BMW X2 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 60
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 6 Nov 2026, price 29 Oct 2026
BMW X2
17 of 27 standard · 3 optional · 7 no dataFrom
$72,800
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 125kW
- Economy
- No data
- Safety
- No data
- Boot (seats up)
- 515L
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 60
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
BMW X2: we're still completing kerb weight, ground clearance, turning circle, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$72,800RRP
- with the Subaru Forester's standard kit: $72,800 (nothing to add; 5 with no data, not charged)
$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 X2 sDrive20i
$72,800
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
$80,053 drive-away in VIC, as published by BMW Australia
About $347 a week in repayments ($80,053 drive-away; 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 $26,810 lower on RRP.
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
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X2Driva 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
We hold no ANCAP data for the BMW X2. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 5 of 10 key systems on the BMW X2 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 X2
- 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
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.
Feature Showdown
The BMW X2 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 X2 stands out with head-up display and power tailgate — 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 X2 gets veganza (synthetic) upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW X2 uses a Petrol producing 125kW and 280Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed automatic (steptronic with gearshift paddles) to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.3 seconds.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Subaru Forester has the clear power advantage at 136kW vs 125kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW X2 measures 4,554mm long on a 2,692mm wheelbase, 101mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW X2 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 515L in the BMW X2 and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the BMW X2 a 19L advantage.
For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
The Subaru Forester turns in a 10.8 m circle, kerb to kerb; the BMW X2's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
We do not hold a like-for-like fuel or energy figure for both cars, so we do not cost them against each other.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (BMW X2) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (BMW X2), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The BMW X2: the bigger boot with the seats up (515L against 496L).
The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $72,800) and more power (136kW against 125kW).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 60
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the BMW X2's 60 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 3 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: safety (Subaru Forester ahead by 29 points), value (Subaru Forester ahead by 13 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
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X2Driva 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 X2 and Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BMW X2 by $26,810.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). We hold no ANCAP data for BMW X2, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The BMW X2 has the largest boot at 515L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The BMW X2 has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Subaru Forester makes the most power at 136kW.
Track the BMW X2 & 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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