Compare the2025 Subaru ForesterVS 2025 Lexus NX

The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The NX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Forester. But it costs extra on the NX.

Both the Forester and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Forester is safer than the NX:

The Subaru Forester has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The NX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

There are almost 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Forester’s warranty.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The NX doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Forester gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

Both the Forester and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Foresters have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Forester uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 AWD requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Forester has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (16.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Forester higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX (5 to 6). This means the Forester produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX every 15,000 miles.

The Forester stops shorter than the NX:

The Forester has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Forester Sport handles at .82 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Forester Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the NX 450h+ AWD (27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Forester’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the NX’s (35.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8.7 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Forester’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the NX (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches).

The front grille of the Forester uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Forester has 2.9 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The front step up height for the Forester is 2.3 inches lower than the NX (15.5” vs. 17.8”). The Forester’s rear step up height is .9 inches lower than the NX’s (17.25” vs. 18.2”).

The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (29.6 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (74.4 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Forester easier. The Forester’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.9 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The Forester’s cargo area is larger than the NX’s in almost every dimension:

The Forester’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

The engine in the Forester is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the NX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The NX’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Forester’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Forester to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The NX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Subaru Forester outsold the Lexus NX by over two to one during 2023.