Which 2026 Subaru Forester trim should you buy?
$29,995 to $41,595. What each step up the ladder costs and what becomes standard for the money, cheapest first, from Subaru's own press kit — so you can see where the price goes before a dealer walks you up it.
Most standard equipment per dollar: Limited AWD → Wilderness AWD, +$690 for 12 features made standard.
Thinnest step: Premium Hybrid AWD → Sport Hybrid AWD, +$3,200 for no added standard equipment in the press kit — the difference is in the specs below.
Premium $33,385
+$3,390 over the Base AWD.
Standard here, not on the Base AWD: 10-way power driver's seat adds 2-position memory (with power lumbar support), 10-way power driver's seat with power lumbar support, 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster: HYBRID design, 360-degree Surround View Monitor, 8-speed manual shift mode and steering wheel paddle-shift controls for Lineartronic® CVT, 8-way power front passenger seat, All-Weather Package with heated exterior mirrors, All-Weather Package with heated front seats, Auto-up/down driver and front passenger windows with pinch protection, Automatic Emergency Steering, Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Cargo area cover (retractable), Chrome interior door handles, Dark-tint rear privacy glass and 37 more
Cargo (2nd row) 29.6 cu-ft → 27.5 cu-ft
Premium Hybrid $34,730
+$1,345 over the Premium AWD. No added standard equipment listed in the press kit.
HP 180 hp → 194 hp · Torque 178 lb-ft → 154 lb-ft · MPG comb 29 mpg → 35 mpg · Wheels 17 in → 18 in
Sport $36,105
+$2,720 over the Premium AWD.
Standard here, not on the Premium AWD: Stainless steel tailpipe tip
MPG comb 29 mpg → 28 mpg · Wheels 17 in → 19 in
Limited $37,695
+$1,590 over the Sport AWD.
Standard here, not on the Sport AWD: 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster, Front turn signals: LED tube type with silver accents, Outside mirror turn signal indicators, Roof rails: low-profile, gloss black finish, Windshield wipers: Rain Sensor
MPG comb 28 mpg → 29 mpg · Wheels 19 in → 18 in
Sport Hybrid $37,930
+$3,200 over the Premium Hybrid AWD. No added standard equipment listed in the press kit.
Wheels 18 in → 19 in
Wilderness $38,385
+$690 over the Limited AWD.
Standard here, not on the Limited AWD: 17-inch alloy wheel full size spare with 225mm all-terrain tire, Active Grille Shutters in front bumper, All-weather floor mats with Subaru Wilderness logo, Auto Start-Stop fuel efficiency improvement technology, Cargo area tray, Dual front bumper tow points with anodized copper finish covers, Engine aerodynamic undercover insulator with aluminum-alloy underbody protection, External oil cooler, Front View Monitor with 180-degree viewing angle, Raised ladder-type roof rails with anodized copper finish (800-lb. static load capacity), Subaru Wilderness rear bumper with dual tow points with anodized copper finish covers, X-MODE® Dual Mode System with Hill Descent Control and Low Speed / Low Ratio Gradient Control
MPG comb 29 mpg → 26 mpg · Wheels 18 in → 17 in
Limited Hybrid $38,995
+$1,065 over the Sport Hybrid AWD. No added standard equipment listed in the press kit.
Wheels 19 in → 18 in
Touring Hybrid $41,545
+$2,550 over the Limited Hybrid AWD. No added standard equipment listed in the press kit.
Wheels 18 in → 19 in
Touring $41,595
+$3,210 over the Wilderness AWD.
Standard here, not on the Wilderness AWD: 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster: HYBRID design, 360-degree Surround View Monitor, 8-way power front passenger seat, Automatic Emergency Steering, Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Chrome interior door handles, DriverFocus® Driver Monitoring System, EV Drive Mode, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Front turn signals: LED tube type with silver accents, Harman Kardon® 11-speaker audio system with subwoofer and 576-watt equivalent amplifier, Heated and ventilated front seats, Heated rear seat: outboard positions, Heated steering wheel and 16 more
MPG comb 26 mpg → 28 mpg · Wheels 17 in → 19 in
Each trim is measured against the nearest cheaper trim with the same drivetrain and powertrain, so a step shows equipment rather than the price of all-wheel drive. "Standard here" means the press kit lists it as standard on this trim and not as standard on the one below — it may have been an option there. MSRP excludes destination. Confirm a specific car against its window sticker.
Compare two trims side by side → Back to the 2026 Subaru Forester
Common questions about the 2026 Subaru Forester trims
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich 2026 Subaru Forester trim is the best value?
On standard equipment per dollar, the step from the Limited AWD to the Wilderness AWD: $690 more for 12 features the press kit lists as standard on the Wilderness AWD and not on the Limited AWD. Whether those features are worth it to you is the real answer — the list is on this page.
How much do the 2026 Subaru Forester trims cost?
10 trims, from $29,995 for the Base AWD to $41,595 for the Touring AWD. Manufacturer MSRP, excluding destination, options, taxes and dealer fees.