Subaru Forester vs. Volvo XC70
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Subaru Forester and Volvo XC70 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Subaru Forester and the Volvo XC70.
When we compare the Subaru Forester's and the Volvo XC70's specifications and ratings, the Subaru Forester has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and interior volume. The Volvo XC70 has the advantage in the areas of fuel efficiency and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Subaru Forester's and the Volvo XC70's specifications and ratings, the two cars are fairly comparable.
Pricing: A used 2016 Subaru Forester ranges from $8,477 to $19,190 while a used 2016 Volvo XC70 is priced between $10,497 to $23,083.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Subaru Forester’s base engine makes 170 horsepower, and the Volvo XC70 base engine makes 240 horsepower. The Forester is rated to deliver an average of 25 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 461 miles. The XC70 is rated to deliver an average of 26 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 574 miles. This gives the Volvo XC70 the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Subaru Forester. Both models use gasoline.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Subaru Forester has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front leg room, rear head room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The Volvo XC70 has the advantage in the area of front shoulder room. The Subaru Forester and Volvo XC70 are comparable in regards to rear shoulder room.
Safety Ratings: The Subaru Forester has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
22395
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact SUVs)
23470
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact SUVs)
21795 - 24995
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
37100
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
14020
Price Range:
8477 - 19190
Category Avg Price:
(Compact SUVs)
12884
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact SUVs)
10894 - 17097
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
643
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
109243
# Good or Great Deals:
248
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
16380
Price Range:
10497 - 23083
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
41
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
101576
# Good or Great Deals:
10
Subaru Forester Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.6 / 10
Reliability:
8.0 / 10
Retained Value:
8.7 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
Volvo XC70 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Subaru Forester
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
5.2
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Compact SUVs)
2.1
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact SUVs)
0.6 - 6.7
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.208
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Volvo XC70
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
2.1
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.163
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
5.517623077689758
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
4.1
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
1.3 - 8.2
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.4403102150988993
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Subaru Forester Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 12Ranking
2 out of / 66Ranking
2 out of / 20Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
3 out of / 19Ranking
3 out of / 19Ranking
3 out of / 12Ranking
3 out of / 4Ranking
4 out of / 20Ranking
4 out of / 19Ranking
4 out of / 19Ranking
4 out of / 19Ranking
5 out of / 66Ranking
5 out of / 19Ranking
5 out of / 18Ranking
5 out of / 7Ranking
7 out of / 19Ranking
8 out of / 66Ranking
8 out of / 66Ranking
9 out of / 66Ranking
9 out of / 66Ranking
9 out of / 54Ranking
11 out of / 66Ranking
11 out of / 18Ranking
13 out of / 66Ranking
13 out of / 19Ranking
13 out of / 19Ranking
17 out of / 66Ranking
23 out of / 66Ranking
23 out of / 54Ranking
25 out of / 66Ranking
26 out of / 66Ranking
46 out of / 66Volvo XC70 Rankings
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Body Styles
Wagon
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Subaru Forester Trim Levels
2.0XT Premium, 2.0XT Touring, 2.5i, 2.5i Limited, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Touring
Volvo XC70 Trim Levels
T5, T5 Classic Platinum, T5 Classic Premier, T5 Drive-E, T5 Drive-E Classic Platinum, T5 Drive-E Classic Premier, T5 Drive-E Platinum, T5 Drive-E Premier, T5 Platinum, T5 Premier
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
170 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
174 foot-lbs @ 4100 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.052 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
240 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque:
258 foot-lbs @ 1500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.063 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Flat/Horizontally Opposed
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
22 / 29 / 25
Range (city/hwy):
350 / 461 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
23 / 31 / 26
Range (city/hwy):
426 / 574 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Standard/Optional Features
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Alloy wheels:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Available
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Available
Forward Collision Warning:
Available
Lane Departure Warning:
Available
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
41.4 inches
Front Leg Room:
43 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
38 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.5 inches
Cargo Space:
34.4 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
74.7 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 3rd-row seat folded down:
Not applicable
Overall Interior Volume:
142.7 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.8 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.9 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.4 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.6 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.5 inches
Cargo Space:
33.3 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
72.1 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 3rd-row seat folded down:
Not applicable
Overall Interior Volume:
130.9 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3296 lbs
Width:
80 inches
Height:
66.4 inches
Length:
180.9 inches
Wheelbase:
103.9 inches
Ground Clearance:
8.7 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3792 lbs
Width:
73.9 inches
Height:
63.1 inches
Length:
190.5 inches
Wheelbase:
110.8 inches
Ground Clearance:
8.3 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
steel
Tire Size:
P225/60R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
235/50R18
Exterior Colors
Black
Crystal Black Silica
Blue
Quartz Blue Pearl
Brown
Burnished Bronze Metallic
Gray
Dark Gray Metallic
Green
Jasmine Green Metallic
Red
Venetian Red Pearl
Silver
Ice Silver Metallic
White
Crystal White Pearl
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Stone / Onyx Black Metallic
Blue
Magic Blue Metallic
Brown
Twilight Bronze Metallic
Gray
Bright Silver Metallic
Green
Seashell Metallic
Red
Rich Java Metallic
Silver
Not available
White
Crystal White Pearl Metallic / Ice White
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Gray
Gray
Interior Colors
Black
Off Black
Gray
Not available
