A 2021 Subaru Forester still asks 52% of what a 2026 one does — that's how much value it holds after 5 years. Among 87 suvs we price, that ranks #33, above the 46% class median. The steepest single-year drop comes at year 5 (−17.2%), after which losses ease to about 12.8% a year. Mileage costs it 43%: the same car reads 100k–150k instead of Under 40k miles. Calculated from 1,635 listings.
Subaru Forester value by year
The newest Forester at under half the 2026 price is the 2019, with a median asking price of $15,900 (46% of it). A 2021 and a 2020 ask almost the same, $17,995 against $18,500, so the newer year costs next to nothing extra.
| Year | Trade-in | Median | Dealer | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $25,887 | $36,200 | 25 | |
| 2025 | $21,997 | $35,988 | 34 | |
| 2024 | $20,495 | $31,500 | 36 | |
| 2023 | $17,200 | $29,988 | 60 | |
| 2022 | $17,900 | $27,500 | 42 | |
| 2021 | $12,991 | $23,000 | 49 | |
| 2020 | $12,999 | $23,198 | 63 | |
| 2019 | $12,000 | $21,000 | 76 | |
| 2018 | $8,800 | $18,995 | 91 | |
| 2017 | $8,750 | $16,991 | 122 | |
| 2016 | $6,000 | $15,995 | 109 | |
| 2015 | $5,400 | $13,385 | 207 | |
| 2014 | $5,200 | $11,999 | 155 | |
| 2013 | $4,000 | $12,000 | 56 | |
| 2012 | $3,600 | $10,000 | 75 | |
| 2011 | $1,999 | $9,900 | 75 | |
| 2010 | $2,900 | $8,995 | 107 | |
| 2009 | $1,900 | $7,995 | 64 | |
| 2008 | $2,450 | $7,991 | 23 | |
| 2007 | $2,795 | $6,500 | 28 | |
| 2006 | $1,700 | $6,991 | 27 | |
| 2005 | $1,500 | $6,991 | 18 | |
| 2004 | $1,500 | $5,990 | 26 | |
| 2003 | $1,900 | $5,900 | 21 | |
| 2002 | $1,750 | $7,195 | 18 | |
| 2001 | $1,900 | $4,995 | 13 | |
| 2000 | $1,000 | $14,900 | 6 | |
| 1999 | $1,000 | $8,500 | 5 | |
| 1998 | $1,600 | $2,995 | 4 |
How the Subaru Forester depreciates
The newest Subaru Forester has a median asking price of $34,588; a 28-year-older one runs about $2,750 — roughly 92% lost over 28 years (compare the typical depreciation curve by age).
Does the Subaru Forester hold value better than its rivals?
Over the same 5 years the Subaru Outback keeps 54% and the Chevrolet Trailblazer 57%, against 52% for the Forester. The Subaru Outback and Chevrolet Trailblazer hold value better than the Forester.
The Subaru Forester market right now
Adjust your Subaru Forester value for mileage
Crossing 100k miles costs a Subaru Forester about 43% of its under-40k asking price:
Trade-in, private-party & dealer price
For a 2026 Subaru Forester: a dealer trade-in offer is around $25,887, selling private-party nets about $34,588, and a lot asks near $36,200 — a $10,313 spread on the same car.
What sellers really ask, from our own listings: for the same model year, the Forester costs a median 5% more from a private seller than from a dealer, across the 7 recent model years with enough of both. Title, state and mileage effects are on the Subaru Forester price page.
| Model year | Private seller (listings) | Dealer (listings) | Dealer vs private |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,500 (13) | $30,200 (82) | +2% |
| 2024 | $24,500 (7) | $24,297 (77) | −1% |
| 2023 | $24,150 (14) | $24,400 (120) | +1% |
| 2022 | $22,500 (21) | $20,550 (86) | −9% |
Stop guessing at a price range.
- The exact number, not a $4,000 spread
- Market chart: where this model's price is heading
- Price-drop alerts when the model you want gets cheaper
- Full research report as a PDF
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Get an exact Subaru Forester value by VIN
More on the Subaru Forester
Subaru Forester value FAQ
How much is a Subaru Forester worth?
It depends mostly on the model year: in our listings the median asking price runs from $2,750 to $34,588 across 29 model years. A 2026 is worth about $34,588, the median of 25 listings.
How much does mileage cut a Subaru Forester's value?
Among Foresters from the last eight model years, those with under 40,000 miles ask a median $25,950, and those with over 150,000 miles ask $11,140; crossing 100,000 miles alone costs about 43%.
Which Subaru Forester year is the best value?
The newest Forester at under half the 2026 price is the 2019, with a median asking price of $15,900 (46% of it). A 2021 and a 2020 ask almost the same, $17,995 against $18,500, so the newer year costs next to nothing extra.
Is a Subaru Forester cheaper from a dealer or a private seller?
Usually from a dealer: for the same model year, private sellers ask a median 5% more, across 7 recent model years in our listings.
Does the Forester hold value better than the Subaru Outback?
No: over 5 years the Forester keeps 52% of its value and the Subaru Outback 54%, by the median asking prices of the 2026 and 2021 model years.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.