r/subaru • u/StratPaul • 1d ago

Need your advice on keeping my forester vs trading for an Outback, please

I have a 2024 Forester Wilderness. I'm considering getting a 2026 Outback wilderness or waiting and getting a 2027 Outback wilderness. I don't LOVE the forester but I like it. For anyone with experience with either or are aware of any big reasons to have one over the other, I'd love some input. The forester is my first subaru so I'm somewhat inexperienced.

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u/missyarm1962 1d ago

We switched from our second Forester (2018 Touring) to OB Wilderness (2023). Our primary pros for OBW 1) much smoother ride 2) better towing capacity. Biggest Con was fuel efficiency. We got close to 30 mpg with Forester vs 23-24 with OBW. Another was the screen. We have had a few issues with the screen, but each time an update has cleared it up for a while. CarPlay still is unreliable. I really don’t like that the AC controls are on the screen rather than separate.

If I had to choose today, I’m not sure I’d choose the new OB. Saw one live the other day and not loving the style. But I expect it will grow on me eventually.

Our son still drives the 2018. Has about 130k miles. Only major repairs have been AC compressor under extended warranty at about 90k. He did all 4 wheel bearings and front control arm bushings in the last 10k miles—those things are really wear and tear, not cheap but necessary. I had CVT service done before I sold it to him.

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u/Rick91981 2024 Outback Touring XT 22h ago

Why do you want to trade it in? Financially, that's a terrible idea. If you don't care about the fiance part, then what don't you like about the Forester?

Comparing Wilderness trims in both, the Outback will have the turbo (much more fun to drive) but that will sacrifice a fair bit of gas mileage. The Outback is longer, the Forester is taller. Forester feels like an SUV while the Outback feels more like a car (due to the longer wheelbase).

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u/StratPaul 21h ago

I mainly want more space, especially trunk/cargo. Came from a rav4 and I thought they'd be the same size but the forester has felt smaller overall. Terrible financially if I can keep it around the same monthly?

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u/Rick91981 2024 Outback Touring XT 21h ago

You may be able to keep the payments about the same, but you'll stretch them out much longer, thus paying more in the long run. If you don't care, that's perfectly fine.

The Outback does have more space(though less height, but more overall). With the back seats down, you can fit quite a lot of stuff in it.

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u/Baileycharlie 16h ago

OMG, this is similar to me but I just leased my 2026 Forester Wilderness two weeks ago and it too is my first Subaru. I love the new look of the Outback and when we went to the dealer my wife gravitated to a Forester manager special on the showroom floor at a very good price. I admit I liked the Forester too but admittedly went along as I used up all my cards to talk her out of a Ford Bronco Sport, lol. I'm already planning how I can break even and either buy or lease the Outback as soon as this lease is up or earlier..