Here’s Every 2023 Subaru Forester Trim Explained

2023 Subaru Forester will arrive in December 2022 in six available trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring

Consumers have different preferences, even when it comes to the vehicle they drive. Some prefer sedans or SUVs, while others prefer sports cars or pickup trucks. Their preferences may depend on their needs or other influences, such as their culture or the people around them.

Automotive preferences, however, go beyond just the vehicle type -- they have reasons for wanting a certain car in their garage. Some consumers buy vehicles of certain brands, while others purchase cars based on the features and elements included in them. This is pretty much the hard truth in the automotive world, and carmakers openly acknowledge them by offering different trims or grades.

Subaru knows this truth as well, which is why the Japanese carmaker is offering its vehicles in various trim levels. Each trim level usually comes with some distinct content and features, thereby allowing customers to choose a model that would suit their taste and preferences.

Known for its high safety levels, the Subaru Forester compact SUV is one of the carmaker's best-selling vehicles. The Japanese auto brand is also offering the 2023 Subaru Forester in various trims, and it may help if a potential customer knows which one to choose.

All Subaru Forester trims comes with a 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer engine, delivering 182 hp of max output and 176 lb-ft of peak torque. Paired to a Lineartronic CVT and Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, this mill is powerful enough to allow the compact SUV to tow up to 1,500 lbs.

All Forester trims also feature the latest EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and seven airbags as standard: driver and front passenger frontal airbags, side curtain airbags and side pelvis/torso airbags, and a driver's knee airbag.

Available at an MSRP of $26,395, the Forester Base comes standard with power windows, door locks, side mirrors, dual USB-A ports in the front center console, multi-function display, remote keyless entry, combination meter with color LCD, as well as the Subaru Starlink 6.5-inch Multimedia Plus system, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM and TravelLink.

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Meanwhile, the Forester Premium builds on the Base version and adds the All-Weather Package (heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and windshield wiper de-icer), a 10-way power driver's seat with power lumbar support, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels in black, ladder-type roof rails, dark tint privacy glass, panoramic power moonroof, as well as Keyless Access with Push-Button Start.

Laden with standard X-MODE with Hill Descent Control, the Premium trim also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel (with silver stitching), a center dash panel trim in black with silver metallic finish, as well as and chrome inner door handles. The Premium trim starts at $29,395.

Priced starting at $30,965, the Forester Sport offers a sporty appearance with dynamic-looking elements. Building on the Premium trim, the Sport features an exclusive gloss black trim, black-finish 18-inch wheels and a black rear roof spoiler. Aside from the orange Sport badge, this trim also dons orange accents in front lower valances, roof rail mounts and on the side.

Inside, the Forester Sport comes with dark gray color scheme with orange stitching and accents. This trim also features Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Automatic Emergency Steering as well as and dual USB-A charge ports in rear center console.

An underrated off-road beast, the Forester Wilderness also builds on the Premium trim while offering extra capabilities on and off the road thanks to mechanical, design, and functional enhancements. It's suitable for off-road adventures, thanks to a 9.2-inch ground clearance, special tuning, and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires mounted on exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels.

This trim's exterior dons a hexagonal front grille, hexagonal LED fog lights and an anti-glare hood decal in matte-black finish. It features a larger wheel arch cladding and a front skid plate. Its interior is quite water-resistant, which allows this trim suited to carrying even wet outdoors gear. Starting price for the Forester Wilderness is $34,020.

Offered starting at $33,075, the Forester Limited offers all features from the Premium trim and adds 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels in black (machine finish), body-colored exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, and dark gray accent trim for the fog lights.

The Limited trim is laden with upgraded elements such a perforated leather-trimmed upholstery, silver metallic with gloss black finish center dash panel trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever handle, Starlink 8-inch Multimedia Plus, adds Automatic Emergency Steering and 1-Touch Folding Rear Seatback. It also features dual-zone automatic climate control, dual USB-A charge ports in the rear center console, as well as a power rear gate.

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The line-topping Forester Touring contains all standard and optional elements of the Limited while adding the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. It rides on 18-inch alloy wheels in dark gray (machine finish), and comes with satin chrome exterior folding mirrors (with integrated turn signals), and LED fog lights with chrome trim. Its roof rails have a silver finish, as well as its front, rear and side valances. This flagship wears chrome exterior badges.

Customers can choose between Black or Saddle Brown perforated leather trimmed upholstery, which Subaru teamed with a 10-way power driver's seat with two-position memory, eight-way power front passenger seat, as well as heated outboard rear seats. The Forester Touring has starting price of $36,495.

Subaru offers optional upgrades for each trim level, adding various elements and features that customers may want to include in their new 2023 Subaru Forester.

Source: Subaru

Julybien Atadero writes from the island of Cebu covering various automotive topics including new sports cars, classic muscles, pickup trucks and SUVs. While I like peace and quiet, I love playing with my kid. When I have nothing else to do, I watch documentaries and animations.