2020 Subaru Forester

2020 Subaru Forester Overview

Is the 2020 Subaru Forester a Good Used SUV?

Yes, the 2020 Forester is a good used SUV. It’s the only model in the class to come with all-wheel drive, and it still gets stellar fuel economy ratings. This Subaru also has composed handling, a gentle ride, two roomy rows of seats, and a large cargo hold. The Forester can also venture along dirt or sand trails just fine, thanks in part to its high ground clearance. Other than a so-so engine and some oddly placed infotainment controls, this model has few major weaknesses.

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Our goal is to make shopping for your next car as easy as possible. You'll find everything you need to know about this SUV in our comprehensive review. It combines concrete data like mpg estimates and cargo space dimensions with 27 professional Subaru Forester reviews.

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Pricing

How Much is a 2020 Subaru Forester?

Based on listings for the 2020 Subaru Forester, the average list price is $21,667. Prices range from $21,667 to $27,735 and vary depending on the vehicle’s condition, mileage, features, and location.

See the Best Used Car Deals »

How Much Does the 2020 Subaru Forester Cost to Own?

The 2020 Forester’s five-year costs for gas, insurance, taxes, fees, repairs, and maintenance are projected to be about $26,390, or $5,278 per year. These ownership costs are low for the compact SUV class .

2019 vs. 2020 Subaru Forester: What's the Difference?

Subaru only made a couple of updates to the Forester for the 2020 model year. Lane centering became available, and a rear-seat reminder became standard.

Compare the 2019 and 2020 Forester »

Here are the key changes for the Subaru Forester over the last few years:

• 2017: more available safety features
• 2018: reverse automatic braking made available
• 2019: fully redesigned with a nicer and roomier cabin and more standard features, including debut of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; turbocharged engine and manual transmission discontinued
• 2020: more standard and available safety features

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2017 Forester , 2018 Forester , and 2019 Forester reviews to help make your decision. You can learn about savings and discounts on used vehicles on our Best Used Car Deals page. Also, check out our review of the new Subaru Forester , and take a look at our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to see how much you can save on a new vehicle.

How Reliable Is the 2020 Subaru Forester?

The 2020 Subaru Forester has a predicted reliability score of 81 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

Read more about Forester reliability »

2020 Subaru Forester Recalls

There are no major recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester at this time.

See more information on Subaru Forester safety recalls »

Which Used Subaru Forester Trim Is Right for Me?

Subaru made the 2020 Forester in five trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring. Each trim has a flat-four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive. The base model has plenty of tech and safety features, but it may be worth moving up for the Premium trim for comfort and convenience upgrades.

• Subaru Forester: The base Forester comes with a 6.5-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth, a four-speaker stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, automatic climate control, a rearview camera, and the Subaru EyeSight suite of driver-assist technology. You may find models with heated front seats and/or alloy wheels.
• Subaru Forester Premium: In addition to heated front seats and alloy wheels, the Premium trim features a moonroof, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, reclining rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a six-speaker stereo, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and the X-Mode off-road system with hill descent control. When the Forester was new, Subaru offered the Premium trim with proximity keyless entry, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, and a power liftgate.
• Subaru Forester Sport: The Subaru Forester Sport adds fog lights, proximity keyless entry, automatic high-beam headlights, and some exclusive styling tweaks, such as orange stitching. It’s also one of two trims to come with SI-Drive (sport) mode and paddle shifters for the CVT. You may find Sport models with an 8-inch touch screen, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, and/or reverse automatic emergency braking.
• Subaru Forester Limited: The Limited gains dual-zone automatic climate control, the 8-inch touch screen, leather seats, adaptive headlights, and all of the Premium’s options. Some models may have navigation and a heated steering wheel.
• Subaru Forester Touring: The range-topping Touring trim sports a power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated rear seats, a DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation system, and the options from the Sport and Limited trims. Like the Subaru Forester Sport, the Touring also has SI-Drive and paddle shifters.

See 2020 Subaru Forester trims and specs »

What Does Subaru's Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Subaru offers a certified pre-owned program for vehicles five years old or less and with fewer than 80,000 miles. Eligibility is determined by the vehicle’s initial sale date. For its certified pre-owned vehicles, Subaru extends the original new-car powertrain warranty to seven years from the original sale date or 100,000 miles. Subaru provides no additional coverage for CPO vehicles, so buyers receive the remainder of the original three-year/36,000-mile new-car warranty. However, buyers can purchase additional coverage. Every CPO Subaru must pass a 152-point inspection. Additional benefits like owner loyalty discounts, a one-year Starlink Safety Plus trial subscription, towing, and roadside assistance may be available. 

According to our analysis, Subaru’s CPO program isn’t particularly robust. Among affordable automakers, Toyota, Kia and Honda have better programs.

See the best CPO programs »

Extended Warranties for Subaru Cars and SUVs

Not every used Subaru will qualify for a certified pre-owned warranty. However, there are options available if you want additional coverage after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. 

Read more about extended car warranties »

2020 Subaru Forester Safety

Score: 9.9/10

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2020 Subaru Forester the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests and named it a Top Safety Pick+, the organization’s highest honor. Headlights in the lower trims received the second-highest rating of Acceptable for how well they illuminate the road ahead, while headlights in the Limited and Touring trims earned a Good rating.

The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. This SUV received the highest rating of Superior for its standard front crash prevention systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave this Subaru an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test.

Standard driver assistance features:

• Lane departure warning
• Lane departure prevention (lane keep assist)
• Lane centering
• Rear seat reminder
• Rearview camera
• Lead vehicle start alert
• Pre-collision throttle management
• Pre-collision braking
• Adaptive cruise control

Available driver assistance features:

• Lane change alert
• Reverse automatic emergency braking
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Driver attention monitor
• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Adaptive headlights

2020 Subaru Forester Versus the Competition

2020 Subaru Forester vs. 2020 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 sits side by side with the Subaru Forester in our compact SUV rankings . The Toyota has a stronger engine and gets better fuel economy estimates, though the difference is negligible when both models have all-wheel drive. The Toyota also has a higher towing capacity and more cargo room behind the rear seats. However, the Subaru has more overall cargo space, as well as better safety and predicted reliability scores. Both models are good picks, and there’s no wrong choice between them.

Compare the Forester and RAV4 »

2020 Subaru Forester vs. 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V is a great SUV with a lively turbocharged engine and great fuel economy estimates. The Honda also has a spacious, classy interior. In most respects, the two are similar, with gentle rides, high safety scores, and large cargo holds. The Subaru has more standard features, such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and all-wheel drive, but they’re all available in the Honda. The Forester is a good vehicle, but the CR-V is slightly better.

Compare the Forester and CR-V »

Compare the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V »

2020 Forester Performance

How Does the 2020 Subaru Forester Drive?

If there’s a weakness in this Subaru’s performance, it’s the engine. Not to say that it’s bad, as it’s strong enough for driving around the highway, and it’ll bring the Forester up to speed, but there is a bit of turbo lag when taking off from a stop.

The Forester has a smooth ride, and while it’s no 2020 Mazda CX-5 , it handles well. Body roll is kept to a minimum, the steering is light, and the brakes are strong. This Subaru is also good at light off-roading. It’s the only vehicle in the class to come standard with all-wheel drive, and it has 8.7 inches of ground clearance. All but the base trim have hill descent control.

• Engine: 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque
• Drivetrain: all-wheel drive
• Transmission: continuously variable automatic (CVT)

2020 Subaru Forester Gas Mileage

This Subaru earns fuel economy estimates of 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Those are great ratings for a small SUV, especially considering that it comes with all-wheel drive.

2020 Subaru Forester Towing Capacity

This Subaru can tow up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped.

Read more about Forester performance »

2020 Forester Interior

2020 Forester Interior Quality

This Subaru’s cabin isn’t exactly premium, but it’s nice. There are high-quality plastics, as well as soft leathers, in higher trims. The cabin is quiet too.

How Many People Does the 2020 Forester Seat?

The 2020 Forester seats five people in two rows. There’s plenty of space in both rows; even a 6-foot adult can sit behind another 6-foot adult. The seats are supportive, and the wide door openings make it easy to enter or exit the vehicle.

Standard seating features:

• Cloth upholstery
• Split-folding rear seats

Available seating features:

• Leather-trimmed upholstery
• Heated front seats
• 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Heated rear seats
• Heated steering wheel

How Many Child Car Seats Fit in the 2020 Subaru Forester?

This Subaru has two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a single anchor and tether anchor for the rear middle seat. Another lower anchor can be borrowed from the passenger side rear seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the highest rating of Good+, which indicates that it's among the easiest and most versatile to use.

2020 Subaru Forester Features

For the most part, Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system is easy to use. The menus are laid out well, functions load quickly, and there are lots of physical controls. A few of them are placed in odd locations though.

• Standard infotainment features: a 6.5-inch touch screen, two USB ports, HD Radio, satellite radio, a four-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay
• Available infotainment features : an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, two more USB ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a six-speaker stereo, and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo
• Additional standard features: automatic climate control
• Other available features: push-button start, proximity keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a panoramic moonroof

See 2020 Subaru Forester specs »

Read more about Forester interior »

2020 Subaru Forester Dimensions

Subaru Forester Cargo Space

This vehicle ranks near the top of the compact SUV class when it comes to cargo room. You’ll find 35.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet behind the front seats. Adding the moonroof reduces those totals to 33 and 70.9 cubic feet, respectively.

Subaru Forester Length and Weight

• Length: 15 feet, 2 inches
• Curb weight: 3,449 to 3,589 pounds

Where Was the 2020 Subaru Forester Built?

Subaru built the 2020 Forester in Japan.