Subaru Forester Premium vs. Limited
The 2022 Subaru Forester Premium starts at $29,320, while the 2022 Limited trim is at least $33,000.
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Edited by Pat Roache
Table of Contents
- Price: The Forester Premium is cheaper
- Performance specs: Identical powertrains
- Fuel and mileage: Identical EPA ratings
- Interior and exterior dimensions: Identical space
- Technology and safety features: The Forester Limited is more equipped
- Seating and comfort: Leather upholstery in the Forester Limited
- The bottom line: The Forester Premium is value packed
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Both the 2022 Subaru Forester Premium and Limited add desirable comfort and tech features that you won’t find on the base model. While the Limited trim offers more, the less-expensive Premium provides the best value for this compact SUV.
- The 2022 Forester Limited starts at $3,680 more than the Forester Premium for some higher-end convenience and interior features—including leather seats.
- With identical powertrains and dimensions, the Forester Premium and Limited are both well suited for efficient highway driving and moderate off-roading.
- The Forester Limited replaces the Premium’s 6.5-inch Subaru Starlink display with a larger 8.0-inch display and adds voice command cabin controls.
- The 2022 Forester Limited starts at $3,680 more than the Forester Premium for some higher-end convenience and interior features—including leather seats.
- With identical powertrains and dimensions, the Forester Premium and Limited are both well suited for efficient highway driving and moderate off-roading.
- The Forester Limited replaces the Premium’s 6.5-inch Subaru Starlink display with a larger 8.0-inch display and adds voice command cabin controls.
Price: The Forester Premium is cheaper
Premium and Limited are mid-tier trim levels on the Forester compact crossover. See how their starting prices compare against the MSRPs of the other Subaru Forester trim levels:
- 2022 Subaru Forester Base: $27,070
- 2022 Subaru Forester Premium: $29,320
- 2022 Subaru Forester Limited: $33,000
- 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness: $33,945
Key Takeaway: Neither the Premium nor the Limited trim are the most expensive Forester model available, but the Limited falls higher up the trim ladder at $3,680 more.
Performance specs: Identical powertrains
All 2022 Forester trims are equipped with the same exact powertrain:
- 2.5-liter flat-four-cylinder engine
- Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
- Subaru’s iconic symmetricalall-wheel-drive system
The Premium and Limited trim do see a slight difference in their weights—3,528 pounds vs. 3,552 pounds, respectively—but this does nothing to change their performance specs:
- Engine power: 182 horsepower; 176 lb-ft of torque
- Zero-to-60 mph acceleration time: 8.0 seconds
Expert reviews: The Forester’s ride feels smooth and comfortable, the steering is responsive, and the brakes allow you to stop on a dime—no matter which trim you choose.
Fuel and mileage: Identical EPA ratings
Identical powertrains means identical fuel economy ratings: Both the 2022 Forester Premium and Limited models are EPA rarted for:
- 26 city/33 highway/29 combined MPG.
Interior and exterior dimensions: Identical space
Regardless of trim, your Forester sports the following exterior measurements:
Key spec: You want at least 8.5 inches of ground clearance to tackle uneven terrain. At 8.7-inches, this ground clearance is just enough to solidify the
Subaru Forester’s off-road capabilities
.Here’s how the Limited and Premium models look in terms of passenger space:
- Passenger capacity: Five
- Total passenger volume: 111.6 cubic feet
- Front headroom: 41.2 inches
- Front legroom: 43.3 inches
- Front shoulder room: 58.1 inches
- Front hip room: 54.1 inches
- Rear headroom: 39.6 inches
- Rear legroom: 39.4 inches
- Rear shoulder room: 57.2 inches
- Rear hip room: 53.5 inches
The base Forester offers the most in terms of trunk space, but cargo area actually drops for higher trims. Both the Premium and the Limited offer the following cargo capacities:
- Behind the rear seat: 26.9 cubic feet
- Behind the front seat with the second row folded down: 69.1 cubic feet
Technology and safety features: The Forester Limited is more equipped
The 2022 Forester Limited trim adds a considerable share of technology upgrades that to set itself apart from the Premium trim and start justifying that $3,680 price difference.
Convenience features: See how the standard tech offerings on the 2022 Forester Premium and Limited compare below:
2022 Forester Premium | 2022 Forester Limited |
|---|---|
6.5-inch touchscreen Starlink Multimedia display | 8.0-inch touchscreen Starlink Multimedia display with voice command controls |
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity | Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity |
Two USB ports for front-seat riders | Four USB ports—two in front and two in back |
Onboard Wi-Fi via a 4G LTE data connection | Onboard Wi-Fi via a 4G LTE data connection |
Advanced six-speaker sound system | Advanced six-speaker sound system |
Keyless entry with keyless push-button start | Keyless entry with keyless push-button start |
Smart device remote engine start | Smart device remote engine start |
Power Liftgate | |
Automatically leveling headlights with LED fog lights | |
Body-color-matching side mirrors with integrated turn signals |
Safety Features: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded every trim level of the 2022 Forester a perfect five-star safety rating thanks to its suite of standard camera-based safety features and driver-assist technology:
- Automatic braking in emergencies
- Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- X-mode dual setting traction control system for driver assistance in snow andl loose dirt (Premium trim and up)
- Automatic emergency steering (Limited trim and up)
Blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert are added at the Forester Sport trim level, meaning these features are included on the Limited but not the Premium
Seating and comfort: Leather upholstery in the Forester Limited
While the Premium and Limited trims share identical interior dimmensions, there are some differences in their interior finishing to set them apart when it comes to comfort.
The 2022 Forester Premium trim features the following interior comfort features:
- 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Heated front seats
- Reclining rear seats
- Fold-down armrests with cup holders
- Tinted windows
- Panoramic moonroof
The 2022 Forester Limited features all this plus the following distinctly luxurious cosmetic upgrades and amenities:
- Leather upholstery
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- One-touch folding rear seats
Competitor comparison: All of these features make the Limited comparable to the 2022
Toyota RAV4 Adventure
, which carries a more expensive sticker price of $34,530. The bottom line: The Forester Premium is value packed
The 2022 Forester Premium is a solid step up from the base trim in terms of the convenience and technology features it adds. While the Limited trim includes a few more creature comforts, it doesn’t offer the same feature-to-value ratio.
Key takeaway: The 2022 Forester Premium’s starting price of $29,320 offers the best bang for your buck. The additional $3,680 for the 2022 Limited trim may be worth it if you want upgraded infotainment and interior finsihing without dishing out for the top-tier Wilderness or Touring trims.
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