CarCostCheck

SUBARU FORESTER (2020)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 117 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,927

£161/month

MOT Pass Rate

89%

Good

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 18-32

1995cc Petrol

Solid Option

89% pass rate, £1927/year to run. 7 points above average.

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Petrol1995cc6 years old117 tests56k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1995cc)

~36 mpg

£1,327
Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs
£350
Total per year£1,927
Per month£161/mo
Per week£37/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

89% MOT pass rate(Good)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. That's 7 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the SUBARU brand average of 83%.

At 6 years old, 89% of SUBARU FORESTERs from 2020 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 117 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 56,363 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2020 cars2038th of 2,596(top 79%)
Rank among SUBARU models64th of 193(top 33%)
vs national average+7%(82% avg)
vs 2020 cars average-3%(92% avg)
vs SUBARU average+6%(83% avg)

Mileage Analysis

56,363

Average miles

vs

44,400

Expected for age

The average 2020 SUBARU FORESTER has 56,363 miles on the clock, which is above the expected 44,400 miles for a 6-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2019 model with a 92% MOT pass rate, while the 2003 model has the lowest at 71%. The 2020 sits between the two at 89%.

SUBARU FORESTER by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
202188%7355,047 mi
202089%11756,363 mi
201992%96840,774 mi
201890%1,61749,495 mi
201788%1,50159,999 mi
201684%2,03468,939 mi
201583%1,71975,172 mi
201481%2,04685,284 mi
201378%1,24495,454 mi
201275%518104,981 mi
201178%1,406110,401 mi
201073%1,393109,597 mi
200972%837108,694 mi
200880%905108,470 mi
200775%1,559109,753 mi
200675%1,646117,944 mi
200574%1,750122,626 mi
200475%1,456125,021 mi
200371%1,132133,554 mi
200276%465125,771 mi
200172%391122,762 mi
200072%315124,647 mi
199977%344125,516 mi
199874%242118,976 mi
199764%44134,428 mi

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About the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER

The 2020 SUBARU FORESTER is a family car with a 1995cc petrol engine. 117 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 79% of 2020 cars for MOT pass rates.

With an average of 56,363 miles at 6 years old, SUBARU FORESTER owners cover more miles than the average driver.

2020 SUBARU FORESTER Fuel Costs

The 1995cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,327 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,927 161/month), broken down as £1327 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £350 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 89% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

SUBARU FORESTER Reliability Trend

Newer SUBARU FORESTERs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 9 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2020 SUBARU FORESTER

At 6 years old, the SUBARU FORESTER offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. If you're flexible on year, the 2019 model has the highest pass rate at 92%.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Timing Chain / Belt

Watch out

At 6 years old, check whether the timing belt has been replaced (typically due every 5-7 years or 60,000-100,000 miles). A snapped belt can destroy the engine.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
SUBARU FORESTER(2020)89%£1327£195Grp 18-32£1927
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF(2019)92%£1137£190Grp 12-25£1582-£345
FORD KUGA(2018)90%£1137£190Grp 12-25£1582-£345
MINI COOPER(2018)92%£1137£190Grp 12-25£1582-£345
NISSAN QASHQAI(2020)93%£1137£190Grp 12-25£1582-£345

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Subaru Models

Explore other Subaru cars or similar models in the same category.

Related Guides

In-depth articles relevant to the Subaru Forester.

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