The Subaru Forester is more affordable, more tech-savvy, and roomier than the Outback, giving it the edge in our 2022 Subaru Forester vs. Outback comparison—but the Outback has one big secret advantage.
The Forester and the Outback both perfectly embody what Subaru is all about: they’re practical, rugged-looking vehicles with stellar safety features, tons of cargo space, and an outdoorsy charm. But which SUV reigns supreme for the 2022 model year?
Here to determine that question is Jerry
, the trusted broker app that helps Subaru owners save on car insurance
. We’ve conducted an in-depth comparison of the 2022 Forester and Outback to determine which is the best for most drivers. And while you’re taking the winning model for a test drive, Jerry can help you save on all your Subaru insurance costs
. Forester vs. Outback: which is more expensive?
The bottom line: a Subaru Outback is about $1,000 – $2,000 more expensive than a Subaru Forester.
Ownership costs
But just looking at starting MSRP won’t tell you the whole story. To really understand which Subaru is more expensive, we have to look at long-term ownership costs, like maintenance and repairs, fuel, financing, and insurance.
Edmunds estimates that the five-year true cost to own a 2022 Subaru Forester is about $36,830. Compared to a total cash price of $31,032, that’s an additional $5,795. The Outback, on the other hand, has a five-year ownership cost of $37,874—just $5,298 over the cash price.
Why is the Outback cheaper to own than the Forester? Repair and maintenance costs are part of the puzzle. RepairPal gives both vehicles an average 3.5/5.0 reliability rating, but estimates the yearly repair cost for an Outback at $607 versus the Forester’s $632 annual repair costs.
Insurance costs
On average, an Outback costs $2,152 per year to insure, while a Forester costs just $2,072 per year. Of course, you can lower insurance costs for either vehicle easily by shopping for new quotes with Jerry
—but Forester owners will typically see slightly lower rates due to the vehicle’s lower value. Winner: Subaru Forester
Ultimately, the Subaru Forester is the clear choice for affordability. Low upfront costs, manageable ownership expenses, and affordable insurance all make the Forester cheaper than the Outback.
But the difference in price and ownership costs is slight. That’s why we’ve done a more in-depth comparison of these two vehicles’ strengths and weaknesses to help you decide whether investing in the Outback is worth the slight price increase.
Subaru Forester vs. Outback: In-depth comparison
Body style and size
You’ll notice the difference between the Forester and the Outback from the street. The new Forester is set apart by its boxy, truck-like SUV styling, while the Outback is a station wagon in a sloping SUV body.
The Forester is classed as a compact crossover SUV, while the Outback—technically a station wagon—is generally included in the midsize SUV category. But they’re actually quite close in size. The main difference comes down to passengers vs. cargo: the Forester has slightly roomier accommodations for riders in the front and back, while the Outback offers a little more trunk space.
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Engine and performance
The similarities between the Forester and the Outback continue with the engine. Both vehicles carry the same standard engine: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque on offer. In both the Forester and the Outback, that engine is married to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD)
. Real talk: it’s not a great engine. It gets the job done—and the base models of both vehicles make up for the engine’s sluggish performance with confident handling—but it’s not winning any races.
Here’s where the Outback has an edge on the Forester: all XT models upgrade the powertrain with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder capable of generating 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. You’ll feel the difference instantly, and it increases the Outback’s maximum towing capacity to 3,500 lbs—more than double the Forester’s 1,500-lb limit.
All told, the Outback’s optional turbo engine might single-handedly make the extra price worth it.
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Fuel economy
When it comes to fuel efficiency, the Forester and Outback are once again close siblings: in fact, they’ve got identical EPA fuel economy ratings: 26 mpg for city driving. 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined.
Neither the Forester nor the Outback has a hybrid powertrain option (yet?), and you’ll see your efficiency dropping if you move up to the off-road-oriented Wilderness trim.
Safety
Both the Forester and the Outback are safety superstars—it’s a big part of why they’ve got such a family-friendly image! Both vehicles get a perfect five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and they’re 2022 Top Safety Pick+ selections from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). So, once again, we’ll have to split hairs to see the difference.
If you take a closer look at both cars’ NHTSA ratings, you’ll see that the Forester fares slightly better than the Outback. While the Outback gets dinged in front passenger side crash tests and has an 18.50% rollover risk, the Forester has a perfect five stars across the board for everything except rollover—and the risk of rollover is only 16.90%.
On the other hand, IIHS gives the Outback a glowing scorecard of all “Good” ratings, while the Forester’s updated side crash test rating is merely “Acceptable.”
Bottom line: we can’t pick a winner here.
Tech
If the Outback’s engine gives it a big edge over the Forester, onboard tech is where the Forester really shines.
It’s not that the Outback’s tech is bad. It’s decent, especially for drivers who really just want some basic connectivity. You’ll get Subaru’s EyeSight with any model—a suite of some of the best driver assist technology in the business, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward collision mitigation.
But the dual 7-inch touchscreens are clunky, and you’ll need to move up to a higher trim level to get goodies like a navigation system and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
The Forester, on the other hand, starts off strong with a breezily intuitive 6.5-inch touchscreen, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration with navigation capability, and USB ports for passengers in the front and rear seats. Every model other than the base trim also gets onboard WiFi. It’s all very practical, very sleek, and far more user-friendly than the Outback’s awkward tech setup.
Interior and comfort
Solid build quality and comfort stand out in the interiors of both vehicles, but the Forester offers a little more space for your passengers, along with top-of-class cargo volume.
Both the Outback and the Forester are a bit spartan in their base trims: you’ll get automatic climate control and not a lot else to improve your experience. Stepping up a trim level or two will get you amenities like heated front seats, leather upholstery, and Harman Kardon audio systems.
But the Forester’s cabin is slightly roomier (including the back seats!), with a great driving position, an airy look, and tons of visibility. While it sacrifices a few cubic feet of cargo space, it’s still beating most of the class, including the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota RAV4 (in fact, the Honda CR-V is just about the only small SUV with more cargo space).
Winner: Subaru Forester
Once again, the Subaru Forester comes out on top in our comparison! The two vehicles are incredibly similar, so our ruling comes down to its lower overall cost, user-friendly tech, and comfortable cabin.
But for drivers looking for an energetic driving experience, the Outback is the more powerful of the two models, thanks to its turbocharged upgrade engine. The new Outback Wilderness also has 0.2 inches of ground clearance on the Forester Wilderness, making it a better bet for drivers with a serious itch to get out into the open country.
How to save on Subaru insurance costs
No matter which Subaru model you go with, you can rest assured that you’ll be paying less than the national average for new car insurance
. Top-notch safety ratings, low car repair
costs, and affordable vehicles make Subaru insurance fairly cheap—but that doesn’t mean you can’t still save on your premium. And with Jerry
, it couldn’t be easier. Just download the app, answer a few simple questions, and you’ll get customized real-time quotes drawn from a pool of over 55 insurance providers in under a minute. No phone calls or duplicate forms necessary—and Jerry users save an average of $800+ per year on car insurance!
“After signing up with Jerry
, 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.
Saved $725 annually
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