Subaru Forester vs Outback – which is best?

The Forester and the Outback – arguably Subaru’s most well-known products – both demonstrate the brand’s qualities well. You can expect either of these all-wheel-drive cars to get you safely across a slippery surface and to be dependable. But should you pick the Forester or the Outback?

Subaru Forester vs Outback compared

Styling

Subaru’s cars are typically smart-looking and conservative, which lends them a timeless quality. The latest Forester features a modern-looking front end; the large grille and high-set LED headlights give it a commanding presence. In profile, the Forester’s large windows are obvious, and the car looks stocky with highlighted wheel arches and rugged plastic cladding.

The Outback, while not quite as fresh as the newer Forester, looks the part. Its cladding is more obvious and its roof rails are chunkier, hinting at the extra capability on offer. There’s something cool about all-terrain estates that the Forester SUV can’t match.

Interior and tech

There’s not much to split these cars in terms of layout. The Forester’s interior design now more closely matches the Outback’s, and the large portrait touchscreen looks far more up-to-date than the messy stack of mismatched controls in the old Forester.

Despite such a large touchscreen, there are still numerous physical buttons – most of them concentrated on the steering wheel. Neither of these cars feel like they’re chasing the latest trends, with dated-looking touchscreen graphics and the surprising absence of a digital instrument cluster. You can’t go out of fashion if you weren’t fashionable to begin with.

Both cars’ materials feel durable, but the Outback is a little more premium than the Forester, with more soft-touch materials and less of a feel that you could hose the interior down.

Subaru Forester vs Outback dimensions and boot space

With its boxy SUV body, you’d reasonably expect the Forester to be the more practical choice. The Forester certainly isn’t lacking in space – the boot looks enormous and the rear seats are spacious – but the Outback performs better in a head-to-head. Chiefly, its extra length scores it a bigger boot without giving up rear-seat space.

The Outback’s slightly lower height should make it easier for dogs to jump in and out of the boot. Both cars give you a high driving position so you get a great view of the road ahead, and ingress for less-mobile folks is easy.

What’s more, the Outback’s bigger engine contributes to its higher braked towing capacity, which might be a key consideration if you’ll be towing a caravan or large trailer.

Engines and performance

Neither of these cars is going to set your jeans on fire, but the Outback has more power and more torque than the Forester. The Outback is two seconds quicker from 0-62mph, which translates to easier everyday driving. In comparison, the Forester feels more lethargic as it labours up to speed.

While the Forester is a mild hybrid, assisted by a tiny battery and motor, it’s unlikely to be Greta Thunberg’s next car. The Forester only achieves a couple more MPG than the Outback, with both getting fuel economy in the low 30s at best. Both have fairly high CO2 emissions.

Value

You pay for the dependability and ruggedness in these Subaru models. Most Foresters and all Outbacks are over £40,000 new, which means you pay the expensive car supplement in your annual road tax bill until the sixth time your car is taxed. If you don’t want to pay this extra tax cost, it’s worth sticking with the Limited trim level on the Forester.

Which is best?

Set on a Subaru? We’d opt for the Outback over the Forester. The Outback is more practical, slightly better to drive, and slightly more premium.

Shop used Subaru Outback cars and used Subaru Forester cars for sale, or read our Subaru reviews.