BMW X5 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 68
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 X5
26 of 27 standard · no option data · 1 no dataFrom
$137,600
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Engine
- Diesel
- Power
- 219kW
- Economy
- 7.8 L/100kmWLTP test cycle, not directly comparable with ADR 81/02 figures
- Safety
- No data
- Boot (seats up)
- 650L
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 68
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$137,600RRP
- with the Subaru Forester's standard kit: $137,600 (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.
Fuel figures here come from different test cycles (BMW X5: WLTP; Subaru Forester: ADR 81/02), so they are not compared like-for-like and no fuel winner is shown.
Price and cost per week
BMW X5 xDrive30d
$137,600
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $613 a week in repayments ($137,600 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 $91,610 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 X5Driva 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 X5. 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 7 of 10 key systems on the BMW X5 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 X5
- REC-006553 · published 4 Mar 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may develop an internal coolant leak.Year range on the notice: 2010 - 2022
- REC-006539 · published 17 Feb 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2023
- 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
- 8 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.
Feature Showdown
The BMW X5 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-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 X5 stands out with head-up display, panoramic roof, ventilated seats, power tailgate, Harman Kardon audio and ambient lighting — 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 X5 gets sensatec synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW X5 uses a Diesel producing 219kW and 670Nm 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 X5 has the clear power advantage at 219kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW X5 measures 4,935mm long on a 2,975mm wheelbase, 280mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW X5 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 650L in the BMW X5 and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the BMW X5 a 154L advantage.
For towing, the BMW X5 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 1,700kg 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 1.9 m tighter, 10.8 m against 12.7 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the BMW X5 costs about $2,223 a year (7.8 L/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 X5) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (BMW X5), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The BMW X5: more power (219kW against 136kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (650L against 496L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,800kg).
The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $137,600).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 68
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the BMW X5's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: value (Subaru Forester ahead by 31 points), performance (BMW X5 ahead by 31 points), safety (Subaru Forester ahead by 29 points). Boot space with the seats up: 650L in the BMW X5, 496L in the Subaru Forester.
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 X5Driva 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 X5 and Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BMW X5 by $91,610.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). We hold no ANCAP data for BMW X5, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The BMW X5 has the largest boot at 650L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The BMW X5 has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The BMW X5 makes the most power at 219kW.
Track the BMW X5 & 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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