2026 Subaru Forester: real cost in California
See the Forester on Subaru's US site ↗US prices read 2026-11-09
Cheapest trim, Base · California · age 35–59 · 6 years · 13,500 mi a yearChange
Sticker$29,995the advertised price
Drive away$34,365with fees and tax
Loan payment$501/mo72-month loan at 7%, $5,000 down
True cost$1,070/moeverything, after resale
$34,365 to drive away + $58,958 to run it for 6 years − $16,282 back at resale = $77,040, or $1,070 a month.
Where the money goes
Drive away$34,365
Running it, 6 yrs+$58,958
Back at resale−$16,282
Sticker pricethe advertised MSRP
+$29,995Feesfreight $1,450 · doc fee $85 (typical)
+$1,535Sales and use tax, 8.99%California
+$2,835Insuranceestimate, age 35–59, California
+$16,244Fuel13,500 mi a year at 29 MPG
+$16,048Maintenanceestimate
+$9,690Lost return on your money5% a year on the down payment and each payment
+$7,446Loan interest7% over 72 months
+$6,681Title, registration and plates6 years in California, incl. 0.65% value tax a year
+$2,850Resale after 6 years54% of MSRP, you get this back
−$16,282True cost $77,040 ÷ 72 months$1,070 a month
The car
Size and space
Seats5from the Canadian version or the type
Cargo29.6 cu ftbehind row 2
Ground clearance8.7–9.3 inhigh; good for snow and trails
Engine and fuel
Engine180–194 hp gas or hybrid, AWD
0–60 mph7.7–8.4 sour estimate from power and weight
Fuel economy26–35 MPGEPA combined
TowingUp to 3,500 lb
Tires18" or 19"by trim
Safety and cover
Crash test✓ 5 of 5 starsNHTSA · see the test ↗
European crash test5 of 5 stars ↗Euro NCAP 2024, European version
Highway assistSteers and brakeshands on the wheel · every trim
Warranty3 yrspowertrain 5 yrs
Resale at 6 years54% of MSRPprevious generation · how it compares
Every trim
All trims: AWD, 5 seats.| Base | $29,995 | $34,365 | $77,040 | ✓ $1,070/mo | 1,500 | 29 MPG | — No | — No | — No |
| Premium | $31,995 | $36,544 | $79,242 | $1,101/mo | 1,500 | 29 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Premium Hybrid | $34,730 | $39,525 | $79,402 | $1,103/mo | 1,500 | 35 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Sport | $34,795 | $39,596 | $82,723 | $1,149/mo | 1,500 | 28 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Limited | $35,995 | $40,904 | $83,348 | $1,158/mo | 1,500 | 29 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Wilderness | $36,995 | $41,994 | $86,542 | $1,202/mo | 3,500 | 26 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Sport Hybrid | $37,930 | $43,013 | $82,725 | $1,149/mo | 1,500 | 35 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Limited Hybrid | $38,995 | $44,174 | $83,831 | $1,164/mo | 1,500 | 35 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Touring | $39,995 | $45,264 | $87,998 | $1,222/mo | 1,500 | 28 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Touring Hybrid | $41,545 | $46,953 | $86,478 | $1,201/mo | 1,500 | 35 MPG | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Base
✓ $1,070/mo
True cost
Premium
$1,101/mo
True cost
Premium Hybrid
$1,103/mo
True cost
Sport
$1,149/mo
True cost
Limited
$1,158/mo
True cost
Wilderness
$1,202/mo
True cost
Sport Hybrid
$1,149/mo
True cost
Limited Hybrid
$1,164/mo
True cost
Touring
$1,222/mo
True cost
Touring Hybrid
$1,201/mo
True cost
Features, trim by trim
Cheapest on the left. Each bar starts at the trim that adds it. + $ is the cheapest factory option or package that adds it (hover for its name).Feature
Base$29,995
Premium$31,995
Premium Hybrid$34,730
Sport$34,795
Limited$35,995
Wilderness$36,995
Sport Hybrid$37,930
Limited Hybrid$38,995
Touring$39,995
Touring Hybrid$41,545
Safety and driver assist
Automatic braking
✓ Every trim
Blind-spot monitor
+ $1,200
✓ from Premium Hybrid
Rear cross-traffic alert
+ $1,200
✓ from Premium Hybrid
Adaptive cruise
✓ Every trim
Lane centering
✓ Every trim
360° camera
✓ from Touring
Comfort
Heated seats
✓ from Premium
Cooled seats
✓ from Touring
Heated steering wheel
✓
✓ from Touring
Heated rear seats
✓ from Touring
Dual-zone climate
✓ Every trim
Convenience
Push-button start
✓ from Premium
Remote start
+ $463
✓ from Premium
Power liftgate
+ $1,200
✓
+ $1,700
✓
+ $2,200
✓ from Sport Hybrid
Wireless phone charging
✓
✓ Sport to Wilderness
✓
Power driver's seat
✓ from Premium
Memory seat
✓ from Touring
Tech and audio
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
✓ Every trim
Built-in navigation
✓
+ $1,600
+ $2,200
✓ from Sport Hybrid
Premium sound system
+ $1,700
+ $1,600
+ $2,200
✓ from Limited Hybrid
Capability and looks
AWD or 4WD
✓ Every trim
Sunroof
✓ from Premium
Panoramic roof
✓ from Premium
LED headlights
✓ Every trim
Not listed on any trimHands-free drivingParking sensorsMassaging seatsWireless CarPlayHead-up displayLarge touchscreen (12 in+)Tow hitch included
Full standard equipment on the Base (85 items)
- 2.5-liter DOHC engine
- Power: 180 hp @ 5,800 rpm
- Torque: 178 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm
- Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE)
- Lineartronic CVT (Continually Variable Transmission) with low shift mode
- Maximum towing capacity
- Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
- Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Active Torque Vectoring
- Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
- Fuel economy (hwy/city) 33/26 MPG
- Fuel requirement: Unleaded gasoline (87 octane)
- Fuel capacity: 16.6 gallons
- Electric Power-Assisted Rack and Pinion Steering (EPAS)
- 4-wheel independent suspension
- 4-wheel disc brakes
- Brake Assist
- Brake Override System
- Length/Width/Height
- Wheelbase
- Track (front/rear)
- Base curb weight
- Ground clearance (at base curb weight)
- 17 x 7.0-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, dark metallic with machine finish
- 225/60 R17 99H all-season tires
- Temporary use T145/80 D17
- LED Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH)
- Roof spoiler
- Black folding side mirrors
- Two-speed windshield wipers with variable-intermittent mode and mist feature
- Single-speed rear window wiper with fixed-intermittent mode
- Raised roof rails
- Headroom (front/rear)
- Legroom (front/rear)
- Shoulder room (front/rear)
- Passenger volume
- Cargo volume
- Maximum cargo volume
- Manually adjustable front seats
- 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks
- Cloth upholstery
- Instrument cluster with speedometer and tachometer
- Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control
- Auto-on/off headlights
- Auto-up/auto-down driver's window with anti-pinch protection
- 3-spoke steering wheel with integrated controls
- Manually adjustable tilt/telescoping steering column
- 4 bottle holders
- Overhead console with dual LED maplights and sunglasses storage
- Multi-function center console
- Illuminated front USB-A input port
- Cargo-area grocery bag and tie-down hooks
- Cargo-area rear gate light
- Cargo-area underfloor storage
- Dual-zone automatic climate control system
- Subaru dual 7.0-inch Multimedia System
- 4 speakers
- EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
- High Beam Assist
- 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- Rear-Vision Camera
- Subaru advanced frontal airbag system (SRS)
- Side curtain airbags (SRS)
- Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags (SRS)
- Front passenger seat cushion airbag (SRS)
- Driver's knee airbag (SRS)
- Whiplash-reducing front seats with height-adjustable head restraints
- Height-adjustable 3-point front seatbelts
- Rear child-safety door locks
- LATCH system: Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
- Keyless entry system
- Anti-theft security system
- Engine immobilizer
- Auto-Dimming Mirror with Compass and HomeLink [optional]
- Cargo Tray [optional]
- All-Weather Floor Liners [optional]
- Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirror with Approach Light [optional]
- Cargo Sidewall Protector [optional]
- Rear Bumper Cover [optional]
- Rear Seatback Protector [optional]
- Door Projector Lights [optional]
- Footwell Illumination Kit [optional]
Recalls
8 NHTSA recalls for 2024 to 2026 Forester models. Dealers fix them free; a new car should have them done before delivery. Ask the dealer to check the VIN.
Suspension2026 · 8 vehicles
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek and Forester vehicles.Recall 26V685000 at NHTSA ↗Equipment2025, 2026 · 541,237 vehicles
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles.Recall 26V436000 at NHTSA ↗Visibility2026 · 69,663 vehicles
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid vehicles.Recall 26V346000 at NHTSA ↗Structure2026 · 5,603 vehicles
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles.Recall 25V889000 at NHTSA ↗Child seat2025 · 2,938 vehicles
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2025 Forester vehicles.Recall 25V419000 at NHTSA ↗Wheels2025 · 20,366 vehicles
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2025 Forester vehicles equipped with 18" aluminum alloy wheels.Recall 25V033000 at NHTSA ↗Quick answers
- How much is a 2026 Forester in California?
- $34,365 to drive away for the Base, from a $29,995 sticker.
- What does it cost a month?
- A $501 loan payment, about $1,123 a month with insurance, fuel and upkeep ($5,000 down); about $1,070 a month all in, after resale.
- How much can it tow?
- 3,500 lb for the Wilderness; 1,500 lb for every other trim.
Similar SUVs
US prices in US dollars from Subaru's US website, read 2026-11-09; destination as the brand lists it. Taxes, registration and the dealer doc fee follow your state. Insurance and maintenance are estimates. How we count.