Subaru Outback vs Subaru Forester

The Subaru Outback starts from $48,990 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Forester opens at $43,490. That makes the Subaru Forester the more affordable entry point by $5,500.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $53,889 and $47,839 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 88% for the Subaru Outback and 83% for the Subaru Forester.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Subaru Outback packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in 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 Subaru Outback and 9 in the Subaru Forester.

The Subaru Outback features a 12.1-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 Subaru Outback stands out with panoramic roof, heated front seats and power tailgate that you will not find on the Subaru Forester. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Subaru Outback gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.

The Subaru Outback uses a Petrol producing 137kW and 254Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.9 seconds.

The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 226Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds.

The Subaru Outback has the clear power advantage at 137kW vs 136kW. In the real-world sprint, the Subaru Outback is 1.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Subaru Outback measures 4,870mm long on a 2,745mm wheelbase, 215mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Subaru Outback generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 975L in the Subaru Outback and 520L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Outback a 455L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Outback leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,451/year for the Subaru Outback and $2,252/year for the Subaru Forester. That is a $199 annual difference in favour of the Subaru Forester.

Estimated annual total: $2,451 (Subaru Outback) vs $2,252 (Subaru Forester). The Subaru Forester saves you roughly $199 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Outback) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Forester). Both match on warranty length.