Where to Buy a Used Subaru Near Chicago
By the team at Love Auto Group, Villa Park IL · Updated May 2026
If you want a used Subaru near Chicago, you have two real options: a franchise Subaru store (Berman, Grand, McGrath Evanston, Autobarn Countryside, Muller, International Orland) or an independent specialist like us at Love Auto Group in Villa Park. Both have a place. This guide explains when each makes sense, what to look for, and where the value sits on a 2014 to 2018 Forester, Outback, or Crosstrek.
Independent vs. Franchise Subaru Dealer Near Chicago
Franchise Subaru stores carry Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) inventory: late-model used cars (typically four years old or less, under 80,000 miles) that have passed Subaru's 152-point inspection, come with a manufacturer-backed warranty, and are sold at a CPO price premium. If you want a 2022 Forester with factory backing and you are paying close to new-car price, that is the right path. Berman Subaru of Chicago, Grand Subaru in Bensenville, McGrath Evanston in Skokie, Autobarn Countryside, Muller in Highland Park, and International Subaru in Tinley Park all run good CPO programs.
Independent specialists like us focus on a different price point. We buy second-generation 2014 to 2018 Foresters, Outbacks, and Crosstreks at the value sweet spot, recondition them in our shop, and price them well below CPO. The drivetrains in this generation are essentially the same as the ones the franchise stores recondition. The difference is we do not carry franchise overhead, so the price drops by several thousand dollars. The trade-off is no Subaru factory warranty (we offer aftermarket service contracts as a separate line item) and a smaller inventory.
Love Auto Group is family owned, has operated in Villa Park since 2014, and specializes in Japanese makes. Subaru is one of the makes we know best. Owner Jeremiah Johnson personally inspects every vehicle before it goes on the lot.
The Value Sweet Spot: 2014 to 2018 Subarus
Subaru redesigned the four-cylinder engine for the 2014 model year. The new FB25 engine resolved the head gasket issues that troubled the older EJ25, and the platform has now logged ten-plus years of real-world reliability data. Foresters and Outbacks from this era routinely run past 250,000 miles when properly maintained. Pricing for this generation has come down enough from new that buyers can step into a clean example for $9,000 to $15,000, but the cars still feel current inside.
We typically stock used Subarus in this range, focused on 80,000 to 140,000 miles. That sounds like a lot of miles to first-time buyers, but on a 2014 to 2018 Subaru, 100,000 miles is barely halfway through life if the previous owner followed the service schedule. The Carfax tells us whether they did. We pull a free Carfax on every vehicle and review it before we list.
Models We Keep in Rotation
Subaru Forester (2014 to 2018)
The volume runner. Compact SUV body, tall upright seating position, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and Subaru's full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive. The 2.5L FB25 four-cylinder is the right engine for most buyers. The 2.0XT turbo is fun but rare on the used market and usually commands a premium that does not match the actual durability data. Trims to know: base, Premium (the value pick), Limited (leather, sunroof), and Touring (everything).
Subaru Outback (2015 to 2018)
Same drivetrain as the Forester, longer wheelbase, more interior space, and a smoother highway ride. The 2.5L four-cylinder is fine for most. The 3.6R six-cylinder has real passing power but drops fuel economy from 30 MPG highway to 27. The Outback is the right call for a buyer with a long commute on the toll roads.
Subaru Crosstrek (2014 to 2017)
Subaru's smallest AWD model. Lighter, easier to park, better fuel economy than the Forester, less cargo space. Ground clearance is 8.7 inches, the same as the Forester, which makes it more capable than its size suggests. The 2.0L four-cylinder is leisurely but reliable.
Subaru Legacy (2014 to 2018)
The sedan in the lineup. Same engines and AWD as the Outback in a sedan body. Fewer buyers come asking for the Legacy specifically, but when one lands on the lot in good shape, it is one of the best AWD sedans on the used market for the price.
What We Inspect on Every Used Subaru
- Head gasket area and coolant condition (less of a concern on FB25 engines than the older EJ25, but we check anyway)
- CVT transmission fluid color and condition. CVT fluid that looks dark or smells burnt is a buy-stage walk-away
- All-wheel drive engagement and rear differential
- Suspension wear, especially front struts and rear control arm bushings on Outbacks
- Brake pad and rotor thickness, parking brake adjustment
- Tires: matched set, even wear, adequate tread depth (AWD vehicles need matched tires within 2/32" tread depth difference or the AWD system can develop driveline bind)
- Carfax review for documented service history
- Interior electronics, including the touchscreen, every power feature, and every seat adjustment
Subaru AWD vs. 4WD for Chicago Winters
Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive is a full-time system that splits torque between the front and rear axles with a center differential. It is always on, requires no driver input, and adjusts torque before a wheel actually slips. This is different from the part-time 4WD systems on trucks and body-on-frame SUVs (Tacoma, 4Runner, Wrangler), which the driver engages with a lever or button for off-road use.
For the Chicago suburbs in winter, full-time AWD is the better tool. Side streets in Villa Park, Lombard, Elmhurst, and the rest of DuPage County see plowing once or twice a day in heavy storms, which means most of the time you are driving on packed snow with patches of ice. The Subaru system handles that without the driver thinking about it. We sell more Foresters and Outbacks in November and December than any other time of year.
Where Buyers Come From
Villa Park is centrally placed for the western Chicago suburbs. We get drive-ins from Lombard (5 minutes), Elmhurst (10 minutes), Oak Brook (10 minutes), Glen Ellyn (12 minutes), Addison (5 minutes), Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Bloomingdale, and Hinsdale, plus regular trips from Chicago via I-290 (about 25 minutes from the Loop in normal traffic).
For buyers further east in Cook County or the North Shore, we are happy to text or email video walkarounds of any specific vehicle before you make the trip out. Call (630) 359-3643 to set that up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy a used Subaru near Chicago?
Love Auto Group at 735 N Yale Ave in Villa Park, IL is a family owned independent used Subaru dealer twenty minutes west of downtown Chicago. We specialize in Japanese makes including Subaru, Lexus, Acura, Honda, Toyota, and Mazda. Buyers regularly come from across DuPage County, the western Chicago suburbs, and the city itself. Franchise Subaru dealers near Chicago include Berman Subaru of Chicago (Irving Park Rd), Grand Subaru in Bensenville, McGrath Subaru of Evanston in Skokie, Autobarn Subaru of Countryside, Muller Subaru in Highland Park, and International Subaru in Tinley Park.
What is the difference between buying a used Subaru from an independent dealer vs. a franchise Subaru store?
Franchise Subaru stores carry Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) inventory with a 152-point inspection and a manufacturer-backed warranty, which is the right call if you want a current-generation Forester or Outback with factory backing. Independent dealers like Love Auto Group focus on a different value point. We buy 2014 to 2018 Foresters, Outbacks, and Crosstreks at the value sweet spot, recondition them in-house, sell them at lower price points than franchise CPO, and back the deal with our own inspection and a free Carfax. Same drivetrains, lower overhead, lower price.
What years of used Subaru are the value sweet spot?
Second-generation 2014 to 2018 Foresters, Outbacks, and Crosstrekss are the value sweet spot. The FB25 four-cylinder boxer engine introduced for 2014 redesigned the head gasket area that troubled earlier 2.5L engines. Symmetrical all-wheel drive in this generation has proven durable past 250,000 miles when the CVT fluid is serviced every 30,000 to 40,000 miles. Prices in this generation have come down from new but the cars still feel current inside, and the depreciation curve has flattened, which protects your resale value if you sell in two or three years.
Is a used Subaru a good winter car for the Chicago suburbs?
Yes. Chicago winters get unplowed side streets, salt slop, and the occasional foot of snow overnight. Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive runs full-time, sends power to all four wheels by default, and adjusts torque before the wheels slip. Combined with 8.7 inches of ground clearance on the Forester and Outback, the result is a car that handles a Chicago suburbs winter without drama. We sell more Foresters in November and December than any other month for exactly this reason.
Should I worry about Subaru head gasket failures?
Not on the cars we sell. Head gasket failures are real but they were specific to the EJ25 four-cylinder used through about 2011. Foresters, Outbacks, and Crosstreks from 2014 forward use the FB25 engine, which redesigned the gasket and head architecture. We still check gasket area and coolant condition on every Subaru during our pre-listing inspection because no engine is bulletproof, but it is no longer the worry it used to be.
Forester or Outback: which is the better used buy?
Both have the same symmetrical AWD and roughly the same ground clearance. The Forester is shorter overall, has a taller upright body, gives better visibility for shorter drivers, and is the easier vehicle to park. The Outback has a longer wheelbase that feels more planted on highway drives, more interior space, and a quieter ride. For a buyer who drives mostly suburban streets and wants the most utility per dollar, the Forester wins. For a buyer who commutes long distances on I-355 or I-294 daily, the Outback is the more comfortable choice.
Is the Subaru CVT reliable in used Foresters and Outbacks?
Yes when the fluid is changed every 30,000 to 40,000 miles. Subaru's CVT (Lineartronic) had some early issues on 2010 to 2014 models that Subaru addressed under a warranty extension. Post-2015 units have proven durable in the 200,000 mile range. We pull the dipstick and check fluid color on every CVT Subaru and only list the ones with documented service history. CVT fluid that looks dark or smells burnt is a buy-stage walk-away for us.
Do you serve buyers from Chicago and the western suburbs?
Yes. We are located at 735 N Yale Ave in Villa Park, which is centrally placed for the entire DuPage County and western Chicago suburbs market. Buyers regularly come to us from Lombard, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Glen Ellyn, Addison, Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Bloomingdale, Hinsdale, and from Chicago itself. Westbound from the city it is roughly twenty minutes via I-290. Call (630) 359-3643 if you have a specific Subaru model or trim in mind.
Browse Current Inventory
See what we have on the lot right now:
- Used Subaru InventoryLive from our Villa Park lot
- Used Cars in DuPage CountyServing the western suburbs since 2014
- Free Carfax on Every VehicleCarfax Advantage Dealer
- Soft Credit Pre-ApprovalNo impact to your credit score
Stop In or Call
Love Auto Group, 735 N Yale Ave, Villa Park, IL 60181. Phone (630) 359-3643. Mon 2-7, Tue-Fri 11-7, Sat 12-7. Closed Sunday.
Family owned, in business since 2014, specializing in Japanese makes including Subaru, Lexus, Acura, Honda, Toyota, and Mazda.