Subaru Forester vs Chevrolet Trailblazer

2026 Subaru Forester
2026 Subaru Forester
$29,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
$23,100MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Subaru Forester
$29,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
$23,100MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced

1998-Present

Years produced

2002-2009

MSRP

$29,995

MSRP

$23,100

Listings

1573

Listings

2005

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.5 out of 10

Expert reviews

6.8 out of 10

Pros

  • Impressive off-road capability

  • Lots of utility

  • Good safety ratings

Cons

  • Potentially polarizing design

  • Sluggish performance

  • Dissatisfying infotainment system

Pros

  • Stylish design

  • Spacious

  • Easy-to-use technology

Cons

  • Underwhelming base engine

  • Fairly pedestrian performance

Reviews Summary

To create the 2026 Forester Wilderness, Subaru adds all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, and improved angles of approach, breakover, and departure. Drivetrain modifications enhance traction, added underbody protection prevents damage when off-roading, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire is ready when you need it. Styling changes convey this model’s rugged capabilities, and Subaru outfits the interior for easy clean-up. All 2026 Forester models have a new centre console design and updated protection for rear passengers in a collision.

Note that, at the time of writing, the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness is not being imported into Canada due to tariffs. This review of a U.S.-spec 2026 Forester Wilderness will apply to the Canadian market when importation of this model resumes. The pricing scale above applies to the full Forester line-up; Canadian 2026 Forester Wilderness pricing has not been announced at the time of writing.

Verdict: Push the new 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness to its limits, and you’ll be impressed by its off-roading capability. But even if you’re not planning to traverse challenging terrain, it is comforting to know that the Wilderness offers more competence than a typical crossover SUV when confronted with unexpected situations.

Reviews Summary

Verdict: The Chevrolet Trailblazer checks all of the necessary boxes for performance, efficiency, price, and capability. It also manages to exceed expectations for passenger space, cargo capacity, style, and ease of use.

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.5L 180 hp H4

Engine

1.2L 137 hp I3

Drive Train

AWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

Horsepower

137 hp @ 5000 rpm

MPG City

26

MPG City

29

MPG Highway

33

MPG Highway

33
2026 Subaru Forester
2026 Subaru Forester
$29,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
$23,100MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Subaru Forester
$29,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
$23,100MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced
1998-Present
2002-2009
MSRP
$29,995
$23,100
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews

4.4

4.3

Expert reviews

7.5 out of 10

Read full review

6.8 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons

Pros

  • Impressive off-road capability

  • Lots of utility

  • Good safety ratings

Cons

  • Potentially polarizing design

  • Sluggish performance

  • Dissatisfying infotainment system

Pros

  • Stylish design

  • Spacious

  • Easy-to-use technology

Cons

  • Underwhelming base engine

  • Fairly pedestrian performance

Summary

To create the 2026 Forester Wilderness, Subaru adds all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, and improved angles of approach, breakover, and departure. Drivetrain modifications enhance traction, added underbody protection prevents damage when off-roading, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire is ready when you need it. Styling changes convey this model’s rugged capabilities, and Subaru outfits the interior for easy clean-up. All 2026 Forester models have a new centre console design and updated protection for rear passengers in a collision.

Note that, at the time of writing, the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness is not being imported into Canada due to tariffs. This review of a U.S.-spec 2026 Forester Wilderness will apply to the Canadian market when importation of this model resumes. The pricing scale above applies to the full Forester line-up; Canadian 2026 Forester Wilderness pricing has not been announced at the time of writing.

Verdict: Push the new 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness to its limits, and you’ll be impressed by its off-roading capability. But even if you’re not planning to traverse challenging terrain, it is comforting to know that the Wilderness offers more competence than a typical crossover SUV when confronted with unexpected situations.

Verdict: The Chevrolet Trailblazer checks all of the necessary boxes for performance, efficiency, price, and capability. It also manages to exceed expectations for passenger space, cargo capacity, style, and ease of use.
Video

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.5L 180 hp H4
1.2L 137 hp I3
Drive Train
AWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
137 hp @ 5000 rpm
MPG City
26
29
MPG Highway
33
33
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2025 Subaru Forester vs 2025 Buick Enclave2025 Subaru Forester vs 2025 Acura MDX2025 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Lincoln Aviator2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Buick Enclave vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 Subaru Forester vs 2025 Buick Enclave2024 Lincoln Navigator vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Toyota Sienna vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Kia EV6 vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 MINI Countryman vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Acura MDX vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 MINI Countryman vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 Honda Odyssey vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Lincoln Aviator2024 Honda Odyssey vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Lexus GX vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Subaru Forester vs 2025 Acura MDX2024 Lincoln Navigator vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2025 Subaru Forester2024 Acura MDX vs 2024 Subaru Forester2024 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2025 Subaru Forester2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Lincoln Navigator2023 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2023 Subaru Forester2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Lexus RX Hybrid2023 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Lincoln Navigator2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Volkswagen ID.42023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Lexus GX2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Volvo XC902023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2023 Subaru Forester2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2024 Subaru Forester2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Acura MDX2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Lexus GX2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Subaru Forester2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 MINI Countryman2023 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Buick Enclave2023 Volvo XC90 vs 2024 Subaru Forester2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Buick Enclave2023 MINI Countryman vs 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer2023 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Volvo XC902023 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Acura MDX2023 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2024 Subaru Forester2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 52022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2023 Subaru Forester2022 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer2022 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer2022 Buick Enclave vs 2023 Subaru Forester2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Subaru Forester2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Subaru Forester2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer2022 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2022 Subaru Forester2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Buick Enclave2022 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2023 Subaru Forester2022 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Volkswagen ID.42022 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer2022 Kia EV6 vs 2022 Subaru Forester2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2022 Buick Enclave2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer2022 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2023 Subaru Forester2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Acura MDX2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator