setup than a typical crossover SUV. The Wilderness treatment adds all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, drivetrain changes that improve traction, underbody protection, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire. That makes it especially well suited if you want extra confidence when the pavement ends, while still keeping everyday usefulness in the mix.

The trade-offs are clear: the design may not be for everyone, performance is described as sluggish, and the infotainment system is a weak point.

With 38.2% of listings priced as good or great deals, you have a decent amount of market flexibility.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester reliable?

The 2026 Subaru Forester is presented as a practical, confidence-inspiring SUV with standard all-wheel drive, strong utility, and a safety-focused design. Subaru also updated the rear seatbelts for 2026, which adds to the sense that this model year was improved with occupant protection in mind.

On the mechanical side, the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder and CVT are tuned for everyday use rather than excitement. The transmission is described as doing a good job of keeping the engine in a responsive part of its rev range, and Subaru’s AWD system is designed to reduce wheelspin on loose or slippery surfaces. The Wilderness also gets a shorter final-drive ratio for better low-speed responsiveness off-road.

For long-term ownership, the main risk for used buyers is that this is still a capability-first Forester, so you should expect a vehicle that prioritizes utility and traction over quick acceleration.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.2% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a Wilderness model that may have seen trail use. Focus on signs of underbody wear, tire condition, and whether the vehicle’s rugged equipment has been used hard. It’s also worth checking that the cabin and cargo area still show the easy-clean durability Subaru intended.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Wilderness trim stands apart with exclusive wheel designs, extra body cladding, anodized copper accents, Wilderness badges, and an easy-clean interior with water-resistant artificial leather, all-weather floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat. Seat ventilation is unavailable.
• Powertrain: The Wilderness 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 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 system uses an 11.6-inch portrait 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, but the available information here doesn’t spell out its equipment in detail, so it’s best viewed as the value-focused starting trim if you want the Forester’s core utility at the lowest price.
• Premium: This is the likely step-up choice if you want a more balanced mix of everyday comfort and features without moving all the way up the range.
• Sport: Choose this if you want a more style-forward version of the Forester lineup.
• Limited: This is the trim to consider if you want a more upscale-feeling Forester without going to the top.
• Wilderness: This is the one to buy if you want the most capability. It adds all-terrain tires, more ground clearance, improved off-road angles, underbody protection, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire. It’s the best fit if you expect rough roads, trail use, or just want the most rugged Forester.
• Touring: Pick this if you want the most premium version of the standard gas lineup.

The Wilderness also benefits from the safety package that includes EyeSight, blind-spot monitoring with steering intervention, 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 looks like a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory to shop carefully and enough deal activity to make comparison shopping worthwhile.

• Deal availability: 38.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,262 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 96.2% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester safe?

The 2026 Subaru Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS in the prior test cycle, 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 if you accelerate toward an obstacle and a 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.

One caveat to keep in mind is that the previous crash-test result fell short of the highest IIHS honor because of rear passenger protection performance.

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:

• 38.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.2% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Subaru’s 2026 updates add a redesigned Wilderness model with stronger off-road capability and improved rear-seat protection.

Consider the 2025 if:

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

The bottom line: If you want the most capable and most updated Forester in this comparison, the 2026 is the better target. If you’re shopping with a tighter budget, the 2025 remains appealing because it already brings meaningful improvements in equipment, tech, and cabin refinement.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.