Compare the2026 Chevrolet BlazerVS 2025 Subaru Forester

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Blazer are height-adjustable, and the rear seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Subaru Forester has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

The Blazer has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Forester’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Blazer has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Forester and its not available on the Base.

Compared to metal, the Blazer’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Forester has a metal gas tank.

Both the Blazer and the Forester have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Subaru Forester:

	Blazer	Forester
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	182	198
Neck Injury Risk	22%	24.4%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	263 lbs.
Neck Compression	25 lbs.	39 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	104/435 lbs.	276/274 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Subaru Forester:

	Blazer	Forester
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	58 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Blazer is 1.9% to 2.7% less likely to roll over than the Forester.

Warranty

The Blazer’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Forester’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Blazer’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Blazer has a standard 170-amp alternator (155-amp - Blazer V6 FWD). The Forester’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Blazer first among midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Forester isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

Engine

The Blazer has more powerful engines than the Forester:

	Horsepower	Torque
Blazer 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	228 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
Blazer 3.6 DOHC V6	308 HP	270 lbs.-ft.
Forester 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	180 HP	178 lbs.-ft.
Forester Wilderness 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	182 HP	176 lbs.-ft.
Forester 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	194 HP

As tested in Car and Driver the Chevrolet Blazer V6 is faster than the Subaru Forester 4 cyl. hybrid gas:

	Blazer	Forester
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	8.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	17 sec	22.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.4 sec	9.2 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.1 sec	4.2 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.6 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	86 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	113 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Blazer V6’s fuel efficiency. The Forester doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Blazer FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Forester (19.4 vs. 16.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Blazer AWD’s standard fuel tank has 5.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Forester (21.7 vs. 16.6 gallons).

The Blazer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Forester doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Blazer’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Forester:

	Blazer	Forester Wilderness	Forester Hybrid
Front Rotors	12.64 inches	12.4 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.2 inches	11.8 inches

The Blazer stops much shorter than the Forester:

	Blazer	Forester
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Blazer has larger standard tires than the Forester (235/65R18 vs. 225/60R17). The Blazer RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Forester (265/45R21 vs. 235/50R19).

The Blazer RS’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Forester Sport/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Blazer has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Forester. The Blazer RS’ optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Forester Sport/Touring.

The Chevrolet Blazer’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Subaru Forester only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Blazer has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Forester doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Blazer has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Forester doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Blazer’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the Forester (112.7 inches vs. 104.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Blazer is 4.8 inches wider in the front and 4.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Forester.

The Blazer RS AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the Forester Sport pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Blazer RS AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Forester Sport (27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

Chassis

The Blazer uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Forester doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Blazer RS AWD is quieter than the Forester Touring (66 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

The Blazer has .9 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Forester.

Cargo Capacity

The Blazer has a larger cargo volume than the Forester with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 29.6 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Blazer. The Forester doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Subaru Forester is limited to 3000 pounds. The Blazer offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Blazer can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Blazer can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Forester can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The Blazer uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Forester uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Blazer’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Forester does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Blazer and the Forester have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Blazer is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Forester prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Blazer’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Forester’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

On a hot day the Blazer’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Forester can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Blazer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Forester doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its STARLINK Connected Services can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Blazer’s standard Keyless Open and Start allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start is only offered on the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring, and doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Blazer’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring.

The Blazer offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Forester doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Blazer is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Forester doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

See Available Inventory