Jump LinksSubaru's Compact Crossover SUVThe 2026 Subaru Forester Premium: MSRP $33,385The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness: MSRP $38,385The 2026 Subaru Forester: $41,595Thanks to Subaru's perfect recipe of Symmetrical All-wheel Drive, versatile practicality, and fuel efficiency, the Subaru Forester is a top choice in the compact crossover/SUV segment. Redesigned for the 2025 model year, the still newly redesigned Forester is now more capable than ever with updated transmissions, and a revised Boxer four-cylinder engine. Subaru has kitted out the Forester to include more standard features without losing the elements that make it a Subaru. With the many trims of the Forester that are available for the 2026 model year, which Subaru Forester is best suited to your needs? We break down what makes certain trims our favorites for different applications.All MSRP's listed below are base prices set forth by the manufacturer and are subject to change based on location or manufacturers' discretion, without notice. Destination and other fees are not included in the listed MSRP. The 2026 Subaru Forester Subaru's Compact Crossover SUV Subaru The Subaru Forester has proven to be one of the most popular Subaru models, taking second place in Subaru sales, having sold 175,070 units for the 2025 model year. Second only to the Subaru Crosstrek. Now in the second model year of its sixth generation, the Subaru Forester is available in six different trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited and Touring. For those looking for maximum fuel economy, Subaru also offers the Forester as a hybrid model. As usual, all Forester trims come as standard with Subaru's signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the most recent version of Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist technology, and a revised 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer four-cylinder engine. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance on all trims except for the Wilderness, every Forester is equipped for some trail exploration. A Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT) is employed to aid in daily fuel economy, and combat the efficiency losses associated with having AWD. Best Subaru Forester Model For Value The 2026 Subaru Forester Premium: MSRP $33,385 Subaru The 2026 Subaru Forester Premium offers excellent value when compared to the other trim levels. The Premium trim offers a great balance of price and upgraded features over the base model. Obviously, the base model comes in at a lower price, but it skimps on some basic tech and comfort features that can make bad traffic and stressful driving situations less horrible. This is where the Forester Premium truly shines. Opting for the Forester Premium adds some decent amenities for the extra $3,390 over the price of the base model. The Subaru Multimedia Plus System with an 11.6-inch touchscreen is included, as well as wireless Apple Car Play, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming capability, Sirius XM with 360L with Travel Link (free month trial of SXM Platinum included) and wireless charging.Subaru Driver comfort extras include a 10-way power adjustable driver seat, a four-way manually adjustable passenger seat, and both front seats are heated as standard equipment. A panoramic power moonroof, rear USB-A and USB-C charging ports, and a premium leather-wrapped steering wheel are also part of the premium package. An all-weather package comes as standard on the Premium, which includes heated exterior mirrors and windshield deicers for those icy winter mornings. It also wouldn't be a proper Subaru if it weren't equipped for some mild off-road exploration, so the Premium also comes standard with X-Mode and hill descent control. For only another $1,200, a hands-free power lift gate, automatic emergency steering, blind-spot detection and emergency lane-keep assist are all available. Best Subaru Forester Model For Adventure The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness: MSRP $38,385 SubaruFor the 2026 model year, Subaru finally introduces the Wilderness trim on the sixth-generation Forester platform. The all-new Forester Wilderness retains its signature front fascia, hexagonal grill and hexagonal LED fog lights. It also still comes with the unique black matte anti-glare hood decal, which does a great job of diffusing direct sunlight when you're hitting the trails. The Wilderness comes equipped with 17-inch black matte wheels wrapped in 235/65R17 inch all-terrain rubber for maximum off-road grip - full-size spare included. As per usual, the adventure-centric Forester comes equipped with some tasty anodized copper exterior accents, including the front and rear bumper tow hook covers and roof rails, which let everyone know that it has the Wilderness treatment.Subaru Interior appointments include Subaru's water-resistant StarTex seating surfaces donning striking copper stitching with the complementary Wilderness badges embossed on the headrests. All weather mats and a cargo tray with easy clean surfaces are in place as well and ready for muddy boots and gear. The Wilderness, of course, comes with X-Mode Dual Mode and Hill Descent Control, Wilderness-tuned suspension and a rear differential temperature sensor. Interestingly, the Wilderness trim offers 9.3 inches of ground clearance, so it rides a little higher than a standard Forester model. Thanks to some key upgrades, like a revised lineartronic CVT with a shorter final drive ratio, and a revised Symmetrical AWD system, the 2026 Forester Wilderness has better low-speed off-road capability with faster center differential lock up and reduced wheel spin when hitting the trails. Speaking of trail capability, the new Wilderness offers improved approach, departure and breakover angles. Up from 19 degrees, the Forester Wilderness now has an approach angle of 23.5 degrees, with the break over angle now up to 21 degrees from 19.6 degrees, and a departure angle at 25.5 degrees from 24.6 degrees.Subaru Optional for the new Wilderness is a package that includes the Subaru 11.6-inch Multimedia System with navigation, a Harman Kardon speaker system and a 576-watt equivalent amplifier. This all gets piped through 11 speakers dispersed throughout the car. A 12.3inch digital gauge cluster and a power rear liftgate are all available for an additional $2,200 on top of the MSRP. The Best Subaru Forester Model For Luxury The 2026 Subaru Forester: $41,595 25MY Forester Touring -1The best Forester trim level for the luxury-minded is easily the 2026 Subaru Forester Touring as it features black or saddle brown perforated leather trimmed upholstery with Ultrasuade bolsters. Both driver and passenger front seats are power adjustable, with 10-way adjustment for the driver and eight-way adjustment for the passenger. Both front seats are also heated and ventilated, while the rear outboard seats are heated, but not ventilated. The Touring gets a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel with a leather-wrapped shifter handle to compliment the other leather appointments in the car. Of course, X-Mode with hill descent control, and vehicle dynamics control are also standard equipment. It may be the most luxurious out of the bunch, but at its heart, it's still a Subaru that's not afraid to roll up its sleeves and hit the trails.Subaru The Forester Touring is loaded with standard tech and convenience features like the Subaru 11.6-inch Multimedia System with navigation, a Harman Kardon 11 speaker premium audio system, and a smart rearview mirror. The side-view mirrors are heated, power folding and finished in Crystal Black Silica, which is standard on the Sport and Touring trim only. Additionally, standard on the Touring is an extremely convenient foot-activated, hands-free power liftgate with an automatic closing feature and a height memory function. The rolling stock on the Forester Touring are 19 inches in diameter and dark gray with a machine finish. These premium wheels complete the luxurious look of the wonderfully appointed Forester Touring for 2026.Sources: Subaru, BestSellingCars