Order books are back open for the Subaru Forester as supply of the 2023 model year version has become available, but buyers will now be paying more for the mid-size SUV than before.
Now kicking off at $37,890 before on-road costs for the base 2.5i grade, the cheapest Forester is now $1900 more expensive than its MY22 equivalent, but Subaru has added no extra equipment to justify the jump in price.
Likewise, the 2.5i-L and Hybrid L are also up $1900 this year to $40,290 and $43,290 respectively.
The mid-spec 2.5i Premium moves up $1950 to $43,090.
However, the 2.5i Sport, 2.5i-S and top-spec Hybrid S jump up $2150 each to $44,840, $46,340 and $49,340 each because Subaru has added an auto-dimming rear-view mirror to each.
Standard equipment on the Forester includes an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, cloth interior and 17-inch wheels.
For safety, all Foresters are equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight suite that includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, as well as a reversing camera, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.
Stepping up to the L-badged grades add a driver monitoring system, while the Premium steps things up with 18-inch wheels, a powered tailgate and leather-accented interior.
The Sport variant adds unique orange-coloured accented inside and out, as well as an electric sunroof.
The top-spec S in hybrid and non-hybrid form score full leather interior, upgraded sound system and silver-coloured exterior highlights.
All non-hybrid versions of the Forester are powered by a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine that sends 136kW/239Nm to all four wheels via a continuous variable transmission.
The two hybrid grades meanwhile, make use of a 110kW/196Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine and 12kW/66Nm electric motor.
Subaru Australia expects deliveries of its 2023 Forester to begin from the fourth quarter of this year.
2022 Subaru Forester pricing before on-road costs
| Variant | Transmission | Price |
| 2.5i | Automatic | $37,890 (+$1900) |
| 2.5i-L | Automatic | $40,290 (+$1900) |
| 2.5i Premium | Automatic | $43,090 (+$1950) |
| 2.5i Sport | Automatic | $44,840 (+$2150) |
| 2.5i-S | Automatic | $46,340 (+$2150) |
| 2.0 Hybrid L | Automatic | $43,290 (+$1900) |
| 2.0 Hybrid S | Automatic | $49,340 (+$2150) |
Keyword: 2023 Subaru Forester price and specs: Rugged Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson rival gets more expensive