Lease or Buy a Subaru Forester? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Forester Premium costs $16,189 vs about $8,636 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $7,553, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it.
By the CarWhere Research Team · Manufacturer lease programs, verified CarWhere deals and our depreciation report · Updated daily
Lease for 3 years
| Advertised payment | $339/mo × 36 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $4,324 |
| Total over 36 months | $16,189 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $16,189 |
Subaru's California-region offer on the 2026 Forester Premium, ends November 29, 2026. No acquisition or disposition fee is listed with the offer, so none is added.
Buy, then sell after 3 years
| MSRP | $36,180 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $33,528 |
| Resale at 3 years (−31.2%) | −$24,892 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $8,636 |
| Financed at 1.99% APR, 3 years | $9,675 |
Price = the $36,180 MSRP minus the 7.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Forester (5 verified deals). Finance line: Subaru's 1.99% / 36-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $7,553 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $6,514 in favor of buying.
If you keep it longer
Leasing continuously at the same effective rate vs buying once and selling at year N (resale from our depreciation report; cash purchase).
| Years kept | Lease (continuous) | Buy and sell | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $16,189 | $8,636 | Buy |
| 4 | $21,585 | $10,988 | Buy |
| 5 | $26,982 | $13,412 | Buy |
| 6 | $32,378 | $14,208 | Buy |
| 7 | $37,774 | $16,162 | Buy |
| 8 | $43,171 | $18,549 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $4,324 due at signing + $339 × 35 remaining payments = $16,189 over 36 months. You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $36,180 MSRP minus the 7.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Forester (5 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 68.8% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Subaru Forester — median used-listing price by model year vs the median new price.
- Excluded on both sides: sales tax, registration, insurance, maintenance.
FAQ
Is it better to lease or buy a Forester?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Forester Premium costs $16,189 vs about $8,636 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $7,553, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Subaru offer ($339/mo for 36 months, $4,324 due at signing); the buy side is the $36,180 MSRP minus the 7.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Forester (5 verified deals), less the 31.2% a 3-year-old Forester loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a Forester lose in value in 3 years?
About 31.2% below the new price at 3 years old, from median used-listing prices vs the median new price in CarWhere's depreciation report (2026-10-25). On this $36,180 MSRP that is a resale value of about $24,892.
How long do you have to keep a Forester for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($8,636 vs $16,189 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the Forester lease-or-buy math?
With Subaru's 1.99% APR for 36 months offer (ends November 29, 2026), financing the full price adds about $1,039 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $9,675 vs $16,189 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.