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2021 Subaru Forester
2021 model year

What's new for 2021.

The 2021 Forester focused on lighting and safety. Steering Responsive LED Headlights and High Beam Assist became standard equipment on every trim level, including the base model. Previously, these were reserved for higher trims.

The Premium trim received standard Keyless Access with Push-Button Start and fog lights. Subaru also added a standard seatbelt reminder for both front and rear passengers to improve safety scores.

Safety

  • Steering Responsive LED Headlights standard on all trims
  • Standard High Beam Assist on all trims

Trims

  • Keyless Access with Push-Button Start standardized on Premium trim

Trims

5 configurations

Select a trim to see its specs and equipment.

2021 Subaru Forester

Base

Horsepower
182
City MPG
26
Highway MPG
33
Engine
2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER
Horsepower
182 hp
Torque
176 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Subaru Symmetrical AWD
Transmission
Lineartronic CVT
City / highway MPG
26 / 33
Seating
5 seats
Wheel size
17 in
Ground clearance
8.7 in
Cargo, seats up
–
Towing capacity
1500 lb

Standard equipment

  • EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
  • Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
  • Lineartronic CVT with Active Torque Vectoring
  • SI-DRIVE Engine Performance Management
  • Auto-on/off LED Steering Responsive Headlights with High Beam Assist
  • Cloth upholstery
  • 6-way manually adjustable driver seat
  • SUBARU STARLINK 6.5-inch Multimedia Plus
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
  • Automatic climate control system
  • Rear-Vision Camera
  • Rear-seat reminder

The trims, side by side.

Scroll sideways to see every trim →

"Optional" means the feature needs an upgrade or package.

5 of 5 trims
2021 Subaru Forester · Full trim comparison
Trim
Base
Premium
Sport
Limited
Touring
City / Hwy / Combined (MPG)26 / 33 / 2926 / 33 / 2926 / 33 / 2926 / 33 / 2926 / 33 / 29
Horsepower182 hp182 hp182 hp182 hp182 hp
Seating capacity5 seats5 seats5 seats5 seats5 seats
BasePremiumSportLimitedTouring
DrivetrainSubaru Symmetrical AWDSubaru Symmetrical AWDSubaru Symmetrical AWDSubaru Symmetrical AWDSubaru Symmetrical AWD
TransmissionLineartronic CVTLineartronic CVTLineartronic CVTLineartronic CVTLineartronic CVT
Name2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER
Type4-cylinder horizontally opposed (DOHC)4-cylinder horizontally opposed (DOHC)4-cylinder horizontally opposed (DOHC)4-cylinder horizontally opposed (DOHC)4-cylinder horizontally opposed (DOHC)
Displacement l2.52.52.52.52.5
Aspirationnaturally aspiratednaturally aspiratednaturally aspiratednaturally aspiratednaturally aspirated
Fuel injectiondirect injectiondirect injectiondirect injectiondirect injectiondirect injection
Horsepower182182182182182
Horsepower RPM58005800580058005800
Torque lb ft176176176176176
Torque RPM44004400440044004400
Fuel typeUnleaded gasoline (87 octane)Unleaded gasoline (87 octane)Unleaded gasoline (87 octane)Unleaded gasoline (87 octane)Unleaded gasoline (87 octane)
Auto start stopYesYesYesYesYes
BasePremiumSportLimitedTouring
City MPG2626262626
Highway MPG3333333333
Combined MPG2929292929
BasePremiumSportLimitedTouring
Length (in)182.1182.1182.1182.1182.1
Width (in)71.571.571.571.571.5
Height (in)68.168.168.168.168.1
Wheelbase (in)105.1105.1105.1105.1105.1
Ground clearance (in)8.78.78.78.78.7
BasePremiumSportLimitedTouring
Curb weight lb34533525353735413589
Towing capacity lb15001500150015001500
Fuel tank gallons16.616.616.616.616.6
BasePremiumSportLimitedTouring
Wheel size (in)1717181818
Wheel materialsteelaluminum-alloyaluminum-alloyaluminum-alloyaluminum-alloy
Wheel finishwith coversBlack with machine finishBlack finishBlack with machine finishBlack with machine finish
Tire spec225/60 R17 99H All-season225/60 R17 99H All-season225/55 R18 98H All-season225/55 R18 98H All-season225/55 R18 98H All-season
BasePremiumSportLimitedTouring
Eyesight standardYesYesYesYesYes
Blind spot detectionNoNoYesYesYes
Rear cross traffic alertNoNoYesYesYes
Rear vision cameraYesYesYesYesYes
Lane change assist––YesYesYes
Reverse automatic braking––––Yes
BasePremiumSportLimitedTouring
EyeSight Driver Assist TechnologyYesYesYesYesYes
Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel DriveYesYesYesYesYes
Lineartronic CVT with Active Torque VectoringYesYesYesYesYes
SI-DRIVE Engine Performance ManagementYesYesYesYesYes
Auto-on/off LED Steering Responsive Headlights with High Beam AssistYesYesYesYesYes
Cloth upholsteryYesYesYesYesYes
6-way manually adjustable driver seatYesYesYesYesYes
SUBARU STARLINK 6.5-inch Multimedia PlusYesYesYesYesYes
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integrationYesYesYesYesYes
Automatic climate control systemYesYesYesYesYes
Rear-Vision CameraYesYesYesYesYes
Rear-seat reminderYesYesYesYesYes
X-MODE with Hill Descent Control-YesYesYesYes
Halogen fog lights-YesYesYesYes
Panoramic moonroof-YesYesYesYes
Raised roof rails: black finish-YesYesYesYes
Rear spoiler-YesYesYesYes
Privacy glass-YesYesYesYes
Premium cloth upholstery-YesYesYesYes
Keyless Access with Push-Button Start-YesYesYesYes
10-way power-adjustable driver seat-YesYesYesYes
Leather-wrapped steering wheel-YesYesYesYes
All-Weather Package (Heated front seats, mirrors, wipers)-YesYesYesYes
4G LTE Wi-Fi capability-YesYesYesYes
6 speakers-YesYesYesYes
Dual-function X-MODE with Hill Descent Control--YesYesYes
SI-DRIVE with Sport Sharp (S#) mode--Yes--
LED fog lights--Yes--
Roof rails with integrated tie-downs--Yes--
Orange exterior and interior accents--Yes--
Gray Sport Cloth with leather shifter--Yes--
Sport gauges with color LCD display--Yes--
6.3-inch color multifunction display--Yes--
Dual rear USB charge ports--Yes--
Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert--YesYesYes
Cargo-area tray--YesYesYes
Body-color exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals---YesYes
Power Rear Gate---YesYes
Leather-trimmed upholstery---YesYes
SUBARU STARLINK 8.0-inch Multimedia Plus---YesYes
Dual-zone automatic climate control system---YesYes
Touring 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels----Yes
Roof rails with silver accents----Yes
Silver metallic finish front, side and rear underguards----Yes
Satin chrome exterior mirrors with automatic reverse tilt----Yes
Saddle Brown Leather upholstery (available)----See condition
2-position driver seat memory----Yes
8-way power-adjustable front-passenger seat----Yes
Heated steering wheel and outboard rear seats----Yes
SUBARU STARLINK 8.0-inch Multimedia Navigation System----Yes
Harman Kardon 576-watt-equivalent premium audio system with 9 speakers----Yes
DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System----Yes
Reverse Automatic Braking----Yes
One-touch folding rear seatback----Yes