2021 Subaru Forester

2021 Subaru Forester Overview

Is the 2021 Subaru Forester a Good Used SUV?

Yes, the 2021 Forester is a good pick if you're shopping for a used compact SUV. It offers a comfortable ride, light off-road capability and good fuel economy. Step inside the cabin, and you'll find adult-friendly seats in both rows, an above-average cargo capacity and a generous host of standard active safety features. On the downside, this Subaru's four-cylinder engine isn't as punchy as those of competitors like the 2021 Mazda CX-5 and 2021 Honda CR-V.

Compare the Forester, CX-5, and CR-V »

Pricing

How Much is a 2021 Subaru Forester?

Based on listings for the 2021 Subaru Forester, the average list price is $24,402. Prices range from $24,402 to $31,516 and vary depending on the vehicle’s condition, mileage, features, and location.

See the Best Used Car Deals »

2020 vs. 2021 Subaru Forester: What's the Difference?

For 2021, Subaru did some slight feature shuffling between trims. Otherwise, the 2021 Forester is nearly identical to the 2020 model.

Compare the 2020 and 2021 Forester »

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

• 2018: EyeSight safety suite gained reverse automatic emergency braking
• 2019: fully redesigned with updated styling, a larger cabin and more standard features (Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, forward automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control); turbocharged engine and manual transmission discontinued
• 2020: standard rear-seat alert; lane centering made available
• 2021: no major changes

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2018 Forester, 2019 Forester and 2020 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 2021 Subaru Forester?

The 2021 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.

Read more about Forester reliability »

Which Used 2021 Subaru Forester Trim Is Right for Me?

The 2021 Subaru Forester comes in five trims: base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. A 182-horsepower four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive are found in every model.

The Premium trim is a good value and will likely suit most shoppers thanks to standard creature comforts like heated front seats and reclining rear seats. For more luxurious appointments like leather upholstery and a larger 8-inch touch screen, go for the Limited trim.

• Subaru Forester: The base trim has cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a 6.5-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a four-speaker stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, two USB ports, Bluetooth, automatic climate control and remote keyless entry. Standard active safety features include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a rear-seat alert, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist.
• Subaru Forester Premium: The Premium trim adds a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, reclining rear seats, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, a panoramic moonroof, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a six-speaker audio system and X-Mode with hill descent control. One option package was available when this trim was new, and it included a power liftgate, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
• Subaru Forester Sport: The Sport trim gains unique styling elements, paddle shifters, two additional USB ports, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. You may find models with a power liftgate, reverse automatic emergency braking, an 8-inch touch screen and/or a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
• Subaru Forester Limited: The Limited trim adds leather upholstery, a power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control and an 8-inch touch screen. A heated steering wheel, reverse automatic emergency braking, navigation and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system are available.
• Subaru Forester Touring: The top Touring trim has nearly every feature you can get in a Forester, including a power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, one-touch folding rear seats, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, navigation, driver-attention monitoring and reverse automatic emergency braking.

See 2021 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 »

2021 Subaru Forester Safety

Score: 9.5/10

2021 Forester Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2021 Forester a Top Safety Pick. The Subaru earned the highest rating of Good in the six original crash safety tests, the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the updated moderate overlap front crash test and the second-lowest rating of Marginal in the updated side crash test. The Forester also received a Good rating for how well its 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 front crash prevention systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2021 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.

Standard driver-assistance features:

• Rearview camera
• Forward collision warning
• Forward automatic emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Rear-seat alert (reminds you to check the back seats for kids or pets before you exit the vehicle)
• Lane-departure warning
• Lane-keep assist

Available driver-assistance features:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reverse automatic emergency braking
• Driver-attention monitoring

2021 Subaru Forester Recalls

There are no major recalls for the 2021 Subaru Forester at this time.

See more information on Subaru Forester safety recalls »

2021 Subaru Forester Versus the Competition 

2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is a subcompact SUV, but it has many things in common with its compact sibling, including build quality and standard all-wheel drive. The Crosstrek is available with the Forester's engine, and the smaller Subaru actually feels peppier with this power plant (its base engine is wheezy). The Crosstrek also carries lower projected ownership costs. However, the Forester has more space to stretch out your legs and store cargo, and it sports a lengthier list of standard features.

Compare the Forester and Crosstrek »

2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 offers a few perks over its Forester rival. In particular, the RAV4's maximum 3,500-pound towing capacity (in certain trims) dwarfs the Subaru's, and the RAV4's engine delivers stronger acceleration. Both models are packed with features and are similarly well-built. That said, the Forester has a slightly higher overall cargo capacity and additional wiggle room for passengers.

Compare the Forester and RAV4 »

Compare the Forester, Crosstrek and RAV4 »

2021 Forester Performance

How Does the 2021 Subaru Forester Drive? 

The Forester isn't quick, and it takes a beat for the vehicle to get going after you press on the gas. It also feels a bit underpowered at higher speeds. All things considered though, the Forester's available power is sufficient for cruising the countryside or getting around in the city.

This Subaru feels composed around turns, and it delivers accurate steering and a cushioned ride over most road surfaces, though it isn't exactly sporty. The Forester is also capable of some light off-roading. Every model comes with all-wheel drive and nearly 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

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

2021 Subaru Forester Gas Mileage

The 2021 Forester returns an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. That's good fuel economy for a compact SUV, especially when you consider that the Forester comes standard with all-wheel drive.

2021 Subaru Forester Towing Capacity 
The Forester can tow up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped.

Read more about Forester performance »

2021 Forester Interior

2021 Forester Interior Quality

The Forester's cabin benefits from a simple and attractive design, and it's made up of quality materials. There are some hard plastics, but they don't take away from the overall look and feel of the interior.

How Many People Does the 2021 Forester Seat?

The Forester seats five people. The front seats are comfy and quite spacious, and the rear seats have enough space for 6-footers to fit comfortably. This SUV is easy to get in and out of, and the driver has an unobstructed view of the road ahead.

Standard seating features:

• Cloth upholstery
• Manually adjustable front seats

Available seating features:

• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated rear seats
• One-touch folding rear seats

How Many Child Car Seats Fit in the 2021 Subaru Forester? 

The Forester has two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether 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.

2021 Subaru Forester Features

The Forester is equipped with Subaru's Starlink infotainment system, and it doesn't require much of a learning curve. The touch screen has quick responses, it's easy to read, and navigating through the menus is a breeze. That said, it might take a little time to figure out the information that is displayed in the secondary screen above the dashboard versus what is shown below.

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

See 2021 Subaru Forester specs »

Read more about Forester interior »

2021 Subaru Forester Dimensions

Subaru Forester Cargo Space

The Forester has more cargo room than most vehicles in the compact SUV class. The base model has 31.1 cubic feet of space behind its rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with those seats folded down. Every other model comes with a slightly smaller 28.9 cubic feet and 70.9 cubic feet, respectively.

Subaru Forester Length and Weight

• Length: 15 feet, 2 inches
• Curb weight: 3,453 to 3,589 pounds

Where Was the 2021 Subaru Forester Built?

Subaru built the Forester in Japan.

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 2021 Forester review combines 30 professional reviews with concrete data like performance specs, fuel economy estimates and safety ratings.