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Subaru Forester Depreciation
A Subaru Forester will depreciate 35% after 5 years and have a 5 year resale value of $25,269.
The Subaru Forester does slightly above average when it comes to overall depreciation. Unlike most vehicles whose value falls fast when new, and then levels off, the Forester's declining value is slow and steady, with no obvious entry points on what is a good model year to buy. Whereas the Forester holds its value reasonably well in the first few years, consider a 2-year or 3-year lease, where residual values will be higher, and your lease payments lower as a result.
The chart below shows the expected depreciation for the next 10 years. These results are for vehicles in good condition, averaging 13,500 miles per year. It also assumes a selling price of $39,062 when new. Enter your purchase price, expected ownership period and estimated miles driven annually. Our depreciation calculator will predict an expected resale value for the Subaru Forester.
Subaru Forester Depreciation
| Years Old | Depreciation | Residual Value | Resale Value | Mileage | Resale Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6,734 | 82.76% | $32,328 | 13,500 | 2026 |
| 2 | $7,324 | 81.25% | $31,738 | 27,000 | 2027 |
| 3 | $9,269 | 76.27% | $29,793 | 40,500 | 2028 |
| 4 | $13,207 | 66.19% | $25,855 | 54,000 | 2029 |
| 5 | $13,793 | 64.69% | $25,269 | 67,500 | 2030 |
| 6 | $14,523 | 62.82% | $24,539 | 81,000 | 2031 |
| 7 | $18,433 | 52.81% | $20,629 | 94,500 | 2032 |
| 8 | $20,203 | 48.28% | $18,859 | 108,000 | 2033 |
| 9 | $22,773 | 41.70% | $16,289 | 121,500 | 2034 |
| 10 | $23,996 | 38.57% | $15,066 | 135,000 | 2035 |
Subaru Forester Depreciation
| Years Old | Depreciation | Residual Value | Resale Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6,734 | 82.76% | $32,328 |
| 2 | $7,324 | 81.25% | $31,738 |
| 3 | $9,269 | 76.27% | $29,793 |
| 4 | $13,207 | 66.19% | $25,855 |
| 5 | $13,793 | 64.69% | $25,269 |
| 6 | $14,523 | 62.82% | $24,539 |
| 7 | $18,433 | 52.81% | $20,629 |
| 8 | $20,203 | 48.28% | $18,859 |
| 9 | $22,773 | 41.70% | $16,289 |
| 10 | $23,996 | 38.57% | $15,066 |
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Buying a Subaru Forester New vs Used
If you purchase a used Subaru Forester that is 2 years old, then you could save $7,324 compared to buying new, and still have a relatively new model with plenty of useful life remaining. If you plan to keep this vehicle for 3 years then your total cost of depreciation would be $6,469. Try other age and ownership length combinations, or different vehicles to see if you can find depreciation sweetspots where this cost is the lowest. Hint: Try vehicles between 2 and 4 years old, as brand new vehicles depreciate quickly. Also, if this is a recently released model and buying a few years old isn't possible, consider another vehicle, or perhaps wait until more used Forester models become available.
What About Subaru Forester Insurance Costs?
The average cost to insure a Subaru Forester is about $2,044 per year. This adds up to around $10,220 after 5 years of vehicle ownership. Unlike depreciation, this expense can often be lowered by shopping around for lower insurance premiums. Comparing quotes will ensure that you are not overpaying if you already own a Subaru Forester. Or, if you are just researching, then it would be money-wise to know this cost before buying. Try our Competitive Quote Tool or the form below to get free quotes. Advertising Disclosure
The Best Model Years to Buy a Subaru Forester
The 2024 Subaru Forester is our top pick for the best model year value for the Forester. With the 2024, you would only pay, on average, 83% of the price as new, with 92% of the vehicle's useful life remaining. The 2023 and 2021 model years are also attractive years for the Forester, and provide a relatively good value. Our rankings consider multiple factors, including the Forester's price as new, current price, maintenance costs and remaining years of overall predictabe expenses. Our top ranked model year represents the most car for the money of the Subaru Forester models.
Subaru Forester Historical Depreciation
| Year | New Price | Current Price | Maintenance | $ Decline | % Decline | % Paid | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,062 | $39,062 | $354 | $0 | 0% | 100% | |
| 2024 | $35,137 | $29,080 | $409 | $9,982 | 25.55% | 82.76% | Best |
| 2023 | $33,817 | $27,478 | $514 | $1,602 | 5.51% | 81.25% | Better |
| 2022 | $33,592 | $25,622 | $654 | $1,856 | 6.75% | 76.27% | Good |
| 2021 | $32,015 | $21,191 | $788 | $4,431 | 17.29% | 66.19% | Better |
| 2020 | $31,645 | $20,471 | $1,030 | $720 | 3.4% | 64.69% | Good |
| 2019 | $31,280 | $19,649 | $1,139 | $822 | 4.02% | 62.82% |
| Year | Price | % Paid | Value Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,062 | 100% | |
| 2024 | $29,080 | 82.76% | Best |
| 2023 | $27,478 | 81.25% | Better |
| 2022 | $25,622 | 76.27% | Good |
| 2021 | $21,191 | 66.19% | Better |
| 2020 | $20,471 | 64.69% | Good |
| 2019 | $19,649 | 62.82% |
Subaru Forester Depreciation Rankings
We've ranked over 300 models from best to worst for Depreciation. See where the Subaru Forester ranks for Depreciation compared to other vehicles. Also check out how the Forester stacks up in our rankings for Maintenance, Insurance and Overall Costs.
Other Subaru Forester Costs of Ownership
Finding a car or truck that saves on depreciation costs is important. But, it's also imperative to view all major Subaru Forester costs. This will ensure that you are finding the vehicle that provides you the best value, at the lowest cost. We've created tools that will also help you to save on the following ownership expenses:
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