Subaru Field vs Touring: Which Trim Is Right for You?
You've decided on a Subaru and now you're stuck between Field or Touring. It's one of the questions we're asked most in the showroom, so here's how we help customers choose.
The right trim depends on how you use your car. Field would suit you if your Subaru works hard outdoors and you want practical kit at a lower price. Touring suits you if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel and want the most comfortable, best-equipped Subaru. On the Forester, there's £2,555 between them, or £20 a month on PCP.
At Struans Perth, you can choose Field or Touring at Subaru Forester or Subaru Outback. The Subaru Crosstrek also comes in Touring.
What do you get whichever trim you choose?
Field and Touring cars share the same engines, all-wheel drive and safety technology, so you aren't giving up any capability by choosing Field.
Both come with:
- Permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, so you have grip on wet, icy and gravel roads all year round
- X-MODE with Hill Descent Control, which helps on steep farm tracks and snowy driveways
- EyeSight driver assist, which includes Pre-Collision Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control to take the strain out of long drives
- An 11.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so your phone's maps and music are on the big screen
- Heated front seats and a rear camera
- Towing capacity of up to 1,870kg on the Forester and 1,270kg on the Crosstrek
The choice between Field and Touring is about comfort, styling and how you use the car day to day.
Subaru Field: Features and benefits
Field is Subaru's outdoor trim. It adds practical upgrades that make life easier when your car gets a hard time.
What you get and why it matters:
- Heated steering wheel which means warm hands on frosty Scottish mornings, before the cabin has heated up
- Powered tailgate meaning the boot opens at the touch of a button, which helps when your arms are full of shopping, kit or a wriggling dog
- Built-in sat-nav giving you directions that keep working when your phone signal drops out in the glens
- Eco-leather seats (Outback) which are tough and quick to wipe clean after a wet walk or a muddy ride
- Black pack with gloss black trim and black roof bars (Outback) which is a rugged look that doesn't show road grime
- Privacy glass (Forester) which keeps bags and kit out of sight when you're parked at a trailhead
Field is the right choice if you:
- Walk, cycle, fish, ski or spend weekends outdoors
- Have dogs or carry muddy gear regularly
- Want easy-clean seats over luxury upholstery
- Want the best value above the entry-level Limited
Subaru Touring: Features and benefits
Touring is the top of the Subaru range. It adds the luxury and technology that make every journey more comfortable.
What you get, and why it matters:
- Leather seats, with Nappa leather on the Outback giving you that soft, supportive and premium-feeling, even after hours at the wheel
- Powered tilt-and-slide sunroof which lets light and fresh air into the cabin
- Harman/Kardon audio (Outback) giving you rich, clear sound for music and podcasts on a long run up the A9
- Memory driver's seat (Outback) which puts the seat back in your position at a touch, so sharing the car with a partner is no hassle
- Front and side cameras (Outback) with extra views that make tight car parks and narrow lanes easier
- Roof rails with cross bars (Outback) which is ready for a roof box, bikes or kayaks straight away
- 19-inch alloys and heated rear seats (Forester) which is a bolder look and can warm passengers in the back
- Paddle shifters and dual-function X-MODE (Crosstrek) giving you more control on the road and more ability off it
Touring is the right choice if you:
- Cover high mileage or drive long distances often
- Regularly carry family or passengers in the back
- Share the car with another driver
- Want leather, a sunroof and premium audio
Which trim is right for you?
When customers can't decide, we ask them four questions.
How will you use the car most? If it's for days out in the hills, muddy dogs and loaded bikes, Field's wipe-clean seats and powered tailgate earn their keep. If it's mostly long motorway and A-road journeys, Touring's leather, sunroof and premium audio make the miles go by more easily.
Who's travelling with you? If you often have passengers in the back, Touring is more comfortable for them, with heated rear seats on the Forester. If you share the car with a partner, the memory seat on the Outback Touring saves you adjusting it every time.
What matters more, toughness or luxury? Field is built to be used and cleaned. Touring is built to be enjoyed.
What's your budget? On the Forester, Touring costs £2,555 more than Field, or £20 a month on PCP. For many of our customers, that small monthly difference is what tips them towards Touring.
How much do Field and Touring cars cost at Struans?
The Subaru Forester is a self-charging hybrid. The Forester Field is £41,545 on the road, or from £359 a month on PCP. The Forester Touring is £44,100, or from £379 a month. Both PCP deals are at 2.9% APR representative. See the latest Forester offers.
The Subaru Outback comes in Field and Touring with a 2.5-litre petrol engine. Call us for current pricing.
The Subaru Crosstrek comes in Touring at £38,100, or from £319 a month on PCP at 4.6% APR representative. See the Crosstrek offers.
If you'd rather lease, Personal Contract Hire starts from £535 a month for the Forester Field, £595 for the Forester Touring and £455 for the Crosstrek Touring.
Find out more on our finance page, ask about Subaru Motability, or browse our used cars for a nearly new Field or Touring.
Common questions about Subaru Field and Touring Cars
What's the difference between Subaru Field and Touring?
Field adds practical, rugged features like a heated steering wheel, a powered tailgate, sat-nav and wipe-clean eco-leather seats. Touring is the top trim and adds luxury features like leather seats, a sunroof and, on the Outback, Harman/Kardon audio and a memory driver's seat.
Is Subaru Touring worth the extra money?
If you do a lot of miles or regularly carry passengers, yes. On the Forester, Touring costs £20 a month more than Field on PCP. If your car gets a hard life outdoors, Field's tougher seats may suit you better.
Which trim is better for dog owners?
Field. The eco-leather seats on the Outback wipe clean easily, and the powered tailgate makes loading up simpler.
Which trim is better for long journeys?
Touring. Leather seats, a sunroof and, on the Outback, Harman/Kardon audio and a memory seat make long drives more comfortable.
Do Field and Touring have the same engine and all-wheel drive?
Yes. On each model, Field and Touring have the same engine, permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and X-MODE, so they're equally capable off-road and in winter.
Which Subaru models come in Field trim?
At Struans Perth, Field is available on the Forester and the Outback. The Crosstrek comes in Limited and Touring.
How much more are Touring cars than Field?
On the Forester, Touring is £44,100 and Field is £41,545, a difference of £2,555. On PCP, that's £20 a month.
Are the Forester Field and Touring hybrids?
Yes. Both are 2.0-litre e-Boxer self-charging hybrids with an automatic gearbox, so there's nothing to plug in.
Can you tow with a Subaru Field or Touring?
Yes. Towing ability is the same on both trims. The Forester can tow up to 1,870kg and the Crosstrek up to 1,270kg.
Can you get a Field or Touring on Motability?
Speak to the team about current Subaru Motability options.
Where can you buy a Subaru Field or Touring in Perth?
At Struans in Perth. Pop in, call us on 01738 606399, or get in touch online.
Still not sure? Why not test both!
The easiest way to choose between Field and Touring is to sit in both, and we're happy to set up a back-to-back test drive. Browse the Subaru range, check the latest Forester offers, or get in touch with the team in Perth on 01738 606399.
Prices and offers correct as of October 2026 and subject to change. Finance subject to status.