With many loyal customers drawn to reliability and safety, the 2023 Subaru Forester remains a popular compact SUV. Although nearly every trim is affordable, like many models, it too has a high-end variant. The fully-loaded 2023 Subaru Forester Touring costs over $35,000, but it comes with a wide variety of features, tech, and more. Does the highest starting price in the Forester lineup include enough to make it worth your while? What comes with a fully loaded 2023 Subaru Forester?

2023 Subaru Forester: Engine and transmission

All versions of the 2023 Subaru Forester are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 182 horsepower. Additionally, the model is capable of towing up to 1,500 pounds, which is on par with the competition in its class. Just about every Subaru model, including the Forester, comes with all-wheel drive in all its versions. Moreover, the Forester gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

Furthermore, Subaru has moved completely to continuously variable transmissions. “Gearless CVTs are mechanically simpler, offer a smoother driving experience, and are often more fuel-efficient than old-fashioned automatics. Their two-pulley systems automatically settle into the most efficient configuration for each speed,” said Kelley Blue Book.

However, the Touring model is the standalone Forester to receive a seven-speed manual mode for its transmission. It uses artificial gears that are pre-set configurations of the pulleys, which allow the driver to shift between them using paddle shifters as necessary. KBB says most will probably rarely use the feature, but having more control using the shifters for low-speed torque is excellent for trails.

Forester interior and features

Next, the interior of the 2023 Subaru Forester is a high-quality space to spend your time. Most use cloth or the Subaru water-repellent StarTex material, but the Touring model uses leather. As with most models, real leather cladding the seats makes the interior feel much more luxurious. The posh and comfortable cabin is an excellent place to be during long road trips.

In addition to soft-touch leather surfaces, the Forester Touring is well-equipped. Customers getting the Forester for a snowy winter climate because of all-wheel drive will love the heated seats included with the Touring model. While some versions of the compact SUV can get heated seats through the All-Weather package, it’s standard for the fully-loaded trim. We’re not just talking about front seats, either. The rear outboard passengers also get toasted bottoms, and the Forester Touring is the only model with a standard heated steering wheel.

Advanced technology inside and out

Comfort and convenience are always enhanced by a vehicle’s many pieces of technology. For the 2023 Subaru Forester, a 6.5-inch multimedia screen is standard. However, the fully-loaded variant gets an eight-inch high-resolution touchscreen with navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto standard. Additionally, drivers can play music through a nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system that includes a 576-watt amplifier.

For safety, the Forester Touring has one feature no other trim has, the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation system. Since it’s so easy to get distracted while driving, which is the cause of many vehicles getting rear-ended, it’s an excellent feature to have. Simply put, it alerts the driver if their attention is off the road for more than a few seconds. Optional on other models, the Touring trim also gets reverse automatic braking.

2023 Subaru Forester standard features and equipment

In conclusion, the 2023 Subaru Forester Touring is the fully-loaded model of the compact SUV. As a result, it has more options than the rest of the lineup. An optionally-manual transmission, plenty of horsepower and mpg, advanced technology, and leather heated seats make the Forester an excellent option. Many loyal customers enjoy the Forester because of its reliability, but the fully-loaded model can do just about everything.