Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 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
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
25 of 27 standard · no option data · 2 no dataFrom
$134,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 180kW
- Energy use
- 17.9 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2023
- Boot (seats up)
- 520L
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.
$134,900RRP
- with the Subaru Forester's standard kit: $134,900 (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
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV EQE 300 SUV
$134,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 4 July 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $601 a week in repayments ($134,900 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 $88,910 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 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUVDriva 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 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV at 5 stars (2023) and the Subaru Forester at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2023 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 87% for the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and 83% for the Subaru Forester, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 8 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, 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 9 in the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and 9 in the Subaru Forester.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 8 of 10 key systems on the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 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
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
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
90.6kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 170kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 170kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV features a 12.8-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 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV stands out with head-up display, panoramic roof, power tailgate, Burmester 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 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV gets artico man-made leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth. Climate control is 4-zone in the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and 2-zone in the Subaru Forester.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV uses a Electric producing 180kW and 550Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV has the clear power advantage at 180kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV measures 4,863mm long on a 3,030mm wheelbase, 208mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 520L in the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV a 24L advantage. Fold the rears and you get 1675L vs 1174L.
For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 1,050kg 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 1.5 m tighter, 10.8 m against 12.3 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 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV costs about $859 a year (17.9 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 (Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: 5 years (Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV: more power (180kW against 136kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (520L against 496L).
The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $134,900) and the higher braked towing limit (1,800kg against 750kg).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 70
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV's 70 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: value (Subaru Forester ahead by 25 points), performance (Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV ahead by 21 points), practicality (Subaru Forester ahead by 14 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 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUVDriva 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, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV by $88,910.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2023) and Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2023 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 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV has the largest boot at 520L with the seats up (1,675L 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 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV makes the most power at 180kW.
Track the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV & 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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