2026 Subaru Forester vs 2026 Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y edges it, 80.2 to 77.6, on fuel & range. The Subaru Forester is ahead on price and tech & comfort. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips.
2026 Subaru Forester
The 2026 Subaru Forester is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forester Hybrid AW…
2026 Tesla Model Y
The 2026 Tesla Model Y is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model Y Long Range RWD, is…
2026 Tesla Model Y
Slight edgeThe Tesla Model Y edges it, 80.2 to 77.6, on fuel & range. The Subaru Forester is ahead on price and tech & comfort. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 Subaru Foresteroverall 77.6 | 2026 Tesla Model Yoverall 80.2 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 75 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 27.7 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 64.5 | 63.9 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 76 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 77.6 | 80.2 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Subaru Forester: open park-outside / do-not-drive advisory (−25)
Subaru Forester: base trim Base AWD · Tesla Model Y: base trim Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Tesla Model Y wins
- It is rated 138 combined against 35 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,350 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,900).
Where the 2026 Subaru Forester answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (34 against 439 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 24 standard driver-assist features against 2.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
48 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $29,995 | $39,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,498 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | DOHC 4-cyl. 2.5-liter horizontally opposed BOXER | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 180 hp | — |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 29 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 33 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.700 | — |
| Transmission type | cvt | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | 6.4 in |
| Overall height | 68.1 in | 63.8 in |
| Overall length | 183 in | 189 in |
| Overall width | 72 in | 78 in |
| Wheelbase | 105 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 74.4 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 29.6 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 140 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.2 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 39.6 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.3 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 39.4 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,510 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,510 lbs | 4,061 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson-type struts, lower L-arms, coil springs, stabilizer bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Double wishbone, coil springs, stabilizer bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Assisted rack-and-pinion (dual-pinion) | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 35.4 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 315 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | electronic | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 300 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 7 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/60R17 99H | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 16.6 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | MySubaru Companion | Grok |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 60 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.7 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 56.7 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
96 features · differences first, then sharedSafety26 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Rear vision camera | std | — |
| SRS: front seat side pelvis/torso airbags | std | — |
| SRS: side curtain airbags with rollover sensor | std | — |
| SRS: Subaru Advanced Frontal Airbags | std | — |
| Trailer Stability Assist | std | — |
| 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS | std | — |
| 8 exterior cameras | — | std |
| Auto Vehicle Hold | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Lane Departure and Sway Warning | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Lane Departure Prevention | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Lead Vehicle Start Alert | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Pre-Collision Braking | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Pre-Collision Throttle Management | std | — |
| Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capable; Traffic-aware cruise control | — | std |
| Incline Start Assist | std | — |
| LED headlights with High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor | std | — |
| SRS: driver's knee airbag | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamics Control | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamics Control | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) with electronic traction control (TCS) | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry / security system and engine immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System with pressure display for individual tires and automatic individual wheel I.D. registration | std | — |
Infotainment21 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Automatic Collision Notification | std | — |
| MySubaru Companion: SOS emergency assistance | std | — |
| MySubaru Companion+: Remote Engine Start w/ Remote Climate Control | std | — |
| 2 wireless phone chargers | — | std |
| MySubaru Companion+: Remote Lock & Unlock | std | — |
| MySubaru Companion: Remote Vehicle Locator | std | — |
| 15.4" Center Touchscreen | — | std |
| 16'' First-row touchscreen | — | std |
| 3 USB-C ports | — | std |
| 7Speaker audio system | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ wired connectivity | std | — |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Cellular data, Wi-Fi, ultra-wide band and Bluetooth connectivity | — | std |
| Grok voice assistant | — | std |
| HD Radio® | std | — |
| MSRP (starting price, USD): $39,990 / $41,990 / $45,990 / $49,990 / $57,990 / $61,990 | — | std |
| MySubaru Companion (5-year trial included) | std | — |
| MySubaru Companion+ (subscription available) with Remote Lock & Unlock, Remote Engine Start, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert, Boundary Alert | std | — |
| SiriusXM and SiriusXM Travel Link® (4-months free trial) | std | — |
| Steering wheel audio and Bluetooth® control switches | std | — |
| Subaru dual 7.0-inch Multimedia System with 4-speaker audio system | std | — |
Convenience3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-free power open on approach | — | std |
| 12-volt power outlets in center console and cargo area | std | — |
| Power windows with driver's one-touch auto-up/auto-down with pinch protection | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-zone automatic climate control system with voice control and air filtration system | std | — |
| Particulate and odor filter; First-row touchscreen-adjust air vents; Second-row manual-adjust air vents | — | std |
Seating8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| First-row heated seats | — | std |
| Rear seatback with 60/40 split fold down | std | — |
| 6-way manual driver seat with height adjuster | std | — |
| Dual tone with textile and vegan leather | — | std |
| First-row power recline | — | std |
| Five-seat interior | — | std |
| Second-row manual-folding seats | — | std |
| Upholstery: hexagonal patterned cloth with blue stitching | std | — |
Interior10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | — | std |
| Manual-adjust heated steering wheel | — | std |
| Open center console | — | std |
| Day/night rear-view mirror | std | — |
| Tilt and telescoping steering column | std | — |
| Cargo area LED light with off-delay | std | — |
| Carpeted floor mats | std | — |
| Front seatback pocket | std | — |
| Overhead console with dual LED map lights with off-delay | std | — |
| Overhead console with sunglasses holder | std | — |
Exterior13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power-folding and auto-dimming side-view mirrors | std | — |
| Active Grille Shutters in front bumper | std | — |
| Ground Clearance: 6.4" | — | std |
| Knit textile roof | — | std |
| LED headlights (low and high beams) with automatic height adjustment, Steering Responsive Headlights and High Beam Assist | std | — |
| LED headlights; Auto high beams | — | std |
| Manual-folding side-view mirrors | — | std |
| Overall Height: 63.8" | — | std |
| Overall Length: 188.7" | — | std |
| Roof rails: raised ladder type with tie-down points | std | — |
| Sound insulation windshield | std | — |
| Weight (Curb Mass): 4,061 lbs | — | std |
| Wheels: 18" or 19" | — | std |
Powertrain10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| 0-60 mph: 6.8 sec | — | std |
| Active Torque Vectoring | std | — |
| Auto Start-Stop fuel efficiency improvement technology | std | — |
| Battery & Drive Unit Warranty: 8 years or 100,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Drive Modes: Chill, Standard | — | std |
| Range (EPA est.): 321 mi | — | std |
| SI-DRIVE Engine Performance Management | std | — |
| Supercharge in 15 min: 160 mi | — | std |
| Supercharging Max: 225 kW; Pay Per Use | — | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Passive shock absorbers | — | std |
Cargo2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cargo Space: 76 cubic feet | — | std |
| Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPSubaru Forester
Top recalls
- critical Suspension 26V685000 · 8 vehicles
- high Visibility 26V346000 · 69,663 vehicles
- moderate Structure 25V889000 · 5,603 vehicles
- minor Equipment 26V436000 · 541,237 vehicles · filed unfixed
Tesla Model Y
Top recalls
- high Suspension 26V558000 · 19 vehicles
- high Structure 26V445000 · 15 vehicles
- high Electrical System 25V690000 · 12,963 vehicles
- high Seats 25V410000 · 48 vehicles
- moderate Exterior Lighting 25V658000 · 260 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 25V490000 · 6 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,995 (base trim) | $39,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $29,995 – $41,595 10 trims | $39,990 – $61,990 6 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Forester Hybrid AWD | Model Y Standard RWD (18in Wheels) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 35 | 138 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,900 | $550 |
| EV range | — | 321 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Subaru Forester or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
The Tesla Model Y edges it, 80.2 to 77.6, on fuel & range. The Subaru Forester is ahead on price and tech & comfort. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Tesla Model Y scores 80.2 and the 2026 Subaru Forester 77.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Subaru Forester or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
The 2026 Subaru Forester starts lower — $29,995 against $39,990, a gap of $9,995 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Subaru Forester or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
2026 Subaru Forester: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls (1 filed with no repair available). 2026 Tesla Model Y: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 8 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Subaru Forester and the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
Where the 2026 Tesla Model Y wins: it is rated 138 combined against 35 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $1,350 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,900). Where the 2026 Subaru Forester answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (34 against 439 filed with NHTSA) and lists 24 standard driver-assist features against 2. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.