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Subaru's popularity has been rising for many years, well-regarded for its unconventional boxer engine and all-wheel-drive combination. Although Subaru built its reputation through dependable sedans like the Legacy and Impreza, and impeccable sporty cars like the WRX and the BRZ sports car, its impressive SUV lineup has made it one of the hottest automakers in the U.S.
The extensive Subaru SUV lineup has won enthusiasts' hearts with admirable performance, capability, and utility. And at the top of this lineup sit the Forester and the Outback, two fan-favorites that arguably share a lot more than the six-star badge. However, when pitted directly against each other, a few differences begin to emerge. If you're conflicted over which Subaru SUV to go for, here's a comparison to make the decision a little easier.
10 Forester: Flaunts Sportier Design
In terms of design, the bold style cues and sweeping bodylines of the Outback and Forester leave a lasting impression. Many consider the Forester a compact SUV, while the Outback is a midsize crossover with a recognizable wagon-like stance.
After a complete redesign in the 2019 model year, the Forester has since adopted better outward visibility, a higher sitting position, and a sportier design with an exclusive roof spoiler to match. Subaru also redesigned the Outback for the 2020 model year into a more rugged, muscular look that exhibits its go-anywhere capabilities.
9 Outback: Boasts Practical Powertrain Options
Under the hood, both the Outback and the Forester house a reliable 182hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder unit paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. However, the Outback offers the option to upgrade to a more potent 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that churns 260hp and 277lb-ft of torque.
Considering the similarity in powertrains, the SUVs return a similar estimated EPA rating of 26/33/29mpg city/highway/combined. In addition, the Outback offers a better fuel capacity at 18.5 gallons than the Forester's 16.6-gallon capacity.
8 Forester: Ride Quality And Handling
Both the Forester and the Outback ride on Subaru's Global Platform, meaning both cars offer superior handling, solid road grip, and excellent off-road capability overall. Nonetheless, the Forester provides a higher sitting height, making it drive more like an SUV than a car. The sportier Forester has more responsive steering and handling, offering a smoother ride over bumps.
The Outback's desirable wagon-like profile comes at a disadvantage since it's not as athletic as the Forester. Despite the responsive steering, the Outback has a noticeable body roll, and large bumps send vibrations through the cabin. As a result, the Outback drives more like a car while providing a more engaging experience.
7 Outback: An Outstanding Performer
The Outback and the Forester come fitted with standard all-wheel drive and have an 8.7-inch ground clearance that gives them an off-roading edge over other competitors in their classes. When equipped with the standard 2.5-liter engine, the Outback sprints from 0 to 60mph in 8.8 seconds, while the Forester arrives slower in about 9.3 seconds.
If you have to tow a small trailer, the 3,450lb Forester has a maximum towing capacity of 1,500lbs. The 3,635lb Outback has a towing capacity of 2,700lbs with the standard 2.5-liter unit and a more impressive 3,500lbs capacity with the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine.
6 Forester: Impressive Tech Review
Subaru equipped both SUVs with the latest technology, including Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation, satellite radio, 12-speaker Harman Kardon system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Forester comes with a 6.5-inch infotainment system, which is upgradable to a larger 8-inch display.
The Outback boasts dual 7-inch displays, with an option to upgrade to 11.6-inches. The Forester's seemingly smaller-sized system has an easy-to-use interface, attractive graphics, and a functional voice recognition system. On the contrary, the Outback's system is modern, but it has slightly complicated menus, and Subaru had to develop updates to improve functionality.
5 Outback: Admirable Upscale Interior
Subaru has improved its SUV interiors far better compared to the sports cars and sedans. Both SUVs come with heated, leather-wrapped steering wheels, heated front, and rear outboard seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, power moonroof options, leather trims, and cloth upholstery.
However, the Outback's upper trims boast well-built interiors with luxury-grade features, supple Nappa leather trims, ventilated seats, and present a more premium look and feel. Although both SUVs are almost similar in size, the Forester offers more passenger room than the Outback.
4 Forester: Offers More Cargo Space
The Outback is almost 8-inches longer and 2-inches wider than the Forester, while the Forester boasts an extra 2-inches in height. Despite the Outback's slight size advantage, it's a bit surprising that the Forester offers a larger cargo space in total.
The Forester has 31.1 cubic feet of cargo-carrying ability with the seats up and 76.1 cubic feet in total with the seats down. When the Outback's seats are up, cargo space amounts to 32.5 cubic feet and 75.7 cubic feet with the seats down. Additionally, Subaru ingeniously fitted both models with removable trays and underfloor storage solutions.
3 Outback: Safety Options And Features
Subaru has equipped the Outback and Forester models with an extensive safety technology specification list. Standard features include auto emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, rear-seat reminder, and reversing camera.
In addition to these features, the Outback further boasts a driver monitor camera, speed sign recognition, reverse auto braking, lead vehicle start alert, and lane centering. Whereas the Forester comes with seven airbags, the Outback is fitted with eight in total.
2 Forester: Affordable Trim Options
The 2021 Subaru Forester is available in five trim options, base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring. The base Forester trim has an MSRP of $25,845, which goes up across the trim levels to $35,945 for the range-topping Touring model.
Subaru offers the 2021 Outback in base, Premium, Limited, Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT, Touring, and Touring XT. The base Outback trim boasts a $27,845 MSRP, extending to $40,995 MSRP for the top-of-the-range Touring XT.
1 Outback Vs. Forester: Overall Verdict
The choice between the Outback and the Forester comes down to either the feel of a taller SUV or the car experience and look of a wagon. Both SUVs are relatively efficient, offer great utility, and boast almost similar safety standards.
That said, the Outback is bigger, more potent, and can be equipped with more luxurious features. The Forester is also no pushover since it offers a little more space inside and comes at a cheaper price tag. Regardless of your choice, they are both comfortable and reliable options to consider from Subaru's lineup.