10 Best Compact SUVs For The Money - Aging Subaru Forester Peaks At The Right Time

Many buyers want to wait for the next-generation Forester that gets a complete remodel. So should you buy the aging 2023 Subaru Forester? Of course, the Forester needs upgrades, but U.S. News says the Forester is still one of the ten best compact SUVs for the money you can buy this year.

To find the best value, they looked at real-time transaction prices from its partner TrueCar combined with five-year total ownership costs from Vincentric. As a result, Forester has one of the lowest cost of ownership costs over five years with the lowest initial prices.

U.S. News 10 Best Compact SUVs For The Money

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander - $27,595 | Cost of Ownership: $60,419 | Overall Score: 7.7
2023 Chevrolet Equinox - $26,600 | Cost of Ownership: $55,119 | Overall Score: 7.7
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan - $26,950 | Cost of Ownership: $52,864 | Overall Score: 7.8
2023 Honda CR-V - $31,610 | Cost of Ownership: $52,768 | Overall Score: 8.2
2023 Kia Sportage - $26,290 | Cost of Ownership: $52,393 | Overall Score: 8.1
2023 Subaru Forester - $26,395 | Cost of Ownership: $52,005 | Overall Score: 8.2
2023 Ford Bronco Sport - $29,215 | Cost of Ownership: $52,851 | Overall Score: 8.3
2023 Toyota RAV4 - $27,975 | Cost of Ownership: $50,614 | Overall Score: 8.1
2023 Hyundai Tucson - $26,700 | Cost of Ownership: $54,881 | Overall Score: 8.5
2023 Mazda CX-5 - $26,700 | Cost of Ownership: $55,778 | Overall Score: 8.7

What does U.S. News say?

For Value, "Although it has a below-average price and a low five-year cost of ownership, the 2023 Subaru Forester doesn't skimp on features. For starters, it comes standard with all-wheel drive. Additionally, this Subaru comes with a nice array of standard infotainment and safety technology."

For Quality: "The Forester doesn't accelerate quickly, but it handles corners with composure. Despite its standard all-wheel-drive system, it also rides comfortably and gets good gas mileage. Inside, the Forester offers plenty of passenger space in both rows, providing more cargo space than many competitors. Rounding out Forester's strengths is a praiseworthy predicted reliability score."

The Forester needs a remodel, but it peaks at the right time. At the end of the vehicle's life cycle, before a remodel, Subaru has worked out all the problems with the compact SUV. As a result, customers who buy the 2023 Forester will get a reliable vehicle with few issues. In addition, the 2023 Forester has zero recalls from the NHTSA.

Consumer Reports ranks the 2023 Forester as one of the ten best cars of the year. They say it's an exceptional model that meets their highest standards for performance, safety, reliability, road-test performance, owner satisfaction, and garnering a high-enough Overall Score to earn a coveted CR recommendation.

Forester gets the top safety scores from the IIHS.

The 2023 Forester earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also gets the top five-star rating from the NHTSA.

What is the price of the 2023 Forester?

The 2023 Forester comes in six trim levels; The Base Forester starts at $27,620, Premium ($30,620), Sport ($32,190), Limited ($34,300), Wilderness ($35,245), and Touring ($37,720). Pricing includes dealer fees ($1,225).

The 2023 Subaru Forester needs a remodel but peaks at the right time. As a result, it offers one of the best values for compact SUV shoppers this year.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

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