2024 Subaru Forester

Drive and Performance 6.3/10

The Forester has a taut suspension that soaks up most bumps in the road and helps to provide a gentle ride with minimal body lean through curves. The Forester delivers confident handling and responsive, well-weighted steering. The brakes offer ample stopping power.

Every 2024 Forester is equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive round out the setup. This powertrain gets the job done, but it isn't going to blow you away. The four-cylinder engine is capable around town, but it feels lackluster when trying to merge or pass on the highway. The journey from zero to 60 mph takes an unimpressive 9 seconds, and the engine is quite noisy while accelerating. On the plus side, the CVT generally makes smooth shifts.

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Fuel Economy 9.7/10

The Forester returns good fuel economy for a compact SUV. Most models get an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The off-road-oriented Forester Wilderness sees estimates dip to 25/28 mpg city/highway.

Interior 8.0/10

The 2024 Forester has a well-built, comfortable and handsome interior full of mostly upscale materials, and as you step up in trim levels, the niceties increase. The cabin is also well-insulated, so you can enjoy a quiet ride with minimal road and wind noise permeating the SUV. Five people can fit in the Forester's two rows. The front seats are plush and spacious, with enough room for even tall adults to sit comfortably. The rear seats aren't quite as comfortable, but they're still fairly adult-friendly.

In the rear, you'll find a fantastic amount of cargo room, with 28.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and a maximum capacity of 74.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This is one of the largest cargo holds in the compact SUV segment. A manual liftgate comes standard, and a power liftgate is available.

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Value 9.3/10

The 2024 Subaru Forester has an excellent value rating for the compact SUV segment. We determine value based on the vehicle's estimated total cost of ownership, along with the vehicle's MSRP for its base and top trims.

Safety 9.2/10

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave most 2024 Forester models an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the SUV mixed ratings. The Forester comes standard with fewer driver-assistance features than most rivals. Standard Forester safety tech includes lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise control.

For installing child safety seats, there are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat. The IIHS gave this LATCH system the highest rating of Good+, which indicates that it's among the easiest and most versatile to use.

Quality and Reliability 84.0/100

The 2024 Subaru Forester has a predicted reliability score of 84 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.

Critics’ Rating 8.1/10

The 2024 Subaru Forester receives a critics' rating that is good for the class. This rating, which is driven by our qualitative research, represents the overall tone and recommendation level that the automotive press places on a car.

Pricing

How Much Is a 2024 Subaru Forester?

The 2024 Subaru Forester has a base MSRP of $27,095, which is a competitive starting price for the class. The Premium trim costs $30,295 and gains features like heated front seats and a panoramic moonroof. The Sport trim ($31,865) adds amenities such as blind-spot monitoring and shift paddles. The off-road-oriented Wilderness trim costs $34,920, while the Limited trim goes for $33,975 and gains niceties like genuine leather upholstery. The top-tier Touring trim will cost you $37,395. It adds amenities like heated rear seats and driver-attention monitoring.

Is the 2024 Subaru Forester a Good SUV?

Yes, the 2024 Forester is a good compact SUV. We named it as a finalist for our 2024 Best Compact SUV for the Money award because of its outstanding combination of quality and value. The Forester returns good fuel economy estimates, and it can handle some light off-roading escapades thanks to its standard all-wheel drive. Inside, the cabin is spacious, the seats are comfortable, and there are many standard features. Performance is adequate, but if you want a quick-moving SUV, the Forester probably isn't for you. The Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson, for example, are both well-rounded classmates with more impressive driving dynamics than the Forester.

2023 vs. 2024 Subaru Forester: What's the Difference?

There are no major differences between the 2023 and 2024 Forester models.

Compare the 2023 and 2024 Forester »

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

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2021 Forester, 2022 Forester and 2023 Forester reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

2024 Subaru Forester Versus the Competition

Subaru Forester vs. Subaru Outback

The Outback is another great Subaru, and it outperforms the Forester in a few areas. The Outback has a larger cargo area and a higher towing capacity than the Forester, and it's available with a stronger engine. The Forester has a more intuitive infotainment system, however. These Subaru siblings have similar features lists, the same base engine and comparable starting MSRPs. Choosing between them will likely come down to personal preference.

Compare the Forester and Outback »

Subaru Forester vs. Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson is one of the top options in the compact SUV class. It offers a spacious interior, a long list of standard features, a comfortable ride and good fuel economy. It also has terrific safety scores, and its interior is more upscale than the Forester's. Both SUVs have similarly powered base engines and comparable starting MSRPs. You can't go wrong with either one.

Compare the Forester and Tucson »

Compare the Forester, Outback and Tucson »

2024 Subaru Forester Models and Trims

The 2024 Subaru Forester comes in six trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited and Touring. Each trim is equipped with a 182-horsepower four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive.

Subaru Forester Base

The Forester Base trim has a $27,095 starting MSRP. Standard features include cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, split-folding rear seats, a 6.5-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a four-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, a USB port, an analog gauge cluster with a separate multifunction display, remote keyless entry, automatic climate control, adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, a rear-seat alert, a rearview camera, a manual liftgate, 17-inch steel wheels and all-season tires.

Subaru's EyeSight suite also comes standard, and it includes lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control with lane centering.

For an extra $625, you can add alloy wheels and roof rails.

Subaru Forester Premium

The Premium trim ($30,295) gains heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, second-row air vents, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, a six-speaker stereo, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a panoramic moonroof, roof rails, fog lights, larger front brakes, 17-inch alloy wheels, additional drive modes and hill-descent control.

Options include a package with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a power liftgate for $1,165.

Subaru Forester Sport

Starting at $31,865, the Sport trim adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, shift paddles, three more USB ports, orange accents and 18-inch alloy wheels.

An optional package is available for $1,645, and it includes an 8-inch touch screen, a nine-speaker stereo, reverse automatic emergency braking and a power liftgate.

Subaru Forester Limited

Stepping up to the Limited costs $33,975. This trim includes all of the Premium model’s features, plus genuine leather upholstery, two additional USB ports, a power liftgate, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Options include a heated steering wheel, navigation, a nine-speaker stereo and reverse automatic emergency braking for $1,695.

Subaru Forester Wilderness

The outdoorsy Wilderness trim starts at $34,920. This model includes all of the Premium trim’s features, plus a raised suspension, all-terrain tires, lower gearing, a transmission oil cooler, a skid plate, larger fender flares, a restyled grille, restyled bumpers, copper-colored accents, synthetic leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a forward-facing camera, an 8-inch touch screen, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and reverse automatic emergency braking.

Navigation, a nine-speaker audio system and a power liftgate are available for $1,850.

Subaru Forester Touring
The top-of-the-line Touring starts at $37,395 and comes with all of the Limited trim’s features plus a power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, navigation, a nine-speaker stereo, navigation, driver-attention monitoring and reverse automatic emergency braking.

See 2024 Subaru Forester specs and trims »

2024 Subaru Forester Safety

2024 Forester Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2024 Subaru Forester the highest rating of Good in the small overlap front crash test, the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the side crash test and the second-lowest rating of Marginal in the moderate overlap front crash test. The Forester received the highest rating of Good for how well the headlights illuminate the road.

The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. The Forester earned the highest rating of Superior for its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave most models of the 2024 Subaru Forester 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. The Wilderness trim was not tested for rollover safety and did not receive an overall safety rating.

2024 Forester Safety Features

Standard driver-assistance features:

Available driver-assistance features:

Warranty

Subaru covers the 2024 Forester with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Specs and Features

The Forester's standard touch screen is 6.5 inches, while the optional display is 8 inches. Both run Subaru's Starlink infotainment system. This interface is quite user-friendly, and the display's menu layouts are easy to navigate, but the graphics are a bit outdated. In addition to the touch screen, there are a few handy physical buttons and knobs that are convenient for changing audio and climate settings while driving.

For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?

See 2024 Subaru Forester specs and trims »

Why You Can Trust Our Reviews

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking the best cars, trucks and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has more than 75 years of combined experience in the auto industry.

This 2024 Forester review combines 32 professional reviews with concrete data like performance specs, fuel economy estimates and safety ratings and incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2019. Check out excerpts from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.