The 2025 Subaru Forester wins on efficiency: 29 vs 28 MPG combined in the tested configurations. The EPA estimates the 2025 Subaru Forester costs about $50 less per year to fuel. Both earn the same NHTSA overall safety rating (5 of 5 stars).
| 2025 Subaru Outback | 2025 Subaru Forester | |
|---|---|---|
| Body style | Wagon/SUV | SUV |
| Engine | 4-cyl 2.5L SIDI | 4-cyl 2.5L SIDI |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline | Regular Gasoline |
| City MPG | 26 | 26 |
| Highway MPG | 32 | 33 |
| Combined MPG | 28 | 29 |
| EPA est. annual fuel cost | $2,300 | $2,250 |
| NHTSA overall safety | ★★★★★ (5/5) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| NHTSA front crash | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| NHTSA side crash | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| NHTSA rollover | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Tested configuration | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L |
Data: official EPA fuel economy (fueleconomy.gov) and NHTSA crash-test ratings, pulled September 2026 for the configurations shown. Different trims, drivetrains and model years will change these numbers.