Subaru’s 2026 Forester Brings Price Drops in More Ways than One

The automaker has announced this year’s pricing for its popular SUV, and even the higher-end trims are catching a break.

Five SUVs in white, bronze, silver, blue, and gray colors parked side by side on a dirt surface with trees in the background.

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By Gray Van Dyke

Published February 11, 2026

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Updated February 12, 2026

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From rumored STI revivals to resurrected WRX base models, Subaru has been making headlines with its various performance initiatives. However, that’s not to say the automaker has forgotten about its SUVs.

Not hardly. In 2025, Subaru finally introduced a hybrid variant of its North American Forester, and the addition came as a long-awaited boost of efficiency to the brand’s popular midsize SUV.

Dark green Subaru SUV driving on a road at sunset with sun glare in the background. — The Forester returns for 2026 with big savings as part of the refresh.

Now, following a shift of production to its Indiana manufacturing facility in January, there’s more good news for prospective Forester owners. Subaru has dropped pricing for 2026, and virtually every trim level touts savings compared to last year.

Purposeful price cuts

While the base Forester goes unchanged at $29,995, you’ll find that Subaru’s discounts extend throughout the rest of the lineup. Moreover, the price cuts generally increase as you move up the range.

Metallic beige Subaru SUV parked on a forest dirt road with sunlight filtering through tall pine trees. — Nearly every Forester trim level comes in at a lower price than last year.

As such, though lower-priced trims like the Forester Premium bring improved value at some $1,390 off ($31,995 compared to $33,385 in 2025), upper-range models boast bigger savings still. For instance, the Limited is now $35,995, making it $1,700 less than last year.

What’s more, Subaru’s hybrid Foresters actually herald even better deals compared to their gas-powered counterparts. The Premium Hybrid shaves some $1,865 off; likewise, the Limited Hybrid is now $38,995, putting it at $2,015 less than it was in 2025.

Two Subaru SUVs, one dark blue and one gray, parked on a coastal dirt road at sunset. — The Forester Hybrid models benefit from some even bigger discounts.

Powertrain specs and features are comparable from year to year, but the announcement nevertheless makes for a welcome exception to the typical annual price increases. As is the case with the MSRPs for the Trailseeker and the bZ Woodland, pricing for the 2026 Forester also makes Subaru more competitive relative to its rivals.

A slick new Onyx

That’s not all — for 2026, Subaru is also adding a new Onyx edition. It comes based on the Forester Sport trim, and it’s an appearance package that adds subtle style inside and out at $36,495.

Car interior with black and gray leather seats, orange stitching, panoramic sunroof, and a large touchscreen display on the dashboard. — Subaru’s Sport Onyx will add some exclusive accents to the interior.

Around the exterior, this means that it brings 19-inch dark metallic aluminum-alloy wheels and special badging. In combination with black integrated front, side and rear cladding, along with some black insert accents, it offers a look that’s sharp but understated.

The theme continues throughout the Forester’s cabin as well. Inside, the Sport Onyx comes with black and gray StarTex upholstery with brown stitching, and you’ll also find faux leather on the dash, some matching stitching on the passenger trim and a corresponding steering wheel.

Being a strictly visual treatment, the Sport Onyx doesn’t come with any changes to the powertrain. Accordingly, power comes from the same 2.5-liter boxer, paired with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT and running a revised Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

White SUV with black trim and black wheels parked on gravel in front of a brick wall with tropical plants. — The dark alloys complement the blacked-out cladding.

Availability and pricing

Subaru started production of its Forester Hybrid earlier this year, so the updated model should be rolling out in the coming months. Pricing starts from $29,995 for the gas-powered model and from $34,730 for the Hybrid.

MSRP does not include destination and delivery, which adds a further $1,450. If you’d like to learn more, you can head to Subaru’s website.

Dark green Subaru SUV driving on a road at sunset with sun flare in the background.

2026 Subaru Forester

Starts at $29,995

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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