Subaru Crosstrek vs Subaru Forester (2026)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$3,000
- Crosstrek: $3,000 cheaper, 1.5 s quicker to 60.
- Forester: 19.7 cu ft more cargo, 2.9 in more rear legroom.
- Forester wins 3 of 13 measures.
| Measure | Crosstrek | Forester | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $28,445 | $31,445 | Crosstrek |
| Horsepower | 180 hp | 180 hp | About the same |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft | About the same |
| MPG combined | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | About the same |
| Cargo, max | 54.7 cu ft | 74.4 cu ft | Forester |
| Cargo, seats up | 19.9 cu ft | 29.6 cu ft | Forester |
| Rear legroom | 36.5 in | 39.4 in | Forester |
| Front legroom | 42.9 in | 43.3 in | About the same |
| Length | 176.4 in | 183.3 in | Not scored |
| Width | 70.9 in | 72.0 in | Not scored |
| Curb weight | 3,296 lb | 3,510 lb | Not scored |
| Towing | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb | About the same |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | About the same |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | 8.7 in | About the same |
| 0-60 mph | 7.1 s estimate | 8.6 s published | Crosstrek |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Crosstrek AWD $26,995 | Forester AWD $29,995 | $3,000 |
| Forester AWD $29,995 | Crosstrek Sport AWD $30,625 | $630 |
Hybrid vs hybrid
| Measure | Crosstrek | Forester | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $35,445 | $36,180 | Crosstrek |
| Horsepower | 194 hp | 194 hp | About the same |
| Torque | 154 lb-ft | 154 lb-ft | About the same |
| MPG combined | 36 mpg | 35 mpg | Crosstrek |
| Cargo, max | 50.6 cu ft | 69.1 cu ft | Forester |
| Cargo, seats up | 18.6 cu ft | 27.5 cu ft | Forester |
| Rear legroom | 36.7 in | 39.4 in | Forester |
| Front legroom | 42.9 in | 43.3 in | About the same |
| Towing | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb | About the same |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | About the same |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | 8.7 in | About the same |
| 0-60 mph | 7.7 s published | 7.5 s estimate | Forester |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | About the same |
Forester wins 4 of 13 measures.
Cost to run
Crosstrek costs $3,000 less over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | Crosstrek | Forester |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $28,445 | $31,445 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $1,324 | $1,324 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $7,945 | $7,945 |
| Total, 6 years | $36,390 | $39,390 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Forester wins.
Crosstrek wins if Space weight is 1 or less.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Crosstrek | 10% |
| MPG | About the same | |
| Power | About the same | |
| Space | Forester | 26% |
| Towing | About the same |
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