2026 Subaru Forester AWD review

What Does the Forester Cost in Australia?

Subaru keeps the Forester range tight. There are only three variants and the price spread is just $3,000 top to bottom. That's refreshingly simple.

Driveaway, the base 2.5i comes in around $46,000-$48,000 depending on your state. The Sport tops out at about $49,000-$51,000. That's competitive territory when you remember that a RAV4 with AWD starts at $43,680 for the GX Hybrid, and a CX-5 AWD starts at $43,740 for the Touring Active. The Forester gives you AWD from the entry point without forcing you into a specific engine or trim level.

The value sweet spot is probably the 2.5i Premium at $44,990. For $1,500 more than the base model, you get leather upholstery, a sunroof, heated front seats, and a power tailgate. That's a lot of kit for a modest jump.

Running Costs

The 2.5-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine is rated at 7.9L/100km combined. That's not amazing by modern standards; the RAV4 Hybrid claims 4.8L/100km. But for a naturally aspirated petrol engine driving all four wheels all the time, it's acceptable.

At 15,000km per year and current petrol prices (~$1.90/L), budget around $2,250 a year for fuel on the claim, and more in practice. Servicing runs on a 12-month/12,500km schedule with capped pricing for the first five years. Services average $300-450 each. The 5-year warranty covers unlimited kilometres, which is standard for the segment but half what Mitsubishi and Kia offer.

One running cost advantage: the Forester's AWD system doesn't require any special maintenance beyond normal servicing. Some part-time AWD systems need differential fluid changes at specific intervals, but Subaru's permanent system is serviced as part of the standard schedule. For more on running costs across the segment, check out our cheapest cars to run analysis.

Rivals: What Else Should You Cross-Shop?

Toyota RAV4 (from $45,990)

The RAV4 is the segment benchmark and Australia's best-selling mid-size SUV for good reason. The hybrid option delivers outstanding fuel economy (4.8L/100km combined) that the Forester can't match. Toyota's dealer network is the broadest in the country, and resale values are consistently strong. But AWD is only available on higher hybrid trims (from $43,680), and the RAV4's ground clearance (195mm vs 220mm) and off-road capability don't match the Forester. Full comparison in our Forester vs RAV4 head-to-head.

Mazda CX-5 (from $39,990)

The CX-5 leans on design and cabin materials. AWD is available from $43,740 on the Touring Active. But the CX-5 has a smaller boot (438L vs 520L), less ground clearance, and it's not as capable off-road. If you never leave sealed roads and want Mazda's cabin materials, the CX-5 is hard to beat. If you need AWD capability and practicality, the Forester has the edge. Read our CX-5 review.

Honda CR-V (from $39,900)

The CR-V offers a bigger boot (561L) and strong safety credentials. It starts cheaper than the Forester but AWD is not available on the standard petrol models in Australia. The CR-V here is front-wheel drive only. If you don't need AWD, the CR-V is excellent value with more cargo space. If AWD is non-negotiable, the Forester wins by default. See our CR-V vs Forester comparison.

The Forester leads on standard AWD, ground clearance, and boot space. The RAV4 wins on fuel economy. The CX-5 wins on cabin materials. The CR-V wins on value and cargo volume. Browse the full best AWD cars Australia guide to see where they all rank.

Fuel Economy: The One Weakness

Subaru claims 7.9L/100km on the combined ADR test cycle. That is high for a mid-size SUV in 2026, and the drivetrain explains most of it.

The Forester runs a naturally aspirated boxer petrol driving all four wheels, permanently. Both of those choices cost fuel. There is no electric motor to take the low-speed load and nothing recovering energy under braking, so stop-start traffic is the worst case, and a full-time AWD system means there is always a driveshaft, a centre differential and a rear axle being turned whether the extra traction is doing anything for you or not. The CVT does its best to keep revs down at a steady cruise, which is why the highway is where the Forester looks most reasonable, but a tall, boxy body pushing air at 110km/h caps how good that gets. Roof bars, a roof box or a loaded car for a camping weekend all add to it, and so do short trips where the engine never fully warms.

At 15,000km per year on the claimed figure, that's roughly $2,250 in petrol at current prices, against about $1,370 for a RAV4 Hybrid claiming 4.8L/100km. Both will use more than their claim in practice, but the gap is close to $900 a year and it adds up over a five-year ownership period.

The counter-argument is that the Forester gives you permanent AWD, which the RAV4 Hybrid only gets on higher-grade variants, and the Forester's AWD is mechanical, where the RAV4 Hybrid's uses an electric rear motor. You're paying for the drivetrain in fuel, basically. Whether that trade-off works for you depends on how much you actually need AWD versus fuel savings.

The 63-litre fuel tank is a decent size, working out to close to 800km on the claimed figure and less once you are actually driving it. Either way, it's perfectly adequate for touring, and Sydney to Melbourne with one fuel stop is easily achievable.

Safety: EyeSight Does the Heavy Lifting

The Forester carries a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, and Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system is standard across the range. Here's what you get:

• EyeSight Assist Monitor with driver attention alerts projected on the windscreen
• Pre-Collision Braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go in traffic
• Lane keep assist with lane departure prevention
• Lane centring function on highway speeds
• Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera across the range, 360-degree camera on Sport
• 7 airbags including front-centre airbag

EyeSight is a stereo-camera system mounted behind the windscreen. The driver attention monitor uses an infrared camera to track your gaze and will alert you (with increasing urgency) if you look away from the road for too long.

Structurally, the Forester uses Subaru's Global Platform, which is designed for high rigidity and progressive energy absorption. The low-mounted boxer engine drops the centre of gravity, which helps with rollover resistance. It's a genuinely safe car. For a deeper look at what these features do, see our safety features guide.

Interior: Built Around the Driver

Subaru leans on function rather than premium materials in here, and the CX-5 goes further on soft-touch finishes.

The 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen is the centrepiece of the dashboard. It manages the infotainment, climate controls, and vehicle settings in a logical layout. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

The seat height adjusts across a wide range and the steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake.

Material quality in the base 2.5i is functional. Lots of durable plastics, cloth seats, and a no-nonsense approach. The Premium adds leather upholstery, stitched dash panels, and heated front seats. The Sport gets water-repellent upholstery, which is a clever choice for buyers who are actually going to get this car muddy.

The boxy roofline is kind to rear headroom, and ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats are standard.

Practicality: Where the Forester Shines

Boot space is a headline act: 520 litres with the rear seats up. That's bigger than a RAV4 (487L), CX-5 (438L), and more than many rivals in the mid-size SUV segment. Drop the rear seats and you get approximately 1,740 litres, with a flat load floor that makes sliding in flat-pack furniture, camping gear, or a pram and shopping a doddle.

The boot opening is wide and low, with a load height of just 695mm. The power tailgate on Premium and Sport variants has adjustable height memory, so if your garage ceiling is low, you can set the tailgate to stop before hitting it. Simple but useful.

Towing capacity is rated at 1,500kg braked, which is standard for mid-size SUVs. That covers a small camper trailer, a box trailer loaded with tip runs, or a jet ski. If you need to tow more than that, you're looking at something larger. But for weekend adventures and occasional trailer work, 1,500kg is fine. Check our towing guide for heavier options.

Roof rails are standard across the range, rated at 100kg dynamic load. That handles a roof box, kayak, or a couple of bikes without drama. The Forester is one of those cars where the accessories and aftermarket support are excellent because of the loyal ownership community. Bull bars, roof platforms, awnings. The Forester community has tried it all.

The 220mm ground clearance and standard X-Mode (with hill descent control) mean the Forester can handle unsealed roads, beach approaches, and moderately rough fire trails that would leave most competitors scraping their undercarriage. For families who camp, ski, or simply live on a dirt road, this matters.

The Subaru Forester AWD has 84 kW for every tonne of kerb weight, 247Nm of torque. It weighs 1,622kg and turns in 10.8m. These are the figures that shape how quickly a car gets moving and how easily it parks.

Should You Buy the Subaru Forester?

Yes, if:

• AWD is non-negotiable and you don't want to pay extra for it
• You regularly drive on unsealed roads, gravel, or in wet conditions where traction matters
• Boot space is a priority. 520L is among the best in class
• You camp, ski, mountain bike, or do anything that involves getting off the beaten path
• Visibility matters to you. the big glasshouse is built for it
• You want 220mm of clearance in a 4,640mm-long body with a 10.6m turning circle

Maybe not, if:

• Fuel economy is your top concern. the RAV4 Hybrid is in a different league
• You want premium cabin materials. the Mazda CX-5 leans harder on them
• Performance matters. 136kW through a CVT is modest
• You need heavy towing. 1,500kg is adequate but not segment-leading
• Resale value is critical. the RAV4 holds its value better over 3-5 years

The Subaru Forester at $43,490-$46,490 is a quietly brilliant SUV. It won't dazzle you with a fancy interior or blistering acceleration. What it offers is permanent all-wheel drive, 220mm of ground clearance and 520 litres of boot space. In a segment full of pretend SUVs, the Forester is the genuine article. And that narrow price range means you don't need to agonise over variants. Even the base model gives you everything that makes a Forester a Forester.

If you're cross-shopping, start with our Forester vs RAV4 and CR-V vs Forester head-to-head comparisons. Or browse the full best AWD cars in Australia list to find the right fit.

→ Compare all Subaru Forester variants on CarSorted (200+ specs)