6 SUVs Under $30K With The Most High-Tech - Subaru Forester Scores 2nd Best

You don’t have to buy an expensive luxury vehicle to get the latest high-tech features. A new report from U.S. News says the 2023 Subaru Forester is the second-best affordable option for compact SUV shoppers under $30,000. See what sets the Forester apart from the other new models.

U.S. News announced the SUVs with the most high-tech features that make them stand out from similarly priced competitors. The technologies include better crash avoidance and driver assistance features, advanced connectivity systems, and infotainment options for everyone in the car.

Here are the six best new 2023 model year SUVs with the most high-tech features under $30,000 and four models under $40,000.

Kia Seltos $22,840 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
Subaru Forester $26,395 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10
Chevrolet Bolt EUV $27,200 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.5/10
Nissan Rogue $27,360 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
Hyundai Santa Fe $28,200 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10
Ford Bronco Sport $29,215 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid $30,900 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.7/10
Toyota Venza $33,240 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.7/10
Hyundai Kona Electric $34,000 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.0/10
Jeep Grand Cherokee $39,000 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10

U.S. News picks the 2023 Subaru Forester for its safety, fuel efficiency, infotainment, and performance features. We will look at each category in detail and why Forester is a top pick for compact SUV shoppers.

The 2023 Subaru Forester is affordable

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).

Safety technology

The Forester isn’t the only model on the list with all-wheel-drive, but it comes standard on all trim levels. You won’t pay extra for Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. The Forester also comes with X-Mode for additional all-weather performance. The Forester Sport and Wilderness trim levels get the new dual-function X-Mode for severe weather and all-terrain capability. Read more about it here.

All 2023 Forester trim levels come standard with EyeSight driver assist advanced safety technology. EyeSight includes a suite of advanced safety tech like a forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with complete stop, lane departure warning, lead vehicle start alert, rear vehicle detection, blind-spot detection, lane change assist, and a rear cross-traffic alert.

Forester fuel efficiency

The Forester is fuel efficient. It comes with a 2.5-liter Boxer engine with an EPA-estimated 29 combined mpg and 26/33 city/highway mpg. The EPA says the Forester Wilderness trim level gets an estimated 25/28 city/highway mpg and 26 combined mpg.

Forester infotainment

Standard features include a 6.5-inch Multimedia Plus system with a high-resolution touchscreen, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming connectivity, SiriusXM and TravelLink (4-month free Platinum Plan subscription), and CD player.

Forester performance

According to Consumer Reports (by subscription) recent tests and surveys, the 2023 Subaru Forester scores at the top of its class in reliability. CR says Forester is number one overall for its road-test performance, owner satisfaction, best-in-class reliability, and top IIHS safety scores.

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

In the competitive compact SUV class, the 2023 Subaru Forester is ranked the second most affordable new SUV with the most high-tech features under $30,000. It’s the best pick for customers looking for severe-weather performance this winter.

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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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