The Subaru Forester was introduced into Subaru’s lineup as one of the first crossover SUVs in 1997 and is still made today. The Forester has many features consumers expect from today’s SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2026 Subaru Forester?
A 2026 Subaru Forester has a towing capacity ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 pounds.
The 2026 Subaru Forester tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, trim level, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.
There’s a bit more to know about the 2026 Subaru Forester tow capacity which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
How Much Can The 2026 Subaru Forester Tow?
The 2026 Subaru Forester has a towing capacity range of 1,500 to 3,500 pounds.
The 2026 Subaru Forester tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.
You can always reach out to your local Subaru dealership for details to confirm how much your 2026 Forester can tow.
You can check out our guide to Subaru Forester towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
2026 Forester Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are several trim levels for the 2026 Forester, and some engines are not available on certain trims, so they’ll each have different max towing limits.
The 2026 Forester Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring trims have a max tow capacity of 1,500 pounds.
The 2026 Forester Wilderness has a max tow capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level on the 2026 Subaru Forester:
| 2026 Forester Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
| Base | 1,500 lbs |
| Premium | 1,500 lbs |
| Sport | 1,500 lbs |
| Wilderness | 3,500 lbs |
| Limited | 1,500 lbs |
| Touring | 1,500 lbs |
| Premium Hybrid | 1,500 lbs |
| Sport Hybrid | 1,500 lbs |
| Limited Hybrid | 1,500 lbs |
| Touring Hybrid | 1,500 lbs |
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2026 Subaru Forester Engine Towing Specs
There are two engine options for the 2026 Forester which are:
-a 2.5L DOHC direct injection aluminum-alloy 16-valve 4-cylinder horizontally opposed SUBARU BOXER engine with Dual Active Valve Control System (DAVCS). This engine creates 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque.
2026 Subaru Forester 2.5L 4-Cylinder Engine Towing Capacity: 1,500 to 3,500 pounds
-an electrified hybrid 2.5L Boxer engine that creates 194 horsepower.
2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid Engine Towing Capacity: 1,500 pounds
2026 Subaru Forester Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2026 Subaru Forester comes standard with all wheel drive on all models and trims.
2026 Subaru Forester AWD Tow Capacity: 1,500 to 3,500 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2026 Subaru Forester engine. Your Subaru Forester may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.
2026 Subaru Forester Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2026 Subaru Forester is 1,237 to 1,391 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2026 Forester will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain, and whether or not a towing package is installed.
You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.
2026 Subaru Forester Tow Package
The 2026 Subaru Forester does not come with a towing package automatically installed, but it is available as an add-on option.
The 2026 Forester tow package includes a Class II receiver hitch. The ball mount and hitch ball are sold separately.
Here’s a good option for a 2026 Forester hitch mount with ball included:
No products found.
We definitely recommend getting the tow package if you plan on towing anything with your 2026 Forester.
2026 Subaru Forester Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2026 Subaru Forester has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing.
This number is a little less than the Forester’s main competitors which are the 2026 Hyundai Palisade and the 2026 Kia Telluride.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2026 Subaru Forester and their towing capacities below:
2026 Honda CRV Towing Capacity: 1,500 pounds
2026 Toyota RAV4 Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2026 Mazda CX-5 Towing Capacity: 2,000 pounds
2026 Nissan Rogue Towing Capacity: 1,350 pounds
2026 Hyundai Tucson Towing Capacity: 2,000 pounds
2026 Subaru SUVs Towing Capacity Chart
| 2026 Subaru SUV Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2026 Subaru Ascent | 5,000 pounds |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 3,500 pounds |
| 2026 Subaru Solterra | 3,500 pounds |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 3,000 pounds |
| 2026 Subaru Crosstrek | 1,500 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2026 Subaru Forester Owner’s Manual on Subaru’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2026 Subaru Forester.