The 2027 Subaru Forester is the right compact SUV for active suburban families who want standard all-wheel drive, strong safety tech, and flexible cargo space without stepping into luxury-SUV pricing. Starting at $29,995 for the Base AWD and topping out at $41,545 for the Touring Hybrid, the lineup spans ten distinct trims — including five hybrid variants rated at 35 mpg combined— all sharing Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and EyeSight® driver assistance as standard equipment.

The 2027 Subaru Forester starts at $29,995(plus a $1,525 destination charge) for the Base AWD and climbs to $41,545 for the Touring Hybrid — a spread of roughly $11,500 that gives shoppers meaningful choices without requiring a luxury-brand budget. Every trim in the lineup runs on regular 87-octane fuel, which keeps day-to-day fill-up costs predictable.

The five non-hybrid trims — Base AWD, Limited, Premium, Premium (Japanese Production), and Wilderness — all return 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway / 29 mpg combined, making them solid choices for commuters who primarily drive highway miles. The five hybrid trims — Limited Hybrid, Premium Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Touring Hybrid, and Wilderness Hybrid — step up to 35 mpg city / 34 mpg highway / 35 mpg combined, a meaningful 21% improvement in combined efficiency that adds up on longer daily drives. The Wilderness and Wilderness Hybrid are the exception to both groups, rated at 24 city / 28 hwy / 26 combined and 24 city / 28 hwy / 26 combined respectively, reflecting their more aggressive off-road tuning.

Destination charge of $1,525 applies to all trims.

Shoppers ready to see what's in stock can browse available 2027 Forester models at Sunset Hills Subaru, or check our pre-owned SUV inventory for value-focused alternatives.

Pricing by trim

Destination charge: $1,525 across all trims.

Every single 2027 Forester trim ships with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard equipment — there is no front-wheel-drive option in this lineup. That matters on Chesterfield's gently rolling terrain and during Missouri's unpredictable shoulder seasons, when wet leaves or a surprise overnight freeze can catch drivers off guard. The full-time AWD system distributes torque continuously rather than reactively, so traction is already engaged before a slip occurs.

The standard powertrain is a 2.5L horizontally opposed Subaru BOXER four-cylinder paired with a Lineartronic CVT transmission. Non-hybrid trims produce 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, delivered smoothly through the CVT for relaxed highway cruising and confident merging. Hybrid trims — Limited Hybrid, Premium Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Touring Hybrid, and Wilderness Hybrid — add an AC permanent magnet synchronous electric motor integrated into the transmission, lifting output to 194 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque while simultaneously improving fuel economy to 35 mpg combined.

The suspension layout — MacPherson struts up front and a double-wishbone rear — with independent coil springs at both ends delivers a composed, controlled ride over uneven surfaces. Ground clearance sits at 8.7 inches across most trims, with a 19-degree approach angle and a 24.6-degree departure angle(24.7 degrees on Sport Hybrid and Touring Hybrid), giving the Forester genuine capability on unpaved park roads and gravel driveways without requiring a body lift.

Electronic stability control, traction control, ABS with four ventilated disc brakes, brake assist, hill holder, and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold are all standard. The Limited and upper trims add a terrain selection mode for additional driver confidence on varied surfaces. Keeping your Forester performing at its best over time starts with genuine components — you can browse Subaru OEM parts directly through Sunset Hills Subaru.

Five-passenger seating is standard across every 2027 Forester trim, with a 2+3 configuration that gives front occupants 43.3 inches of legroom and 41.2 inches of headroom on the Base AWD (40 inches on trims with a panoramic sunroof). Rear passengers enjoy 39.4 inches of leg room, 56.7 inches of shoulder room, and 53.7 inches of hip room— numbers that translate to genuine comfort for three adults on longer drives, not just two children.

Cargo volume behind the rear seat is about 30 cu ft on the Base AWD and about 27.5 cu ft on all other trims. Fold the rear seatback and the load floor opens to about 74 cu ft on the Base AWD and about 69 cu ft on the remaining trims — enough room for a family's worth of gear headed to a weekend outing. The cargo area sits at a comfortable 28.9-inch loading floor height, and a flexible rear cargo cover is included on all trims above Base.

Seating materials step up through the lineup: Base AWD uses cloth, Premium trims use upgraded cloth, Sport and Wilderness Hybrid trims use StarTex synthetic material, Limited uses leather, and the Touring Hybrid offers leather with synthetic suede accents. The Limited and upper trims add fully power-adjustable front seats — the driver's seat with five electric adjustments including lumbar, and the passenger seat with four. Heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control round out the comfort story on higher trims.

Families needing three rows for larger groups should also take a look at the Subaru Ascent lineup, which seats up to eight passengers.

The 2027 Forester's technology tier splits cleanly between the Base AWD and everything above it. The Base AWD carries a 7-inch touchscreen with a 4-speaker audio system, a single USB-A connection up front, one 12V outlet in the rear, and one in the cargo area. It supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (both wired), satellite radio with a 4-month trial, and over-the-air software updates — a capable starting point for daily commuters.From the Premium trim upward, the infotainment system grows to an 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, two USB charging ports in the front and two in the rear, a wireless charging pad, and an embedded Wi-Fi hotspot (1 GB/month included for one month). The system also gains built-in navigation with a 12.3-inch screen, 3D mapping, voice guidance, internet-connected traffic data, 12 months of traffic subscription, and 36 months of map updates — useful for navigating construction detours around the St. Louis metro without pulling out a phone. The Limited and higher trims add an 11-speaker harman/kardon® premium audio system with a subwoofer, a step up from the 6-speaker setup on Premium trims. The Touring Hybrid goes furthest, adding a head-up display projected onto the windscreen and a 360-degree surround-view camera system that makes tight parking situations significantly easier.

Fuel economy and range by trim

Yes — Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard on all ten 2027 Forester trims, from the Base AWD at $29,995 through the Touring Hybrid at $41,545. There is no front-wheel-drive configuration available. The system is full-time, meaning torque is distributed to all four wheels continuously rather than only when a slip is detected. This is one of the most meaningful distinctions between the Forester and many competing compact SUVs that offer AWD only as an upgrade or optional package.

Towing capacity varies significantly by trim. The Wilderness and Wilderness Hybrid both carry a 3,500-lb tow rating — the highest in the lineup and enough for a small boat or utility trailer. The Limited Hybrid, Premium Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, and Touring Hybrid are each rated to tow 1,500 lbs. The Base AWD, Limited, Premium, and Premium (Japanese Production) trims do not have a published tow rating in the catalog data. If towing capability is a priority, the Wilderness or a hybrid trim is the right choice.

The Premium and Premium (Japanese Production) share identical specifications, features, and the same base MSRP structure — the key difference is the assembly location. The standard Premium is built at the Lafayette, Indiana facility. The Premium (Japanese Production) is assembled at the Gunma Yajima Plant in Japan and carries an MSRP of $33,195 versus $31,995 for the domestic-built Premium. The Japanese Production variant also adds two-tone paint availability that is not listed on the standard Premium.

The easiest way is to submit a financing application online before visiting the dealership — it takes only a few minutes and lets the team at Sunset Hills Subaru prepare options in advance. You're also welcome to give us (314) 476-9638 a call with questions, or stop by at 10100 Watson Rd, Sunset Hills, MO 63127 to speak with a product specialist in person.

No. The Forester hybrid is a conventional hybrid — not a plug-in hybrid. The 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery charges itself through regenerative braking and the engine; no external charging equipment or home outlet is needed. This makes the hybrid trims a straightforward upgrade for buyers who want better fuel economy without any changes to their garage or daily routine.