What is the difference between Subaru Limited and Touring?
In Subaru's trim ladder, Touring is typically the more premium option compared with Limited, with more luxury touches and tech; exact content varies by model-year and market.
This article explains what these trims typically include, how to spot them in the showroom, and how to verify the exact equipment list for a specific Subaru model.
What Touring typically includes beyond Limited
Below are the kinds of equipment upgrades and luxury touches Subaru commonly reserves for the Touring trim, though availability depends on model-year and market.
- Upholstery and interior: premium leather seating or upgraded interior materials
- Comfort and convenience: power-adjustable driver seat (often with memory) and dual-zone climate control
- Steering and comfort: heated steering wheel and, in many years, ventilated front seats
- Infotainment and navigation: larger touchscreen and, on some models, built-in navigation; upgraded audio system
- Exterior and wheels: unique or higher-end alloy wheels and exterior styling cues
- Technology and safety: enhanced driver-assistance packages or additional features that may be bundled with Touring
In practice, Touring adds a combination of interior luxury, tech enhancements, and convenient features that go beyond what Limited typically offers. Exact items vary by model-year, so confirm the trim sheet for your car.
What Limited offers and how it compares to Touring
Limited sits above base trims in many Subarus, delivering solid luxury without some of the higher-end touches reserved for Touring. The line between Limited and Touring can shift by year and model, and some features may be optional on one trim and standard on the other.
- Interior: comfortable leather or leather-like seating, usually with power front seats
- Climate and comfort: automatic climate control and heated front seats
- Entertainment: standard infotainment system, typically with a good-sized display
- Convenience: practical features like a power liftgate or auto-dimming mirrors depending on year/model
- Price: generally lower starting price than Touring, with the gap widening if Touring adds options
As a rule, Limited provides substantial equipment and comfort, while Touring leans into premium materials, extra tech, and exclusive styling. Always verify the exact content against the official trim brochure for your model year.
How to verify the exact differences for your vehicle
Because Subaru updates trims and equipment frequently, the best way to confirm the gap for your car is to consult official sources and the vehicle’s window sticker.
- Check the model-year brochure or Subaru’s official website for your specific model and year
- Compare the "Build" or "Price" sheet and the window sticker from the dealer
- Ask the dealer to pull a VIN-specific equipment list or "Build Sheet" for the exact vehicle
Armed with the official sheet, you’ll know exactly which features retreat or advance when moving from Limited to Touring on your Subaru model.
Model-year and regional variations
Wind- and calendar-year changes can affect which features come with Limited and Touring, and some features may be region-specific. Always verify using year-specific materials for your region to avoid surprises.
Summary
Across Subaru models that offer both Limited and Touring, Touring is generally the more premium, feature-rich trim, with upgrades in interior material, seating comfort, infotainment, and sometimes safety tech. The exact differences depend on model and year, so always check the official trim sheet or dealer documentation for your specific vehicle. If you’re shopping, compare builds side-by-side to determine whether the Touring’s extra cost aligns with the features you value.
Which is better, Subaru Forester Limited or Touring?
The Subaru Forester Limited is a luxury-focused trim that includes leather upholstery, a hands-free power rear gate, and a heated steering wheel, while the top-tier Touring model adds more premium features like ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, and the DriverFocus distraction mitigation system. Key differences are primarily in enhanced comfort and technology, with the Touring model offering a more upscale interior and advanced driver-assist and convenience features.
This video highlights the key differences between the Limited and Touring trims, including the interior and exterior features: 1mSubaru of PuyallupYouTube · Mar 8, 2025
Subaru Forester Limited
- Interior: Leather-trimmed upholstery, 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a heated steering wheel.
- Convenience: Foot-activated hands-free power rear gate.
- Safety: Includes Blind-Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.
- Wheels: 18-inch machine-finish alloy wheels.
Subaru Forester Touring
- Interior: Includes all Limited features, plus perforated leather-trimmed upholstery with Ultrasuede inserts, two-position memory for the driver's seat and mirrors, and heated rear outboard seats.
- Convenience: Ventilated front seats and a leather-wrapped shifter handle.
- Safety: Adds a 360-degree Surround View Monitor, DriverFocus distraction mitigation system, and Reverse Automatic Braking.
- Technology: Comes standard with the SUBARU STARLINK 11.6-inch Multimedia Navigation system and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.
- Wheels: 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with a dark gray machine finish.
This video explains the features of the different Forester trims, including the Touring model: 1mAlex PrestigiacomoYouTube · Jul 4, 2024
What is the order of Subaru trim levels?
Subaru offers five primary trim levels for many of its popular models, including the 2025 Subaru Forester, which has the Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring trims. Each trim progressively adds more features and luxury to suit different driver needs in communities like Richmond Heights, Fenton, and Crestwood.
What is the difference between Subaru Touring and Limited?
On a new car, Touring adds over Limited: 1. Front-view camera in the front grille 2. 3rd Eyesight system camera located behind rear view mirror 3. Ventilated front seats, but they're noisy and not that effective compared to other ventilated seats I'm used to 4.
What is the difference between the 2025 Outback Touring and Limited?
The main differences are that the 2025 Outback Touring adds luxury and tech features on top of the Limited trim, including Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a power moonroof, and a 180-degree front-view camera. The Limited trim already includes features like leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate, which are built upon the Premium trim level. The Touring is the most premium and tech-forward option, while the Limited offers a balance of comfort and convenience at a lower price point.
| Feature | 2025 Outback Limited | 2025 Outback Touring |
|---|---|---|
| Upholstery | Leather | Nappa leather (premium, softer leather) |
| Front Seats | Heated | Heated and ventilated |
| Front-View Camera | No | 180-degree front-view monitor |
| Mirrors | Standard | Power-folding side mirrors with chrome finish |
| Audio | Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system | Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system |
| Additional Features | Heated steering wheel, Hands-free power liftgate, Memory settings for driver, Driver attention warning, Blind-spot warning, Rear automatic braking | Heated steering wheel, Hands-free power liftgate, Memory settings for driver, Driver attention warning, Blind-spot warning, Rear automatic braking, Power moonroof, CD player |
| Engine | 2.5-liter DOHC (non-turbo) or 2.4-liter turbocharged DOHC (Limited XT) | 2.5-liter DOHC (non-turbo) or 2.4-liter turbocharged DOHC (Touring XT) |
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You can watch this video to see a comparison of the interior features, including the Nappa leather in the Touring trim: 59sAlex PrestigiacomoYouTube · Aug 11, 2023
Key distinctions
- Interior Luxury: The Touring's Nappa leather and ventilated front seats are the most significant upgrades over the Limited's leather and heated seats.
- Advanced Technology: The Touring adds the 180-degree front-view monitor for improved visibility, a feature not available on the Limited.
- Convenience: Power-folding side mirrors on the Touring provide an extra layer of convenience, especially in tight parking spaces.
- Classic Media: A unique feature of the Touring is the inclusion of a CD player, catering to those who prefer physical media.
