Family Battle Subaru Forester Vs. Outback- 5 Reasons Why One Is The Best

Why is the 2023 Subaru Outback the best-selling all-wheel-drive vehicle in Subaru of America's lineup? The Forester is falling further behind and is in third place. There's a reason why the Outback is pulling ahead of the Forester. Check out the differences before you buy.

Forester vs. Outback, which is the best?

Let's start with the similarities between the two Subaru siblings. There are many family resemblances under the body sheet metal. The Outback and Forester both come standard with Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. In addition, both have 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

They also share the same X-Mode and dual-function X-Mode all-terrain technology, and both come in the more rugged Wilderness trim levels for outdoor enthusiasts. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine powers some trim levels of Outback and Forester. But the Outback has an optional 2.4-liter turbocharged engine that the Forester does not offer.

The Outback and Forester come standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver assist safety system and get the top safety crash scores. But that is where the similarities end.

Size and driving dynamics - Advantage Outback

You can see the difference on the outside, sitting side by side. The Outback has a longer wheelbase (191.9 inches vs. 182.7 ) and a lower vehicle height (66.1 inches vs. 68.1 inches), resulting in a smoother and car-like ride. The taller Forester has better outward visibility.

Subaru Boxer Engine and Towing Capacity - Advantage Outback

The Outback offers a 260-horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque turbocharged engine option. In addition, the Outback can tow up to 3,500 lbs, while Forester can only tow 1,500 lbs on standard trims and 3,000 lbs on Forester Wilderness.

Forester has a 2.5-liter Boxer engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. 

Fuel Mileage - Advantage Forester

The Forester gets slightly better gas mileage on the highway. Outback is 26/32 city/highway mpg. Forester gets 26/33 city/highway mpg with the 2.5-liter engine.

Rear Seats and Cargo Space - Advantage Outback

Both have two rows of seats and will seat five passengers, but the Outback offers more rear-seat legroom. The Outback provides more cargo space with 32.6 cubic ft. vs. 28.9 cu. ft. for the Forester behind the rear seats. Outback has 75.6 vs. Forester's 74.2 max cargo with the seats folded flat.

The Forester allows larger cargo loading with a 39.9-inch rear gate opening. The Outback comes with standard retractable roof rail crossbars, and with Forester, they are an accessory.

Comfort and Conveniences - Advantage Outback

Inside, with the Outback, you can get the more luxurious Nappa leather seats with a 12-way power adjustable driver's seat and thigh support, and the Forester does not. Outback also offers ventilated front seats. A larger panoramic moonroof is offered on Forester but not the Outback.

The Outback offers a Smart rearview mirror and the larger 11.6-inch touchscreen vs. the 8-inch for Forester. In addition, Outback offers wireless connectivity and a few extra speakers for premium sound.

Interior Technology and Safety - Advantage Outback

On the Outback, customers can opt for a third EyeSight camera for a wider field of vision to enhance pedestrian and cyclist recognition.

Price - Advantage Forester 

The 2023 Forester comes in six trim levels; The Base Forester starts at $27,620, Premium ($30,620), Sport ($32,190), Limited ($34,300), Wilderness ($35,245), and Touring ($37,720). Pricing includes dealer fees ($1,225).

The 2023 Outback comes in nine trim levels for U.S. customers; the base trim is priced from $29,620, Premium ($31,920), new Onyx Edition with a 2.5-liter engine ($34,720), Limited ($36,520), Touring ($41,070), Outback Wilderness ($39,670), Onyx Edition XT ($39,820), Limited XT ($40,920), and Touring XT ($43,520). In addition, pricing includes $1,225 destination and delivery fees.

Winner -2023 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Outback midsize comes out on top of the Forester because it offers the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine option. This would be enough of a reason, but the Outback also has more towing capacity, superior driving dynamics, and offers more technology inside and more luxury options. So until the next-generation Forester arrives, the Outback is the clear winner over the Forester.

Check out the difference between the Outback Wilderness and Forester Wilderness here. 

Find out the 2024 Subaru Outback upgrades in the link below before you buy a 2023 model year.

You Might Also Like: The 2024 Subaru Outback Pricing, Model Guide And Its Most Significant New Upgrade

Denis Flierl brings over thirty years of combined auto industry and automotive journalism experience to Torque News readers. He is an accredited Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) member. The last twelve years have been spent with Torque News, covering Subaru vehicles and the latest news. Check back daily for his expert Subaru analysis. You'll find the latest stories on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.

Please leave your comments below, share the article with friends, and tweet it to your followers!

Photo credit: main image Competition Subaru