Subaru Forester
The Forester caters to an increasingly more eco-conscious customer base rather than the traditional on-the-go small SUV consumer. Even so, the Forester still possesses the ability to keep up when the road gets rough and road conditions demand performance. Styling remains sharp and modern, noting that it is still clearly the Forester from front to back.
Subaru offers the 2026 Forester in six distinct trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring, all featuring standard all-wheel drive for enhanced capability.
The Subaru Forester features a singular powertrain: a 2.5L direct-injection 4-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb.-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed CVT automatic transmission, delivering an EPA estimated at 26 city and 33 highway mpg, which allows the vehicle to have decent power, while remaining competitive in fuel economy for its class.
Standard features on the base trim include LED headlights and daytime running lights, automatic start/stop functionality, automatic dual-zone climate control, a rearview camera, a 7-inch infotainment system fitted with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a USB port, satellite radio, a rear spoiler, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The Premium trim adds hill descent control, a panoramic moonroof, an 8-way power driver's seat, heated side mirrors, heated front seats, 4 USB ports, a leather wrapped steering wheel, LED fog lights, reclining rear seats, an 11.6-inch touchscreen display, mobile hotspot, and wireless phone connectivity and device charging.
Stepping up to the Subaru Forester Sport elevates both style and performance, beginning with bold 19-inch aluminum wheels featuring a distinct bronze finish. This trim is engineered for a more engaging drive, incorporating a sport-tuned suspension equipped with Stablex dampers for improved stability and cornering. Drivers gain more direct control through steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters that manage an 8-speed manual shift mode.
The Wilderness trim features exclusive off-road upgrades that distinguish it from the rest of the 2026 Forester lineup, which include a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. and 9.3 inches of ground clearance, compared to 8.7 inches on all other trims.
The Limited is positioned as a luxury-themed trim that introduces several premium comfort and convenience features as standard and adds a power liftgate, 18-inch machined aluminum wheels w/painted accents, leather upholstery, an 8-way power front passenger seat, and a heated steering wheel.
The Touring trim sits at the top of the lineup and adds several exclusive features such as a video-feed rear-view mirror, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, driver seat memory, an 11-speaker ?Harman Kardon' sound system, an integrated voice activated navigation system, auto-tilting passenger side mirror, and a surround view camera system.
The 2026 Subaru Forester comes standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features across all trim levels, anchored by the latest-generation Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. Safety features include active lane departure, forward collision mitigation, front pedestrian detection, a driver attention alert, adaptive cruise control with traffic stop-go, hill hold control, trailer sway control, and seven airbags. The Sport, Wilderness, Limited and Touring trims also add blind spot warning, and rear collision warning.