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2016 Subaru Forester

SUV · 2015–2026

Trims and features

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

What changed for 2016

Starting prices: +$700 (4 trims; hover for each)
Touchscreen: 4.3 in → 7 in (2.5i Premium, 2.0XT Premium, 2.0XT Touring, 2.5i Limited, 2.5i Touring)
Touchscreen: 4.3 in → 6.2 in (2.5i)

2016 Forester trims

	2.0XT Premium	2.0XT Touring	2.5i	2.5i Limited	2.5i Premium	2.5i Touring
Price
Starting MSRP	$29,195	$33,795	—	$28,795	—	$30,795
Powertrain
Engine	2.0-liter turbocharged SUBARU BOXER engine	2.0-liter turbocharged SUBARU BOXER engine	2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER engine	2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER engine	2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER engine	2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER engine
Horsepower	250 hp	250 hp	170 hp	170 hp	170 hp	170 hp
Torque	258 lb-ft	258 lb-ft	174 lb-ft	174 lb-ft	174 lb-ft	174 lb-ft
Transmission	Lineartronic CVT	Lineartronic CVT	Lineartronic CVT: Lineartronic CVT 6-Speed Manual: 6-Speed Manual Transmission	Lineartronic CVT	Lineartronic CVT: Lineartronic CVT 6-Speed Manual: 6-Speed Manual Transmission	Lineartronic CVT
Gears	—	—	Lineartronic CVT: — 6-Speed Manual: 6	—	Lineartronic CVT: — 6-Speed Manual: 6	—
Drivetrain	Awd	Awd	Lineartronic CVT / 6-Speed Manual	Awd	Lineartronic CVT / 6-Speed Manual	Awd
Fuel economy (combined)	25 mpg	25 mpg	Lineartronic CVT: 27 mpg 6-Speed Manual: 25 mpg	27 mpg	Lineartronic CVT: 27 mpg 6-Speed Manual: 25 mpg	27 mpg
Size and capability
Seats	5	5	5	5	5	5
Max towing	1,500 lb	1,500 lb	1,500 lb	1,500 lb	1,500 lb	1,500 lb
Cargo behind last row	31.5 cu ft	31.5 cu ft	34.4 cu ft	31.5 cu ft	31.5 cu ft	31.5 cu ft
Max cargo	68.5 cu ft	68.5 cu ft	74.7 cu ft	68.5 cu ft	68.5 cu ft	68.5 cu ft
Ground clearance	8.7 in	8.7 in	8.7 in	8.7 in	8.7 in	8.7 in
Length	180.9 in	180.9 in	180.9 in	180.9 in	180.9 in	180.9 in
Curb weight	3,624 lb	3,651 lb	Lineartronic CVT: 3,366 lb 6-Speed Manual: 3,296 lb	3,419 lb	Lineartronic CVT: 3,391 lb 6-Speed Manual: 3,318 lb	3,444 lb
Tech
Touchscreen	7 in	7 in	6.2 in	7 in	7 in	7 in
Digital gauge cluster	4.3 in	4.3 in	4.3 in	4.3 in	4.3 in	4.3 in
Audio	—	Harman Kardon	—	—	—	Harman Kardon
Speakers	6	8	4	6	6	8
Driver assistance
Adaptive cruise control	—	—	—	—	—	Adaptive Cruise with Stop & Go
Lane keeping	—	—	—	—	—	Lane Departure Warning
Automatic emergency braking	—	—	—	—	—	Automatic Emergency Braking
Comfort
Seats	Cloth	Leather	Cloth	Leather	Cloth	Leather
Heated seats	Front	Front	—	Front	Lineartronic CVT: — 6-Speed Manual: Front	Front
Climate zones	1	2	1	1	1	2
Remote start	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Second row	Split Bench	Split Bench	Split Bench	Split Bench	Split Bench	Split Bench
Exterior
Sunroof	Panoramic Moonroof	Panoramic Moonroof	—	Panoramic Moonroof	Panoramic Moonroof	Panoramic Moonroof
Power liftgate	—	Power Liftgate	—	Power Liftgate	—	Power Liftgate
Wheels	18 in	18 in	17 in + option	17 in	17 in	18 in

Packages and options (19)

	2.0XT Premium	2.0XT Touring	2.5i	2.5i Limited	2.5i Premium	2.5i Touring
All-Weather Package $500	—	—	—	—	—	—
Alloy Wheel Package $600	—	—	Optional	—	—	—
Trailer Hitch	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Remote Engine Starter	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Remote Engine Starter - Smart Engine Start	—	Optional	—	—	—	Optional
Harman Kardon speaker system with 8 speakers and 440-watt amplifier	—	Standard	—	Optional	—	Standard
Burnished Bronze Metallic	—	—	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Crystal Black Silica	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Crystal White Pearl	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Dark Gray Metallic	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Ice Silver Metallic	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Jasmine Green Metallic	—	—	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Quartz Blue Pearl	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Venetian Red Pearl	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Black Cloth	—	—	Optional	—	Optional	—
Black Cloth with Sport Bolsters	Optional	—	—	—	—	—
Black Leather	—	Optional	—	Optional	—	Optional
Platinum Cloth	—	—	Optional	—	Optional	—
Platinum Leather	—	—	—	Optional	—	Optional

Trim data from OpenSpec (ODbL 1.0), built from Oem brochure. Still partial for this year: model, trims, powertrain, fuel economy, chassis, dimensions, exterior, interior, infotainment, safety, warranty, options, option rules, vin decode. "Optional" means a package or option adds it; hover for which.

Apple lists CarPlay for: Forester 2019–2025 (Apple).

NHTSA crash ratings, recalls and complaints

Year	Version	Stars	Forward collision warning	Lane departure warning	Recalls	Complaints
2026	SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID SUV HEV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	2	0
2026	SUBARU FORESTER SUV N/A AWD	5	Standard	Standard	3	22
2026	SUBARU FORESTER WILDERNESS SUV N/A AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	1	11
2025	SUBARU FORESTER SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	3	95
2025	SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	2	0
2025	Subaru Forester Wilderness SUV AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	1	11
2024	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	2	29
2024	Subaru Forester Wilderness SUV AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	2	29
2023	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	1	73
2023	Subaru Forester Wilderness SUV AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	1
2022	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	1	98
2021	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	0	207
2020	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	0	600
2019	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	3	833
2018	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	496
2017	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Optional	Optional	1	586
2016	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	415
2015	Subaru Forester SUV AWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	614

Source: NHTSA.

EPA fuel economy (combined mpg)

Year	EPA model	Engines	Combined
2026	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	29
2026	Forester Hybrid AWD	Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	35
2026	Forester Sport/Touring AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	28
2026	Forester Wilderness AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	26
2025	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	29
2025	Forester Hybrid AWD	Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	35
2025	Forester Sport/Touring AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	28
2025	Forester Wilderness AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	26
2024	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	29
2024	Forester Wilderness AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	26
2023	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	29
2023	Forester Wilderness AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	26
2022	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	29
2022	Forester Wilderness AWD	Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	26
2021	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	29
2020	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	29
2019	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L	29
2018	Forester AWD	Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L	24–28
2017	Forester AWD	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L	24–28
2016	Forester AWD	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L	25–27
2015	Forester AWD	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L	25–27

Source: fueleconomy.gov.

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