2026 Subaru Forester Performance

With the 2026 Subaru Forester, it’s easy to choose your perfect vision of versatility. Whether you need a capable family SUV for local carpools, or an off-road powerhouse for weekend adventures to Lake Geneva, the Forester gets you where you want to go in style and comfort. Engineered to handle everything from lake-effect snow to the morning commute, it’s the ultimate companion for life in the NW suburbs.

In this overview of the 2026 Forester performance specs, we cover the essentials: a responsive engine, impressive fuel economy for your drives down I-94, and the towing capacity you need for the bikes or the boat. We’ve also highlighted our favorite performance features—like Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive—designed to improve every drive, no matter the season.

Keep reading below to learn more, then contact us to schedule your test drive right here in Libertyville!

2026 Subaru Forester Engine Specs

Like all Subaru models, the new Forester is equipped with a 2.5L DOHC BOXER® engine and Subaru Symmetrical AWD for greater traction and efficiency on NW suburban roads. Below, you can read all the relevant Forester performance specs:

• Horsepower: 180 hp
• Torque: 178 lb-ft
• Transmission: Lineartronic® CVT
• Drivetrain: Subaru Symmetrical AWD
• Fuel Requirement: Unleaded gasoline (87 octane)
• Fuel Capacity: 16.6 gallons

2026 Subaru Forester MPG Specs

Whatever your day brings, you don’t have to worry about burning too much fuel thanks to the impressive Forester mpg figures:

• Base: 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway*
• Premium: 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway*
• Sport: 25 mpg city / 32 mpg highway*
• Wilderness: 24 mpg city / 28 mpg highway*
• Limited: 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway*
• Touring: 25 mpg city / 32 mpg highway*

2026 Subaru Forester Towing Capacity

The Forester towing capacity lets you easily tow your outdoor toys and other gear. If you’re planning on hauling a lot, consider the Wilderness trim, which offers up to 3,500 pounds of Forester towing prowess:

• Base: 1,500 pounds**
• Premium: 1,500 pounds**
• Sport: 1,500 pounds**
• Wilderness: 3,500 pounds**
• Limited: 1,500 pounds**
• Touring: 1,500 pounds**

2026 Subaru Forester Performance Features

Rounding out Forester performance, the following features work together to make every drive simply delightful. From active torque vectoring to manual transmission mode and beyond, Subaru has designed the Forester as a driving machine:

Base

• Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE®)
• Low shift mode
• Active torque vectoring
• 4-wheel independent suspension
• 4-wheel disc brakes
• Roof spoiler

Premium

All the features listed above, plus:

• Low shift transmission mode
• X-MODE®

Sport, Limited, Touring

All the features listed above, plus:

• Manual transmission mode
• Single stainless steel exhaust outlet

Wilderness

All the features listed above, plus:

• All-terrain tires

Find Your Next Subaru At Liberty Subaru

Ready to find your next Subaru compact SUV? Stop by our Libertyville showroom when you get the chance, or give us a call at (847) 362-8787 to schedule a test drive today to experience the performance of the 2026 Subaru Forester for yourself.

In the meantime, we make it easy to save with our online finance application and trade-in valuator. We’ll see you soon!

*EPA fuel economy estimates. Actual mileage will vary with driving conditions and your vehicle’s condition.

**Maximum towing capacity varies by trim level. Trailer brakes may be needed. See your retailer for details.