# Subaru Forester (2026): specs and price

**Price (US):** $29995 at fueleconomy.gov (US MSRP base 2.5L AWD per ConsumerReports and fueleconomy.gov; full range $29,995–$41,545), as of 2026-06-27. A sourced, dated price of record — other retailers (incl. Amazon) may be lower. Among the 16 cars we track it is #10 cheapest of 16; category median $29740.
**Brand:** Subaru
**Released:** 2026
**Deskmark:** Bronze Deskmark — pay-blind category standing 44/100, #9 of 16 in class (independent, computed from sourced data, never for sale).
**Price tracked since:** June 2026

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price (US) | $29995 |
| Brand | Subaru |
| Released | 2026 |
| Body style | compact SUV |
| Mpg combined | 29 |
| Horsepower | 180 |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| Seats | 5 |
| Cargo cuft | — |
| Powertrain | 2.5L flat-4 (Boxer) naturally aspirated, CVT AV-S8 |

## Where it stands

At $29995, the Subaru Forester (2026) is #10 cheapest of the 16 cars we track, where the median is $29720. On the spec sheet, its mpg combined of 29 is below the median of the 15, its horsepower of 180 is below the median of the 16, and its seats of 5 is at the median of the 16.

## What reviewers say

Two whitelisted outlets ran instrumented tests of the 2026 Forester Wilderness. Both praise its roomy, bright cabin with a tall greenhouse and excellent sightlines, plus genuine off-road hardware, but both fault the underpowered 180-hp flat-four and the droning CVT. They diverge sharply on measured acceleration (Car and Driver 8.4s vs MotorTrend 9.4s to 60 mph) and on ride quality (Car and Driver was impressed on-road; MotorTrend found the Wilderness underdamped). Only two instrumented tests surfaced; both are of the Wilderness trim. (Based on 2 reviews, 2 lab-tested, 2026-01-21–2026-04-10.)

Praised: Roomy cabin with tall greenhouse and excellent outward visibility/sightlines; Genuine off-road hardware and real trail capability; Large real-world cargo hold (12 carry-ons seats-up, 28 folded in C/D's pack test).
Flagged: Underpowered 180-hp flat-four; sluggish acceleration for the segment; CVT dulls performance (C/D: 'softens performance'; MT: 'fake shifts... drawn out and harsh'); Wilderness ride is underdamped with poor body control on undulations.
Disagreement: The two instrumented tests split by a full second on the Wilderness's 0-60 mph time — Car and Driver recorded 8.4 sec, MotorTrend 9.4 sec — despite near-identical as-tested vehicles ($42,035 as-tested, ~3,700 lb, same Yokohama Geolandar A/T tires). They also split on ride: Car and Driver was impressed with the Wilderness's on-road ride quality, while MotorTrend found it underdamped and unsettled over larger undulations.
Sources: Car and Driver (2026-04-10, caranddriver.com), MotorTrend (2026-01-21, motortrend.com)

## Frequently asked questions

**What do reviewers say about the Subaru Forester (2026)?**

Two whitelisted outlets ran instrumented tests of the 2026 Forester Wilderness. Both praise its roomy, bright cabin with a tall greenhouse and excellent sightlines, plus genuine off-road hardware, but both fault the underpowered 180-hp flat-four and the droning CVT. They diverge sharply on measured acceleration (Car and Driver 8.4s vs MotorTrend 9.4s to 60 mph) and on ride quality (Car and Driver was impressed on-road; MotorTrend found the Wilderness underdamped). Only two instrumented tests surfaced; both are of the Wilderness trim. Praised: Roomy cabin with tall greenhouse and excellent outward visibility/sightlines; Genuine off-road hardware and real trail capability; Large real-world cargo hold (12 carry-ons seats-up, 28 folded in C/D's pack test). Flagged: Underpowered 180-hp flat-four; sluggish acceleration for the segment; CVT dulls performance (C/D: 'softens performance'; MT: 'fake shifts... drawn out and harsh'); Wilderness ride is underdamped with poor body control on undulations. (From 2 tester reviews, 2 lab-tested.)

**How much does the Subaru Forester (2026) cost?**

The Subaru Forester (2026) has a US price of $29995 (US MSRP base 2.5L AWD per ConsumerReports and fueleconomy.gov; full range $29,995–$41,545), as of 2026-06-15.

**How does the Subaru Forester (2026) compare on price?**

At $29995, the Subaru Forester (2026) is #10 cheapest of the 16 cars we track, where the median is $29720.

**When was the Subaru Forester (2026) released?**

The Subaru Forester (2026) was released 2026.

**What are the Subaru Forester (2026)'s key specs?**

Subaru Forester (2026) (Subaru): body style compact SUV, mpg combined 29, horsepower 180, drivetrain AWD, seats 5. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.

Source: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=49530 (fueleconomy.gov, accessed 2026-06-15)
Corroboration: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/subaru/forester/2026/overview/ (accessed 2026-06-15)
Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cars/subaru-forester-2026/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, the Subaru Forester (2026) price of record was $29995 as of 2026-06-15 — https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cars/subaru-forester-2026/
License: CC BY 4.0. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl