BMW iX1 vs Subaru Forester
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 70
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 29 Aug 2026, price 29 Oct 2026
BMW iX1
21 of 27 standard · 2 optional · 4 no dataFrom
$77,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 230kW
- Energy use
- 20.2 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 490L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Subaru Forester
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 136kW
- Economy
- 7.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 496L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 70
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$77,900RRP
- with the Subaru Forester's standard kit: $77,900 (nothing to add)
$45,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
BMW iX1 xDrive30
$77,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 6 Sept 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $337 a week in repayments ($77,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Subaru Forester AWD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
$45,990 drive-away in NSW, as published by Subaru Australia
About $189 a week in repayments ($45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Subaru Forester starts $31,910 lower on RRP.
The BMW iX1 currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Subaru Forester does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$189/wk(≈$821/mo)
Estimate on the Subaru Forester at $45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW iX1Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP lists the BMW iX1 at 5 stars (2022) and the Subaru Forester at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2022 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 86% for the BMW iX1 and 83% for the Subaru Forester, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 9 of 10 key ADAS systems on the BMW iX1, against 7 on the Subaru Forester.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW iX1 and 9 in the Subaru Forester.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 9 of 10 key systems on the BMW iX1 and 7 on the Subaru Forester.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BMW iX1
- REC-006090 · published 2 Oct 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, a component of the brake booster system may have been incorrectly welded and could break.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2024
- REC-005906 · published 5 Mar 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, signal interference may occur within the electronics of the brake system.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
- REC-005746 · published 8 Aug 2023Due to a manufacturing defect, the front right drive shaft may become loose and detach from the eDrive.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
- 1 more on the model page.
Subaru Forester
- REC-006737 · published 7 Oct 2026Due to a manufacturing defect in the intermediate case of the transaxle, cracks may develop in the support section of the parking pawl.Year range on the notice: 2026
- REC-005831 · published 20 Nov 2023The front drive shaft may not meet manufacturing specifications and the outer race of the front driveshaft may crack.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-001604 · published 2 Jun 2021The rear stabiliser bracket bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened during production.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2020
- 9 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
64.8kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 130kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 130kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The BMW iX1 features a 10.7-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BMW iX1 stands out with power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BMW iX1 gets sensatec synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW iX1 uses a Electric producing 230kW and 494Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.1 seconds.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The BMW iX1 has the clear power advantage at 230kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW iX1 measures 4,500mm long on a 2,692mm wheelbase, 155mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW iX1 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 490L in the BMW iX1 and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 6L advantage.
For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,200kg. That 600kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Subaru Forester's turning circle is 1.1 m tighter, 10.8 m against 11.9 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the BMW iX1 costs about $970 a year (20.2 kWh/100km) and fuel for the Subaru Forester about $2,252 a year (7.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (BMW iX1) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (BMW iX1), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The BMW iX1: more power (230kW against 136kW).
The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $77,900), the bigger boot with the seats up (496L against 490L) and the higher braked towing limit (1,800kg against 1,200kg).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 70
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the BMW iX1's 70 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: performance (BMW iX1 ahead by 25 points), practicality (Subaru Forester ahead by 8 points).
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$189/wk(≈$821/mo)
Estimate on the Subaru Forester at $45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW iX1Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BMW iX1 and Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BMW iX1 by $31,910.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BMW iX1 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2022) and Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2022 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which has the most boot space?
The Subaru Forester has the largest boot at 496L with the seats up (1,174L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The Subaru Forester has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The BMW iX1 makes the most power at 230kW.
Track the BMW iX1 & Subaru Forester
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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