2026 Subaru Forester

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Original MSRP

$31,445–$41,445

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Features We Love

The 2026 Forester is very similar to the 2025 since the big redesign already happened for 2025. The biggest updates for 2026 are mostly around the Wilderness trim and a few small feature tweaks, so from a family perspective, the size, second row, and overall functionality stayed basically the same.

Car Mom Review

The Exterior

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Finally feels modern and refreshed

First Row

Second Row

Third Row

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Trunk

Safety

The 2026 Subaru Forester Earned An IIHS Top Safety Pick + Award

The 2026 Subaru Forester earned a Top Safety Pick + designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Seatbelt Pretensioners Are Included In The Front And Rear Outboard Seats

The 2026 Forester includes seatbelt pretensioners for the driver, front passenger, and both rear outboard seating positions.

Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology Comes Standard

The 2026 Forester includes standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology with:

Pre-Collision Braking
Adaptive Cruise Control
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keep Assist

Available Safety Technology Adds Additional Visibility Features

Available safety and visibility features include:

Rearview camera mirror
Blind-Spot Detection
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Surround-view monitor

Car Seat Setup

The 2026 Subaru Forester continues to be one of my favorite compact SUVs for families trying to fit multiple car seats. The bench is not massive, but Subaru uses the space really efficiently and certain three-across combinations work surprisingly well.

Five lower anchors and three tether anchors give families flexibility

The Forester has five lower anchors total: dedicated lower anchors on both outboard seats plus a shared center lower anchor setup. There are also three top tether anchors across the second row.

Both outboard seats have full LATCH setups: including dedicated lower anchors and tether anchors.
The center lower anchor setup shares with the outboard seat: so certain combinations work better than others.

Three-Across Setups Work Best With Slim Car Seats

I was able to fit two Graco SlimFit3 LX seats alongside a Peg Perego booster pretty comfortably. That said, this is not a giant SUV, so you still need to be strategic about seat selection.

Slim seats work best here: three infant seats or three boosters would be difficult.
The recessed buckles can make booster independence harder: especially when another seat is installed nearby.

Rear-Facing Space Depends On The Car Seat You Choose

Rear-facing clearance is solid with compact car seats, but taller drivers will want to be mindful about which seat they install.

The Graco SlimFit3 LX fit very well: even with the driver seat adjusted for someone nearly six feet tall.
Not every rear-facing seat will fit the same way: larger seats may reduce front-seat space more significantly.