Subaru Forester Is Better Than 7 And Worse Than 4 New SUVs In The Snow

The 2023 Subaru Forester compact SUV is picked as the best Subaru all-wheel-drive model for the snow this winter but not the best among all top models. A recent scoring of the top vehicles for driving in the snow from U.S. News says it’s the Forester at number five best among the twelve top SUVs.

U.S. News says they picked models with tall ground clearances and can be equipped with either an all-wheel-drive system with a selectable snow mode or four-wheel-drive systems with low-range gearing for breaking out of the deepest drifts. The Forester comes standard with Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system and X-Mode with a deep snow and mud setting.

They also looked for models that offer foul-weather-friendly features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel and coddle their occupants with roomy, comfortable, and quiet cabins. The Subaru Forester offers an all-weather package with heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, windshield wiper deicer and heated side mirrors, and LED fog lights.

For extra all-weather, all-terrain performance Subaru offers the 2023 Forester Wilderness with additional ground clearance (9.2-inches), all-terrain tires, and dual-function X-Mode for extreme deep snow conditions.

The 12 top models picked as the best this winter

U.S. News picked (from best to last) the Jeep Wagoneer, Ford Expedition, Land Rover Range Rover, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Subaru Forester, Chevrolet Tahoe, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Cherokee, Ford Explorer, Lexus LX, Land Rover Discovery, and Nissan Pathfinder.

What does U.S. News say about the Forester?

“The Forester keeps bad-weather excursions on an even keel with a cabin trimmed in top-quality finishes and is roomy enough to transport adult riders in the front and rear contentedly. A 182-horsepower horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission. Many safety and infotainment features are standard, with higher trims including dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.”

What is the price of the 2023 Subaru Forester?

All 2023 Forester trim levels increased by $550 in price, including destination and delivery. 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).

Forester gets a top score from Consumer Reports

The Consumer Reports Annual Auto Survey (by subscription) revealed Subaru scored four vehicles in the top-ten models rated best all-wheel-drive SUVs in the snow. The Top-10 models starting from number one are the Subaru Ascent, Audi Q5, Subaru Outback, BMW X5, Volvo XC60, Audi Q7, Subaru Forester, Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Crosstrek, and Cadillac XT5.

Which new Forester trim is best for you this winter? We would pick the Forester Sport, but you can decide by checking our complete 2023 model guide here.

U.S. News picks the 2023 Forester as the best Subaru model for driving in the snow this winter, and it’s the fifth-best SUV among all models available for new car shoppers.

You Might Also Like: Subaru Forester Sport Vs The New Wilderness - Which Belongs In Your Garage?

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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Photo credit: Subaru USA