2023 Subaru Forester Review
Price Range: $19,990 - $33,998





+192
Good
7.9
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
Aside from lackluster acceleration, there's a lot to like about the 2023 Subaru Forester. This crossover SUV delivers the feel and rugged attitude that buyers want, along with a comfortable cabin and plenty of features for the price.
2023 Subaru Forester Review
Pros
- Standard all-wheel drive
- A full complement of driver assist features are standard
- Enhanced off-road capability thanks to better-than-average ground clearance
- Generous cargo capacity
Cons
- Engine is underpowered
- Modest tow rating limits maximum utility
What's new
- Only minor changes to features and availability
- Part of the fifth Forester generation introduced for 2019
Overview

The Subaru Forester is one of the original compact crossover SUVs that hit the market in the late 90s. It's been one of Subaru's most successful models and has built a solid reputation for itself over the years. The Forester's standard all-wheel-drive system and generous amount of ground clearance have made it a popular choice for people living in cold climates, allowing it to tackle light off-road trails. It's one of four SUV offerings from Subaru, which include the smaller Crosstrek, the Outback and the three-row Ascent.
For sale near Halethorpe, MD
4,514 listings
- $23,795great price$4,618 below market
- 23,332 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 5 Seats, 26 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- Lynnes Subaru (170 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Bloomfield, NJ
This 2023 Subaru Forester has passed the Lynnes comprehensive 172 point inspection with flying colors. Our ASE certified technicians have inspected th...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF2SKAEC9PH482928
Stock: SE3263P
Certified Pre-Owned: Yes
Listed since: 07-01-2025 - $25,695great price$3,355 below market
- 30,942 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 5 Seats, 26 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- Lynnes Subaru (170 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Bloomfield, NJ
This 2023 Subaru Forester has passed the Lynnes comprehensive 172 point inspection with flying colors. Our ASE certified technicians have inspected th...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF2SKAPC8PH539004
Stock: SE3342P
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-26-2025
With the significant number of updates the Forester received for the 2022 model year, the 2023 Forester returns largely unchanged. Revisions are mostly limited to safety system software updates and a wider view angle for the forward-looking camera. The Wilderness trim also upgrades to a larger infotainment touchscreen as standard equipment.
There's more to the Forester than its off-road prowess. It has a roomy and comfortable cabin, a suite of standard advanced driver aids and plenty of available tech. But there are a couple of drawbacks that might make you consider the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue or Hyundai Tucson. For an in-depth review done by our test team, check out the Edmunds' Expert Rating below.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Good
7.9
out of 10
We drove the 2023 Subaru Forester on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
7/10
How does the Forester drive? A largely gutless engine holds the Forester back. The four-cylinder engine and CVT automatic take their time getting up to speed. The Forester accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a slow 9.3 seconds during Edmunds' testing. Its steering, handling and braking, on the other hand, are more respectable. While the Forester isn't sporty, especially not compared to top rivals, it feels planted and changes direction with speed and confidence.
The Forester does shine on dirt roads or easy to moderate off-road trails. It has 8.7 inches of ground clearance plus an available X-Mode drive setting that tailors the Forester's powertrain and traction control to driving on dirt. The Wilderness model is especially suited for getting out into nature thanks to its slightly higher ground clearance, upgraded suspension and all-terrain tires. In general, the Forester offers more off-road prowess than a typical small crossover SUV.
The Forester does shine on dirt roads or easy to moderate off-road trails. It has 8.7 inches of ground clearance plus an available X-Mode drive setting that tailors the Forester's powertrain and traction control to driving on dirt. The Wilderness model is especially suited for getting out into nature thanks to its slightly higher ground clearance, upgraded suspension and all-terrain tires. In general, the Forester offers more off-road prowess than a typical small crossover SUV.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the Forester? Whether you've got a long daily commute or a refreshing retreat on the horizon, the Forester will keep you riding in comfort. The front seats are well padded and have good bolstering and lumbar support, and the suspension easily smooths out bumps and ruts in the road.
Road noise is kept to a minimum. The Forester's tall profile does produce some wind noise, but it's a small price to pay for the commanding seat position and great visibility. Climate control knobs are right where they should be and easy to find without taking your eyes off the road. The available automatic climate control works well, and most Foresters come standard with heated seats.
Road noise is kept to a minimum. The Forester's tall profile does produce some wind noise, but it's a small price to pay for the commanding seat position and great visibility. Climate control knobs are right where they should be and easy to find without taking your eyes off the road. The available automatic climate control works well, and most Foresters come standard with heated seats.
Interior
8.5/10
How’s the interior? All controls inside the Forester are clearly labeled and easy to reach. There's no fussing around or overdoing things. The available 8-inch center touchscreen is crisp and simple to navigate. Everything about the Forester seems to have been designed right. Getting in and out is aided by tall doors and an SUV-style ride height. There's enough room for four, and possibly five, seated adults. The driver's seat offers a wide range of adjustments, and the steering wheel has plenty of telescoping range.
Technology
8.5/10
How’s the tech? Subaru provides infotainment features that any owner, tech-savvy or not, can appreciate. The dual-screen center layout is attractive and easy to use. The navigation system is clear and takes voice commands well. If Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are more your flavor, Subaru has you covered by making both smartphone integration systems standard. Multiple USB ports are in both the front and rear.
We're especially fans of the driving aids included with Subaru EyeSight. The adaptive cruise control system works well, and lane keeping assist, now with lane centering, prevents the Forester from drifting out of its lane. Forward collision mitigation is also included and never activated when it wasn't needed in our test.
We're especially fans of the driving aids included with Subaru EyeSight. The adaptive cruise control system works well, and lane keeping assist, now with lane centering, prevents the Forester from drifting out of its lane. Forward collision mitigation is also included and never activated when it wasn't needed in our test.
Storage
7.5/10
How’s the storage? The Forester is slightly lower in total storage capacity than competitors such as the Honda CR-V, but a high roof and clever cargo layout make the space usable for large items. Parents will find the Forester a little disappointing when it comes to installing child safety seats, however. The car seat anchors are buried deep in the rear seats, and fitting large rear-facing seats will be a squeeze.
Towing isn't the Forester's strong suit with a maximum capacity of just 1,500 pounds, though the Wilderness improves things with its rating of 3,000 pounds.
Towing isn't the Forester's strong suit with a maximum capacity of just 1,500 pounds, though the Wilderness improves things with its rating of 3,000 pounds.
Fuel Economy
7/10
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the Forester at 29 mpg combined, which is near the top of the class. In testing, however, we found that the weak engine had us pinning the throttle more, which can make real-world fuel economy suffer a bit.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Forester a good value? The Forester gives buyers a lot of options depending on how much they want to spend and how fancy they like their cars. Interior build quality is high, and in general you'll feel like you got your money's worth. Subaru offers an average warranty for the class.
Wildcard
8/10
Acceleration is the Forester's only notable weak point. While it's a big one, it's certainly not enough to detract from all of the vehicle's standout areas. Everything else, from comfort to technology to driver aids to storage capacity to outdoor adventure credentials, is top-notch. Its upright style and rugged components lend the Forester a unique personality, and standard all-wheel drive with a strong ride height backs it up.
2023 Subaru Forester trim level differences
The 2023 Subaru Forester is available in six trim levels: base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited and Touring. As with nearly all Subarus, all-wheel drive is standard on all trims. Feature highlights include:
Which Forester trim does Edmunds recommend?
We suggest going with the Premium trim. It's the second most affordable trim yet offers an appealing mix of features. The Premium trim includes keyless entry with push-button ignition, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats. Those features come on top of the standard suite of advanced driver aids. You can add a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alerts and a power tailgate for a little extra.
Compare 2023 Subaru Forester trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Maryland
$136/mo for Forester Base
Forester Base
vs
$181/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Reliability
The 2023 Subaru Forester has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #22 out of 29 among Compact SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average
#22 out of 29 among Compact SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$525/yr
vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
Frequency
1.07x/yr
vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
Severity
15%
vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
1 recall foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 23V754000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- WRP-23
- Manufactured from:
- 2023-09-04 to 2023-09-14
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 3732
- Defect Description:
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
- Defect Consequence:
- A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.
Warranty
3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 5 years / unlimited miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
Subaru Forester Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
It’s Awesome!
5 out of 5 starsBarbT, 04/01/2023
2023 Subaru Forester Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
My first Subaru. I bought the 2023 Forester Touring model. There are remarks about the acceleration being lackluster but I find nothing wrong with it and I’ve been driving a big engine truck. Gas mileage is very good. It is extremely comfortable and a pleasure to drive! Six months and 4000 miles in and I still love it!
Subaru number 7
5 out of 5 starsDonald S, 07/03/2023
2023 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
Ordered my 2023 Forester Premium from the factory , on 3/22/2023 and it was delivered on 5/22/2023. I custom ordered the way I wanted it, color, packages and accessories. Every review I read has the engine underpowered. Not true, it pulls mountains with no effort, you can go as fast as you wish. The engine runs at 1,500 RPM @ 60 MPH and gets 35.6 MPG. Love the styling inside and outside, … and all the safety features that come standard.
Visibility Champion
5 out of 5 starsJeff, 08/29/2023
2023 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
I test drove several compact SUVs including a CR-V, HR-V, Corolla Cross, Crosstrek, CX-5. I limited it to these models as reliability was an ultimate consideration to me; it has to last >200k miles. I'm not getting a new vehicle every 5 years, try 10-15. I didn't expect to like the Forester so much, I saw so many older ones on the streets and they looked too boxy. These newer ones … are nicer, still not as sexy as the CX-5 or something. But then I drove it...SO much visibility. My wife, daughters are going to drive this thing and sitting up straight, having great visibility is key. I don't know what the reviewers are talking about underpowered, it was zippy enough enough especially in 'S' mode. I test drove an HR-V too and THAT describes underpowered. FWIW, my other cars are an older Matrix, Sienna, daughter's Yaris, not exactly drag racers sooo maybe expectations are different here.
I love all the newer safety features, the EyeSight stuff is great and I got the blind spot monitor too. All the safety stuff I wanted. Never had automatic steering before, so that takes some getting used to. There are enough fun controls to satisfy my inner geek. The sunroof is crazy big. Haven't gotten a chance to drive it in snow or mud, but of course AWD and good clearance were important as this is our daily driver for any weather.
I liked the CR-V, definitely a close second, but this is just a little better in some ways to my estimation. Better visibility for smaller stature drivers like my wife and kids for sure, and honestly I really love it too. I think a lot of reviewers miss the difference talking about vehicles and the importance of situational awareness for them. It's a big deal...when I went to the dealership I thought the Crosstrek looked better from the outside, but inside is where it counts for driving and the Forester is better than all I tested. I like the better clearance, more refined AWD for poor weather.
I'm not denigrating any of the others I tested, but this just meets more of my needs. Great cargo space while still maintaining decent fuel efficiency, great reliability, safety features, and superior visibility.
28K miles and 18 months later
5 out of 5 starsNP, 02/23/2023
2023 Subaru Forester Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
I think I did a fair amount of research before buying. And I actually physically looked at the competition in the category. No Buyers remorse here! The Forester feels so much bigger than all the rest with a more open cabin feel instead of “cock-pit” feel. The back seat is super roomy with loads of leg room even with the front seats fully in the back position and is positioned so that … you have a full view thru the windows since the seat is set higher. With wider doors on both the front and back, entry into the vehicle is much easier. And the finish details on our Touring model far outstripped others. It has a more elegant feel and is real leather compared to synthetic materials. Packed with technology and great stability it has been a delight to drive.
Aug 2024 - UPDATE. I watch and read a lot of the "professional" reviews on YouTube etc - many compare the 0-60 acceleration rate. Most of the comparable models only differ by a couple of seconds and who buys a compact SUV to race!!? It has plenty of power to merge and pass and I haven't had any problems. (My last car was an Infiniti G35S with a V6, 305 HP so I know what a fast car can be!) After 18 months of ownership still am convinced I bought the right vehicle! Solid construction and details on how they put together trim pieces and other finishes makes Subaru a great choice. City MPG is less than stated but highway MPG is consistently higher especially at 60-65 MPH when I can get up to 38 MPG. Comparable models with similar technology and AWD will cost thousands more. And I really like the integrated screen instead of an iPad stuck on the dash!
2023 Subaru Forester video
Off-Road Tested: Kia Telluride X-Pro vs. Subaru Forester Wilderness | Just an Appearance Package?
We know, we know: The Kia Telluride and Subaru Forester are different classes of SUV and not directly comparable. But that's not the point of this comparison test! In this video, we put these two family SUVs' off-road trims — the Telluride X-Pro and the Forester Wilderness — to the test to see if they really do bring added capability or if they're just gussied-up… appearance packages.
2023 Forester Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $26,395 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 29 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $136/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 28.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Forester models:
- EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
- Helps prevent accidents, with features such as lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and automatic emergency braking.
- Reverse Automatic Braking
- Helps reduce collisions by applying the brakes if a vehicle is detected crossing the Forester's path while it's in reverse.
- DriverFocus
- Sounds an alert when the head-tracking system detects that you are distracted.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover16.9%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedMarginal
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedAcceptable
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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