2023 Jeep Wrangler vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler, with its fourth-generation JL design, maintained a rugged, no-nonsense aesthetic. It was available in both two-door and four-door Unlimited versions, with the option to remove the doors for an open-air experience. The windshield could fold down, and various top options allowed for versatile open-air exploring. The Wrangler featured wide fenders, Jeep’s iconic seven-slot grille, round headlights, and old-school exterior hood latches. The tailgate swung out, and the rear glass lifted up for easy access to the cargo area. Inside, the Wrangler was practical with easy-to-clean floor mats and seats, a body-colored dash, chunky HVAC controls, and a manual transfer case shifter.

In contrast, the 2023 Subaru Forester had a more utilitarian design, focusing on function over form. It came in several trims, including Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. The Forester’s design was reminiscent of previous models, with flared fenders, a narrow waist, and pincer-shaped lighting. The Touring trim stood out with 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim. Inside, the Forester Touring offered Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents. The interior was busy with a mix of traditional buttons and knobs, making it easy to use. The Forester’s design emphasized practicality, with robust roof rails and a spacious, easy-to-clean cabin.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler was built for off-road performance, featuring solid axles front and rear and optional differential lockers. It offered a variety of engine options, including a standard V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The Wrangler Rubicon 392 boasted a 6.4-liter V8 with 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, while the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid offered 21 miles of all-electric range. The Wrangler 392, with its full-time 4WD and Off-Road Plus button, could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. However, its brakes and steering were less impressive, with vague steering and inadequate brakes for the V8’s power.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT had eight programmed ratios and a Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system with a Sport mode. Most Foresters, except the Base trim, included an X-Mode off-road traction management system with various driving modes. The Forester Wilderness trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities. During testing, the Forester Touring handled flooded roads, rain-blasted freeways, and muddy trails with ease. The Forester’s driving dynamics were excellent, with light and accurate steering, responsive brakes, and well-tuned suspension. However, the 2.5-liter engine was merely adequate, and the Forester returned 25.9 mpg, falling short of its EPA rating.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler’s front seats were comfortable, but heated seats required the 392 or a cold-weather package. The rear seat was tight, especially in the four-door models, and the rear doors were small. Storage for small items was limited, with a flat dash and tiny glove box and center console. The Wrangler offered 72.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The hard top could be removed in one piece, and the soft top was fairly easy to remove. The Sky One-Touch power soft top was the easiest option, sliding back in 17 seconds. The Wrangler provided ample charging points, including USB-A and USB-C ports and a 115-volt outlet.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, with a focus on simplicity and substance. The Premium trim included a panoramic glass sunroof, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer system. Higher trims offered StarTex artificial leather or perforated genuine leather, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated rear seats. The Forester’s outward visibility was excellent, and entry and exit were effortless. However, the panoramic sunroof allowed excessive solar heating, and the rear seats were less comfortable. The Forester’s doors were well-sealed, and interior storage was plentiful. The cargo area offered 26.9 cubic feet of space, expanding to 69.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen. The system initially appeared complicated but was intuitive once familiar. It included off-road pages with detailed information, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Wrangler featured a forward-facing camera and auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories but lacked advanced tech features like a digital key or over-the-air updates for vehicle performance.

The 2023 Subaru Forester’s technology might have seemed outdated, but it was user-friendly. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system was available. The Forester’s older Starlink system was preferable, with separate climate controls, volume and tuning knobs, and main menu buttons. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto essential.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler’s standard safety features included a rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control. Advanced features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were standard only on the 392 model or part of an option package. The Wrangler received mixed ratings from the IIHS, with some trims’ headlights rated Poor. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler four out of five stars for frontal crash tests and three out of five for rollover ratings.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight system with updated software and cameras. It included Automatic Emergency Steering, available on most trims, and Rear Automatic Braking (RAB) on higher trims. The Forester Touring had a DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. The EyeSight system performed well, but the RAB system could be overly sensitive. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with an Acceptable rating in side-impact protection and a Marginal rating in small-overlap frontal-impact tests. The NHTSA awarded the Forester five-star crash-test ratings and a four-star rollover resistance rating.