Subaru Forester: Top Competitors & Alternatives for 2023
John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John’s focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of an academic team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of the battery thermal control designer. After earning his engineering degree, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University. For 20 years, he applied his engineering and sales talents in the worlds of semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceutical production, and automotive electronics supply chain. Always a writer, John has published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to online publications such as Car Talk, John’s work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers, and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites.
The Subaru Forester is one of the most popular compact two-row crossovers in America. It is one of the top-selling crossovers, and in many cold-weather US markets, it is the top-selling vehicle of its type.
The Forester offers best-in-class visibility, and every crossover Subaru makes has all-wheel drive, but the Forester offers more. Its dual-X-mode off-road settings can help a driver overcome obstacles that other brands’ crossovers cannot. Add in top safety scores and outstanding fuel economy, and it is easy to see why so many crossover shoppers opt for the Forester.
Here is our list of alternatives to the venerable Subaru Forester.
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Subaru Forester Weaknesses
The Takeaway: The Forester is the very best at certain things like off-road and all-weather capability in this class, and its visibility is unmatched. However, it has a history of some concerning powertrain issues.
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The Forester has relatively few weaknesses. One is quality. Past models suffered from engine oil consumption and CVT transmission defects that resulted in class-action settlements and extended warranties. Older models suffered from overheating due to cylinder head warping.
The current Forester also offers only one powertrain, and it is nothing to brag about. Subaru offers a 2.5-liter, non-turbo engine with near worst-in-class power and torque coupled to a CVT transmission that feels odd to many drivers. There is no power upgrade available, nor is there an electrified version of the Forester.
Which competitor may be a better fit for you depends upon your priorities. If you seldom venture off-road and don’t live in the harshest snow belt areas, many excellent alternatives are available. However, if you do like adventure, Ford and Toyota recently attacked Subaru’s strengths by offering very capable off-road trims of the Bronco Sport and RAV4. Toyota also has a crossover of the Forester’s size with triple its efficiency.
Subaru Forester vs. Competitors
The Subaru Forester faces tough competition from the Toyota RAV4 Adventure and Prime, Ford Bronco Sport Badlands, Mazda CX-5 Turbo, and Honda CR-V. While the Forester offers 182 HP and 29 MPG, the RAV4 Adventure has 203 HP and the Prime boasts 302 HP with exceptional fuel economy. The Bronco Sport Badlands matches the Forester in horsepower but lags in efficiency. The Mazda CX-5 Turbo provides similar power and slightly better fuel efficiency. The Honda CR-V stands out with 212 HP and impressive fuel economy. The Forester's Top Safety Pick Plus rating adds to its competitive edge.
| Model | Top Trim HP | Best Trim MPG/MPGe | IIHS Safety Score | Consumer Reports Reliability Score (past three years averaged) |
| Subaru Forester | ||||
| Toyota RAV4 Adventure | ||||
| Toyota RAV4 Prime | ||||
| Ford Bronco Sport Badlands | ||||
| Mazda CX-5 Turbo | ||||
| Honda CR-V |
*MPGe = Miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (Measures fuel efficiency of hybrid and electric models)
1. Toyota RAV4 Adventure & TRD Off-Road
The Toyota RAV4 is a perennial best-seller in the Forester's class and often the top-selling non-truck in America for any given month. The RAV4 comes in many flavors, but not all of them are true competitors to the Forester regarding off-road and all-weather capabilities. The Adventure trim of the RAV4 certainly is.
The RAV4 Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims offer added ground clearance, multi-mode AWD, and many other off-road-oriented features to match what pretty much every Forester trim has in terms of capabilities. This pair of RAV4s is the most direct Subaru Forester competitor.
The Takeway: Those looking for a RAV4 that can match the Subaru Forester’s impressive all-road and all-weather capability will find it in the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims.
Current Toyota RAV4 Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Toyota | RAV4 | 4.99% | 12/5/23 | ||
| 2024 | Toyota | RAV4 | $399/month for 36 months, $2,999 due at signing | 12/5/23 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Toyota deals and average prices paid.
2. Toyota RAV4 Prime
Two things that Subaru does not offer a Forester shopper are an up-powered trim or electrified trim. Toyota’s RAV4 prime offers both to a compact crossover shopper. With a whopping 302 hp and a 94 MPGe rating, the RAV4 Prime simply blows the Forester out of the water regarding performance and efficiency.
The RAV4 Prime can operate on electricity only for up to 42 miles and has a 38 MPG rating when operating as a hybrid. Every trim has AWD, and the RAV4 Prime can also tow. The RAV4 prime is among the fastest-selling vehicles in America, and we have seen dealer markups of $30,000! This vehicle is the pinnacle of its class, but it doesn’t come cheap.
The Takeaway: If you want a more powerful and also more efficient crossover than what Subaru’s Forester offers, the Toyota RAV4 Prime is the best solution.
Current Toyota RAV4 Prime Deals & Incentives
You may qualify for deals and incentives, check out this month's Toyota deals and average prices paid.
3. Ford Bronco Sport Badlands
As good as the RAV4 Aventure is, it does not come with an up-powered engine. Ford’s new Bronco Sport Badlands Edition is a new compact crossover that doesn’t make its buyer choose between off-road capability and power.
The Bronco Sport offers extreme off-road ability via a multi-mode off-road system it dubs GOAT mode (goes over any terrain), a locking rear differential, added ground clearance, and all-terrain, snow-rated tires. Couple that with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a geared transmission, and you have an off-roader that directly challenges the Forester by exploiting its powertrain weaknesses.
The Takeaway: Ford looked at the Subaru Forester’s off-road and all-weather capabilities and decided to up the ante.
Current Ford Bronco Sport Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ford | Bronco Sport | $375/month for 48 months, $3,456 due at signing | 1/2/24 | ||
| 2024 | Ford | Bronco Sport | $436/month for 48 months, $3,719 due at signing | 1/2/24 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Ford deals and average prices paid.
4. Mazda CX-5 Turbo
If you are looking for a compact crossover with outstanding on-road capability as an alternative to Subaru’s Forester, the Mazda CX-5 is the place to start. Like the Forester, the CX-5 is made-in-Japan, unusual for this segment. Unlike the Forester, the CX-5’s strengths are its good looks and its on-road capability.
The CX-5 can come with a torquey 2.5-liter turbocharged engine mated to a geared transmission. The CX-5 does not have class-leading ground clearance, and that helps it turn better. The CX-5 is great in winter weather but not the model you’d opt for if you fish or hunt every weekend.
The Takeaway: The Mazda CX-5 is a classy premium crossover that excels at spirited on-road driving.
Current Mazda CX-5 Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mazda | CX-5 | $329/month for 36 months, $2,999 due at signing | 1/3/24 | ||
| 2024 | Mazda | CX-5 | 2.90% | $399/month for 36 months, $2,999 due at signing | 1/3/24 | |
| 2023 | Mazda | CX-50 | ||||
| 2024 | Mazda | CX-50 | 2.90% | $415/month for 36 months, $2,999 due at signing | 1/3/24 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Mazda deals and average prices paid.
5. Honda CR-V
Size matters in compact vehicles, and the CR-V offers one of the largest interiors and cargo volumes in this segment. While not an off-roader like the Forester, the CR-V is fine for occasional journeys across a muddy field to park at a fall soccer game.
The CR-V is a typical Honda. It uses a small turbocharged engine with a good combination of power and efficiency or a 2.0-liter non-turbo engine in its hybrid trim. The CR-V is fun to drive, efficient, affordable, and a heck of a bang for the buck.
The Takeaway: The CR-V is the crossover for those who want the most space possible and a Honda ownership experience.
Current Honda CR-V Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Honda | CR-V | ||||
| 2024 | Honda | CR-V | 3.90% | $319/month for 36 months, $3,399 due at signing | 1/2/24 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Honda deals and average prices paid.
