The 2006 Subaru Forester blends the versatility of an SUV with the handling and efficiency of a compact car, making it a standout in the crossover segment. Built with Subaru’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a boxer engine, the Forester offers confident performance in all weather conditions. For the 2006 model year, the Forester received a refreshed exterior design, improved safety features, and increased power in certain trims, further enhancing its appeal to drivers seeking reliability, utility, and comfort. Whether navigating city streets or venturing off the beaten path, the 2006 Forester remains a practical and dependable choice for a wide range of lifestyles.
The 2006 Subaru Forester Its intelligent size and remarkable versatility redefines what a sport utility vehicle can do. Its safety scores have no equal. Its balanced and more powerful boxer engines, surefooted Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and agile handling combine to take the SUV to new levels of drivability. Together, they all add up to provide the most valuable asset of all peace of mind.
Highlights
Comfort: The Forester brings new levels of control not just on the road, but also over your environment. Its spacious cabin, complete with utility, convenience and premium features, lets you govern your surroundings to your exact preferences. Choose the upscale cloth upholstery or the luxury of leather. Find your ideal driving position with the available 8-way power driver’s seat and take the chill off the morning frost with dual-stage seat heaters. Feel the beat from the available in-dash six-disc CD changer. And let your passengers enjoy the improved rear-seat comfort. Because every journey is enhanced when the family is content.
Subaru Boxer Engine: Press the accelerator to get outstanding power, along with a healthy dose of innovation. At the heart of the Forester is our legendary SUBARU BOXER engine, with pistons laid flat in horizontal opposition. Used in every Subaru, this design lowers the center of gravity, providing more precise handling while increasing durability and reducing vibration. Balance. Stability. Power. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive: All-wheel drive isn’t unique. But Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is. Its ideal balance ensures stability and poise. And its efficiency at transmitting power ensures greater grip and quick response to slippage. Providing more than just safety on slick roads, it delivers intensified performance on any road. All-wheel drive is not just our heritage, it is our passion.
Engine and Drivetrain
| Engine | Specs |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5-liter SOHC aluminum-alloy 16-valve horizontally opposed 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER engine with i-Active Valve Lift System 2.5-liter DOHC inter-cooled, turbocharged aluminum-alloy 16-valve 4-cylinder horizontally opposed SUBARU BOXER engine with Active Valve Control System. Iridium spark plugs. Sodium-filled exhaust valves. |
| Power | 173 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 230 hp @ 5,600 rpm |
| Torque | 10.0:1, 8.4:1 |
| Bore and stroke | 99.5 x 79.0 mm |
| Intake system | Aluminum-alloy intake manifold. Turbocharger with inter-cooler. Maximum boost pressure: 11.6 psi. |
| Fuel and ignition system | Sequential multiport fuel injection. Electronic Throttle Control (ETC). Engine management with integrated self-diagnostics and adaptive driving habits capability. Distributorless electronic ignition – 2.5 X models. Direct ignition – 2.5 XT Limited. |
| Manual transmission | Standard fully synchronized 5-speed manual with Hill Holder system and clutch pedal controlled starter interlock |
| Automatic transmission | Optional 4-speed adaptive electronic direct-control automatic |
| Emissions | Certified Low Emission Vehicle Tier 2 (LEV2) |
Fuel & MPG
| Trim | Fuel economy (city/highway) | Fuel requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5X | Manual: 22/29 mpg Automatic: 23/28 mpg | Unleaded gasoline (87 octane) recommended |
| 2.5 X L.L.Bean® Edition | Manual: N/A Automatic: 23/28 mpg | Unleaded gasoline (87 octane) recommended |
| 2.5 XT Limited | Manual: 19/25 mpg Automatic: 21/26 mpg | Premium unleaded gasoline (91 octane) recommended |
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
Continuous All-Wheel Drive
Models equipped with 5-speed manual transmission utilize a viscous-type locking center differential and limited-slip rear differential.1 Torque distribution normally configured at a 50/50-split front-to-rear. If wheel speed differs between front and rear axles, the system helps distribute power to the wheels with the most traction.
Active All-Wheel Drive
Models equipped with 4-speed automatic transmission utilize an electronically controlled variable multiplate transfer clutch and viscous type limited-slip rear differential1 to distribute power to where traction is needed. Sensors monitor parameters such as wheel slippage, throttle position and braking to help determine torque distribution to the wheels with optimum traction.
Chassis
| Steering | Engine-speed-sensing variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion. Turns lock-to-lock: 3.0. Turning circle: 34.8 ft. (2.5 XT Limited: 35.4 ft.). |
| Suspension | 4-wheel independent heavy-duty raised suspension Front: Strut-type with internal rebound spring and lower L-arm. Antidive geometry. Front stabilizer bar. |
| Brakes | Standard: Front-wheel ventilated disc, rear-wheel drum. Optional: 4-wheel disc, ventilated front. |
| ABS | Standard: 4-channel, 4-sensor ABS. Optional: 4-channel, 4-sensor ABS with EBD. |
Wheels and Tires
| Wheels | Standard: 16 x 6.5″ 5-spoke styled steel. Optional: 16 x 6.5″ 8-spoke aluminum-alloy. |
| Tires | 215/60 R16 94H M+S all-season |
Exterior Dimensions
| Length | 176.6 in. |
| Height | 65.0 in. (includes roof rails and crossbars) |
| Width | 68.1 in. |
| Wheelbase | 99.4 in. |
| Track (front/rear) | 58.9 in./58.5 in. |
| Curb weight (manual/automatic) | 2.5 X – 3,165 lbs./3,205 lbs. 2.5 XT – 3,310 lbs./3,350 lbs. |
| Ground clearance | 8.1 in, 7.9in. |
| Towing capacity (Class I) | 2,400 lbs. |
Interior Dimensions
| Headroom (front/rear) | 39.8 in./39.8 in. (with moonroof: 39.1 in./37.0 in.) |
| Legroom (front/rear) | 43.6 in./33.7 in. |
| Shoulder room (front/rear) | 53.5 in./53.6 in. |
| Cabin capacity | 93.5 cu. ft. (with moonroof: 91.2 cu. ft.) |
| Cargo capacity | 32.0 cu. ft./57.7 cu. ft. with rear seat lowered |
2006 Subaru Forester Exterior Features
- Multireflector low-beam and high-beam headlights
- Multireflector fog lights
- Aluminum-alloy hood
- Aluminum-alloy hood with functional hood scoop (feeds turbocharger intercooler)
- Body-color painted front and rear bumpers
- Steel Gray or Platinum Silver painted front and rear bumpers
- Black side mirrors
- Larger body-color painted side mirrors with integrated turn signals
- Black door handles
- Body-color painted door handles
- Body-color painted protective side cladding
- Steel Gray or Platinum Silver painted protective side cladding
- Heated side mirrors and windshield wipers de-icer
- Two-speed windshield wipers with variable intermittent mode
- Single-speed rear window wiper with fixed intermittent mode and de-icer
- Black-finish raised roof rails with crossbars (150 lbs. capacity)
- Aluminum-finish raised roof rails with crossbars (150 lbs. capacity)
- Panoramic power sliding-glass moonroof with auto-open/close feature
Seating and Trim
- 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat with manually adjustable lumbar support.
- 4-way manually adjustable front-passenger seat.
- Sport-design front seats
- Dual-stage heated front seats
- Cloth upholstery
- Leather-trimmed upholstery
- L.L.Bean-embossed leather-trimmed upholstery with perforated Alcantara® accents on seat bolsters.
- 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatback with center armrest
- 3-spoke steering wheel with manually adjustable tilt column
- Perforated leather-wrapped parking-brake handle
- Silver metallic trim on dash and console
- Aluminum front-door sill plates with Forester logos
- Carpeted floor mats
Convenience Features
- Power front and rear windows with driver’s auto-down
- Power mirrors
- Electronically controlled cruise control
- Center console with sliding armrest, tray and storage compartment
- Dual cupholders in front area of center console. Dual cupholders in underside of center-console armrest for rear passengers (rotating armrest 180˚ reveals cupholders). Dual retractable rear cupholders at base of rear-center console area.
- 12-volt power outlets in center-console storage compartment and cargo area
- Overhead console with dual maplights and sunglasses storage. Sun visors with concealed vanity mirrors.
- Autodimming rearview mirror with compass
- In-dash storage compartment
- Retractable/removable cargo-area cover
- Cargo-area-concealed multicompartment under-floor storage tray
- Durable hard lining on back of rear seatbacks and cargo-area floor and side walls
- 4 cargo-area utility hooks. 2 cargo-area utility bars. 4 cargo-area tiedown hooks. 2 cargo-area grocery bag hooks.
Audio Systems
- 100-watt 4-speaker audio system with Weatherband and single-disc in-dash CD player
- 120-watt 4-speaker audio system with Weatherband and 6-disc in-dash CD changer
- 120-watt 7-speaker premium audio system with Weatherband, subwoofer and 6-disc in-dash CD changer
Safety Features
- Dual-stage deployment driver and front-passenger front air bags (SRS)4
- Front seat-mounted head/chest side-impact air bags (SRS)4
- Height-adjustable active front-seat head restraints
- Three individual height-adjustable rear head restraints
- Height-adjustable 3-point front seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters.
- 3-point rear seatbelts at all seating positions.
- Rear child-safety door locks
- LATCH system: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren
- Safety brake pedal system
- Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column
- Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame body structure with hydroformed front subframe structure
- Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
Is the 2006 Subaru Forester Still a Good Buy in 2025?
Nearly two decades after its debut, the 2006 Subaru Forester continues to appear on roads, trails, and used car lots. But in 2025, with hybrid and electric vehicles rising in popularity and safety tech advancing rapidly, does this compact SUV still hold its value—and more importantly, is it still a good buy?
What the 2006 Subaru Forester Does Well
1. Proven Reliability
Subaru built its reputation on long-lasting drivetrains, and the 2006 Forester is no exception. Equipped with a durable 2.5L boxer engine and Subaru’s famed Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, it’s a car that, with proper maintenance, can comfortably reach 200,000+ miles.
2. All-Weather Capability
Few vehicles in its class offer the same level of traction and stability in rain, snow, and light off-roading. If you live in a region with harsh winters or rural roads, the Forester is a standout.
3. Simplicity and Utility
Unlike modern SUVs packed with screens and sensors, the 2006 Forester offers a refreshingly simple cabin layout with good cargo space and excellent outward visibility. It’s easy to work on and often cheaper to repair than newer vehicles.
