2022 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Subaru Forester: Which Is Better?
Along with a styling refresh, Subaru adds a new Wilderness trim to the Forester lineup for 2022. But is it worth the extra money?
Written by Sarah Gray
Reviewed by Pat Roache
The Subaru Forester gets a styling refresh for the 2022 model year and a new
off-road-oriented Wilderness trim
. But are these changes and additions enough to warrant a $2,000 increase in MSRP across the board?If you love hugging trees or hitting trails, you’ve probably at least considered buying a Subaru Forester at some point. A perennial favorite with the outdoorsy set, the Forester’s higher-than-average ground clearance means it can go places most of its rivals can’t.
Subaru has capitalized on its go-anywhere gumption with a new Wilderness trim for 2022, plus new rugged styling cues and several accessory upgrades that set the 2022 Subaru Forester apart from the 2021 model. But does that mean it’s better than the 2021? To help you decide, we’ll go over pricing, fuel efficiency, safety features, and available options for the Forester in both model years to see which is truly the better buy.
2022 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Subaru Forester: what’s the difference?
The Subaru Forester has a lot of competitors, including the
Honda CR-V
and the Volkswagen Tiguan
, but 2022 introduced a new competitor for the Forester—the Forester itself! Styling upgrades and a new off-roading trim can make choosing between the 2021 and 2022 model year Foresters a challenge.Let’s break down all the differences to see which model year is the best Forester.
Pricing
Buyers should always expect an increase in price from one model year to the next, regardless of whether anything has changed. This is also why newer models of the same vehicle tend to garner higher
car insurance
costs.The Forester’s 2022 styling refresh resulted in price increases for every trim, but let’s see how it breaks down across all the different options.
Model | 2022 MSRP | 2021 MSRP |
|---|---|---|
$27,070 | $25,845 | |
$29,320 | $28,845 | |
$30,890 | $30,445 | |
$33,000 | $32,445 | |
$33,945 | N/A | |
$36,420 | $35,945 |
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General specs
When it comes to general specs, the 2022 and 2021 Forester models are nearly identical—nearly. The addition of the Wilderness trim leads to a few key differences between the two—increased towing capacity and better off-road capability.
2022 Subaru Forester | 2021 Subaru Forester | |
|---|---|---|
Base engine (standard on all trims) | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (182 horsepower) | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (182 horsepower) |
Transmission | CVT | CVT |
Drivetrain | All-wheel drive (AWD) | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
Maximum towing capacity | 3,000 lbs | 1,500 lbs |
Other changes you’ll notice in general specs for the 2022 Subaru Forester include a standard torque vectoring system, SI-Drive driving mode selector, and an electronic parking brake to replace the 2021’s manual brake.
Fuel economy
With the same powertrain for all trims and both model years, you shouldn’t be surprised to see that EPA estimates for fuel economy are identical for the 2022 and 2021 Subaru Foresters:
- Standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder w/ CVT: 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway / 29 mpg combined
While actual fuel efficiency numbers will vary based on your driving style and where you spend most of your time on the road, another factor influencing fuel economy with the Forester is the (let’s face it) wimpy 4-cylinder.
During test drives, experts from both Edmunds and Car and Driver found themselves constantly flooring it just to get some decent acceleration, which led to some pretty lackluster observed gas mileage figures. That said, the 2022 Forester does feature standard auto start-stop, which can increase your gas mileage a bit.
Safety ratings
If you know anything about
Subaru safety ratings
, you won’t be surprised to learn that both the 2021 and 2022 Subaru Foresters earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+, and near-perfect 5-star National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety ratings
for both model years.The only low points for both model years were an “Acceptable” rating from the IIHS on the side-impact test (the crash dummy’s head contacted the C-pillar through the side-curtain airbag), and a 4-star rollover rating from the NHTSA.
The Forester’s ability to earn near-perfect safety ratings shouldn’t come as a shock, though. With AWD and Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver safety aids included on all trims, you should feel well-protected no matter which model year you’re driving.
Speaking of the EyeSight suite, Subaru made some upgrades to the system for 2022. The suite still maintains the same basic configuration, which includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision mitigation
- Lane departure warnings
- Lane-keeping assist
However, the 2022 Forester gets upgraded camera sensors that broaden the system’s field of view and expand its operating range.
MORE: Subaru Forester Wilderness vs Toyota RAV4 TRD: Who wins?
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Styling and interior changes
Now that we’ve looked at the basics, let’s see what changes Subbie made for the 2022 refresh.
Buyers will immediately notice the 2022 Forester’s blocky front headlamps, reworked grille, and new wheel design. Additionally, buyers who regularly haul large amounts of gear will appreciate the upgraded roof rails, capable of supporting more weight than those on the 2021 version.
Inside, a panoramic sunroof becomes standard equipment for all but the Base model, and the climate control system is now available with gesture controls.
Aside from these changes, what you’ll find in the 2022 Forester will be nearly identical to the 2021. Basic style, comfort, and tech features on the Base trim include:
- 6.5-inch touchscreen display
- Subaru Starlink app suite with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Automatic climate control
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Automatic high beams
Step up to the Premium trim and you’ll get to take advantage of those roof rails, the panoramic sunroof, and the SI Drive Modes we mentioned. You’ll also get larger wheels, foglights, and keyless entry with a push-button start. Drivers get power adjustments added to their seats and a standard All-weather Package adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a windshield wiper de-icer to the mix.
The Subaru Forester Sport trim includes all the options on the Premium, plus it adds another inch to your wheel diameter, upgrades your foglights to LED, and adds blind-spot monitoring and evasive steering assist to your list of active safety features. You’ll also see some sweet black and orange interior and exterior accents.
And now for the luxury trims. The Subaru Forester Limited for both 2021 and 2022 features an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen display, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, and a power liftgate. If you need a little more pampering, step up to the Touring trim, and you’ll get:
- More adjustment and memory settings for the driver’s seat
- Power-adjustable passenger seat
- Driver fatigue alerts
- Premium Harman Kardon audio system
- Integrated navigation system
- Heated rear seats
But what about that brand new Wilderness trim we mentioned? Let’s take a closer look!
2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness
The Subaru Forester is already a go-to for the outdoorsy set, but the Wilderness turns things up to 11. Inside, the only real difference between the Wilderness and other mid-range trims is water-resistant seating surfaces—but you won’t be buying a Wilderness trim for the interior. The Subaru Forester Wilderness is all about the trails.
Ground clearance on the Subaru Forester Wilderness
is 9.2 inches—half an inch higher than other Forester trims. But even more noticeable than the Wilderness’s taller stance are its rugged anodized copper trim, raised-white-letter all-terrain tires, distinctive badging, and underbody skid plates.In addition to the raised and upgraded suspension, you’ll also find a revised final drive and slightly wider gear ratio for the CVT. It features the same 4-cylinder as other Forester models, but it’s tuned for extra torque. Subaru also adds an oil cooler and rear differential temperature sensor, just in case you weren’t quite sure if they were serious about how off-road they want you to get with the new Wilderness. All this is protected with underbody skid plates.
All told, you may not find yourself rock climbing in Moab with a Forester Wilderness, but it can handle pretty much any basic or intermediate trail.
2022 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Subaru Forester: which should you buy?
There’s not a huge price difference between the 2021 and 2022 Subaru Foresters, but there is quite a bit of difference between the available options. Plus, the sweet new Wilderness trim is only available from 2022 on. If you ask us—and you did—we say go with the 2022 Subaru Forester. You won’t be sorry.
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