Compare the2026 Jeep WranglerVS 2025 Subaru Forester

Compared to metal, the Wrangler’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Forester has a metal gas tank.

Both the Wrangler and the Forester have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

There are almost 4 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Forester’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Wrangler has a standard 240-amp alternator (220-amp - Wrangler 392). The Forester’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Wrangler has a standard 700-amp battery. The Forester’s 620-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Wrangler second among compact suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Forester isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Wrangler has more powerful engines than the Forester:

As tested in Car and Driver the Wrangler Moab 392 6.4 V8 is faster than the Subaru Forester 4 cyl. hybrid gas (automatics tested):

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler 392’s fuel efficiency. The Forester doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Wrangler 2-door’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Forester (17.5 vs. 16.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 4.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Forester (21.5 vs. 16.6 gallons).

The Wrangler 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Forester doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Wrangler’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Forester:

For better traction, the Wrangler has larger standard tires than the Forester (245/75R17 vs. 225/60R17). The Wrangler 4-door Moab 392/Xteme 35’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Forester (315/70R17 vs. 235/50R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Wrangler 4Xe has standard 20-inch wheels. The Forester’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Forester doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Forester doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Wrangler has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Forester doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door’s wheelbase is 13.5 inches longer than on the Forester (118.4 inches vs. 104.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Wrangler is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Forester.

The Wrangler’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.2% to 47.4%) than the Forester’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Wrangler more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Forester Premium/Limited Hybrid’s (32.7 feet vs. 35.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler 2-door has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Forester (9.7 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Wrangler Rubicon 4-door Xtreme 35’s minimum ground clearance is 3.7 inches higher than on the Forester Wilderness (12.9 vs. 9.2 inches).

The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume than the Forester with its rear seat up (31.7 vs. 29.6 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox and standard locking center console (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Wrangler. The Forester doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Forester’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Wrangler’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Forester’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Subaru Forester is only 3000 pounds. The Wrangler 4-door offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Forester can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Forester does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Wrangler and the Forester have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Wrangler is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Forester prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Wrangler’s front power windows lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Forester’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Wrangler has a standard Push Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring offers a Keyless Access and Start.

The Wrangler’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Forester’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Wrangler Rubicon/Willys/Sahara/High Altitude/Rubicon has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Forester doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Subaru Forester isn’t available as a soft top.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Jeep Wrangler retains 64.38% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 62.8% resale value of the 2025 Subaru Forester after five years, which can save the Jeep’s owner.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The Forester has never been chosen.