How much does the Subaru Forester cost in today's market?

Used Subaru Forester prices span a wide range depending on model year. Here's what the market looks like right now:

The Subaru Forester's current nationwide average price is $22,937, and its year-round low is $20,285.30. That gives you a useful snapshot of where this model sits today across the years shown here. Recently, prices have come down for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 models, making now a good time to shop recent model years.

Is the Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — the Subaru Forester is a strong used-car pick if you value practicality, safety, and all-weather confidence. The all-generations owner rating is 4.62/5 across every model year in the data.

Owners consistently praise the Forester for its spacious cabin, reliability, and standard all-wheel drive. They also highlight its comfortable ride, strong visibility, and family-friendly usefulness, which show up again and again across model years.

Expert reviews rate the 2019 and 2022 models among the highest across all years.

The main trade-offs that recur in expert feedback are sluggish performance, uninspired styling, and infotainment systems that can feel dated or busy. Even so, the Forester’s core strengths make it a compelling choice if you want a dependable compact SUV with broad everyday appeal.

33.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Subaru Forester models reliable?

Owners and experts consistently point to the Forester’s reliability, practicality, and strong all-wheel-drive confidence as defining strengths. Across the model years in the data, it also earns praise for its spacious interior, comfortable ride, and family-friendly usability.

• Owners rate the Subaru Forester between 4.33 and 5.0 out of 5 stars across all model years in the data.

For used buyers, the long-term ownership picture looks reassuring overall, especially if you choose a well-kept example with a clean history and solid maintenance records.

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

Across all model years, accident-free inventory is solid at 81.8% — always verify the vehicle history report.

Older model years carry meaningfully higher accident rates, so always verify the vehicle history report on pre-2020 models.

Key things to evaluate:

• Safety package: EyeSight
• Infotainment: 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Fuel efficiency: 26 mpg in combined driving

Which Subaru Forester trim should I buy?

The 2026 Subaru Forester offers...

• Wilderness: The Wilderness trim adds a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, exclusive wheel designs, extra body cladding, anodized copper accents, water-resistant artificial leather, all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo-area mat, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire. It is the best fit if you want the most rugged, adventure-ready Forester.
• Wilderness with option package: This version adds a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a navigation system, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power liftgate.

What Subaru Forester do most buyers choose?

The Subaru Forester years with the most listings are 2025, 2024, and 2023.

These higher-volume years tend to be popular because they give you a strong mix of newer features, broad availability, and plenty of shopping choice. More listings also make it easier to compare prices and find a trim that fits your budget.

What is the Subaru Forester's resale value?

The table shows broad downward movement across the model years, which can work in your favor if you're shopping used. Several recent years have seen noticeable price drops, creating more attractive entry points for buyers. The overall pattern suggests steady opportunities rather than sharp rebounds.

The 2016, 2020, and 2015 model years have held their value best, with the smallest year-over-year price changes.

Is the Subaru Forester safe?

• 2026: 9/10
• 2025: 9/10
• 2023: 8/10
• 2022: 9/10
• 2021: 9/10
• 2019: 10/10
• 2017: 7/10
• 2016: 8/10
• 2015: 9/10
• 2014: 7/10

Subaru calls its package of camera-based advanced driving assistance systems EyeSight. It includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist.

For the safest used buy, the 2019 model posts the highest confirmed score of 10/10.

Should I buy a used Subaru Forester now or wait for the next model?

Buy now if:

• Price trend: The 2025 model is at −5.1% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −6.74%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 33.5% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 33.2%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2025 model has the most listings at a current average price of $31,756. The Subaru Forester offers a spacious cabin, strong visibility, and standard all-wheel drive, which gives it broad everyday appeal.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: 180 horsepower, 178 pound-feet of torque, 8 programmed ratios, and 26 mpg in combined driving.
• Tech: a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
• Safety: updated rear seatbelts and improved rear passenger safety.
• Starting price: $31,445

If you're buying used today, the 2025 model year offers the best mix of value and availability. If you want the latest tech and features, it may be worth waiting for 2027 inventory to mature.

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