Makes›Subaru›Forester

Subaru Forester

22 model years from 2005 to 2026, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.

Subaru Forester
Pictured: Subaru Forester (SL) e-BOXER DSC 8811. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Model years
2005–2026
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Latest engines
2.5L 4-cyl
Best MPG
22–35 combined, by year
Latest rating
★★★★★ (2025)
Recalls
39 campaigns, all years
Most complaints
2019 (834)
Fewest problems
2023
Interest
21,870 Wikipedia views / 30 days

The 2026 Forester in brief

The 2026 Subaru Forester is a small SUV offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive.

It measures about 184 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 105-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,580 lb.

EPA rates its most efficient version at 35 MPG combined (35 city / 34 highway), 35% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 25.9 MPG, for an estimated $1,900 a year in fuel.

It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.

The Subaru Forester has 22 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2026, classed as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD.

Its most efficient year was 2026 at 35 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 22 to 35 MPG.

Owners most often report problems with the visibility/wiper (992), unknown or other (785), engine (732).

Buying used? 2024 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2019 is the year to avoid.

2010 has the most recalls (17); all years together count 39 campaigns and 5,133 owner complaints.

How the 2005 Forester compares

The 2005 Subaru Forester is a SUV - offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo) and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

It measures about 175 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 99-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,087 lb (4dr SUV AWD /2.5 X/2.5 Sx/2.5 Sx Pre).

About the Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV that has been manufactured by Subaru since 1997. The first generation was built on the platform of the Impreza in the style of a taller station wagon, a style that continued to the second generation, while the third-generation model onwards moved towards a crossover SUV design. A performance model was available for the second-generation Forester in Japan as the Forester STi.

From the Wikipedia article "Subaru Forester", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

2026 Forester pros & cons

Full 2026 details →

What's good

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 35 MPG combined — 35% better than the average 2026 small SUV (25.9 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Watch out for

  • "Do not drive" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.

Best and worst years to buy used

NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →

Compare head to head

Compare the Forester with any other car →

Forester changes by model year

  1. 2025
    • New hybrid version
    • Best combined MPG up from 29 to 35
  2. 2019
    • New body dimensions: 1.2 in longer, wheelbase +1.2 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • Engine dropped: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
  3. 2014
    • Engine added: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
    • Engine dropped: 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
    • Best combined MPG up from 23 to 27
    • Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
  4. 2009
    • New body dimensions: 2.7 in longer, wheelbase +3.9 in — most likely a redesign or new generation

Years without a measurable change are left out.

Show all 22 model years side by side
YearLatest enginesBest MPG / rangeLengthWeightOverallRecallsComplaints
20262.5L 4-cyl35 MPG183.5 in3,580 lbNot rated432
20252.5L 4-cyl35 MPG183.5 in3,580 lb★★★★★499
20242.5L 4-cyl29 MPG182.3 in3,459 lb★★★★★231
20232.5L 4-cyl29 MPG182.3 in3,459 lb★★★★★174
20222.5L 4-cyl29 MPG182.3 in3,459 lb★★★★★1100
20212.5L 4-cyl29 MPG182.3 in3,459 lb★★★★★0212
20202.5L 4-cyl29 MPG182.3 in3,459 lb★★★★★0604
20192.5L 4-cyl29 MPG182.3 in3,459 lb★★★★★3834
20182.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo28 MPG181.1 in3,635 lb★★★★★3498
20172.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo28 MPG181.1 in3,635 lb★★★★★1592
20162.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo27 MPG181.1 in3,635 lb★★★★★3416
20152.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo27 MPG181.1 in3,635 lb★★★★★3608
20142.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo27 MPG181.1 in3,677 lb★★★★★2364
20132.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo23 MPG179.5 in3,307 lbNot rated1266
20122.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo23 MPG179.5 in3,307 lbNot rated1579
20112.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo23 MPG179.5 in3,307 lbNot rated16110
20102.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo22 MPG179.5 in3,270 lbNot rated17177
20092.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo22 MPG179.5 in3,270 lbNot rated16101
20082.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo22 MPG176.8 in3,318 lbNot rated129
20072.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo22 MPG176.8 in3,142 lbNot rated128
20062.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo22 MPG176.8 in3,142 lbNot rated137
20052.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo23 MPG175.2 in3,087 lbNot rated142
Best combined MPG by model year — Subaru Forester
2005: 23 MPG2006: 22 MPG2007: 22 MPG2008: 22 MPG2009: 22 MPG2010: 22 MPG2011: 23 MPG2012: 23 MPG2013: 23 MPG2014: 27 MPG2015: 27 MPG2016: 27 MPG2017: 28 MPG2018: 28 MPG2019: 29 MPG2020: 29 MPG2021: 29 MPG2022: 29 MPG2023: 29 MPG2024: 29 MPG2025: 35 MPG2026: 35 MPG20052008201120142017202020232026max 35 MPG

Alternatives to the 2026 Forester

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2026 Toyota RAV443 MPGNot rated2
2026 Honda CR-V40 MPGNot rated2
2026 Hyundai Tucson38 MPGNot rated6
2026 Mazda CX-526 MPGNot rated0
2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee23 MPGNot rated6
2026 Toyota Corolla Cross42 MPGNot rated1

Most common owner-reported problems

Visibility/Wiper992
Unknown Or Other785
Engine732
Electrical System710
Air Bags673
Power Train329
Vehicle Speed Control294
Suspension197
Owner complaints by model year — Subaru Forester
2005: 422006: 372007: 282008: 292009: 1012010: 1772011: 1102012: 792013: 662014: 3642015: 6082016: 4162017: 5922018: 4982019: 8342020: 6042021: 2122022: 1002023: 742024: 312025: 992026: 3220052008201120142017202020232026max 834
Check your VIN for open recalls ↗

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Subaru. How we calculate this →