Subaru has perhaps the most distinct identity of any automotive brand. That has given it some of the most loyal buyers. People who buy a Subaru tend to replace it with a Subaru.
The company has won our Most Trusted Brand award for eight consecutive years.
The 2023 Subaru Forester compact SUV is the perfect illustration of why. It’s so distinctly Subaru that our reviewer called it “the sensible shoes choice.” As you’ve probably figured out, those shoes have a big hiking lug sole.
But not every Forester is a basic shoe. Just as there are high-end hiking boots, there’s a Forester with luxury car trimmings and technology.
The Forester starts at just $26,395. But the top-of-the-line Forester Touring carries a more exclusive asking price, $36,495. It justifies that price with technologies and luxuries you might not expect.
Let’s see what the nicest Forester in the forest has to offer:
A Transmission That Lets You Take Over When You Want To
Like most affordable automakers, Subaru has moved away from automatic transmissions with planetary gears and toward continuously variable transmissions in recent years. Gearless CVTs are mechanically simpler, offer a smoother driving experience, and are often more fuel-efficient than old-fashioned automatics. Their two-pulley systems automatically settle into the most efficient configuration for each speed.
But sometimes you need more control than a CVT can offer. In off-road scenarios, or when you need a burst of passing power, being able to downshift to grab a little more oomph makes a difference.
So, while other Forester trims get a straightforward CVT, the Touring gets on with a 7-speed manual mode. Its “gears” are artificial – just pre-set configurations of the pulleys. But you can shift between them as needed, using paddle shifters. You’ll probably rarely use it. Letting the CVT do its own thing is the right solution in most situations. But, if you’ll be taking your Forester on the trail, shift points give you more control for low-speed torque.
18-Inch Aluminum Alloy Wheels With Dark Gray Machined Finish
Some drivers don’t care about wheels. Some drivers love the added panache of a cool-looking set. Wheel preference drives an entire industry of aftermarket wheels, and if you’re the type to notice, the set on the Touring is the best-looking set Subaru offers.
Heated Seats All Around
Subarus are popular in the Snow Belt, where their standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive system pays off every winter.
What else is nice in winter? Toasty seats.
Some other Forester models offer them up front with the All-Weather Package. But the Forester Touring has them in outboard rear positions, too. It’s also the only Forester with a heated steering wheel as standard equipment.
Luxurious Leather
Most Foresters are upholstered in cloth or Subaru’s water-repellant StarTex material. The Forester Touring, however, comes with supple leather. It helps push the Forester up a class, making it feel more like a luxury car.
Advanced Cabin Tech
Most Forester trims ship with a 6.5-inch multimedia screen that is, frankly, small by 2023 standards. The Forester Touring gets Subaru’s most advanced infotainment system – an 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen with navigation. It includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment.
A 9-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system is standard (it’s optional on some trims and not available at all on others) and includes a 576-watt amplifier.
Advanced Safety Tech
Subaru includes most automated safety tech as standard equipment on all Foresters — a mark in the automaker’s favor.
But the Forester Touring gets one feature not available on any other Forester model — the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. It alerts the driver if their attention drifts from the road. Sadly, in this age of constant distraction, we could all use the prompt.
Reverse automatic braking is also standard on the Touring model and optional on some other models.
More Subaru Forester
Read our full review or build and price your own Subaru Forester. If you’re ready to take some action, check out the Subaru Forester models for sale near you.
