Pricing for the 2019 Subaru Forester has been announced and the vehicle is more expensive than the outgoing model across the lineup. For the 2019 model year, the base Forester 2.5i starts at $25,270 (all prices include the $975 destination fee), which is $1,560 more expensive than the 2018 model. The Premium trim is $1,060 more than the outgoing model, the Sport is new for 2019, the Limited's price increased by $1,460, and the range-topping Touring trim is $1,265 more expensive with a starting price of $35,270.
The reason for the price increase comes down to transmissions and feature upgrades. Last year, Subaru offered the base Forester with a six-speed manual transmission for a starting price of $23,710. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) was a $1,000 option. This year, Subaru isn't offering a manual transmission option and all 2019 Foresters are equipped with the CVT.
Additionally, the 2.5-liter Boxer engine is revised and now offers 182 horsepower (up from 170 last year), the chassis is stiffer and stronger, the wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer and leads to increased rear seat leg room and cargo space, and Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features is standard across the lineup. LED low and high beam headlights, an electronic park brake, and auto vehicle hold are also standard across all trim levels.
The new Forester Sport trim slots in between the Premium and Limited and costs $29,770. As we noted before, the Sport adds a few more unique styling cues over other trims. To get a full breakdown of pricing for the 2019 Forester, check out the chart below:
Trim | MSRP (including the $975 destination charge) |
Base 2.5i | $25,270 |
Premium | $27,670 |
Sport | $29,770 |
Limited | $31,770 |
Touring | $35,270 |
The Forester is a challenger in the competitive compact crossover segment. Despite the price increase, the Forester still has an attractive price tag. The Nissan Rogue starts at $25,775, the Kia Sportage costs $24,590, the Mazda CX-5 is priced at $25,345, the Ford Escape has a starting price of $24,935, and the Honda CR-V starts at $25,245. The Hyundai Tucson is one of the more affordable options and costs $23,530.