Verified against primary sources
| Cost category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| 5-year depreciation | $10,588 |
| Insurance (annual) | $1,909 |
| Fuel or charging (annual) | $1,800 |
| Maintenance (annual) | $435 |
| Tires (annual) | $350 |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined) | 29 MPG |
| Fuel economy (city / highway) | 26 / 33 MPG |
| Engine | 2.5L SUBARU BOXER 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 180 hp |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft |
| Seating capacity | 5 passengers |
| Cargo space | 28.9 cu ft |
| Pillar | Score (0–100) | Class median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of ownership | 88 | 73 | +15 |
| Powertrain | 66 | 63 | +3 |
| Safety | 79 | 94 | -15 |
| Driver assistance | 32 | 43 | -11 |
| Livability | 65 | 49 | +16 |
The 2026 Subaru Forester scores 88/100 on cost of ownership — 15 points above the compact suvs median. The Compact SUV class median 5-year ownership cost is $49,048 (15,000 mi/yr, national average rates). Largest annual recurring expense: insurance.
The 2026 Subaru Forester scores 32/100 on driver assistance — 11 points below the compact suvs median. All scores reflect standard equipment at base MSRP; optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
The 2026 Subaru Forester scores 66/100 on powertrain — 3 points above the compact suvs median. Key figures: 29 MPG combined, 180 hp.
Verdict
The 2026 Forester is one of the highest-scoring compact SUVs on MotiveGrid, delivering exceptional resale value, strong reliability, and a five-star NHTSA safety rating. All-wheel drive is standard, the cabin is practical and spacious, and ownership costs are impressively low. The driver-assistance suite is functional but trails some competitors. For families who want a safe, reliable, and affordable compact SUV with standard AWD, the Forester is one of the smartest purchases in the segment.
Good fit for: Family hauler
Best for
- Exceptional resale value with strong reliability
- Five-star NHTSA overall safety rating
- Standard all-wheel drive with low ownership costs
Watch out for
- Driver-assistance suite trails some segment competitors
2026 Subaru Forester
Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.
Cost, Powertrain, Driver Assistance, Livability, and Safety — each scored against its class, then combined into a single MotiveGrid Score. Built by our engineering team and benchmarked against independent sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and CarEdge. How it’s calculated →
Verdict
Based on median-price trimThe 2026 Forester is one of the highest-scoring compact SUVs on MotiveGrid, delivering exceptional resale value, strong reliability, and a five-star NHTSA safety rating. All-wheel drive is standard, the cabin is practical and spacious, and ownership costs are impressively low. The driver-assistance suite is functional but trails some competitors. For families who want a safe, reliable, and affordable compact SUV with standard AWD, the Forester is one of the smartest purchases in the segment.
Good fit for: Family hauler
Families who prioritize passenger space, cargo room, and safety ratings
Cost of Ownership
Five-year cost is driven mostly by depreciation; tires is a minor share.
Adjust for your situation
State
Ownership Cost
Powertrain
Fuel efficiency weighed with long-term ownership confidence.
Reliability from NHTSA complaint records, adjusted for how many were sold. How we measure it
Combines real-world energy efficiency (EPA-verified MPG or MPG-equivalent vs. class) with long-term ownership confidence (warranty coverage, platform maturity, and reliability data). Methodology →
Driver Assistance
Strongest in highway driving support, but parking convenience and hands-free automation are limited.
💡 Tracks where the car can drive itself (highways vs. local roads) and how much driver supervision is needed (up to fully driverless).
PoorStandard driver assist — no hands-free operation
Combines highway support, parking convenience, and hands-free automation capability into one score. Methodology →
Livability
Passenger space and everyday maneuverability, scored within its class.
Combines how comfortably this vehicle fits passengers and cargo with how easily it maneuvers in real-world conditions — normalized within its Compact SUV segment for fair comparison. Methodology →
Safety
Top crash-test results paired with a full crash-avoidance suite.
Combines crash-test protection — NHTSA frontal, side, and rollover ratings plus the IIHS crashworthiness sub-tests (small- and moderate-overlap front, side, headlights) — with standard crash-avoidance technology. New model years without published crash tests are scored on crash-avoidance features alone and capped until tested. Methodology →
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MotiveGrid Score for the 2026 Subaru Forester?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester earns a MotiveGrid Score of 79 out of 100. The score combines five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, safety, driver assistance, and livability — into one number, so you can weigh a vehicle's all-round strength at a glance.
- Is the 2026 Subaru Forester safe?
- The Subaru Forester carries an NHTSA overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars. MotiveGrid's safety pillar pairs federal crash-test results with the standard active-safety equipment fitted at base price.
- What is the 2026 Subaru Forester safety score?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester earns a MotiveGrid safety score of 79/100. The score combines NHTSA and IIHS crash-test results with the standard active safety equipment included at base price.
- What driver assistance features does the 2026 Subaru Forester include?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester scores 32/100 on driver assistance. MotiveGrid evaluates only standard equipment — features included at base MSRP — across four areas: highway automation, parking support, collision avoidance, and visibility aids. Optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
- Is the 2026 Subaru Forester reliable?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester has an above average reliability profile for its class, based on NHTSA complaint data. MotiveGrid calculates a reliability proxy score of 80/100 from complaint rates per 1,000 vehicles sold over a trailing multi-year window.
- What is the 2026 Subaru Forester fuel economy?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester is EPA-rated at 29 MPG combined. MotiveGrid uses this figure as the basis for its annual fuel or charging cost estimate.
- How does the 2026 Subaru Forester rank among compact suvs?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester is in the top 49% of compact suvs on the MotiveGrid composite score. All vehicles in the same segment are scored on an identical five-pillar framework, making the percentile a direct comparison.
- How does the 2026 Subaru Forester compare to the Mazda CX-5?
- See the MotiveGrid side-by-side comparison page for a full breakdown across cost of ownership, safety, powertrain, driver assistance, and livability. Both vehicles are top-scored options in the compact suvs segment.
- Is the 2026 Subaru Forester spacious and practical?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester scores 65/100 on livability, which covers interior passenger space, cargo capacity, and maneuverability. This score is compared directly against other compact suvs in the same segment.
Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · MotiveGrid Score last computed 2026-07-03