Crosstrek vs. Forester: The Hybrids Are $735 Apart, and That Changes the Math
The 2027 models now share the same 180-hp gas engine and 194-hp hybrid. The price gap runs from $735 to $5,700, depending on which trims you compare.
Subaru sold 16,574 Crosstreks and 16,094 Foresters in October, the best October on record for both, according to Subaru of America's monthly sales report. Just 480 vehicles separated them. Over the year, the Forester is ahead: 172,570 sold through October, up 18.4%, while the Crosstrek is at 154,823, down 2.6%.
For 2027, the two are closer under the skin than they have ever been. Subaru made its 180-hp 2.5-liter engine standard on the entry-level Crosstrek, the same engine every gas Forester uses, and both hybrids share one powertrain. That leaves size, equipment, and price as the real differences. Our Forester pricing and Wilderness Hybrid breakdown covers the Forester lineup in more depth; here is how it lines up against its smaller sibling.
Crosstrek vs. Forester: the specs side by side
| 2027 Subaru Crosstrek | 2027 Subaru Forester | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (incl. $1,525 destination) | $28,520 | $31,520 |
| Cheapest hybrid (incl. destination) | $35,520 (Sport Hybrid) | $36,255 (Premium Hybrid) |
| Wilderness (incl. destination) | $35,320 (gas only) | $41,020 gas / $42,020 hybrid |
| Gas engine | 2.5L flat-four, 180 hp, 178 lb-ft | 2.5L flat-four, 180 hp, 178 lb-ft |
| Hybrid system | 194 hp combined; 118-hp, 199 lb-ft motor | 194 hp combined; 118-hp, 199 lb-ft motor |
| EPA combined, gas / hybrid | 29 / 36 mpg* | 29 / 35 mpg* |
| Hybrid range per tank (Subaru, EPA-based) | 630 miles | 597 miles |
| Length / height | 176.4 in / 63.0 in | 183.3 in / 68.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.1 in | 105.1 in |
| Cargo, seats up / down | 23.3 / 51.9 cu ft (hybrid 21.0 / 49.9) | 35.4 / 68.6 cu ft (33.1 / 64.1 with moonroof or hybrid) |
| Rear legroom | 36.5 in | 39.4 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in (Wilderness 9.3 in) | 8.7 in (Wilderness 9.3 in) |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb (Wilderness 3,500 lb) | 1,500 lb (Wilderness 3,500 lb; Wilderness Hybrid TBA) |
| Curb weight | 3,296–3,677 lb | 3,510–3,946 lb |
| IIHS, 2026 | Gas: no award; Hybrid: Top Safety Pick+ | Top Safety Pick+ (incl. Hybrid, Wilderness) |
| Sales, Oct. 2026 / YTD | 16,574 / 154,823 | 16,094 / 172,570 |
*2026 EPA ratings; 2027 listings on fueleconomy.gov were not available to us at publication. Prices are MSRP plus destination and delivery; D&D is higher in Alaska and may vary in nine Northeastern states.
One hybrid system, two bodies
The "same hybrid" line holds up. Subaru's 2027 spec sheets list identical figures for both: 194 hp combined, 154 lb-ft from the 2.5-liter engine, a 118-hp, 199 lb-ft electric motor, and the same 3.700 final drive. The gas engines match to the decimal too.
What changes is mass. A Crosstrek Sport Hybrid weighs 3,677 pounds, about 200 pounds less than a Forester Premium Hybrid, and that shows up as one extra mpg. At 15,000 miles a year and around $4 a gallon, the gap is roughly $50 annually. That is not a reason to pick either car.
Where the price gap actually lands
The headline difference between base models is $3,000, but it moves a lot by trim. Based on Subaru's 2027 Crosstrek pricing and 2027 Forester pricing:
| Closest match | Crosstrek MSRP | Forester MSRP | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | $26,995 | $29,995 | $3,000 |
| Premium with blind-spot package | $30,240 | $33,195 | $2,955 |
| Limited (gas) | $32,995 | $37,595 | $4,600 |
| Wilderness (gas) | $33,795 | $39,495 | $5,700 |
| Entry hybrid: Sport Hybrid vs. Premium Hybrid | $33,995 | $34,730 | $735 |
| Sport Hybrid vs. Sport Hybrid | $33,995 | $37,930 | $3,935 |
| Limited Hybrid | $35,995 | $38,995 | $3,000 |
The $735 row is the one that matters. The Crosstrek Sport Hybrid and Forester Premium Hybrid come with nearly the same equipment: blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat, a moonroof, navigation, a wireless charger, and a 12.3-inch digital cluster. The Forester adds a panoramic moonroof and a power rear gate, plus 12 more cubic feet of cargo space. The Crosstrek counters with sport-cloth seats, yellow accents, and a footprint that is easier to park.
On gas models, the Premium comparison needs an asterisk. The Forester Premium includes heated seats, a power seat, and a panoramic moonroof, which the Crosstrek Premium charges $2,245 for. Once both carry blind-spot monitoring, the real gap is under $3,000.
What the extra seven inches buy
Both cars ride on a 105.1-inch wheelbase. The Forester is 6.9 inches longer and 5.1 inches taller, and almost all of that goes to space: 52% more cargo room behind the rear seats, 9.3 inches more height in the cargo area, and 2.9 inches more rear legroom. Its load floor is also lower, at 28.9 inches versus 30.7, which matters if your dog jumps in on its own.
Don't expect the Crosstrek to feel dramatically nimbler in a parking garage. Its turning circle is 35.44 feet; the Forester's is 35.4. The Crosstrek's advantages are a shorter body for tight parallel spots and a roofline low enough for low garages and loading a roof box.
Wilderness vs. Wilderness
A common assumption is that the Forester is the one for towing. In 2027 trim, that is only true if you compare a Forester Wilderness with a regular Crosstrek. Non-Wilderness versions of both are rated at 1,500 pounds, and both Wilderness models are rated at 3,500 pounds, with 9.3 inches of clearance, all-terrain tires, a transmission cooler, and a shorter 4.111 final drive.
The geometry splits the difference. The Crosstrek Wilderness has the better departure angle, 33.0 degrees versus 25.5. The Forester Wilderness has the better approach angle, 23.5 degrees versus 20.0. For the $5,700 gap, the Forester also adds a Harman Kardon system, a power rear gate, navigation, heated rear seats, a 180-degree front camera, and a full-size spare.
There is no Crosstrek Wilderness Hybrid. The new Forester Wilderness Hybrid costs $1,000 more than the gas Forester Wilderness, but Subaru had not published its EPA rating or tow rating as of this writing. We compared it with Toyota's closest rival in our RAV4 Woodland vs. Forester Wilderness Hybrid test.
Safety ratings
The 2026 Forester, including Wilderness and Hybrid models, is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. The Crosstrek Hybrid also earned Top Safety Pick+, and IIHS rates it separately from the gas Crosstrek because of differences in structure and restraints. The gas Crosstrek holds no 2026 IIHS award. Every version of both cars has EyeSight as standard.
What we don't know yet
- Final 2027 EPA listings. The figures above are 2026 ratings and Subaru's EPA-based range claims.
- Fuel economy and towing for the Forester Wilderness Hybrid.
- November financing and lease deals. Programs vary by region, so check subaru.com with your ZIP code before visiting a dealer.
- Exact arrival dates. Subaru says both 2027 lineups reach dealers this fall, so many lots still have 2026 models.
Which one should you buy?
If you are shopping hybrids, buy the Forester Premium Hybrid. For $735 more than a Crosstrek Sport Hybrid, you get the same powertrain, nearly the same equipment, and a cargo area big enough to change how you use the car. That is the clearest call in either lineup.
If your budget tops out in the high $20,000s, the base Crosstrek is the better buy. It now gets the same 180-hp engine as the Forester for $3,000 less, and for one or two people, 23.3 cubic feet is plenty. City dwellers with tight street parking should also lean Crosstrek.
Families, dog owners, and anyone who regularly fills the back seat should go Forester. The gas Wilderness is the toughest call: the Crosstrek does the same towing and trail work for $5,700 less, so pay for the Forester only if you need the room. Considering a wagon instead? See our Outback vs. Forester comparison. Looking beyond Subaru? Our CR-V vs. Tucson Hybrid comparison covers two strong compact hybrid rivals.
