Compared: 2022 Subaru Forester vs. 2022 Subaru Crosstrek

Size is the biggest differentiator between the two all-wheel-drive SUV models.

Jordan Golson | 

May 4, 2023 | 3 min read

Subaru

Subaru's Crosstrek and Forester each fill a different niche, but there's plenty of crossover that may lead some shoppers to compare the two. The Forester is a bit larger than the Crosstrek, with a more powerful standard engine, while the Crosstrek is a bit more affordable and offers a hybrid option and superior fuel economy.

Let's dive in and discover which SUV is right for you.

Subaru | Forester

Forester Commands Slightly Higher Price

The 2022 Crosstrek starts at about $24,000 and rises to around $37,000 for a plug-in hybrid that can travel an estimated 17 miles on electricity alone. Most of the trim levels — Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Hybrid — offer only one or two option packages, such as the mid-tier Sport, which has a $1,645 package that adds a power moonroof, premium audio system, and a larger touchscreen with navigation.

Subaru | Crosstrek

Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Limited and Hybrid, while Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist technology is included with every automatic-transmission Crosstrek.

Base and Premium include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed manual or optional continuously variable automatic transmission. The Sport and Limited trims move to a larger 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque — the same powerplant that comes standard in the Forester — with an automatic transmission as the only option.

The 2022 Forester's trims include Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Wilderness, and Touring. It starts at about $26,000 and tops out around $36,000 for the Touring, with a single options package on most trims. The Sport trim, for example, has a $1,600 package that adds an upgraded stereo, larger touchscreen, power rear liftgate, and reverse automatic braking to avoid backup collisions. A power moonroof is standard in all trims except Base. Leather-trimmed seats are included in Limited and Touring.

Subaru | Forester

Crosstrek Dimensions Are a Little Smaller

The Forester has significantly more cargo capacity than the Crosstrek (74.2 cu-ft versus 55.3), thanks in part to about 6 inches of added length (182.7 inches versus 176.5), though they have a nearly identical wheelbase at around 105 inches. Both have 8.7 inches of ground clearance, but the Forester is nearly 5 inches taller. The Wilderness trim adds a half inch of ride height.

Subaru | Crosstrek

The Forester also offers a bit more head- and legroom, particularly for rear-seat passengers. If you frequently haul larger loads or have back-seat passengers, you may appreciate the Forester's bigger dimensions.

Subaru | Forester

Forester Sips Fuel Faster Than the Crosstrek

If the size differences didn't seal the deal for you, perhaps the fuel economy differences will. According to EPA estimates, the Crosstrek gets slightly better mileage. The exception is the manual version, which is only available with the smaller engine and which gets 25 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The automatics with the 2-liter and 2.5-liter engines get 30 mph and 29 mph, respectively. The Forester's city and highway numbers are slightly lower, but the combined estimate is also 29 mph, dropping to 26 mph with the Wilderness package.

Subaru | Crosstrek

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a 90 MPGe rating and has an all-electric range of 17 miles and a 35 mpg combined rating on gas alone. The Forester has no plug-in or hybrid option.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Jordan Golson

Jordan Golson is a transportation reporter covering cars, trains, planes, future cities, mobility and more — basically, if it moves and doesn’t go to space, he's on it. He is especially interested in the intersection of transportation and technology, and that means he goes deep into electric cars, autonomous vehicle tech, sensors, safety, connectivity, and similar topics.