Choosing the Best Subaru Forester Trim for Life in New England

You'll be hard-pressed to get a dyed-in-the-wool Subaru fan to change automotive brands.

When it comes to all-around performance and capability, Subaru's stalwart SUV, the Subaru Forester, has, for many generations, met the needs of New England families seeking a solid family car that offers respectable off-road capability, perfect for those whose lives revolve around an adventurous outdoor lifestyle.

How do I choose the best Subaru Forester trim?

Now, we all know we have different budgets and ideas about what makes the best purchase choice when it comes to our vehicles. Thankfully, the 2026 Subaru Forester trim lineup offers enough options to help buyers find their perfect choice.

All six trim levels of the long-lasting Forester SUVs deliver the perfect mix of versatility, capability, and safety regardless of the model chosen.

Naturally, such is life: the most expensive trim level of any vehicle is typically the top choice, loaded with all the best exterior and interior features. But as mentioned, we all have differing budgets, so opting for the priciest range-topping trim is not always the answer.

So what are the best Subaru Forester trims for life in New England?

Arguably, the most important consideration when car-buying is getting the right engine for your needs.

Thankfully, Subaru has made this decision easy by deeming the naturally aspirated gasoline 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine more than good enough to power all six trim levels, so buyers looking at the most affordable Base trim need not feel short-changed when it comes to performance.

This engine produces 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque and is paired with Subaru's Lineartronic CVT and Subaru's Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system.

For owners wishing to tow a small camping trailer or personal watercraft, the Forester has a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, and to keep things tidy when trailering, buyers will appreciate the Trailer Stability Assist feature.

Base

The Base trim is your top choice for affordability. At a starting MSRP of $29,995, the Base model offers a myriad of standard features at its low entry price.

Just some of the Base trim's exterior appointments include:

• 17 x 7.0-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with a dark metallic and machine finish
• 225/60 R17 99H all-season tires
• LED Steering Responsive Headlights
• High Beam Assist
• Roof spoiler
• Two-speed windshield wipers with variable-intermittent mode and mist feature
• Single-speed rear window wiper with fixed-intermittent mode
• Raised roof rails

The practical, spacious and well-laid-out cabin offers seating for five in two rows, along with premium-quality soft-touch materials.

Key standard interior amenities include:

• Manually adjustable front seats
• 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks
• Cloth upholstery
• Analog instrument cluster with speedometer and tachometer and 4.2-inch display
• Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control
• Auto-on/off headlights
• Auto-up/auto-down driver's window with anti-pinch protection
• 3-spoke steering wheel with integrated controls
• Manually adjustable tilt/telescoping steering column
• Dual-zone automatic climate control system

Travel along New England's mix of fast interstate highways and historic, highly scenic country roads is made that much more enjoyable with convenient in-car storage solutions that include:

• Four bottle holders
• Overhead console with dual LED maplights and sunglasses storage
• Multi-function center console
• Cargo-area grocery bag and tie-down hooks
• Cargo-area rear gate light
• Cargo-area underfloor storage

The Base trim's infotainment system comprises a Subaru dual 7.0-inch Multimedia System with four speakers. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration is standard, plus SiriusXM®and SiriusXM® Travel Link®, AM/FM stereo, HD Radio®, USB-A input port, Bluetooth® audio streaming and hands-free phone and text messaging connectivity, and a 3.5mm auxiliary jack.

Assisting drivers to stay in control when the New England weather turns nasty are standard across the range features such as Vehicle Dynamics Control, a Traction Control System, and Active Torque Vectoring.

Premium

At $31,995, the Premium trim is the best choice for buyers seeking a few more luxury features, like a panoramic power moonroof, to enjoy the splendid autumn colors that New England's winding roads have to offer.

This trim adds further items like:

• Keyless Access with Push-Button Start
• LED fog lights
• Windshield wiper de-icer and heated side mirrors
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 10-way power adjustable driver's seat
• 4-way manually adjustable passenger seat
• Heated front seats
• Illuminated front USB-C input port
• Fold-down rear armrest with dual cup holders

The Premium trim also adds X-Mode that enhances traction in adverse conditions, and Hill Descent Control, which is especially helpful in New England's winter season.

The infotainment system has been upgraded to the Subaru 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus System with six speakers.

Sport

At $34,795, the Sport trim just might be the sweet spot for buyers seeking enhanced styling along with further niceties including:

• 8-speed manual mode and low-shift mode
• 19 x 7.5-inch aluminum-alloy wheels in a bronze finish
• Side-mirror-integrated turn signals
• Low-profile roof rails
• Single stainless steel exhaust outlet
• StarTex® upholstery
• Optional Harman Kardon® premium audio system

Wilderness

Available from $36,995, the Wilderness trim is the top pick of the Forester trims for shoppers needing maximum off-road capability.

The Wilderness trim offers an elevated 9.3-inch ground clearance, 235/60 R17 102T all-terrain tires on matte-black 17-inch wheels, Hexagonal LED fog lights,  protective body cladding, and water-repellent StarTex upholstery perfect for outdoorsy New England living.

Limited

Buyers prioritizing comfort will find their perfect match in the Limited trim, with a starting MSRP of $35,995 that adds to the lower trims' features, items such as:

• Heated steering wheel
• Leather seats
• 10-way power adjustable driver's seat
• 8-way power adjustable passenger seat
• 18 x 7.0-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with dark metallic machine finish
• 225/55 R18 98V all-season tires

Touring

The ultimate choice for buyers seeking top luxury in their Forester, the Touring trim at a starting $39,995 features luxury amenities like:

• 19-inch alloy wheels with dark metallic recesses and machine-finish face
• Leather-trimmed upholstery with Dinamica inserts
• All-Weather Package with heated front and rear seats
• Premium Harman Kardon audio and built-in navigation
• DriverFocus distraction mitigation and a 360-degree surround-view monitor

Discover the Subaru Forester at Granite Subaru

Be sure to visit the Granite Subaru Dealership to learn more about the right Subaru Forester for you.

We are Subaru experts who offer great customer service. With an extensive inventory of high-quality new and pre-owned vehicles, we will help you find the Subaru that best matches your budget and lifestyle.