2023 Subaru Forester Arrives Largely Unchanged, Costs Slightly More

Subaru’s Forester compact SUV enters the 2023 model year largely unchanged save for a $550 increase — $50 of which comes from the destination fee, which rises from $1,175 to $1,225. Starting at $27,620 (all prices include destination) for the base model, the Forester remains one among a dwindling number of vehicles with a sub-$30,000 starting price.

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The Forester will be available in six trims, all $550 more expensive than their corresponding 2022 models:

• Base: $27,620
• Premium: $30,620
• Sport: $32,190
• Limited: $34,300
• Wilderness: $35,245
• Touring: $37,720

All 2023 Foresters come with the same 182-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Standard features include Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced driver assistance tech, a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, 17-inch wheels and keyless entry.

Upgrading to the Premium adds Subaru’s X-Mode with hill descent control and additional features like heated front seats and side mirrors, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a panoramic power moonroof and higher-quality interior materials. A $1,165 option package adds blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, collision avoidance assist, a power rear liftgate and rear USB-A charging ports.

Building off the Premium, the Sport gets a more advanced version of X-Mode and a more aggressive exterior appearance, including black 18-inch wheels and orange exterior accents. The interior also gets orange accents to go with its dark-gray color scheme. A larger 8-inch touchscreen, reverse automatic emergency braking, a power rear liftgate and premium Harman Kardon stereo are available as part of a $1,645 package.

The Limited also builds off the Premium but takes a more upscale approach than the Sport — no orange accents here. An 8-inch touchscreen is standard, as is leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, rear USB ports, automatic emergency steering and one-touch rear-seat folding. An additional $1,695 nets buyers built-in navigation, reverse automatic emergency braking, a heated steering wheel and Harman Kardon stereo.

Also based on the Premium, the Forester Wilderness aims to go off-road with 17-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar off-road tires, a front skid plate, upgraded suspension for 9.2 inches of ground clearance and water-resistant interior upholstery. Towing capacity for the Wilderness also doubles to 3,000 pounds, and it comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen. Built-in navigation, a power liftgate and the Harman Kardon stereo are available in a $1,850 option package.

At the top of the Forester lineup, the Touring comes fully loaded with power-adjustable heated front seats, heated steering wheel, perforated leather upholstery, 8-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, all of the aforementioned safety features, 18-inch wheels, and chrome and silver exterior accents. Exclusive to the Touring is what Subaru calls its DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System, which allows for gesture-based controls to adjust climate settings.

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With a starting price of less than $30,000 and a fully loaded model leaving some breathing room before it hits $40,000, the 2023 Forester is one of the more value-oriented options in a crowded class that includes the all-new 2023 Honda CR-V and perennially popular Toyota RAV4.

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