Subaru is renowned for rugged, reliable, and downright practical vehicles that walk that fine line between on-road comfort, safety, functionality, and capability for handling off-road excursions and lousy weather.
The 2021 Subaru Forester is a compact SUV that has all-wheel drive as standard, plenty of safety features, and is rated up to 33 mpg on the highway. It’s been Subaru’s most popular SUV year after year, and it’s easy to see why. The Forester won our latest Best Resale Award and Lowest 5-Year Cost to Own award for the compact crossover class.
The 2021 Subaru Forester employs a 2.5-liter flat-4 boxer engine that makes 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft. It also gets a CVT transmission that can simulate a 7-speed automatic transmission (you can shift with paddles if desired) when popped into manual mode.
Trims that add safety
There are five trims from which to choose: Forester (base), Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring. The base version of the Forester comes with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration and an array of driver aids under the EyeSight banner. Other features include automatic climate control, adaptive LED headlights, a 6.5-inch infotainment display, satellite radio, CD player, two USB ports, selectable driving modes, active grille shutters (for optimum fuel efficiency), 60/40-split/folding rear seats, plus a washer for the rearview camera. Prices for the base model start at $24,795, plus a destination fee of $1,050.
Stepping up to the Premium gets access to the optional additional safety equipment like blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert ($1,095). The Premium trim starts at $27,795 plus destination. The Sport trim spiffs up the appearance with black alloy wheels, orange exterior accents, and badging. AWD adds dual-function X-Mode with hill descent control, SI-drive management system. The Sport starts at $29,395.
The $31,395 Limited adds leather-trimmed upholstery, 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power rear lift tailgate. The top Forester trim is the $34,895 Touring model. It sports saddle brown leather, navigation, and a host of other premium features.
We recommend the Premium trim on the 2021 Subaru Forester since it adds extra comfort and safety features. We’d add on the additional optional safety equipment (blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert), too.
Here’s the Complete Rundown on 2021 Subaru Forester Trims and Prices:
2021 Subaru Forester: $24,795
- All-wheel drive
- 17-inch steel wheels
- EyeSight safety features
- Steering-responsive LED headlights
- Automatic climate control
- Rear seat belt reminder
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration
- Two USB ports
2021 Subaru Forester Premium: $27,795
- Panoramic moonroof
- X-Mode enhanced all-wheel-drive system
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Heated front seats/side mirrors
- 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Fog lights
- Keyless entry/ignition
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
2021 Subaru Forester Sport: $29,395
- Larger front brake discs
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Multi-function color driver information display
- Paddle shifters
- Blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
- Two rear USB ports
2021 Subaru Forester Limited: $31,395
- Leather upholstery
- 8-inch infotainment screen
- Powered tailgate
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
2021 Subaru Forester Touring: $34,895
- 8-inch infotainment screen with navigation
- Harman Kardon 9-speaker/576-watt audio system
- DriverFocus distraction mitigation
- Reverse automatic braking
- Perforated leather upholstery
- 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
- Heated rear seats
- LED fog lights
Ready to buy a 2021 Subaru Forester? Shop for one on sale now near you.
