Your Trim Guide for Navigating the 2024 Forester

Six trims, one vehicle: the 2024 Forester. If you’re on the prowl for a Subaru Forester for sale in Rhinebeck, you’ll be excited to know you’ll have plenty of choices before getting behind the wheel of one of Subaru’s bestsellers.

The Forester was designed to tackle the likes of the diverse landscape in and around Rhinebeck. From spending a day enjoying the natural beauty of the Hudson River to getting lost for a weekend in the Catskills, the Forester is always up for an adventure. And when it’s time to head home again, the Forester easily goes from camp trail to freeway to get you where you need to be on Monday.

The Forester is known for being a capable and versatile SUV, and drivers who need convenience to go along with their adventurous spirit will enjoy the diverse lineup of trims offered this year. So, as you embark on your car-buying journey, exploit this comprehensive guide to the latest Forester trims to get into the version that best fits your lifestyle.

Whether you’re drawn to the rugged nature of the Wilderness trim, the creature comforts and tech of the Touring, or just the essentials of the Base, we’re here to break down what each trim has to offer so you can discover your perfect Forester for 2024 and beyond.

The Base: For Everyday Adventures

The Forester is the ideal model for families on the go—and we’re not just talking about epic week-long excursions into the Berkshires; we’re talking about the everyday adventures to the grocery store, school drop-off, or farmer’s market. If off-roading isn’t your idea of fun, or you’d rather sleep in a cushy hotel rather than a tent, the Forester is fine with that.

The Base trim offers you all the perks of the Forester you want without the advanced off-roading or rugged extras. Conquering snowy streets or rainy pavement with the Base won’t be a problem. It boasts an 182-hp 2.5-liter Boxer engine with standard symmetrical all-wheel drive. Expect to get a fuel economy of 26 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway for plenty of savings at the pump.

The EyeSight Driver Assist tech suite comes standard. With these tools, you get an extra set of eyes, and if a possible collision is detected, it helps slow down and applies the brake to your vehicle to lessen the impact. Also coming standard is the handy Rear Seat Reminder System that gives you a gentle reminder to check the back seat before exiting, just in case any precious cargo is there.

The Premium: Taking Things Up a Notch

The Premium trim is perfect for those who want a little more than the basics. You don’t need all the bells and whistles, but a few are nice. The Premium trim features the same Boxer engine and, therefore, the same fuel economy, so when it comes to performance, you’re all set to handle the demands of the road.

Where the Premium shines is with the little extras, like a ten-way power driver’s seat for personalized comfort and Keyless Access with Push-Button Start for convenience. A panoramic power moonroof takes your drive to a new level, letting in the sunshine or letting passengers enjoy a starry evening view while cruising through the picturesque Hudson Valley. Drivers can add features like a Power Rear Gate to make loading up the cargo area that much more convenient.

Two standard features not offered on the Base level but standard on the Premium are X-Mode and Hill Descent Control. While Hill Descent Control helps keep you from rolling backward when switching from braking to acceleration on an incline, X-Mode helps your Forester live up to its potential, enhancing the engine and drive system for increased control over varying terrain like mud, sand, or snow. If you find yourself going off-road once in a while—say, tackling sandy or wet roads near the North-South Lake Campground—then X-Mode is the tool you want to have by your side.

The Sport: The Most Athletic Option

The Forester Sport is a mid-level trim with bold styling choices and some enhanced off-roading ability for when you visit the Catskills for a weekend in nature or decide to take the bikes out to the Empire State Trail.

The Sport features the same powertrain as the other trims, but it is built for some rough terrain thanks to its SI-Drive engine management system plus Dual Function X-Mode with Hill Descent Control. Not only do you get an improved throttle response for a more responsive drive, but X-Mode allows you to go past the treeline and tackle what lies ahead. With the turn of the dial, you can adjust your Sport’s performance from Snow/Dirt to Deep Snow/Mud mode.

Inside and out, you get bold style, including sport orange accents along the roof rails and in the seat stitching. Two-tone cloth upholstery adds to the flare of the Sport while keeping things durable for your most rugged adventure.

The Wilderness: For Outdoor Ventures

For nature lovers and families on the go, the Wilderness not only offers you enhanced performance but also plenty of creature comforts that make it an excellent buy. The Wilderness features the same Boxer engine but with a twist: retuned gearing. This means enhanced performance when heading up steep, including towing capacity, which climbs from 1,500 to 3,000 lbs! Bring along more gear, the bikes, and anything else your adventure demands.

StarTex water-repellant upholstery ensures that this fun-loving trim is as durable and easy to clean as it is good-looking. At the same time, copper accents and interior silver stitching offer a unique flare for drivers looking for something that stands out for all the best reasons. Reinforced roof rails ensure that you make the most from your Forester’s cargo space inside and out.

It’s not just the Wilderness trim’s good looks we love, but its capabilities that take it a step further than any trim before it. The Wilderness features raised suspension and a 9.2-inch ground clearance for avoiding rocks or branches along the trail. The Wilderness is also equipped with standard Yokohama GEOLANDAR all-terrain tires for improved traction and control over uneven ground. Like with the Sport, drivers of this trim get access to Dual Function X-Mode with Hill Descent Control for enhanced performance when you’re heading off the beaten trail.

If all of that is not enough, then one more thing: the cabin’s Front-View Monitor is standard and gives drivers an extra set of eyes so they can get a 180-degree view around their SUV.

The Limited: Beyond the Limits

Now, we’re heading into the high-end section of the 2024 Forester trim lineup with the Limited, which is anything but. One of the first perks you’ll notice that helps the Limited stand out from the pack is its leather seating, while a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter take things over the edge into luxurious territory.

If you’re a driver who wants your time behind the wheel to be as fun as it is comfortable, the Limited is the perfect way to treat yourself. Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control ensures everyone across both rows feels great, while the Power Rear Gate—complete with an automatic height memory function—comes standard.

The cabin features an enhanced 8.0-inch STARLINK Multimedia Plus system with a standard 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, ideal for staying connected whether you’re at home or in New York City. This system features Bluetooth and hands-free smartphone tech so you can seamlessly sync your life with your Forester for a completely customized experience.

The Touring: The Top of the Line

Do you want to check out the Forester at the top of its game? The high-end Touring trim puts everything Subaru has to offer into one vehicle. Comfortable, adventure-ready, and with plenty of practical conveniences—don’t expect anything less than the best with the 2024 Forester Touring.

Upgrade your drive style with the Touring trim; get all the bells and whistles along with plenty of options to make this SUV your own. Standard leather seating can be upgraded with available Exclusive Saddle Brown leather to suit your tastes, while the All-Weather Package keeps you toasty with heated front and rear seating.

As for tech, from safety to driver assistance features, you get it all. The premium Harman Kardon premium audio system elevates your listening experience—so whether you’re chilling to music or staying informed with your favorite podcast, you hear nothing but pure quality.

The Touring is the only trim to feature the STARLINK 8.0-inch Multimedia Navigation with a Wi-Fi hotspot. Built-in Voice Navigation ensures you get where you’re going, and drivers can go hands-free and streamline their experience when they sync their smartphones to access their favorite apps, receive messages, or listen to their top playlists as they drive. It’s never been easier to keep your hands on the wheel and get things done, all using just the sound of your voice.

Pick Your Perfect Match

The 2024 Subaru Forester allows drivers to get the perfect fit thanks to its stellar trim lineup this year. From the essentials to all the extras, the Forester ensures you get the right ride for your lifestyle.

Even though it’s called "Base," don’t expect basic. The Base trim does a great job of grabbing groceries, getting you around town, and helping you conquer the day. If you want a little extra, no problem: upgrading to the Premium trim means you get a few added touches to make your drive special.

For active drivers looking for a good time, the Sport and the Wilderness are made to go, go, go! From elevated ground clearance to enhanced tech to help you battle mountain trails snaking through the Catskills or bustling New York City roads, you get increased control and plenty of traction to avoid any rough patches that might crop up along the way.

The Forester is anything but stuffy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not into the finer things in life. The Limited has everything you love and more. Enhanced tech streamlines your driving experience and gives you extra confidence behind the wheel. As for the Touring, it tops off the trims with lots of comfort and durability on four wheels; it's all about high class, not high maintenance.

Now that you know, it’s time to go! The adventure is waiting. Get behind the wheel of the all-new Forester with confidence now that you have a roadmap to navigating this best-selling SUV's extensive trims.