Subaru Forester Review: The Best AWD SUV Under $50k in Australia?

What Does the Forester Cost in Australia?

Subaru keeps the Forester range tight. There are only three variants and the price spread is just $3,000 top to bottom. That's refreshingly simple.

Driveaway, the base 2.5i comes in around $46,000-$48,000 depending on your state. The Sport tops out at about $49,000-$51,000. That's competitive territory when you remember that a RAV4 with AWD starts at $43,680 for the GX Hybrid, and a CX-5 AWD starts at $43,740 for the Touring Active. The Forester gives you AWD from the entry point without forcing you into a specific engine or trim level.

The value sweet spot is probably the 2.5i Premium at $44,990. For $1,500 more than the base model, you get leather upholstery, a sunroof, heated front seats, and a power tailgate. That's a lot of comfort for a modest jump.

Running Costs

The 2.5-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine is rated at 7.9L/100km combined. Real-world figures typically sit around 8.5-9.5L/100km in mixed driving. Highway cruising at 100-110km/h sees 7.5-8.5L/100km. That's not amazing by modern standards. the RAV4 Hybrid does this trip on 4.8L/100km. But for a naturally aspirated petrol engine driving all four wheels all the time, it's acceptable.

At 15,000km per year and current petrol prices (~$1.90/L), budget around $2,400-$2,700 annually for fuel. Servicing runs on a 12-month/12,500km schedule with capped pricing for the first five years. Services average $300-450 each. The 5-year warranty covers unlimited kilometres, which is standard for the segment but half what Mitsubishi and Kia offer.

One running cost advantage: the Forester's AWD system doesn't require any special maintenance beyond normal servicing. Some part-time AWD systems need differential fluid changes at specific intervals, but Subaru's permanent system is serviced as part of the standard schedule. For more on running costs across the segment, check out our cheapest cars to run analysis.

Design: Function Over Form

The Forester has never been a head-turner, and Subaru clearly isn't trying to change that. The design is boxy, upright, and thoroughly practical. The greenhouse is enormous. there's glass everywhere, which gives the cabin an airy, open feel and provides the best visibility of any SUV in this class. You can actually see out of this thing, which sounds like a low bar until you try parking a CX-5 or Tucson with their tiny rear windows.

The current generation cleaned up the front end with slimmer headlights and a wider grille, and the side profile has a purposeful, go-anywhere stance. The 220mm ground clearance is evident in person. the Forester sits noticeably higher than a RAV4 or CX-5, which adds to the rugged look and, more importantly, is genuinely useful on rough roads.

The Sport variant adds black plastic cladding, a dark grille, orange accents, and 18-inch alloys that give it a more aggressive look. It's still not going to win any beauty pageants, but it looks purposeful and honest. You know exactly what this car is for.

Dimensions are 4,640mm long, 1,820mm wide, and 1,730mm tall. It's a proper mid-size SUV without being unwieldy. The turning circle at 10.6 metres is tight for the class, which makes city driving and car park manoeuvring genuinely easy.

Interior: Built Around the Driver

Subaru has historically been a bit behind on interior quality, and while the latest Forester has improved, it's still not up there with the Mazda CX-5 for materials and premium feel. What it does offer is excellent ergonomics, superb visibility, and a layout that makes sense without needing a manual.

The 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen is the centrepiece of the dashboard. It's large, reasonably responsive, and manages the infotainment, climate controls, and vehicle settings in a logical layout. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The one gripe? The screen can be a bit washed out in direct sunlight, which is common with portrait-oriented displays.

The driving position is one of the best in the segment. The seat height is adjustable across a wide range, the steering wheel has good reach and rake adjustment, and the slim A-pillars mean your view of intersections and roundabouts is excellent. This is a car designed by people who actually drive in traffic.

Material quality in the base 2.5i is functional. lots of durable plastics, cloth seats, and a no-nonsense approach. The Premium lifts things considerably with leather upholstery, stitched dash panels, and heated front seats. The Sport gets water-repellent upholstery, which is a clever choice for buyers who are actually going to get this car muddy.

Rear seat space is generous. Legroom is good enough for adults, headroom is excellent thanks to the boxy roofline, and the wide rear door openings make getting in and out easy. ISOFIX points on the outer seats are standard, and fitting child seats is one of the easiest experiences in this class thanks to the high seating position and wide door aperture.

Practicality: Where the Forester Shines

Boot space is a headline act: 520 litres with the rear seats up. That's bigger than a RAV4 (487L), CX-5 (438L), and most of the mid-size SUV segment. Drop the rear seats and you get approximately 1,740 litres, with a flat load floor that makes sliding in flat-pack furniture, camping gear, or a pram and shopping a doddle.

The boot opening is wide and low, with a load height of just 695mm. The power tailgate on Premium and Sport variants has adjustable height memory, so if your garage ceiling is low, you can set the tailgate to stop before hitting it. Simple but useful.

Towing capacity is rated at 1,500kg braked, which is standard for mid-size SUVs. That covers a small camper trailer, a box trailer loaded with tip runs, or a jet ski. If you need to tow more than that, you're looking at something larger. But for weekend adventures and occasional trailer work, 1,500kg is fine. Check our towing guide for heavier options.

Roof rails are standard across the range, rated at 100kg dynamic load. That handles a roof box, kayak, or a couple of bikes without drama. The Forester is one of those cars where the accessories and aftermarket support are excellent because of the loyal ownership community. Bull bars, roof platforms, awnings. the Forester community has tried it all.

The 220mm ground clearance and standard X-Mode (with hill descent control) mean the Forester can handle unsealed roads, beach approaches, and moderately rough fire trails that would leave most competitors scraping their undercarriage. For families who camp, ski, or simply live on a dirt road, this matters.

Driving: Steady, Capable, Predictable

The 2.5-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine produces 136kW and 226Nm, which is modest by modern standards. The Lineartronic CVT transmission pairs with the AWD system to put power to all four wheels continuously. It's not quick. 0-100km/h takes about 9.5 seconds. But it's adequately punchy in everyday situations. Highway merges, overtaking manoeuvres, and hill climbs are all manageable without drama.

The CVT gets a lot of stick from enthusiasts, and look, it's not sporty. Under hard acceleration, the engine drones as the CVT holds a high RPM, which isn't pleasant. But in normal driving, you barely notice it. The calibration is smooth, the power delivery is progressive, and it's perfectly suited to the Forester's character. This isn't a car you buy to have fun in. It's a car you buy to get the job done comfortably.

Where the Forester genuinely impresses is in poor conditions. Rain, gravel, mud, light snow. the Symmetrical AWD system is one of the best in the business at managing traction. It's a full-time system (not a reactive one that kicks in after the front wheels slip), so you always have four-wheel traction. On wet highways, in heavy rain, or on greasy dirt roads, the difference between the Forester and a front-wheel-drive rival is enormous. You simply feel more planted and confident.

Ride quality is on the softer side, which most buyers will appreciate. It soaks up potholes, speed bumps, and rough country roads with a comfortable, composed demeanour. The trade-off is that body roll through corners is noticeable. a Mazda CX-5 feels much sharper in twisty sections. But the Forester isn't pretending to be sporty, and the softer setup pays dividends on Australia's notoriously rough regional roads.

Steering is light and easy at low speeds, which makes parking a breeze. At highway speeds, it's stable and predictable without much feedback. Again, it's not exciting, but it's reassuring and fatigue-free over long distances.

Fuel Economy: The One Weakness

The claimed combined figure is 7.9L/100km. In the real world:

• Urban driving: 9.0-10.5L/100km
• Suburban mixed: 8.5-9.5L/100km
• Highway cruising (100-110km/h): 7.5-8.5L/100km

At 15,000km per year, that's roughly $2,400-$2,700 in petrol at current prices. For comparison, a RAV4 Hybrid will do the same distance for about $1,400-$1,600. That's a $1,000+ annual difference that adds up over a five-year ownership period.

The counter-argument is that the Forester gives you permanent AWD, which the RAV4 Hybrid only gets on higher-grade variants, and the Forester's mechanical AWD system is more robust than the RAV4's electric rear motor setup. You're paying for the drivetrain in fuel, basically. Whether that trade-off works for you depends on how much you actually need AWD versus fuel savings.

The 63-litre fuel tank gives a real-world range of around 630-700km in mixed driving, which is perfectly adequate for touring. Sydney to Melbourne with one fuel stop is easily achievable.

Safety: EyeSight Does the Heavy Lifting

The Forester carries a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, and Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system is standard across the range. Here's what you get:

• EyeSight Assist Monitor with driver attention alerts projected on the windscreen
• Pre-Collision Braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go in traffic
• Lane keep assist with lane departure prevention
• Lane centring function on highway speeds
• Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera across the range, 360-degree camera on Sport
• 7 airbags including front-centre airbag

EyeSight is a stereo-camera system mounted behind the windscreen, and it's one of the more refined driver assist setups on the market. The adaptive cruise control is smooth, the lane centring works well on well-marked highways, and the pre-collision braking is responsive without being overly jumpy. The driver attention monitor uses an infrared camera to track your gaze and will alert you (with increasing urgency) if you look away from the road for too long.

Structurally, the Forester uses Subaru's Global Platform, which is designed for high rigidity and progressive energy absorption. The low-mounted boxer engine drops the centre of gravity, which helps with rollover resistance. It's a genuinely safe car. For a deeper look at what these features do, see our safety features guide.

Rivals: What Else Should You Cross-Shop?

Toyota RAV4 (from $38,180)

The RAV4 is the segment benchmark and Australia's best-selling mid-size SUV for good reason. The hybrid option delivers outstanding fuel economy (4.8L/100km combined) that the Forester can't match. Toyota's dealer network is the broadest in the country, and resale values are consistently strong. But AWD is only available on higher hybrid trims (from $43,680), and the RAV4's ground clearance (195mm vs 220mm) and off-road capability don't match the Forester. Full comparison in our Forester vs RAV4 head-to-head.

Mazda CX-5 (from $36,190)

The CX-5 is the driver's pick in this segment. It has the best interior quality, the sharpest handling, and a refinement level that makes it feel like a more expensive car. AWD is available from $43,740 on the Touring Active. But the CX-5 has a smaller boot (438L vs 520L), less ground clearance, and it's not as capable off-road. If you never leave sealed roads and want the nicest cabin in the class, the CX-5 is hard to beat. If you need AWD capability and practicality, the Forester has the edge. Read our CX-5 review.

Honda CR-V (from $39,900)

The CR-V offers a bigger boot (561L), a well-sorted chassis, and strong safety credentials. It starts cheaper than the Forester but AWD is not available on the standard petrol models in Australia. the CR-V here is front-wheel drive only. If you don't need AWD, the CR-V is excellent value with more cargo space. If AWD is non-negotiable, the Forester wins by default. See our CR-V vs Forester comparison.

The Forester leads on standard AWD, ground clearance, and boot space. The RAV4 wins on fuel economy. The CX-5 wins on driving dynamics and interior quality. The CR-V wins on value and cargo volume. Browse the full best AWD cars Australia guide to see where they all rank.

Should You Buy the Subaru Forester?

Yes, if:

• AWD is non-negotiable and you don't want to pay extra for it
• You regularly drive on unsealed roads, gravel, or in wet conditions where traction matters
• Boot space is a priority. 520L is among the best in class
• You camp, ski, mountain bike, or do anything that involves getting off the beaten path
• Visibility and easy driving are important. the Forester has the best outward vision in the segment
• You want a car that's genuinely capable without being oversized or intimidating to drive

Maybe not, if:

• Fuel economy is your top concern. the RAV4 Hybrid is in a different league
• You want the most premium interior. the Mazda CX-5 and CR-V both feel more upmarket
• Performance matters. 136kW is modest, and the CVT drains any excitement from spirited driving
• You need heavy towing. 1,500kg is adequate but not segment-leading
• Resale value is critical. the RAV4 holds its value better over 3-5 years

The Subaru Forester at $43,490-$46,490 is a quietly brilliant SUV. It won't dazzle you with a fancy interior or impress you with blistering acceleration. What it will do is take you and your family anywhere you need to go, in any weather, on any road, with 520 litres of boot space and the confidence that comes from permanent all-wheel drive. In a segment full of pretend SUVs, the Forester is the genuine article. And that narrow price range means you don't need to agonise over variants. even the base model gives you everything that makes a Forester a Forester.

If you're cross-shopping, start with our Forester vs RAV4 and CR-V vs Forester head-to-head comparisons. Or browse the full best AWD cars in Australia list to find the right fit.

→ Compare all Subaru Forester variants on CarSorted (200+ specs)