Used 2023 Subaru Forester for Sale nearSt Catharines, ON

How much does the 2023 Subaru Forester cost?

Prices have softened 11.30% compared to this time last year, making it a favourable time to shop this model year.

There are 220 listings available, which suggests you should have a reasonable amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester a good car?

Yes — the 2023 Subaru Forester earns a 4.6/5 user rating and a 7.33/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its reliable performance, great safety features, and overall value, while also appreciating the smooth driving experience and comfortable interior. The Forester is also repeatedly valued for its AWD capability and rugged design, which fits buyers who want a practical SUV for daily use and outdoor trips.

The trade-offs are familiar: the underwhelming engine and limited power can leave you wanting more, and the CVT is a downside for some drivers. In context, this is a rational compact SUV built around usefulness rather than excitement, with standard all-wheel drive, a roomy cabin, and a sizable cargo hold.

With 28.6% of listings marked as good or great deals, there is still some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester reliable?

Owners rate it 4.6/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to a vehicle that feels reliable, dependable, and trouble-free enough to inspire confidence over time, with many owners highlighting its overall value and all-weather usefulness. The expert evaluation also describes it as a vehicle that should deliver good reliability over time.

That said, used buyers should still pay attention to wear items and how the vehicle has been maintained, especially if you plan to keep it for the long haul.

What should I look for when buying a used 2023 Subaru Forester?

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Base trim misses blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while higher trims add more convenience and safety equipment. The Premier trim also brings exclusive brown leather and trim, exposed stitching, metallic accents, and an 8-inch touchscreen.
• Powertrain: Every Forester uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT and standard all-wheel drive. It is described as adequate rather than quick, and there is no turbocharged or electrified option.
• Safety package: EyeSight is standard, with adaptive cruise control included. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are unavailable on the Base trim but standard on all other trim levels, and models with blind-spot monitoring add Automatic Emergency Steering.
• Infotainment: The Base trim gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen is available, along with navigation and Harman Kardon audio, but wireless smartphone charging is absent.
• Fuel efficiency: The Forester returned 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres in testing, versus an official combined rating of 8.2 L/100 km. The Wilderness model is rated at 9.0 L/100 km combined.

Which 2023 Subaru Forester trim should I buy?

The 2023 Subaru Forester is offered in 6 trim levels: Base, Touring, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Premier.

Here's the short version:

• Base: This is the value-focused entry point, but you give up blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. It makes sense if you want the Forester’s core practicality and standard all-wheel drive at the lowest price.
• Touring: This trim adds more comfort and convenience than the Base while staying within the mainstream Forester formula. It suits you if you want a better-equipped daily driver without moving into the more specialised trims.
• Sport: This is the best-value choice if you want the strongest mix of equipment and capability, because it adds Deep Snow and Mud settings to the X-Mode system. It is the trim to target if you want a more versatile Forester without going all the way to Wilderness.
• Wilderness: Choose this if you want the most off-road-focused Forester, with all-terrain tyres and additional modifications that make it more capable when conditions get rough. It is the right pick if your driving regularly takes you beyond paved roads.
• Limited: This trim adds the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System and more premium equipment, making it a good fit if you want extra tech and comfort features.
• Premier: This is the most upscale Forester, with the best-looking exterior treatment in the lineup, exclusive interior materials, and the available 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and Harman Kardon audio.

For safety-package shoppers, remember that blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are not available on the Base trim but are standard on all other trims.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2023 Subaru Forester?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 28.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 220 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.30% compared with last year.

If you find a listing below $29,576 CAD, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2023 Subaru Forester's resale value?

The current average of $29,805 CAD sits slightly below last year's $33,602 CAD.

That price movement suggests the market has become more favourable for buyers, which can make future resale a little more challenging if you buy at the wrong point in the cycle. For a seller, softer pricing means you may need to be more competitive to stand out, especially if similar listings are plentiful. On the other hand, the Forester’s practical reputation and broad appeal should still help support demand.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.6/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester safe?

The 2023 Forester earns a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, and it receives five-star ratings across the board from NHTSA, plus a four-star rollover resistance rating.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The standard safety suite is EyeSight, Subaru’s next-generation collision avoidance and driver-assist system with updated software and cameras for a wider field of view. Adaptive cruise control is standard, and models equipped with blind-spot monitoring add Automatic Emergency Steering. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are unavailable on the Base trim but standard on all other trim levels.

There are a couple of caveats to keep in mind. The IIHS gives the Forester an Acceptable rating in a new side-impact test and a Marginal rating in a new small-overlap frontal-impact assessment, so its crashworthiness is not flawless.

Should I buy a 2023 Subaru Forester or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2023 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2023 if:

• 28.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.30% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.6/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• This year adds next-generation EyeSight safety features and an improved standard infotainment system.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $29,056 CAD, the 2022 costs less than the current year's $29,805 CAD average.
• It was updated with fresh design details, an upgraded package of EyeSight driving assistance technologies, and improved utility features.

The bottom line: If you want the strongest mix of current-year safety updates, infotainment improvements, and broad buyer appeal, the 2023 is the better all-around pick. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2022 is the sensible alternative and still delivers the Forester’s core practicality.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.