2023 Subaru Forester Arrives Largely Unchanged, Costs Slightly More:
The Forester will be available in six models, all of which are $550 more expensive than their corresponding 2022 models:
- Base: $27620
- excellent: $30,620
- sports: $32,190
- Limited: $34,300
- wild: $35,245
- touring: $37720
All Forest 2023 vehicles come with the same 182 horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, continuously variable automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive. Standard features include Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced driver assistance technology, a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 17-inch wheels and keyless entry.
An upgrade to Subaru’s Premium X-Mode with Hill Descent Control adds additional features such as heated front seats and side mirrors, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, an electric panoramic sunroof and high-quality interior materials. The $1,165 options package adds Blind Spot Warning with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Collision-Avoidance Assist, an electric tailgate and rear USB-A charging ports.
Based on the Premium, the Sport gets a more advanced version of the X-Mode and a more aggressive exterior appearance, including black 18-inch wheels and orange exterior accents. The interior also gets orange accents to go with the dark gray color scheme. A larger 8-inch touchscreen display, reverse automatic emergency brake, electric tailgate, and Harman Kardon premium stereo are available as part of the $1,645 package.
The Limited also builds on the Premium but takes a more upscale approach than the Sport – no orange accents here. An 8-inch touch screen is standard, as are leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, rear USB ports, automatic emergency steering, and one-touch rear seat folding. Plus, an extra $1,695 for buyers gets built-in navigation, reverse automatic emergency brakes, a heated steering wheel, and a Harman Kardon stereo.
Also based on the Premium, the Forester Wilderness is intended for off-roading with 17-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar off-road tires, a front skid plate, suspension and improved 9.2 inches of ground clearance and waterproof interior upholstery. The Wilderness’s towing capacity also doubles to 3,000 pounds, and it comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen. Integrated navigation, power tailgate, and Harman Kardon stereo are available in an $1,850 option package.
At the top of the Forester lineup, the Touring comes fully loaded with heated, power-adjustable front seats, heated steering wheel, perforated leather upholstery, 8-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, all of the above safety features, 18-inch wheels, and exterior accents of chrome and silver. Exclusive to the Touring is what Subaru calls the DriverFocus mitigation system, which allows gesture-based controls to adjust climate settings.
With a starting price of less than $30,000 and a fully loaded model that leaves some breathing room before hitting $40,000, the 2023 Forester is one of the more value-oriented options in a busy season that includes the all-new and always popular.
