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The 2023 Subaru Forester is due for a remodel, but it still had an impressive increase in April. As a result, the compact SUV stays below the newly-upgraded Outback midsize SUV for a third-place position in the all-wheel-drive lineup. But compact SUV shoppers haven't given up on the aging Forester yet. Keep reading to discover why Forester is the best pick for compact SUV shoppers this spring and summer.
Subaru of America reports that the Forester compact SUV was up an impressive 57.4 percent in April, with 9,651 models sold compared with 6,130 in April 2022.
The Forester is still behind in sales to the Crosstrek subcompact SUV and the newly upgraded 2023 Subaru Outback midsize SUV. But because of the last two months, Forester is up 6.9 percent in the first four months of 2023.
Why should customers consider the 2023 Forester?
In Kelley Blue Book's (KBB) 2023 5-Year Cost to Own cars, trucks, and SUV awards. KBB says the 2023 Forester is the lowest cost-to-own model in the compact SUV category.
What does it mean for SUV shoppers?
KBB adds up all costs associated with a vehicle for five years to generate this year's winners. Costs such as fuel, maintenance, repairs, financing, insurance, and one of the most significant factors of all, depreciation, are all factors that affect a vehicle's total ownership costs.
KBB predicted the 2023 Forester to have a 5-year cost-to-own of $37,367 (including the purchase price), which is $3,635 less than the compact SUV segment average.
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).
What is the fuel mileage of the 2023 Forester?
The Forester gets an EPA-estimated 26/33 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg. The EPA rated the new Forester Wilderness with an estimated 25/28 city/highway mpg and 26 combined mpg.
What's next for the Forester?
The 2024 Subaru Forester should get a complete remodel from the ground up. The 2019 Forester was the last complete model change, and if Subaru Corporation stays with Forester's five-year model cycle, the compact SUV will get new upgrades for the 2024 model year.
The new exterior styling, upgraded interior and infotainment, and the latest EyeSight safety features will improve the next-generation Forester. Will it be enough?
The Forester needs new upgrades.
What the next-generation Forester needs is a new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine upgrade. Will Subaru bring back the Forester XT turbo trim level? At a minimum, the 2024 Forester needs a Wilderness trim with the FA24 turbocharged engine upgrade. This would breathe new life into the aging compact SUV.
When will the next-generation Subaru Forester be available for U.S. customers?
Planet Subaru says, "The anticipated 2024 Subaru Forester release date is the fall of 2023. We offer this prediction with the caveat that the global, multi-year supply chain situation has recently delayed the introduction of Subaru redesigns. As a result, the Impreza and Crosstrek previously refreshed reliably on a five-year schedule, recently went seven and six years without introducing an all-new model."
Before the all-new Forester arrives, the 2023 Subaru Forester had impressive sales in April, with a remarkable 57.4 percent increase. As a result, customers haven't given up on the aging model. The aging Forester is still a good pick for compact SUV shoppers and is ranked the lowest-cost-to-own Compact SUV by KBB.
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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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Comments
I am waiting on Subaru and
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I am waiting on Subaru and Mazda is get on the Hybrid bandwagon. No turbocharger for me.