Our Opinion - 2026 Subaru Forester Review A close study of the latest Subaru Forester’s side face shows how the small SUV has changed since it was first released as a boxy crossover that could be used for many things. The sixth version of the Forester came out last year. It looks more modern while still having some of its classic features. Each Forester comes with a flat-four motor, basic all-wheel drive, and enough ground clearance to make short trips off-road comfortable. The Forester isn’t completely out of date, though, because the cabin is roomy and made of modern materials that give it a modern feel. The Wilderness trim has finally joined the rest of the Forester range after a year of waiting. This is great news for people who like to go off-road. The Wilderness gets the same update as the basic models did last year. It gets bigger all-terrain tires, a new transmission tune that makes it easier to handle off-road, and a higher ride height of 9.3 inches. The Forester is different enough from earlier models to do better than them, but it looks like it’s a rehash of newer rivals like the Ford Bronco Sport and Mazda CX-50. What's New? The all-terrain Wilderness trim gets the same styling update as the rest of the Forester range. It got lost in the woods and missed the redesign for the 2025 model year. The new Wilderness has a shorter final drive ratio for better off-road responsiveness, Snow/Dirt, and Deep Snow/Mud drive settings that can be chosen, a better transmission cooler, bigger all-terrain Yokohama Geolander tires, better approach, departure, and breakover angles to help you get over trail obstacles, and updated suspension tuning with a ground clearance of 9.3 inches (up from 8.7 inches on standard models). Pros and Cons Pros Boxy and strong shape. It works well off-road. There is a hybrid option. Cons The gas engine exhibits sluggish acceleration. The infotainment system already appears outdated. Some aspects feel somewhat outdated compared to competitors. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The 2.5-liter flat-four engine under the hood powers all four wheels and a gearbox that changes gears all the time. It can only make 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of power. If you want extra speed, the next Forester Hybrid is the best choice. It’s supposed to have more go-pedal power. The Forester isn’t as fun to drive as the Subaru WRX sports car, even though it has a dual-pinion electric power steering rack. The steering doesn’t feel very good, and the suspension is mostly set up for ease. If you back the Forester into a corner, it will move around a bit, which could be scary at first until it calms down. The Forester is a nice car to drive if you like to take it easy. Safety All models of the Subaru come with EyeSight, a set of camera-based driving assistance systems. The following are important safety features: It comes with automatic emergency brakes. Lane departure warning and assistance come standard to help you stay in your lane. It comes with adaptive speed control. Internal and External Cargo Capacity People love the Forester’s cabin because it’s so roomy. The panoramic sunroof, big windows, and upright cabin of this greenhouse let in a lot of sunlight. The Forester’s first two rows of seats are made of leather or cloth or, in the Sport and Wilderness styles, a water-resistant leatherette material with strong shoulder pads. Starting with the mid-level cars, the interior has a good mix of materials. For example, the front seats are heated and cooled, and the gear selector is wrapped in leather. There is a lot of room in the back seat for adults’ heads, hips, and legs. The Forester has up to 30 cubic feet of space behind the back seats when they are upright. When the second row of seats is folded down, there is 75 cubic feet of room for cargo, which is more than the Nissan Rogue and Mazda CX-50 put together. We were able to fit 12 carry-on bags in Forester’s back hatch with the back seats up and 28 with them folded down during our tests. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The EPA has not yet rated the 2026 Forester’s gas mileage, but it is likely to be about the same as the 2025 model, if not the same. The EPA said that the 2025 Forester got 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, but the Sport and Touring trims got only 31 mpg in those categories. On our highway fuel-economy test route, which goes at 75 mph, the 2025 Forester in Sport grade got 31 mpg. Based on its longer final drive ratio and bigger tires, the new Wilderness trim is expected to be less fuel-efficient than other trims, though we haven’t tested it yet. Infotainment and Connectivity All models except the base model include a huge 11.6-inch tablet for entertainment. The system also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that can be used wirelessly and a charging spot for smartphones. The base model has two 7.0-inch screens that work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Range, Charging, and Battery Life The flat-four engine in the Forester Sport we drove made noise as it went. It took 8.3 seconds to reach 60 mph. However, acceleration seems fine in town, and the engine’s harsh personality is less obvious when the accelerator is lightly pressed. Towing and Payload Capacity Thanks to a better gearbox cooler, the Forester Wilderness can pull up to 3,500 pounds, which is the most in its class. The other versions of the 2026 Forester can pull up to 1,500 pounds. Price and How to Choose With different trims and choices, the 2026 Subaru Forester could cost anywhere from $33,000 to $43,000. LED headlights, remote keyless entry, and “welcome lighting,” which lights up the front door handles at night, are all standard on the Forester. The Sport trim level is our top pick because it has the right amount of price, style, and features. The Forester Sport has nice features like heated front seats and an 11.6-inch tablet for entertainment. It also has beautiful bronze trim and unique wheels. Off-road fans might like the new Wilderness trim, but choose the Sport until you’re sure you’ll use the bigger all-terrain tires and higher ground clearance. We’ll make changes to this page as soon as Subaru says how much the 2026 Forester really costs.
