Subaru Ascent vs Subaru Forester (2026)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$10,800
- Ascent: 80 hp more, 1.2 cu ft more cargo.
- Forester: $10,800 cheaper, 7 mpg better.
- Ascent wins 7 of 13 measures.
| Measure | Ascent | Forester | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $42,245 | $31,445 | Forester |
| Horsepower | 260 hp | 180 hp | Ascent |
| Torque | 277 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft | Ascent |
| MPG combined | 22 mpg | 29 mpg | Forester |
| Cargo, max | 75.6 cu ft | 74.4 cu ft | Ascent |
| Cargo, seats up | 42.1 cu ft | 29.6 cu ft | Ascent |
| Rear legroom | 38.6 in | 39.4 in | Forester |
| Front legroom | 42.2 in | 43.3 in | Forester |
| Length | 196.8 in | 183.3 in | Not scored |
| Width | 71.7 in | 72.0 in | Not scored |
| Curb weight | 4,449 lb | 3,510 lb | Not scored |
| Towing | 5,000 lb | 1,500 lb | Ascent |
| Seats | 8 | 5 | Ascent |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | 8.7 in | About the same |
| 0-60 mph | 6.8 s estimate | 8.6 s published | Ascent |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | About the same |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. N/A rows are not counted.
Nearest trims by price
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Ascent Premium AWD $40,795 | Forester Hybrid Touring AWD $41,545 | $750 |
| Forester AWD $29,995 | Ascent Premium 7-Passenger AWD $40,795 | $10,800 |
Cost to run
Forester costs $13,328 less over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | Ascent | Forester |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $42,245 | $31,445 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $1,745 | $1,324 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $10,473 | $7,945 |
| Total, 6 years | $52,718 | $39,390 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Ascent wins.
Forester wins if Towing weight is 1 or less.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Forester | 26% |
| MPG | Forester | 24% |
| Power | Ascent | 31% |
| Space | Ascent | 2% |
| Towing | Ascent | 70% |
Other years
What this cannot tell you
Your price and mpg will differ.
Reliability and safety are not included.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree