UPDATE: 2026/09/16 19:00 EST BY SEAN MCMANUS
Subaru’s Main Rival Puts Up A Fight With Competitive Pricing
We added a section with details surrounding the Crosstrek’s and Forester’s Toyota rivals and their pricing.
Looking at Subaru’s current lineup, if you’re shopping for an SUV specifically, there’s a bit of an anomaly that’s kind of hard to ignore; the fact that there’s “only” a $3,000 gap when you compare the Subaru Crosstrek vs the Subaru Forester. Depending on what you’re after and how you look at this, the minimum base MSRP difference between the Crosstrek and the Forester is either trivial or a huge deal. Most of the time, if you are shopping around for an SUV in this kind of price bracket, that gap matters more than it might seem on the surface, and on paper, the more expensive Forester is mostly the same as the Crosstrek, anyway. So, is it worth spending that extra three grand?
The Subaru Crosstrek and the Forester both get the same powertrain, even the hybrid models, the same gadgets and electronics on the inside, the same great four-wheel-drive system and off-road capability, the same ultra-durable interior upholstery, and even the same EyeSight driver assists that keep you safe while you’re out on the open road and make commuting a smidge more effortless. Besides, if you’ve read our first drive reviews that look at the Subaru Crosstrek vs the Forester, our thoughts on the driving experience between them are also similar. This begs the question; why should you spend more to get the Forester, and is the bigger cabin and cargo space worth it?
This is an on-paper comparison between the Subaru Crosstrek vs the Subaru Forester, supplemented by our first drive reviews. All the specs, data, and pricing mentioned below are correct at the time of writing. Automakers also reserve the right to update this at their own discretion, and without prior notice.
Exterior Design: Subaru Crosstrek vs Forester
Even with just a quick eyeball check, it’s clear right from the get-go which is the bigger car, because the Crosstrek looks like a compact hatchback with a suspension lift, while the Forester looks like a proper, boxy SUV, almost like an old station wagon, but on stilts. At the expense of increased curb weight, the Forester shares the exact same wheelbase length as the Crosstrek, but overall, it’s 6.9 inches longer, now 183.3 inches long from tip to tail. It’s also slightly wider (+1.1 inches) and it’s taller (+5.1 inches), while the off-road-focused Forester Wilderness is even wider and taller, still. Speaking of, both SUVs get 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and their Wilderness counterparts boost that to 9.3 inches.
“We jokingly mention how the [Subaru] Forester Sport looks a bit Honda-ish to us because the whole design seems a bit generic to our eyes. It could just as easily come from Ford or Honda, and lacks any distinct Subaru DNA to help it stand apart.”
– Jared Rosenholtz, Former Editor-at-Large, CarBuzz
If you plan on going off-roading, the Wilderness versions of both SUVs trade blows as far as approach, departure, and breakover angles go, and styling-wise, they both gain similar off-road-y cosmetic upgrades, too. This includes the rugged, muscular wheel arch cladding, lower body cladding, and improved underbody protection. That said, if you’re worried about design, the Crosstrek is arguably the winner. Our critics agreed that the new Forester looks generic compared to its peers, with a conservative, boxy shape that blends anonymously into the background. You might actually prefer this, but it doesn’t really inherit a lot of Subaru’s traditionally distinctive, quirky design language.
Interior & Cargo Space: Subaru Crosstrek vs Forester
If You’re Very Space-Conscious, The Forester Is The Obvious Winner
That segues us nicely to where your extra dollars actually go, should you opt to buy the Forester vs the Subaru Crosstrek, which is how much added space you get inside. If you compare it to the smaller Crosstrek, the Forester offers you 41.2 inches and 39.6 inches of headroom front and rear (+1.4 and +1.6 inches, respectively), and 43.3 inches and 39.4 inches of legroom front and rear (+0.4 and +2.9 inches, respectively). It doesn’t sound like a lot, but add them up, and it makes a huge difference, as the boxy Forester is able to muster up a truly gaping 140.4 cubic-feet of total passenger volume over the 100.5 cubic-feet that you get with the Crosstrek, which is still pretty good, but not as spacious.
“Subaru offers what it calls a panoramic moonroof that barely stretches into the back seat; it’s either the smallest panoramic roof in the industry, or one of the largest regular moonroof designs, depending on your outlook. Whatever you call it, the area that opens is enormous, letting in a ton of fresh air.”
– Jared Rosenholtz, Former Editor-at-Large, CarBuzz
The same applies to the cargo capacity, as you get to enjoy up to 29.6 cubic-feet of trunk space with the Forester, or a cavernous 74.4 cubic-feet with the rear seats folded down. By comparison, the Crosstrek makes do with a decent 20.0 cubic-feet and 54.9 cubic-feet with the rear seats down. The Forester also wins out with how roomy it feels inside. When specced with the expansive moonroof, our reviewers noted that it has one of the best greenhouses of any new SUV today, with a lot of refreshing, natural sunlight entering the cabin, and the outward visibility is excellent in every direction. Its tall and boxy shape means you get impressive passenger and cargo space versus other SUVs in its class.
Comfort & Tech: Subaru Crosstrek vs Forester
Both SUVs Get Bogged Down By Subaru’s Ancient STARLINK System
As with most Subarus, which target folks with more outdoorsy and active lifestyles, both the Crosstrek and Forester rock a cabin that’s largely devoid of premium, upscale materials, traded in favor of hard-wearing fabrics and plastics that can stand the test of time. Both SUVs have solidly well-built and utilitarian cabins that can handle you tossing in your muddy boots, dirty camping gear, and your rain-soaked dog in the back. But hey, at least the seats are super comfy on both cars, and the all-new Forester even boasts a new center console with bigger, American-sized cupholders, along with a new forward storage area, and more space under the armrest. Sadly, the tech is a bit of a letdown.
“Things get worse when you consider the standard 11.6-inch center touchscreen display. Running Subaru’s dated Starlink software, the system has slow responses and aging graphics, and it’s challenging to operate while driving – not great from a driver distraction perspective.”
– Brett Evans, Motor Journalist, CarBuzz
The lower-spec Crosstreks and Foresters get a tiny 4.2-inch screen flanked by analog gauges, and dual seven-inch displays for your climate control and multimedia functions. Our reviewers agree that this setup looks incredibly dated, so it’s best to upgrade to the premium trims or the hybrid models, which gains you a 12.3-inch all-digital gauge cluster and an 11.6-inch infotainment unit. Still, during our test drive, our critics felt that Subaru’s STARLINK system either needs a major overhaul or an outright replacement. It’s pretty outdated, with aging graphics, a lack of responsiveness, and the amount of lag you get when using it day-to-day actually makes it distracting to operate while you’re driving.
Powertrains & Efficiency: Subaru Crosstrek vs Forester
You Really Can’t Go Wrong With Hybridizing The Crosstrek & Forester
2024 Subaru Crosstrek WildernessSubaru
The entry-level, gas-only powertrain is identical between the Crosstrek and Forester, too, so you’re not forced into a compromise, either. You get a 2.5-liter boxer-four that produces 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT (with an eight-speed manual shift mode) and Symmetrical all-wheel drive, complete with active torque split and active torque vectoring. Of course, since it weighs less, the Crosstrek ought to be a tad quicker than the Forester, though both SUVs are able to hit 29 mpg combined. If you spec either the Subaru Crosstrek or the Forester in their respective Wildness trims, you also get to enjoy up to 3,500 lbs of maximum towing capacity.
“Subaru’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine powers the new Forester, making 180 horsepower with 178 lb-ft of torque. It’s a proven unit, but lacks any kind of urgency on the road – it’s best not to try and dive into that small traffic gap from a standstill.”
– Ian Wright, Motor Journalist, CarBuzz
However, the more interesting recent additions to the Subaru lineup are the Crosstrek Hybrid and the Forester Hybrid. Once again, both are identical, with the same 2.5-liter boxer-four and Lineartronic CVT from before, now mated to a novel series-parallel hybrid system with two electric motor generators, in addition to a hybrid transaxle. Combined, this hybridized boxer powertrain now pumps out 194 hp, while the electric motors alone generate 199 lb-ft of torque. Finally, we get to see a slight divergence, as the Crosstrek Hybrid offers you a pretty decent 36 mpg combined, with 598 miles of total range, while the Forester Hybrid makes do with 35 mpg and a 581-mile range.
Driving Impressions: Subaru Crosstrek vs Forester
Both Are Markedly Improved From The Old Crosstrek & Forester
As expected, since the Crosstrek and the Forester have pretty much the same running gears under the hood, the driving experiences are similar. Our test drivers agreed that, compared to their predecessors, the new Crosstrek and Forester are much nicer to drive, as both feature tons more sound deadening to make the ride quieter and more relaxing, whether you’re going on- or off-road. Equally, when we first drove the new Forester, our reviewers claimed that its new suspension setup offers the smoothest ride quality in its class. Granted, it does pitch and roll a bit more than we’d ideally like when you corner hard on asphalt, though it all changes for the better once you hit up a rough dirt trail.
Here, sharp impacts that would normally crash through the chassis on the previous Forester have since been damped down exceedingly well. While going off-road, Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD is easily one of the best in the business for off-roading, and during our first-drive review, we drove the new Forester on dirt roads, rocky paths, and through wet, muddy trails, before ending up driving through deep snow, all on the same route. It never bogged down once, and while the engine might feel underpowered on-road, it’s pokey off-road, with ample torque to keep you trekking forward. The X-MODE system also did really well at making sure we didn’t slip and slide around the snow-covered ground.
“Rough, pebbled pavement no longer rattles the [Subaru Crosstrek’s] cabin, and uneven surfaces are largely muted. Road and wind noise are also contained, which is especially nice off-road. The sounds of dirt and pebbles bouncing about outside no longer create a horrible racket inside the cabin.”
– Nicole Wakelin, Former Editor-at-Large, CarBuzz
Having said that, the gas-only engine, while potent enough for daily commutes, lacks urgency, and the entire powertrain sounds like it’s revving its lungs out just to accelerate up to highway speeds. For that reason alone, if you have money to spare, the Crosstrek Hybrid (we haven’t driven the Forester Hybrid yet) is worth considering. Our test drivers say that it’s one of the best-driving Subarus in recent memory with how well-balanced its road manners are, including seamless transitions between gas and electric power. There’s a superb amount of punchy, instantaneous electric torque from the hybrid unit, and that all-wheel-drive capability that we all love so much hasn’t been compromised, either.
Safety & Reliability: Subaru Crosstrek vs Forester
EyeSight Is A Must-Have, But The Forester Suffers Growing Pains
One of the best things about buying any Subaru is EyeSight, the brand’s suite of driver assists, and both the Crosstrek and Forester come with the same complement of tech to keep you safe. These include adaptive cruise control, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure and sway warning, and rear cross-traffic alert, just to name a few. That said, both SUVs score well in IIHS crash safety tests, with each having achieved the prestigious IIHS 2026 Top Safety Pick+, with terrific safety ratings all-around. Reliability is good for now, too, as the Crosstrek got recalled twice, while the Forester got recalled three times.
“The [Subaru Forester’s] steering is well-weighted, though the suspension rolls significantly through the corners with limited grip from the tires. We also felt too high up in the seating position with no ability to get low enough, a detail that some owners might prefer.”
– Ian Wright, Motor Journalist, CarBuzz
For the Forester, in particular, poor bonding means that the sliding glass panel on the moonroof might detach while you’re driving, and the rear hatch might even fall on you due to improper support brackets. The Crosstrek, on the other hand, has to deal with fuel leak issues thanks to a poor seal on the fuel cap. The Crosstrek being marginally more reliable isn’t surprising, as it’s been around for much longer, while the new Forester is quite fresh, and it hasn’t yet had enough time to have all its growing pains and teething troubles ironed out. This ultimately affects its JD Power score, as the Crosstrek notches an exceptional quality & reliability score of 85, while the Forester makes do with 81.
Pricing & Verdict: Subaru Crosstrek vs Forester
2024 Subaru Crosstrek WildernessSubaru2026 Subaru Forester WildernessSubaru
With a base MSRP of $26,995 for the entry-level Subaru Crosstrek and a base MSRP of $29,995 for the most affordable Subaru Forester model, there’s precisely a $3,000 gap between them. So, then, should you spend the extra on buying the Forester or is it an unecessary expense? Well, there’s at least one good reason why the Crosstrek is Subaru’s top-selling model in the US – because it offers you most of what other Subarus offer, but at a lower price, and for some people, they prefer its more compact form factor, anyway. With its shorter length, it’s easier for you to maneuver around tight parking spaces or to navigate through narrow city streets, and to weave around traffic compared to its bigger brother.
“Common tech missing aside, the [Subaru Forester] is a prideful move forward for the model. The ride is better, the general comfort is better, the steering is better, and retains good fuel economy and excellent off-the-beaten-track ability.”
– Ian Wright, Motor Journalist, CarBuzz
On top of that, the Crosstrek weighs around 200 lbs less. Combined with its smaller footprint, it’ll feel more agile, nimble, and more lithe to move about on tight, twisty, rugged off-road trails and wooded terrain. Nonetheless, the pricier Subaru Forester is still worth it, and that’s because you get so much more space for both people and your weekend groceries or your luggage further in the back. While the Crosstrek might be sufficiently spacious enough for most families, the Forester offers you a smidge more versatility and usability, and depending on what you’re looking for, that extra roominess alone justifies the higher sticker price.
Subaru’s Main Rival Puts Up A Fight With Competitive Pricing
2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE from the front three-quarter angleJoel Stocksdale / CarBuzz / Valnet2026 Toyota RAV4 front 3/4 angle in silver while parkedJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
We wouldn’t blame you for choosing a Subaru, regardless of its slightly higher price, but we also feel as though you should know there are cheaper options with just as much tech and even better reliability. That said, both the Crosstrek and Forester have Toyota rivals: the Corolla Cross and the RAV4.
Let’s start with the Crosstrek’s rival, the Corolla Cross. While the Subaru starts at $26,995, Toyota steals its thunder with a $25,335 base price. However, the Corolla Cross doesn’t come with standard AWD — you’ll have to pay $1,300 more for that, thereby placing it just $360 less than a base Crosstrek.
The Forester goes up against one of the biggest names in the industry: the Toyota RAV4. In this case, the base model Forester is actually cheaper than the base model Toyota rival by $1,905. Not to mention the RAV4 LE starts with FWD, then buyers have to spend an extra $1,400 for AWD. If pricing and safety is all you car about, then the Forester is a better move.
Sources: Subaru, Toyota, EPA, IIHS, JD Power, NHTSA
