Honda Pilot vs Subaru Forester: Which Used Buy Wins?

As used buys (October 2026), the Honda Pilot typically lists for $42,277 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 21 MPG); the Subaru Forester leads on NCAP safety (4.8★ vs 4.7★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the SPORT at $35,687 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 Honda Pilot SPORT ($35,687) faces the Subaru Forester BASE PLUS ($28,254); the most common trims on the market are the EX-L (25.5% of Honda Pilot listings) and the PREMIUM (28.1% of Subaru Forester listings); at the top of the market, the BLACK EDITION ($48,385) 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: Honda Pilot 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 — Honda Pilot or Subaru Forester?

Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Subaru Forester is cheaper: it typically lists for $31,590 versus $42,277 for the Honda Pilot (national medians, October 2026).

Which gets better fuel economy — Honda Pilot or Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester: its typical rated version returns 23 MPG combined versus 21 MPG for the Honda Pilot (median across EPA-rated versions of the compared years).

Which is safer — Honda Pilot or Subaru Forester?

By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Subaru Forester averages 4.8 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.7 for the Honda Pilot. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.

Which is more reliable — Honda Pilot or Subaru Forester?

NHTSA lists an average of 8.2 recalls per model year for the Honda Pilot 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 Honda Pilot SPORT typically lists for $35,687 vs $28,254 for a Subaru Forester BASE PLUS; the most common trims on the market are the EX-L ($36,673, 25.5% of Honda Pilot listings) and the PREMIUM ($30,799, 28.1% of Subaru Forester listings); at the top of the market, the BLACK EDITION ($48,385) 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

Honda Pilot — live listings & specs Subaru Forester — live listings & specs Honda Pilot prices by year Subaru Forester prices by year Honda Pilot MPG by year Subaru Forester MPG by year

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