2022 Subaru Forester

2022 Subaru Forester Overview

Is the Subaru Forester a Good SUV?

Yes, the Subaru Forester is a good SUV. It gets good gas mileage, has decent handling, and rides smoothly. It's a better off-roader than most other compact SUVs as well. Inside, the Forester looks great. It has two rows of spacious seats and plenty of cargo room. We named the Forester our 2022 Best SUV for Teens $30k to $35k because of its combination of predicted reliability, high crash test scores, available advanced driver-assistance features and top critics' recommendations. The Forester is also a finalist for our 2022 Best Compact SUV for the Money award.

Should I Buy the Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester is a versatile small crossover that can fulfill the needs of a wide range of buyers, making it an option that many buyers should consider. It's also a decent value in the class, delivering a lot of bang for your buck.

Find a 2022 Subaru Forester for sale near you »

Why You Can Trust Us: 31 Reviews Analyzed

Our car reviews include everything you need to know before heading to the dealership. We combine the opinions of the automotive press with quantifiable data like crash test results and reliability scores to form a complete picture of every vehicle we rank. This 2022 Forester review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2019.

U.S. News Best Cars has been ranking vehicles since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of combined experience in the automotive industry. Our car reviews are objective. To keep them that way, our editorial staff doesn’t accept expensive gifts or trips from automakers, and a third party handles all the advertising on our site.

2021 vs. 2022 Subaru Forester: What's the Difference?

The 2022 Subaru Forester looks a bit different than the 2021 model because it receives some exterior styling updates. It also gets a new addition to the trim lineup, the Wilderness. This new Forester has slightly more ground clearance than other models, as well as a forward-facing off-road camera, all-terrain tires, and water-repellent upholstery, making it the best adventuring vehicle in the lineup. The Wilderness can also tow more than any other Forester trim.

Compare the 2021 and 2022 Forester »

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

• 2022: updated exterior styling; new Wilderness model joins trim lineup
• 2021: no notable changes
• 2020: rear-seat reminder became standard; lane centering system made available
• 2019: fully redesigned with more space and more standard features (Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, forward automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control); 250-horsepower turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission discontinued
• 2018: reverse automatic emergency braking added to EyeSight safety suite

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2019 Forester , 2020 Forester , and 2021 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.

Pricing

How Much is a 2022 Subaru Forester?

The Forester carries a base price of $25,195. That's a decent starting price for the class, but keep in mind that this Subaru comes standard with all-wheel drive, which costs extra in most rivals (if it's available at all). The range-topping Forester Touring costs $35,295. That's a bit higher than many competitors' top-trim prices.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Subaru dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Subaru deals page .

Subaru Forester Versus the Competition

Subaru Forester vs. Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek is a subcompact SUV , but it has some commonalities with the Forester. These two have similar build quality, and the Forester's base engine is optional in the Crosstrek, though it feels more energetic in the smaller Subaru. The Crosstrek isn't as spacious inside as the Forester, and it's not as proficient of an off-roader, but it does have a lower starting price. On the other hand, the Forester gives you more legroom, a larger cargo area, and more standard features.

Compare the Forester and Crosstrek »

Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 is a solid choice in the compact SUV class . It has more cargo space behind the rear seats than the Forester does, and it can tow more. The Forester, however, has a higher maximum cargo capacity and more passenger space. Both have user-friendly technology.

Compare the Forester and RAV4 »

Compare the Forester, Crosstrek, and RAV4 »

Forester Interior: Pretty Big for a Small SUV

Forester Interior Quality

The Forester has one of the roomiest cabins in the compact SUV class , and it's well-built with quality materials. It keeps occupants insulated from outside noise, and the new Wilderness trim makes a great companion on muddy exhibitions thanks to its water-repellent upholstery.

Forester Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

It's fairly easy to master the Starlink infotainment system thanks to its intuitive interface, which makes navigating menus simple. The touch screen responds well to inputs, though the graphics could be sharper. There’s also a secondary display at the top of the dashboard that shows different information than the touch screen, which may confuse some users at first.

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

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

Forester Cargo Space

Few class rivals have as much cargo space as this Subaru. The base Forester gives you 28.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 74.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. In all other models, those totals drop to 26.9 cubic feet and 69.1 cubic feet, respectively.

How Many People Does the Forester Seat?

The Forester seats five people. Drivers will appreciate its good visibility, and everyone can appreciate the Forester's spacious, quiet cabin. Both rows of seats are comfortable and have plenty of head- and legroom. In fact, 6-footers can sit in the back even if there are 6-footers upfront. The doors open up wide, making it easy to enter or exit the vehicle in either row.

Forester and Child Car Seats

There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats, along with a tether anchor and lower anchor for the rear middle 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.

Read more about interior »

Forester Performance: More to Like than Not

Forester Engine

Every Forester features the same powertrain: a 182-horsepower four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The Forester's engine will get you from point A to point B, but it's not the most impressive power plant. Acceleration is merely so-so, and this Subaru can feel a touch underpowered on the highway. That said, it's not like many other compact SUVs are renowned for their voracious powertrains. The Subaru's transmission works smoothly.

Forester Gas Mileage

The Forester gets good gas mileage, returning 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway in most configurations. The all-new Wilderness trim is a bit less fuel-efficient than other Forester models, earning ratings of 25/28 mpg city/highway.

Forester Ride and Handling

The Forester is poised around turns and exhibits little body lean, though it lacks the sporty nature of some rivals. It rides smoothly and has sturdy brakes, and it’s a better off-road vehicle than most class competitors. The Forester also comes standard with all-wheel drive, which is a rarity in this segment.

Forester Off-Road Performance

The Forester is a better off-road vehicle than almost every class rival. Most versions have 8.7 inches of ground clearance and are untroubled by mud, snow, and light trails. The Wilderness model has 9.2 inches of ground clearance, making it even more capable.

All-wheel drive comes standard, making this Subaru a major outlier in this class, as it's a pricey upgrade in most rivals. Every Forester except the base model comes with hill descent control and X-Mode, a system that enhances grip on slippery surfaces. Wilderness models also feature all-terrain tires and a forward-facing off-road camera.

Forester Towing Capacity

Most Forester trims can tow up to 1,500 pounds, but the Wilderness trim doubles that capacity to 3,000 pounds.

Read more about performance »

Forester Reliability

Is the Subaru Forester Reliable?

The 2022 Subaru Forester has a predicted reliability score of 83 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.

Subaru Forester Warranty

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

Read more about reliability »

2022 Subaru Forester Safety

Score: 9.6/10

Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2022 Subaru Forester the highest rating of Good in five crash tests and the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the side test.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2022 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.

Safety Features

Standard driver assistance features:

• Rearview camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Forward collision warning
• Forward automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Lane centering assist

Available driver assistance features:

• Driver drowsiness monitoring
• Blind spot monitoring
• Lane change assist
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Reverse automatic emergency braking

Forester Dimensions and Weight

The Forester is 15.2 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,454 to 3,620 pounds.

Where Is the 2022 Subaru Forester Built?

Subaru builds the 2022 Forester in Japan.

Which Subaru Forester Model Is Right for Me?

The 2022 Subaru Forester comes in six trims: base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. All models come with a 182-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive.

Most buyers should go with the Premium trim, which is a good value. It has amenities like heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and reclining rear seats, and it offers an option package with a few additional features. The Limited trim is a fine choice for those who want a few more luxury and comfort features, such as leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Subaru Forester

The Forester carries a base price of $25,195. Standard features include automatic climate control, a 6.5-inch touch screen, a four-speaker stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

Standard driver assistance features include a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and lane centering assist. Some of these features are part of the EyeSight suite of safety technology.

Subaru Forester Premium

The Forester Premium starts at $28,195. In addition to the base trim’s features, the Premium comes with hill descent control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, reclining rear seats, a panoramic moonroof, push-button start, a six-speaker stereo, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.

For $1,165, you can add a package that includes blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, and a power liftgate.

Subaru Forester Sport

The Forester Sport’s starting MSRP sits at $29,765. The Sport comes with all-season tires, blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, and additional USB ports.

A $1,645 option package adds reverse automatic emergency braking, a power liftgate, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, and an 8-inch touch screen.

Subaru Forester Wilderness

The all-new Forester Wilderness retails for $32,820. Standard features include a forward-facing off-road camera, all-terrain tires, water-repellent upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, reverse automatic emergency braking, and an 8-inch touch screen. The Wilderness also doubles the towing capacity of every other trim (3,000 pounds compared to 1,500).

A $1,850 option package adds a power liftgate, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, and navigation.

Subaru Forester Limited

The Forester Limited starts at $31,875. The Limited comes with leather upholstery and a power liftgate. For $1,695, you can add an option package that includes a heated steering wheel, reverse automatic emergency braking, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, and navigation.

Subaru Forester Touring

The range-topping Forester Touring costs $35,295. The Touring’s additional features include a power-adjustable passenger seat, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, driver drowsiness monitoring, reverse automatic emergency braking, navigation, and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Subaru dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Subaru deals page .

See 2022 Subaru Forester specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2022 Subaru Forester only finishes in the middle of our compact SUV rankings , but don't be fooled – this is a good crossover. It's a decent off-roader and has more passenger and cargo space than almost every class rival. Add in its comfortable ride, quality interior, and standard all-wheel drive, and you've got an enticing vehicle that should appeal to a lot of buyers.

Don't just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "The 2022 Subaru Forester isn't just any compact crossover – it's an award-winner. … Part of the Forester's success has been the standard all-wheel-drive system – while still competing price-wise with 2-wheel-drive rivals – along with top safety scores, plenty of cabin space, and strong resale values. This current generation of Forester (the fifth) debuted for the 2019 model year, so the tech is fresh and Subaru installs several driver assistance features as standard. To buyers who have done the research and think that a new Forester is the way to go, we're not going to argue with you." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The 2019 Subaru Forester is an affordable, well-constructed small crossover that doubles down on safety tech and all-weather capabilities. Make sure to put it on your short list if you're in the market." -- Edmunds (2019)
• "With the 2019 Forester, Subaru has managed to develop a vehicle that stays true to the brand's core values while also providing the kind of features demanded by today's small SUV buyers. The 2019 Forester is bigger but still small enough to maneuver in tight spaces, loaded with standard safety tech and extremely fuel efficient for an all-wheel drive model. If you can look past the lack of a turbocharged engine, you'll find a Forester that's better in every other way." -- Left Lane News (2019)