Subaru Crosstrek Vs. Subaru Forester: Which Is Better?
The Subaru Forester is a better buy than the Crosstrek. Find out why with our in-depth Subaru Crosstrek vs. Forester comparison.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Subaru Crosstrek might be more affordable and have a sleeker, more rugged appearance, but the Subaru Forester gets better value for your money, including lower insurance costs, improved safety, and more bells and whistles than you’ll get with the Crosstrek.
Whether you’re all about outdoor living or you’re a suburban parent looking for a practical ride to haul the kids around in, the Subaru Crosstrek and Subaru Forester both have a lot to offer. Both are practical and capable, have high safety scores, and boast standard all-wheel drive.
But which is right for you, the subcompact Crosstrek or the more traditional compact Forester SUV?
Jerry
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policy a breeze, has the goods on both of these highly capable vehicles. We’ll even show you how to save on your Subaru insurance costs
, no matter which you choose!Crosstrek vs. Outback: which is more expensive?
Now, let’s get down to brass tacks—the MSRP of a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek is $24,320, while the starting price for the Subaru Forester is a bit more expensive, with an MSRP of $27,070.
While the Forester is more expensive to start, these two models even out price-wise as you move up the trim ladder. Both models offer a top trim just north of the $36,000 mark. Here’s how the Crosstrek and Forester match up with their respective trim lines:
Model | Starting MSRP | Model | Starting MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
Crosstrek Base | $24,320 | Forester Base | $27,070 |
Crosstrek Premium | $24,720 | Forester Premium | $29,320 |
Crosstrek Sport | $27,920 | Forester Sport | $30,890 |
Crosstrek Limited | $29,420 | Forester Limited | $33,000 |
Crosstrek Hybrid | $36,770 | Forester Wilderness | $33,945 |
Forester Touring | $36,420 |
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The price you pay at the dealership is one thing, but the price you’ll pay over the long haul is quite different depending on whether you opt for the Crosstrek or the Forester.
According to Edmunds, the true cost of ownership for a Subaru Crosstrek over a five-year period is $34,905, or about $10,000 more than its MSRP. By comparison, the Subaru Forester has a true cost of ownership of $34,140. Not only is that only about $7,000 more than its MSRP, but it is actually a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Crosstrek over the same timeframe, even though the Forester has the higher sticker price.
Why is this? It likely boils down to cheaper maintenance and insurance costs that make the Forester less expensive over time than the Crosstrek. One thing to remember, though, is that these estimates are based on the base trim for each model. If you’re looking at a higher trim for either model, your estimates will be different.
Insurance costs
Did someone say…insurance? In case you hadn’t noticed, we here at Jerry are kind of obsessed with car insurance, so we figured we’d do you a solid and compare insurance costs for both the Crosstrek and the Forester.
On average, the
Subaru Forester insurance costs
are significantly cheaper than Crosstrek. For the base model, the Forester costs roughly $1,789 per year to insure, or $149 per month. In contrast, Subaru Crosstrek insurance costs
typically run about $2,646 per year, or $220 per month.Why the discrepancy in insurance costs for these two Subarus? It likely comes down to safety and body type. The Forester has better safety ratings than the Crosstrek, including five stars from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). It was also named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Forester is also built more like a traditional SUV, with a bigger, boxier frame, and is likely to come out of a collision with less damage than a Crosstrek, with its smaller and more compact body.
Winner: Subaru Forester
In terms of sheer affordability, the Crosstrek is the winner as it's cheaper across the board.
However, when looking into the future, what’s cheaper on the showroom floor won’t necessarily be cheaper in the long run. The Forester offers significantly lower insurance costs—nearly $900 less than the Crosstrek on an annual basis. So even if you pay less for Crosstrek when buying it, its overall cost will catch up to you much quicker than would the Forester’s.
MORE: The best used Subaru to buy
Subaru Crosstrek vs. Outback: In-Depth Comparison
So we know it will cost you more at the outset to buy a Subaru Forester, but is it actually better than the Crosstrek? We’ll run through all the main considerations in determining whether the Forester or the Crosstrek is the better overall vehicle.
Body style and size
While the compact Forester isn’t the biggest SUV you’ll find on the market (not by a long shot), it is a fair bit bigger than the Crosstrek, which is listed as a subcompact SUV.
The Forester both looks and feels more like a truck, with its boxy body type and significantly more passenger and cargo volume than you’ll find in the Crosstrek. If you’re hauling a family things like sporting gear or more than a few pieces of luggage, you’ll find the Forester is a better fit for all that stuff. Here’s a breakdown of both the Forester and Crosstrek’s respective measurements:
Dimensions | 2022 Subaru Crosstrek | 2022 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
Wheelbase | 104.9 inches | 107.9 inches |
Passenger volume | 100.9 cubic feet | 107.6 cubic feet |
Headroom (front/rear) | 39.8/38 inches | 40.2/37.6 inches |
Legroom (front/rear) | 43.1/36.5 inches | 43.3/39.4 inches |
Cargo volume w/seats up | 20.8 cubic feet | 34.4 cubic feet |
Cargo volume w/seats down | 55.3 cubic feet | 74.7 cubic feet |
Ground clearance | 8.7 inches | 9.2 inches |
Base curb weight | 3188 lbs | 3620 lbs |
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversEngine and performance
Now, if you’re looking for muscular, SUV performance, you won’t get it with the Crosstrek or the Forester, even if both do offer completely capable performance.
The Subaru Crosstrek’s base engine is a perfectly able 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). If you’re so inclined, you can get the Crosstrek with a 6-speed manual transmission with either the Base or Premium trims.
If that’s just not enough performance for you, you can upgrade the Crosstrek’s engine to a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The stuff of legends? Not exactly. But certainly more powerful than what you get with the base engine.
In contrast, the pricier and boxier Forester starts with a bit more pep in its step, as it is outfitted with the Crosstrek’s upgraded engine—the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder power plant with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. Unlike the Crosstrek, there’s no upgraded engine option with the Forester—the 4-cylinder is the only engine across the entire Forester lineup. You’ll also get the CVT and standard all-wheel drive, and both the Crosstrek and the Forester can tow up to 1,500 pounds.
One wild card the Crosstrek has up its fleece sleeve is its hybrid option, which gets you a tidy 148 horsepower on its combined gas/electric engine. The Forester doesn’t come with a hybrid option, so if you really want to impress your friends by driving a hybrid to the next Burning Man, well, the Crosstrek is your ride!
The bottom line? You’ll get roughly the same amount of performance with either the Crosstrek or the Forester. While the Forester is more expensive, it does offer a better all-around experience in terms of a few more interior options, better safety scores, and lower insurance costs.
Fuel economy
Both the Subaru Crosstrek and Forester offer the same highway fuel efficiency—33 miles per gallon. The Crosstrek will get you a bit further in the city, capable of 28 miles per gallon, compared to the Forester's 26. Combined, the Crosstrek has a slight edge, getting you 30 miles per gallon and the Forester getting 29 miles per gallon combined.
But remember, the Crosstrek has a hybrid option, which gets 35 miles per gallon combined city/highway driving, and up to 90 MPGe when in hybrid mode.
Safety
By now we’re certain you know that Subaru has a well-deserved reputation for safety excellence. Perhaps not surprising, both the Crosstrek and Forester are very safe, but the Forester has a slight edge in the safety department.
Both the Forester and Crosstrek scored a five-star
NHTSA safety rating
, but just the Forester was selected as an IIHS Top Safety Pick+—the Crosstrek received a mere Top Safety Pick designation. Still, you’ll be well protected in either vehicle. Both feature Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assist technology, which uses a series of cameras to enhance the vehicle’s safety. The Crosstrek comes standard with forward-collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The Forester features a bit more, including everything the Crosstrek has, plus automatic emergency braking.
Tech
Both the Crosstrek and Forester offer Subaru’s StarLink infotainment interface, with a 6.5-inch screen on base models and the option of upgrading to a larger 8-inch screen on Forester’s Limited and Touring trims. The Crosstrek offers standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of bells and whistles.
By contrast, the Forester gets you the StarLink system along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a pair of USB ports in the front—and you can add two USB ports in the rear if you want. A WiFi hotspot and 4G data connection are standard on all Forester models except the base trim.
Interior and comfort
The Crosstrek can feel a bit utilitarian, as it offers practicality and function above creature comforts. Heated rear seats? Not on the Crosstrek, which is for adventuring and roughing it, remember?
But there are a lot more options with the Forester. Besides offering excellent outward visibility and a high driving position, the Forester offers optional leather seating and leather-covered door panels and dashboard on its higher trims. A glossy black center stack is also available. Unlike the Crosstrek, the Forester’s rear space is spacious and comfortable.
Winner: Subaru Forester
Overall, we have to give the Forester the edge. Yes, it's more expensive, and it offers the same engine as the Crosstrek. But the Forester gets you better safety scores, lower insurance costs, lower future costs, and more interior and technology options. It’s more spacious as well, by a fair margin.
That being said, the Crosstrek can be a good buy if the price is your main criterion for which Subaru to buy. It is a safe vehicle that is great for setting out on an adventure, but you won’t be able to carry as much, and it won’t be as comfortable a ride.
How to save on Subaru insurance costs
Whether you go for the Crosstrek or the Forester, you’ll want to save as much as you can on
car insurance
, as SUVs can be pricier to insure than regular sedans.Lucky for you, that’s where
Jerry
can help! This trustworthy car insurance app will help you find a robust policy for your Subaru at a price you can afford. Sign-up takes just 45 seconds, and then licensed broker
Jerry gets to work comparing quotes from more than 50 top insurers to ensure you get the best policy at an even better price.Best of all? The average Jerry user saves more than $800 per year on car insurance!
"After signing up withJerry, I went from $199/month to $97/month for my car insurance. My 2019 Subaru Forester now has full coverage for a great price!” —Rhonda H.
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