2018 Subaru Forester vs 2018 Subaru Outback

2018 Subaru Forester

2018 Subaru Outback

Select style

2.0XT Premium CVT

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Forester 2.0XT Premium CVT	23	27	$27,607	$29,495
Forester 2.0XT Touring CVT	23	27	$33,675	$36,090
Forester 2.5i CVT	26	32	$22,455	$23,795
Forester 2.5i Limited CVT	26	32	$27,505	$29,395
Forester 2.5i Manual	22	28	$21,547	$22,795
Forester 2.5i Premium Black Edition CVT	26	32	$25,634	$27,345
Forester 2.5i Premium Black Edition w/EyeSight CVT	26	32	$26,657	$28,540
Forester 2.5i Premium CVT	26	32	$24,649	$26,195
Forester 2.5i Premium Manual	22	28	$24,215	$25,695
Forester 2.5i Touring CVT	26	32	$30,887	$33,090

Select style

2.5i

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Outback 2.5i	25	32	$24,360	$25,895
Outback 2.5i Limited	25	32	$30,623	$32,695
Outback 2.5i Premium	25	32	$26,351	$27,995
Outback 2.5i Touring	25	32	$34,111	$36,490
Outback 3.6R Limited	20	27	$33,064	$35,395
Outback 3.6R Touring	20	27	$36,089	$38,690

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$27,607

$24,360

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$29,495

$25,895

Monthly Payment Estimate

$492 / month

$432 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

6.7

Read Our Full Review

7.8

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2018 Subaru Forester continues to offer top safety scores, remarkable space inside, and all-round versatility; it’s still one of the best small SUVs, and a good value for money.

Unless you really need three rows of seats, the 2018 Subaru Outback is the sensible SUV alternative.

TCC Likes

Fun to drive, good ride
Excellent safety ratings and systems
Good outward visibility

Swiss Army knife utility
More refined than ever
Lots of safety tech

TCC Dislikes

Front seats small for some
Priciest trims still not that premium
No manual gearbox for turbo engine

Optional 6-cylinder is thirsty
Short on high-end luxuries
No EyeSight on base Outback

Fuel Economy

City

23 mpg

25 mpg

Highway

27 mpg

32 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Small SUV 4WD

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Volume (ft³)

103.3

108.1

Front Hip Room (in)

53.9

55.5

Second Leg Room (in)

38.1

Front Head Room (in)

40.8

Passenger Capacity

Second Hip Room (in)

Front Shoulder Room (in)

58.1

Second Head Room (in)

37.5

38.9

Second Shoulder Room (in)

56.5

57.3

Front Leg Room (in)

42.9

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)

61.1

62.2

Wheelbase (in)

103.9

108.1

Liftover Height (in)

28.6

27.9

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

70.7

72.4

Track Width, Front (in)

60.9

61.8

Min Ground Clearance (in)

8.7

Length, Overall (in)

181.5

189.6

Height, Overall (in)

68.2

66.1

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)

31.5

35.5

Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)

42.2

42.5

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)

71.9

77.7

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)

31.5

35.5

Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)

45.9

46.3

Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)

31.9

32.5

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)

68.5

73.3

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)

37.1

41.8

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.9

11.8

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.4

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

15.9

18.5

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

34.8

36.1

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Tires

Rear Tire Size

P225/55HR18

P225/65HR17

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P225/55HR18

P225/65HR17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

2700

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

2700

Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)

1500

2700

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

270

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

270

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3653

3622

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

18 X 7

17 X 7

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

18 X 7

17 X 7

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

258 @ 2000

174 @ 4000

Engine Order Code

Displacement

2.0 L/122

2.5 L/152

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

250 @ 5600

175 @ 5800

Engine Type

Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded H-4

Regular Unleaded H-4

Fuel System

Gasoline Direct Injection

Sequential MPI

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.11

Trans Type

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.66

Drivetrain

All Wheel Drive

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.35

3.67

Trans Order Code

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.80

Trans Description Cont.

CVT w/OD

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.50 - 0.98

3.58 - 0.62

Summary

Vehicle Name

Subaru Forester

Subaru Outback

Body Style

Sport Utility

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Double Wishbone

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Suspension Type - Rear

Double Wishbone

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

7.0

6.3

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

490

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

110

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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