Ford Bronco vs Subaru Forester: Which Used Buy Wins?

As used buys (October 2026), the Ford Bronco typically lists for $47,970 against $31,590 for the Subaru Forester (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). The Subaru Forester takes fuel economy (23 MPG combined vs 18 MPG); the Ford Bronco leads on NCAP safety (5.0★ vs 4.8★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the BLACK DIAMOND at $41,995 vs the BASE PLUS at $28,254; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.

Head to head

Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)

A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Ford Bronco BLACK DIAMOND ($41,995) faces the Subaru Forester BASE PLUS ($28,254); the most common trims on the market are the BIG BEND (32.6% of Ford Bronco listings) and the PREMIUM (28.1% of Subaru Forester listings); at the top of the market, the RAPTOR ($68,999) faces the TOURING ($36,714). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.

Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Ford Bronco prices · Subaru Forester prices.

Used price by model year

Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (October 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to buy used — Ford Bronco or Subaru Forester?

Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Subaru Forester is cheaper: it typically lists for $31,590 versus $47,970 for the Ford Bronco (national medians, October 2026).

Which gets better fuel economy — Ford Bronco or Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester: its typical rated version returns 23 MPG combined versus 18 MPG for the Ford Bronco (median across EPA-rated versions of the compared years).

Which is safer — Ford Bronco or Subaru Forester?

By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Ford Bronco averages 5.0 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.8 for the Subaru Forester. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.

Which is more reliable — Ford Bronco or Subaru Forester?

NHTSA lists an average of 12.2 recalls per model year for the Ford Bronco and 4.6 for the Subaru Forester — an edge for the Subaru Forester. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.

Which trims should I actually compare?

Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Ford Bronco BLACK DIAMOND typically lists for $41,995 vs $28,254 for a Subaru Forester BASE PLUS; the most common trims on the market are the BIG BEND ($42,235, 32.6% of Ford Bronco listings) and the PREMIUM ($30,799, 28.1% of Subaru Forester listings); at the top of the market, the RAPTOR ($68,999) faces the TOURING ($36,714). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.

Dig deeper

Ford Bronco — live listings & specs Subaru Forester — live listings & specs Ford Bronco prices by year Subaru Forester prices by year Ford Bronco MPG by year Subaru Forester MPG by year

See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.