Among compact crossovers, the 2022 Subaru Forester is one of our favorites. It boasts standard all-wheel drive, good safety features, and competitive pricing. Resale value is also excellent, with the Forester having won KBB’s 5-Year Cost to Own title five years running. It’s Subaru’s top seller for a reason.
There’s only a single engine choice, a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but it is paired with a sophisticated standard all-wheel-drive system. So while it’s not as powerful as we would like, the 2022 Forester is sure-footed, with the AWD system including active torque vectoring, which adjusts the power levels to each rear wheel to aid in cornering. The more off-road-focused Wilderness trim includes its own specialized transmission and an all-wheel drive system with different modes for deep mud and snow.
Inside, the Forester is comfortable and roomy, with ample space for 6-footers in both the front and rear (although the optional moonroof cuts down slightly on both headroom and total interior volume). Without the moonroof, however, cargo space is an impressive 28.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a capacious 74.2 with them folded down, aided by a large opening for loading longer items. Large windows make for very good outward visibility. Standard features include a number of driver assistance features, with higher trim levels adding more comfort or outdoors-friendly features.
Six Trim Levels
There is just one engine choice in the 2022 Forester, a 2.5-liter flat-4 making 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. It’s not terribly powerful, but ample to get the Forester anywhere you need it to go. It’s connected by a CVT to all four wheels. There are six trim levels, with increasing levels of comfort and feature content, although the Wilderness trim focuses more on off-road activity, with a higher ride height and uniqe AWD system.
The base version, simply called the Forester, stars just over $25,000 and includes 17-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, LED headlights, and a 6.5-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, a CD player (!), and two USB ports. Driver assistance features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control with lane centering. Roof rails are standard on upper trims and optional on the base.
Next up is the Premium trim, which adds a panoramic moonroof, keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and options including more USB ports and driver-assistance features. To these, Sport trim adds a fancier driver display, larger wheels, and hill descent control as well as a larger touchscreen and a better audio system.
Wilderness is a specialty model, with more ground clearance; its own transmission, all-wheel drive system, and all-terrain tires; and a 180-degree front-view monitor. More like the Sport but with more goodies, the Limited trim adds perforated leather seats, the larger touchscreen, and some more optional extras, while the top Touring trim adds all the optional extras, heated rear seats, and other things such as a gesture-controlled climate control system. Touring trim starts at just over $35,000.
Here’s the Complete Rundown on 2022 Subaru Forester Trims and Prices:
2022 Subaru Forester: $25,195
- 2.5-liter flat-4 engine
- All-wheel drive
- Cloth upholstery
- 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite radio
- CD player
2022 Subaru Forester Premium: $28,195
- Roof rails
- Panoramic powered moonroof
- 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Wi-Fi hotspot
2022 Subaru Forester Sport: $29,765
- Hill descent control
- Improved driver information display
- 8-inch touchscreen
- 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
2022 Subaru Forester Limited: $31,875
- Perforated leather upholstery
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Powered tailgate
- Optional Harman Kardon audio, optional heated steering wheel
2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness: $32,820
- Special transmission and AWD system
- 9.2 inches of ground clearance (up from 8.7)
- 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires
- Front skid plate
- Different grille
- 180-degree front view monitor
2022 Subaru Forester Touring: $35,295
- All standard and optional features above (Wilderness trim excepted), plus:
- Heated rear seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Driver Focus distraction mitigation system
Ready to buy a 2022 Subaru Forester? Shop for one on sale now near you.
