2023 Subaru Forester price and specs

The 2023 Subaru Forester has had its asking prices increased, alongside a couple of minor specification adjustments.

Orders are now open at Subaru dealers and 2023 model year Forester deliveries are “anticipated to commence” in the fourth quarter of 2022.

All 2023 Subaru Forester models have had prise rises ranging between $1900 and $2150, depending on the variant, which Subaru Australia claims are due to “an increase in the costs associated with production and logistics”.

The Forester range now starts at $37,890 before on-road costs for the 2.5i and extends to $49,340 before on-road costs for the Hybrid S.

Select variants have had some minor specification changes, with the high-spec Forester 2.5i Sport, 2.5i-S and Hybrid S all now getting an auto-dimming rear-view mirror as standard.

Further, the outgoing range’s Dark Blue Pearl exterior paint option has been replaced Sapphire Blue Pearl.

Subaru refreshed the exterior design of the Forester for the 2022 model year which brought a revised front bumper and grille, as well as new headlights and fog lights, among other minor design changes.

Recently, the 2022 model-year allocation of the Subaru Forester sold out, but as mentioned above orders for the newer 2023 model year have now opened.

Up until May 2022, Subaru has sold a total of 4866 Forester models. It outsold the likes of the Hyundai Tucson (4515 sales), MG HS (3745 sales), Nissan X-Trail (3522 sales), and GWM Haval H6 (2057 sales), but was outsold by the likes of the Toyota RAV4 (17,787 sales), Mitsubishi Outlander (7529 sales) and Kia Sportage (6727 sales).

Pricing

• 2023 Subaru Forester 2.5i: $37,890 (+$1900)
• 2023 Subaru Forester 2.5i-L: $40,290 (+$1900)
• 2023 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium: $43,090 (+$1950)
• 2023 Subaru Forester Hybrid L: $43,290 (+$1900)
• 2023 Subaru Forester 2.5i Sport: $44,840 (+$2150)
• 2023 Subaru Forester 2.5i-S: $46,340 (+$2150)
• 2023 Subaru Forester Hybrid S: $49,340 (+$2150)

All prices exclude on-road costs.

Engines

Non-hybrid variants of the 2023 Subaru Forester are powered by a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated flat-four engine producing 136kW of power and 239Nm of torque. This is mated to a continuously-variable transmission (CVT) with drive sent through an all-wheel drive system.

Hybrid variants of the 2023 Subaru Forester are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 100kW and 196Nm with an electric motor producing 12kW and 66Nm, and a lithium-ion battery pack. This is also mated to a CVT with drive sent through an all-wheel drive system.

Fuel Economy

The 2023 Subaru Forester consumes 7.4L/100km on the combined cycle, or 6.7L/100km in the hybrid.

All Foresters run on 91RON regular unleaded fuel. The regular petrol models have a 63L fuel tank while the hybrid has a 48L tank.

Dimensions

The 2023 Subaru Forester measures 4640mm long, 1815mm wide, and 1730mm tall with a 2670mm wheelbase.

Boot space with the rear seats upright is 498L in petrol models and 509L in the hybrid variants.

This expands to 1779L in the hybrid variants, while that figure is 1768L in all regular petrol models except for the Sport and 2.5i-S where it’s 1740L.

Braked towing capacity is 1800kg on petrol models and 1200kg on hybrid models.

Servicing and Warranty

The 2023 Subaru Forester has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, plus an eight-year and 160,000km warranty for the Hybrid’s lithium-ion battery.

Subaru offers three- and five-year servicing plans.

For non-hybrid models they cost $1277.90 and $2422.38 respectively, while the Hybrid’s cost $1288.24 and $2439.60.

Safety

ANCAP awarded the Subaru Forester with a five-star safety score in 2019, based on scores of 94 per cent for adult occupant protection, 86 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 78 per cent for safety assist.

Standard safety equipment on all 2023 Subaru Forester models includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-departure warning
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane centring
• Autonomous emergency steering
• Adaptive cruise control

All bar the base 2.5i come standard with a facial recognition camera to detect driver drowsiness or distraction, as well as rear AEB.

Standard Equipment

The 2023 Subaru Forester 2.5i comes standard with the following equipment:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Reversing camera with washer
• Automatic, active cornering LED headlights
• Front fog lights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 6.3-inch multi-function display
• Six-speaker sound system
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped gear selector
• Dual-zone climate control
• Paddle shifters

The 2.5i-L and Hybrid L add the following:

• Driver monitoring system
• Rear AEB
• Adaptive high-beam
• Front and side cameras
• Heated front seats

The 2.5i Premium adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Power tailgate
• Satellite navigation
• Eight-way power front seats with driver’s memory
• Metal pedals

The 2.5i Sport adds:

• Sunroof
• LED front fog lights
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror (NEW)
• Orange and gunmetal interior highlights

The 2.5i-S and Hybrid S add:

• Leather upholstery
• Eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system

Colours

The 2023 Subaru Forester is available in the following exterior paint colours, depending on variant.

• Crystal White Pearl
• Ice Silver Metallic
• Brilliant Bronze Metallic
• Crimson Red Pearl
• Autumn Green Metallic
• Horizon Blue Pearl
• Cascade Green Silica
• Magnetite Grey Metallic
• Crystal Black Silica
• Sapphire Blue Pearl (NEW)

All colours are no-cost options.

MORE: Everything Subaru Forester