Subaru Forester vs Audi RS Q3
What's the difference?

Subaru Forester

$43,490 - $55,990

2026 price

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Audi RS Q3

$83,888 - $99,990

2023 price

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Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2026 Subaru Forester

2023 Audi RS Q3

By Marcus Craft

By James Cleary

Safety Rating

Engine Type

—

Turbo 5, 2.5L

Fuel Type

—

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

—

8.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Nice interior
Refined on-road
Suitably capable off-road

Dynamics
Refinement
Quality

Dislikes

Sluggish acceleration
Needs all-terrain tyres
Intrusive driver alert system

Front seats tricky to get in and out of
Sizeable turning circle
Only six airbags

2026 Subaru Forester Summary

The sixth-generation of Subaru’s Forester has landed and while the new hybrid versions constitute the biggest news of this batch, the petrol-only variants should not be ignored.

The five-seat mid-size SUV has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, Subaru’s well-regarded 'symmetrical all-wheel drive' system and some new changes inside and out.

So, does the top-spec Touring offer the best value-for-money in the petrol Forester line-up?

Read on.

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2023 Audi RS Q3 Summary

Is 10 years long enough for a special birthday celebration? When you're a kid, hitting 'double figures' is a pretty big deal, and Audi's obviously in the mood to make some noise because it has lit the candles on a limited 10th anniversary version of its compact SUV rocket ship, the RS Q3.

Only 555 examples of the 'RS Q3 Sportback edition 10 years' will be produced for worldwide consumption, with Audi Australia capturing a batch of them and sending one our way for a brief blast as the fiery five-cylinder starts filtering into dealerships.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Subaru Forester 2023 Audi RS Q3

Verdict

The MY26 Subaru Forester packs plenty of punch in terms of standard features, a roomy and functional interior and overall driveability. Sure, it’s not the most exciting vehicle to drive on- or off-road but to get stuck on that is to miss the point entirely. This is a decent all-rounder with a solid background and an AWD system that long ago set the gold standard for vehicles of this type.

In a tough mid-size SUV market segment aimed more at those intent on driving through car parks rather than adventuring through national parks, the Forester offers greater versatility than most and should not be ignored.

Verdict

The Audi RS Q3 Sportback edition 10 years is dynamically brilliant, beautifully finished and surprisingly civilised on day-to-day duty. A polished compact performance package that even in this special 'get-it-while-you-can' guise offers compelling value relative to its direct competitors.

Subaru Forester vs Audi RS Q3 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Subaru Forester vs Audi RS Q3
What's the difference?