Denza B8 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 69
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
Denza B8
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$91,000
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Plug-in Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol Turbo PHEV
- Power
- 425kW
- Economy
- 9.9 L/100km as a hybrid
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 147L
Denza Australia offer: 4.99% finance, ends 30 Nov 2026. Terms
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 69
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 30 Nov 2026
Maker's terms: Finance applications must be approved by 30 November 2026 and settled by 11 December 2026.
Offer from Denza Australia, checked 5 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the maker prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.
Finance offers are the manufacturer's or its financier's own, shown as they published them on the date given. CarSorted is not a credit provider, does not hold an Australian Credit Licence, does not arrange finance and gives no credit assistance or advice. A rate shown is the rate the manufacturer advertised, not a rate available to you: approval, fees, charges and the rate you are offered depend on the lender's assessment and its terms and conditions. Read the full offer on the manufacturer's page before relying on it.
$91,000RRP
- no option data for this car
$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.
A plug-in hybrid is compared on its fuel use as a hybrid (battery depleted), the figure that is like for like with the other car; its certified combined figure, which assumes every trip starts with a full battery, is printed under it. Electric range is how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Price and cost per week
Denza B8 7S
$91,000
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $398 a week in repayments ($91,000 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 $45,010 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 Denza B8Driva 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 Denza B8 at 5 stars (2025) and the Subaru Forester at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2025 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 Denza B8 and 83% for the Subaru Forester, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on both.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Denza B8 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
Denza B8
None open on our record
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
36.8kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 120kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC, 120kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Denza B8 features a 17.3-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 Denza B8 stands out with ventilated seats, V2L, Devialet 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 Denza B8 gets leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth. Climate control is 3-zone in the Denza B8 and 2-zone in the Subaru Forester.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Denza B8 uses a Petrol Turbo PHEV producing 425kW and 760Nm of torque, sent through a 1-speed auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Denza B8 has the clear power advantage at 425kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Denza B8 measures 5,195mm long on a 2,920mm wheelbase, 540mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Denza B8 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 147L in the Denza B8 and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 349L advantage. The Denza B8 seats 7 vs 5.
For towing, the Denza B8 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 1.2 m tighter, 10.8 m against 12.0 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 Denza B8 costs about $2,822 a year (9.9 L/100km as a hybrid) and fuel for the Subaru Forester about $2,252 a year (7.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $570 a year less for the Subaru Forester. A plug-in hybrid is costed running as a hybrid (battery depleted); charged daily, it uses less fuel and some electricity.
Warranty: 6 years / 150k km (Denza B8) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (Denza B8), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The Denza B8: more power (425kW against 136kW), the longer warranty (6 years against 5) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,800kg).
The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $91,000), the bigger boot with the seats up (496L against 147L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($2,252 a year against $2,822).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 69
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Denza B8's 69 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 7 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: performance (Denza B8 ahead by 44 points), fuel economy (Subaru Forester ahead by 19 points), value (Subaru Forester ahead by 16 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Subaru Forester costs about $570 less (7.9 L/100km against 9.9 L/100km as a hybrid, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 147L in the Denza B8, 496L in the Subaru Forester. Warranty: 6 years on the Denza B8, 5 on 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 Denza B8Driva 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, Denza B8 and Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Denza B8 by $45,010.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Subaru Forester uses the least fuel at 7.9L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Denza B8 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025) and Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2025 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 Denza B8 has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Denza B8 has the longest warranty at 6 years / 150,000 km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Denza B8 makes the most power at 425kW.
Track the Denza B8 & 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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