Subaru Forester towing capacity
The 2026 Subaru Forester is rated for up to 3,500 lbs (the source does not say which hitch type the figure is for), in its best-equipped configuration. Other configurations are rated lower.
2026 Subaru Forester, highest published rating3,500 lbsHitch type not stated. Most are rated lower, so find yours in the year tables.
Source documents last retrieved October 3, 2026.
Jump to a year
2026 Subaru Forester
Hitch type not stated
The source gives these trailer weights without naming a hitch type. They are shown as printed.
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilderness, Wildernessprinted 'Wilderness: 3,500 lbs'; footnote 1: maximum towing capacity varies by trim level, trailer brakes may be needed, do not use any weight-distributing hitch; hitch type not stated in this document | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (page 2; Wilderness lists no separate engine) | AWD | 3,500 lbs | p. 3 | ||
| Forester (all trims except Wilderness)Lineartronic CVTprinted '1,500 lbs | Wilderness: 3,500 lbs', so 1,500 is read as every trim other than Wilderness (Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Touring); footnote 1: maximum towing capacity varies by trim level, trailer brakes may be needed, do not use any weight-distributing hitch; hitch type not stated in this document | 180-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (page 2, Base) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 3 |
Source: 2026 Subaru Forester Brochure
2025 Subaru Forester
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester (base trim)Lineartronic CVTfeature bullet under this trim: '1,500-lb. towing capacity'; footnote 1 (page 12): maximum towing capacity varies by trim level, trailer brakes may be needed, do not use any weight-distributing hitch; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 10 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch ball not included') at the same figure; Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring are printed as 'includes Forester key features and adds' with no towing bullet of their own, so no separate rows were written for them | 180-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 8 | ||
| Accessory Trailer Hitch (2025 Forester)accessory text: 'Rated at 150 lbs. tongue weight with 1,500 lbs. of towing capacity'; ball mount sold separately; trailer brakes may be required by state | AWD | 1,500 lbs | Subaru accessory Trailer Hitch; hitch ball not included | p. 10 |
Source: 2025 Subaru Forester Brochure
2024 Subaru Forester
| Engine | Conventional | Hitch type not stated |
|---|---|---|
| 182-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER | 3,000 lbs | |
| Engine not named in the table | 3,000 lbs | |
| SUBARU BOXER engine with 182 horsepower | 3,000 lbs |
All 11 2024 Forester configurations, with axle, cab and required equipment
Source: 2024 Subaru Forester Brochure; 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness Brochure; 2025 Subaru Forester Brochure
2023 Subaru Forester
| Engine | Conventional |
|---|---|
| 2.5-liter DOHC direct-injection 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (182 hp) | 3,000 lbs |
| Engine not named in the table | 3,000 lbs |
All 4 2023 Forester configurations, with axle, cab and required equipment
Source: 2023 Subaru Forester Brochure
2022 Subaru Forester
| Engine | Conventional |
|---|---|
| 2.5-liter DOHC direct-injection 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (182 hp) | 3,000 lbs |
| Engine not named in the table | 3,000 lbs |
All 4 2022 Forester configurations, with axle, cab and required equipment
Source: 2022 Subaru Forester Brochure
2021 Subaru Forester
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester (single column covering all trims)Lineartronic CVTsingle 'Forester' column, marked Standard; footnote 2: trailer brakes may be needed; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch ball not included') at the same figure | 2.5-liter DOHC direct-injection 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (182 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| Accessory Trailer Hitch (not split by trim)accessory text: 'Rated at 176 lbs. tongue weight with 1,500 lbs. of towing capacity'; ball mount sold separately; trailer brakes may be needed | AWD | 1,500 lbs | Subaru accessory Trailer Hitch; hitch ball not included | p. 11 |
Source: 2021 Subaru Forester Brochure
2020 Subaru Forester
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester (single column covering all trims)Lineartronic CVTsingle 'Forester' column, marked Standard; footnote 2: trailer brakes may be needed; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs. | 2.5-liter DOHC direct-injection 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (182 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| Accessory Trailer Hitch (not split by trim)accessory text: 'Rated at 176 lbs. tongue weight with 1,500 lbs. of towing capacity'; ball mount sold separately; trailer brakes may be needed | AWD | 1,500 lbs | Subaru accessory Trailer Hitch; hitch ball not included | p. 11 |
Source: 2020 Subaru Forester Brochure
2019 Subaru Forester
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accessory Trailer Hitch (not split by trim)accessory text: 'Rated at 176 lbs. tongue weight,1,500 lbs. maximum towing capacity'; ball mount sold separately; trailer brakes may be needed; not compatible with the rear Bumper Under Guard accessory | AWD | 1,500 lbs | Subaru accessory Trailer Hitch; hitch ball not included | p. 14 |
Source: 2019 Subaru Forester Brochure
2018 Subaru Forester
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5ione figure (1,500 lbs) printed for the row, marked Standard in this column; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch Ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs; all-wheel drive is standard in both columns | 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (170 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| 2.0XTone figure (1,500 lbs) printed for the row, marked Standard in this column; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch Ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs; all-wheel drive is standard in both columns | 2.0-liter DOHC intercooled, turbocharged 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (250 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| Accessory Trailer Hitch (not split by trim or engine)accessory text: 'Rated at 176 lbs tongue weight with 1,500 lbs of towing capacity'; trailer brakes may be needed | AWD | 1,500 lbs | Subaru accessory Trailer Hitch; hitch ball not included | p. 11 |
Source: 2018 Subaru Forester Brochure
2017 Subaru Forester
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5ione figure (1,500 lbs) printed for the row, marked Standard in this column; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch Ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs; all-wheel drive is standard in both columns | 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (170 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| 2.0XTone figure (1,500 lbs) printed for the row, marked Standard in this column; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch Ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs; all-wheel drive is standard in both columns | 2.0-liter DOHC intercooled, turbocharged 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (250 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| Accessory Trailer Hitch (not split by trim or engine)accessory text: 'Rated at 176 lbs tongue weight with 1,500 lbs of towing capacity'; trailer brakes may be needed; the same text is printed again on page 12 | AWD | 1,500 lbs | Subaru accessory Trailer Hitch; hitch ball not included | p. 11 |
Source: 2017 Subaru Forester Brochure
2016 Subaru Forester
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5ione figure (1,500 lbs) printed for the row, marked Standard in this column; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch Ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs; all-wheel drive is standard in both columns | 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (170 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| 2.0XTone figure (1,500 lbs) printed for the row, marked Standard in this column; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch Ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs; all-wheel drive is standard in both columns | 2.0-liter DOHC intercooled, turbocharged 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (250 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| Accessory Trailer Hitch (not split by trim or engine)this text is drawn as outlines with no text layer on page 11, so the figure cannot be grounded by the checker and is left null; read from the page image (OCR and by eye): 'Trailer Hitch. Rated at 176 lbs tongue weight with 1,500 lbs of towing capacity. Hitch Ball not included. Trailer brakes may be needed.' | AWD | Not readable in the source | Subaru accessory Trailer Hitch; hitch ball not included | p. 11 |
Source: 2016 Subaru Forester Brochure
2015 Subaru Forester
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Engine | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5ione figure (1,500 lbs) printed for the row, marked Standard in this column; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch Ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs; all-wheel drive is standard in both columns | 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (170 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| 2.0XTone figure (1,500 lbs) printed for the row, marked Standard in this column; hitch recorded as conventional because the accessory Trailer Hitch text on page 11 rates the ball-type hitch ('Hitch Ball not included') at the same 1,500 lbs; all-wheel drive is standard in both columns | 2.0-liter DOHC intercooled, turbocharged 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER (250 hp) | AWD | 1,500 lbs | p. 9 | ||
| Accessory Trailer Hitch (not split by trim or engine)accessory text: 'Rated at 176 lbs tongue weight with 1,500 lbs of towing capacity'; trailer brakes may be needed | AWD | 1,500 lbs | Subaru accessory Trailer Hitch; hitch ball not included | p. 11 |
Source: 2015 Subaru Forester Brochure
Common questions
How has the Subaru Forester's towing capacity changed by year?
Highest published rating by model year: 2026: 3,500 lbs; 2025: 1,500 lbs; 2024: 3,000 lbs; 2023: 3,000 lbs; 2022: 3,000 lbs; 2021: 1,500 lbs; 2020: 1,500 lbs; 2019: 1,500 lbs; 2018: 1,500 lbs; 2017: 1,500 lbs; 2016: 1,500 lbs; 2015: 1,500 lbs.
What hitch are the Subaru Forester ratings for?
For some years the manufacturer's document gives a trailer weight without naming a hitch type. We show those as "Hitch type not stated" and do not assume one.