New & Used 2026 Subaru Forester for Sale nearGates, NC

Compare 2026 Subaru Forester Trims

The Forester lineup offers a range of trims from budget-friendly AWD to adventure-ready options, all featuring impressive fuel efficiency.

• Starting at $28,970
• 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.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

AWD — "Who It's For"

The AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features.

• Avg. market price: $28,970 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 211 listings
• View AWD listings

Premium AWD — "Who It's For"

The Premium AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded vehicle with added comfort features without going for the higher trims.

• Avg. market price: $32,323 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,493 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Premium AWD listings

Sport AWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty feel with luxury touches without stepping up to the Limited trim.

• Avg. market price: $35,555 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 758 listings
• View Sport AWD listings

Limited AWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited AWD is the pick for shoppers who want premium features and comfort without the highest price tag.

• Avg. market price: $36,564 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 26 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 608 listings
• View Limited AWD listings

Wilderness AWD — "Who It's For"

The Wilderness AWD is the pick for shoppers who want off-road capability and advanced features without compromising on comfort.

• Avg. market price: $36,950 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 28 hwy
• Inventory: 541 listings
• View Wilderness AWD listings

Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the most luxurious features and technology without going for a higher-end brand.

• Avg. market price: $38,687 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 32 hwy
• Inventory: 542 listings
• View Touring AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Premium AWD

With 1,493 active listings, the Premium AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse Premium AWD listings

Best Budget Option — AWD

At $28,970 avg market price — below the lineup median of $36,059 — 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 1, 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.

It’s a strong fit if you want a compact crossover with a clear rugged identity and extra confidence when conditions get rough. The 2026 Forester Wilderness adds all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, drivetrain changes that improve traction, added underbody protection, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire. Those upgrades make it more capable than a typical crossover SUV, and the interior is set up for easy clean-up after outdoor use.

The trade-offs are just as clear: the design may be polarizing, the performance is described as sluggish, and the infotainment system is dissatisfying. Even so, it still delivers lots of utility and good safety ratings.

Good and great deals account for 35.8% of listings, which gives you a decent amount of market choice.

Is the 2026 Subaru Forester reliable?

The 2026 Subaru Forester is presented as a practical, confidence-inspiring SUV with standard all-wheel drive, traction-focused off-road hardware, and safety-oriented updates for rear passengers. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder and CVT are tuned for everyday use, and Subaru says the AWD system locks the center differential faster to reduce wheelspin on loose and slippery surfaces.

The performance notes also point to a drivetrain that stays responsive enough for the vehicle’s mission, with the CVT doing a good job of keeping the engine in its power band. The Wilderness model’s shorter final-drive ratio helps low-speed responsiveness off-road, and the added transmission cooling supports the higher towing rating.

If you’re buying used, the main long-term ownership risk is that this is still a capability-first crossover rather than a quick or especially refined one, so you should expect the usual wear-and-tear scrutiny on off-road-focused examples.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.8% — 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 underbody condition, tire wear, and signs that the rugged hardware has been used hard. It’s also smart to verify that the cabin and cargo area still show the easy-clean materials and accessories in good shape.

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, Wilderness badges, and easy-clean interior materials; the base trim is the one most likely to leave you wanting more equipment.
• 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 AWD system and X-Mode Dual Mode settings help on loose and slippery surfaces, and the Wilderness gets a shorter final-drive ratio for better low-speed responsiveness off-road.
• 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. 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 can be equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen. It includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Wi-Fi hotspot access, and connected services, but the system is described as busy and cluttered.
• 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, but it’s the trim most likely to feel light on equipment compared with the rest of the lineup.
• Premium: A sensible step up if you want a better-equipped Forester without chasing the more specialized trims.
• Sport: Best if you want a more expressive version of the Forester without going all the way to the Wilderness.
• Limited: A good choice if you want a more upscale feel and broader equipment coverage.
• Wilderness: This is the best-value trim if you want the Forester’s strongest off-road identity, with the lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, added protection, and rugged interior treatment.
• Touring: Choose this if you want the most fully equipped Forester and are willing to pay for it.

The Wilderness also has a safety-package note worth keeping in mind: EyeSight is standard, and the model adds blind-spot 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, selective buyer’s market, so you have room to shop carefully without expecting a deep bargain on every listing.

• Deal availability: 35.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,175 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 96.8% 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 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 from the crash-test discussion is that the previous Forester missed the highest IIHS honor because of rear-passenger protection performance in a newer test, which Subaru has worked to improve for 2026.

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:

• 35.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.8% — 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’s a more practical, easy-to-live-with Forester with a quieter cabin and improved everyday usability.

The bottom line: Choose the 2026 if you want the most capable and safety-forward version of the Forester, especially in Wilderness form. If your priority is value and you don’t need the rugged upgrades, the 2025 remains the simpler, more everyday-friendly path.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.