Polestar 4 vs Subaru Forester

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP lists the Polestar 4 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 92% for the Polestar 4 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 Polestar 4, 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 7 in the Polestar 4 and 9 in the Subaru Forester.

Recalls on our record

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.

Feature Showdown

The Polestar 4 features a 15.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.2-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 Polestar 4 stands out with panoramic roof, ventilated seats, power tailgate, Bowers & Wilkins 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 Polestar 4 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.

Drivetrain

The Polestar 4 uses a Electric Motor producing 200kW and 343Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed fixed gear to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.1 seconds.

The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.

The Polestar 4 has the clear power advantage at 200kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Polestar 4 measures 4,840mm long on a 2,999mm wheelbase, 185mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Polestar 4 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 526L in the Polestar 4 and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Polestar 4 a 30L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 300kg 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 0.8 m tighter, 10.8 m against 11.6 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 Polestar 4 costs about $806 a year (16.8 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 (Polestar 4) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (Polestar 4), 5 years (Subaru Forester).

Where each one leads

The Polestar 4: more power (200kW against 136kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (526L against 496L).

The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $78,500) and the higher braked towing limit (1,800kg against 1,500kg).

The Verdict

Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 75

The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Polestar 4's 75 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: performance (Polestar 4 ahead by 15 points), reliability (Subaru Forester ahead by 8 points).

Common questions