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2026 Subaru Forester vs 2026 Subaru Outback

Price, size, cabin, cargo, towing, safety and ownership side by side. Every value comes from the cited sources in each model-year profile, and gaps stay labeled instead of guessed.

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Key differences

Where the published numbers differ

No overall winner: each line is one source-backed figure. Decide which ones matter for how you will use the SUV.

AForester has

  • Starting pricelower starting price by $5,000
  • Front headroommore front headroom by 0.2 in

BOutback has

  • Overall lengthlonger by 8.4 in
  • Wheelbaselonger wheelbase by 3.0 in
  • Overall widthwider by 2.0 in
  • Rear legroommore rear legroom by 0.1 in
  • Cargo behind rear seatmore cargo behind the rear seat by 5.0 cu ft
  • Maximum cargomore maximum cargo by 6.1 cu ft
  • Maximum towinghigher towing rating by 1,200 lb

=Same figure

  • Ground clearance

Head-to-head

The numbers, side by side

Bars share one scale starting at zero, so small real differences are not exaggerated. Where a profile lists several figures, the highest published one is used.

ForesterOutback
Starting price2026 Subaru Forester: lower starting price by $5,000
$29,995
$34,995
Overall length2026 Subaru Outback: longer by 8.4 in
183.3 in
191.7 in
Wheelbase2026 Subaru Outback: longer wheelbase by 3.0 in
105.1 in
108.1 in
Overall width2026 Subaru Outback: wider by 2.0 in
72.0 in
74.0 in
Ground clearanceSame published figure
8.7 in
8.7 in
Rear legroom2026 Subaru Outback: more rear legroom by 0.1 in
39.4 in
39.5 in
Front headroom2026 Subaru Forester: more front headroom by 0.2 in
Up to 41.2 in
Up to 41.0 in
Cargo behind rear seat2026 Subaru Outback: more cargo behind the rear seat by 5.0 cu ft
29.6 cu ft
34.6 cu ft
Maximum cargo2026 Subaru Outback: more maximum cargo by 6.1 cu ft
74.4 cu ft
80.5 cu ft
Maximum towing2026 Subaru Outback: higher towing rating by 1,200 lb
1,500 lb
2,700 lb

Decision snapshot

Six buyer questions, without an overall winner.

Each card compares one documented criterion. A lead is shown only when both source-backed values use a compatible measurement; otherwise the raw facts stay visible and the criterion stays unresolved.

Starting priceStarting MSRP
AForester$29,995Base gas Forester
BOutback$34,995Premium

2026 Subaru Forester has lower published starting MSRP by $5,000.

EfficiencyGas / base fuel economy
AForesterUp to 26 city / 33 highway mpgSubaru published estimates
BOutback25 city / 31 highway mpgSubaru published estimates

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Maximum cargoMaximum cargo volume
AForester74.4 cu ftBase / roomiest published configuration
BOutback80.5 cu ftSubaru published figure

2026 Subaru Outback has more published maximum cargo volume by 6.1 cu ft.

Rear-seat roomRear legroom
AForester39.4 inSubaru U.S. specification
BOutback39.5 inSubaru U.S. specification

2026 Subaru Outback has more published rear/second-row legroom by 0.1 in.

Maximum towingMaximum towing
AForester1,500 lbProperly equipped
BOutback2,700 lbProperly equipped

2026 Subaru Outback has higher published maximum towing rating by 1,200 lb.

Basic warrantyNew-vehicle / basic warranty
AForesterConfirm current Subaru warranty bookletCoverage is tied to in-service date and mileage
BOutbackConfirm the 2026 Subaru warranty bookletCoverage tied to in-service date and mileage

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Table view

At a glance

Key specifications

4 of 8 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
Starting MSRPDifferent$29,995Base gas Forester$34,995Premium
Primary engine / system2.5L SUBARU BOXER four-cylinderSubaru U.S. specification2.5L SUBARU BOXER four-cylinderSubaru U.S. specification
Primary output180 hp2.5L BOXER180 hp2.5L BOXER
DrivetrainSymmetrical AWDStandard across the lineupSymmetrical AWDStandard
Seating5Subaru U.S. specification52026 Subaru U.S. specification
Cargo behind rear seatDifferent29.6 cu ftBase / roomiest published configuration34.6 cu ftSubaru published figure
Maximum cargoDifferent74.4 cu ftBase / roomiest published configuration80.5 cu ft2026 published figure
Maximum towingDifferent1,500 lbProperly equipped2,700 lbProperly equipped

Price & trims

Pricing and trim lineup

4 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
Starting MSRPDifferent$29,995Base gas Forester$34,995Premium
Entry trimDifferentBase · $29,995GasPremium · $34,9952.5L naturally aspirated
Highest listed trimDifferentTouring Hybrid · $41,545HybridTouring XT · $47,9952.4L turbo
Trim lineupDifferentBase · Premium · Premium Hybrid · Sport · Wilderness · Sport Hybrid · Limited · Limited Hybrid · Touring · Touring Hybrid10 researched trimsPremium · Limited · Touring · Wilderness · Limited XT · Touring XT6 researched trims

Performance

Engine, output and drivetrain

0 of 7 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
Engine / primary system2.5L SUBARU BOXER four-cylinderSubaru U.S. specification2.5L SUBARU BOXER four-cylinderSubaru U.S. specification
Primary output180 hp / 178 lb-ftSubaru U.S. specification180 hp / 178 lb-ftSubaru U.S. specification
Hybrid outputData gap194 hpSubaru Hybrid System—No source-backed value verified yet
TransmissionLineartronic CVTSubaru U.S. specificationLineartronic CVTSubaru U.S. specification
DrivetrainSymmetrical AWDStandard across the lineupSymmetrical AWDStandard
High-output / turbo engineData gap—No source-backed value verified yet2.4L turbo SUBARU BOXERWilderness and XT models
High-output / turbo powerData gap—No source-backed value verified yet260 hp / 277 lb-ftSubaru U.S. specification

Fuel & efficiency

Fuel and efficiency details

3 of 5 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
Gas / base fuel economyDifferentUp to 26 city / 33 highway mpgSubaru published estimates25 city / 31 highway mpgSubaru published estimates
AWD / alternate fuel economyDifferentAbout 25 city / 32 highway mpgSubaru published estimates21 city / 29 highway mpgSubaru published estimates
Hybrid fuel economyData gap35 city / 34 highway mpgSubaru published estimates—No source-backed value verified yet
Off-road trim fuel economyDifferentAbout 24 city / 28 highway mpgSubaru published estimates21 city / 27 highway mpgSubaru published estimates
Driving rangeData gapUp to 581 milesSubaru published estimate—No source-backed value verified yet

Size & footprint

Exterior dimensions

4 of 5 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
WheelbaseDifferent105.1 inSubaru U.S. specification108.1 inSubaru U.S. specification
Overall lengthDifferent183.3 inMost trims191.7 inSubaru U.S. specification
Overall widthDifferent72.0 inMost trims74.0 inSubaru U.S. specification
Ground clearance8.7 inMost trims8.7 inMost trims
Off-road ground clearanceDifferent9.3 inSubaru Wilderness specification9.5 inWilderness specification

Cabin

Interior space and seating

4 of 6 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
Seating5Subaru U.S. specification52026 Subaru U.S. specification
Front legroomDifferent43.3 inSubaru U.S. specification43.0 inSubaru U.S. specification
Rear legroomDifferent39.4 inSubaru U.S. specification39.5 inSubaru U.S. specification
Front headroomDifferentUp to 41.2 inEquipment dependentUp to 41.0 inRoof equipment dependent
Passenger volumeDifferentUp to 110.8 cu ftConfiguration dependentUp to 112.3 cu ftWithout moonroof
Rear headroomData gap—No source-backed value verified yet40.5 inSubaru U.S. specification

Cargo

Cargo space and practical measurements

2 of 8 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
Cargo behind rear seatDifferent29.6 cu ftBase / roomiest published configuration34.6 cu ftSubaru published figure
Maximum cargo volumeDifferent74.4 cu ftBase / roomiest published configuration80.5 cu ftSubaru published figure
Cargo length, seats upData gap—No source-backed value verified yet42.8 in2026 published specification
Cargo length, seats foldedData gap—No source-backed value verified yet75.9 in2026 published specification
Width between wheel housingsData gap—No source-backed value verified yet43.3 in2026 published specification
Hatch-opening widthData gap—No source-backed value verified yet44.3 in2026 published specification
Hatch-opening heightData gap—No source-backed value verified yet31.5 in2026 published specification
Cargo-area heightData gap—No source-backed value verified yet34.1 in2026 published specification

Utility

Towing, seating and capability

3 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
Maximum towingDifferent1,500 lbProperly equipped2,700 lbProperly equipped
All-wheel driveSymmetrical AWDStandard across the lineupSymmetrical AWDStandard
Cargo behind rear seatDifferentUp to 29.6 cu ftRoomiest published configuration34.6 cu ftSubaru published figure
Maximum cargoDifferentUp to 74.4 cu ftRoomiest published configuration80.5 cu ftSubaru published figure

Safety

Published safety ratings

0 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
IIHS small overlap frontGood2026 ratingGood2026 rating
IIHS updated moderate overlap frontGood2026 ratingGood2026 rating
IIHS updated sideGood2026 ratingGood2026 rating
IIHS headlightsGood2026 ratingGood2026 rating

Ownership

Warranty and service planning

1 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru ForesterB2026 Subaru Outback
New-vehicle / basic warrantyDifferentConfirm current Subaru warranty bookletCoverage is tied to in-service date and mileageConfirm the 2026 Subaru warranty bookletCoverage tied to in-service date and mileage

Safety systems

Driver-assistance equipment and context

A2026 Subaru

Forester

The 2026 Forester earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award and includes EyeSight driver-assistance technology. The hybrid also carries a published NHTSA 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from Subaru’s U.S. materials.

  • EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
  • Automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise functions
  • Available blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert
  • DriverFocus available on upper trims
B2026 Subaru

Outback

The redesigned 2026 Outback earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. Subaru also makes EyeSight, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking and DriverFocus part of the new-generation safety story.

  • EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
  • Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Reverse Automatic Braking
  • DriverFocus distraction mitigation

Cabin technology

Infotainment, connectivity and convenience

A2026 Subaru

Forester

  • An 11.6-inch STARLINK Multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available on higher trims.
  • DriverFocus distraction mitigation is included on selected upper trims.
  • Power rear gate and panoramic moonroof availability depend on trim and package.
  • Hybrid models integrate Subaru’s electrified power display and energy-management information.
B2026 Subaru

Outback

  • A 12.1-inch center touchscreen is standard on the redesigned 2026 Outback.
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are integrated into the current STARLINK system.
  • DriverFocus is standard in the new-generation equipment strategy.
  • Upper trims add comfort, audio and driver-assistance equipment without changing the core cabin dimensions.

Evidence ledger

Source links and research freshness

Buying context

What to check before choosing a trim

A2026 Subaru

Forester

  1. Forester is unusually easy to shortlist for tall drivers because Subaru publishes 43.3 inches of front legroom and up to 41.2 inches of headroom.
  2. The hybrid materially improves city fuel economy while keeping standard AWD, but its pricing and packaging differ from the gas lineup.
  3. Wilderness trades some fuel economy for extra ground clearance and a substantially higher published tow rating.
  4. Moonroof and equipment packaging can reduce published cargo volume, so compare the exact trim instead of relying on the maximum 74.4-cu-ft figure.
Research caveat

SUVLook does not carry the separate 2025 third-party linear cargo measurements forward as guaranteed 2026 dimensions. This profile uses 2026 data only where the existing research supports it.

Updated 2026-09-163 research sources
B2026 Subaru

Outback

  1. This redesign is large enough that 2025 dimensions should not be used as substitutes for 2026 fit questions.
  2. The 2.5L is the efficiency-focused choice; the turbo is the relevant configuration for shoppers who need the higher tow rating or stronger acceleration.
  3. The hatch opening is lower than the maximum interior cargo height, so a tall rigid item can be limited by the doorway before the cabin itself.
  4. The 80.5-cu-ft maximum cargo figure and 75.9-inch folded floor length make the Outback unusually well documented for long-load planning.
Research caveat

Maximum hatch width, lower hatch width, wheel-housing width and internal maximum width describe different points. SUVLook keeps those fields separate so a larger number is not mistaken for guaranteed rectangular clearance.

Updated 2026-09-163 research sources

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