On my 3rd Forester now and will admit that I am addicted to these things! They are super easy to own and comfortable to drive. The visibility though is what really sets the Forester apart from every other vehicle on the market. It is the Forester's secret sauce, and is a very underrated feature IMO, especially after you drive other cars. Having those big windows all around you and being able to see the world in 4k makes the driving experience very pleasant.
What about the CVT? I have heard people say they are unreliable? I am so torn between the RAV4 and the Forester. I want to go with Toyota because of reliability, but Subaru is calling my heart.
Happy owner of one of these, great ride and very easy going family vehicle. I'd note for prospective buyers that the highway MPG on this car can easily exceed 33 MPG if driven with a light foot. Consistently netting 38+ on 65 MPH highway trips.
I have a 2021 Forester Touring edition and I just love it! It's my 10th Subaru and the best one I've owned. Great gas milage! And all the bells & whistles!
I was surprised you didn't mention the cargo room with the seats folded down. If I recall, the Forester was among the largest cargo area with the seats down which is one of the reasons why I bought it. It also has the electric release buttons for the 2nd row seats. I wish it had a motion activated cargo door open feature. On a different note, the front console storage and center console storage designs are inexcusably poorly designed. As you pointed out, you can't get a normal size phone in the front storage and it's almost impossible to plug in a USB cable in the blind ports without contorting your body to see what you're doing. The center console is also unreasonably to rearward for the front passengers to access without really twisting your body. A sliding console cover lid would have been nice too.
1. My 2nd row seats do not have electric release! 2. I heartily agree that the console "pocket" is too small - I can barely get my hand in to plug into the ports and have to do it all by feel!
We opted for the premium Forester. We believe you get more bang for the buck in the premium trim. We choose the Forester over the Outback, mainly because of the space configuration. It is taller. We are pleased with our choice.
Last November (2021) I bought my wife a 2019 Outback (it had only 5,600 miles). It was our first Subaru. It’s her commuter car. We had to have an AWD or 4WD as we get 5-6 feet of snow every winter in the mountainous area of north central WA state where we live . She used to park her Camry and drive my 11 Rav 4WD Limited so I had to drive our 4X4 pickup. Anyhow we Love her Outback. It goes everywhere we need it to go. I love the AWD system on her Subie so much that on 12/11/22 I/we bought a 2019 Forester Touring for me. It only had 4,700 miles. I’m so pleased with my Forester. Her Outback is Cinnamon Brown Pearl with Ivory interior and my Forester is Sephia Bronze with Brown leather interior. I wanted the Sport but the only Forester that has the Brown interior is the Touring. The heated steering wheel is awesome ! I’m glad y’all like your Forester Premium. I too like the higher roof line and how much visibility the Forester has. Even more so than the Outback. Enjoy your day !
I bought a Forester, Touring this week. It’s a great vehicle. It amazes me that some comments read (paraphrasing), “the engine is too slow, I wish it had the Turbo engine, “ blah blah. If you don’t like the engine, why did you buy it? Did you not test drive it?
I like when I find a part of the video where you redid a line but didn't edit out the flub. Def makes it more human and as robotic just reading off stats or features.
Thanks Alex. I have a 2020 Forester Limited with all the options I could afford. I needed more driver and passenger room, more comfort, quieter, and better seats than my old RAV4. It has worked out great with the Forester so far. I will say that If you are aggressive with the pedal you will not realize the great mpg... it is up to you.
Ive got the 2022 SFWE in my driveway...377miles on it...very, very nice and capable in the snow...we just were hit with 15 inches of snow last monday...not a single time did I get stuck...I'm very happy with it.
Did some off reading and rock crawling in mine. Was a total champ and does average right around 29 mpg. Slow af off the line but quicker from 30-70. Not quick. QuickER.
We bought one of these recently, the lack of a good place to put a phone is more annoying than you might expect, an interior refresh is very much needed for the forester. Its also much louder than i expected on the highway.
Thanks Alex for another great review, I bought 2020 forester and want to add some opinion 1. Regarding noise level, forester pick up a lot of wind noise when driving over 80 miles, I think mainstream SUV all sound like that 2. Get 0 deductible windshield insurance right away, I had and heard windshield crack due to the angle of windshield, it cost a lot to replace that large front windshield and calibration for eyesight is also adding $$$ 3. 2021 gets new rear seatbelt alarm, it makes backseat passenger safer
A\A has an interesting approach to CUV shopping. Write down your must have features. Find the cheapest CUV that checks those boxes. Makes sense given the super competitive class.
Too bad Subaru doesn't even offer, and probably never will, an option to get a stronger engine. I wanted it too, either the 2.5 turbo option or a more powerful and efficient hybrid, but alas it will never happen.
Just traded my 19 Forester Sport for a 21 CRV Hybrid last month. The OE tires on the Forester do it a complete disservice, had a pair of Falken Wildpeak A/Ts on it and while there was a slight MPG penalty, the ride and handling both improved greatly, as well as overall grip. I am getting about 8mpg better in the CRV Hybrid than I was in the Forester, and I'm not even trying. That said... I miss my HK audio system, Subarus infotainment system, and being able to remote start/control climate from anywhere from my phone. If Subaru had a not half-assed hybrid Forester and brought it to the US, I likely would have gone that route. Oddly enough, I miss having a place to put my right hand while driving.. Yeah I know it should be on the wheel, but even in an automatic I always had my hand on the shift knob. Just had my first evasive maneuver in the CRV and was honestly unimpressed by comparison, maybe some slightly lower profile tires would make a difference... but it definitely didn't feel like the Forester before or after the new tires. I know it's not going to happen with the refresh, but maybe with the redesign. Subaru needs to lower and widen the cup holder area, that was tight with larger tumblers. 4 Way lumbar is amazing, in the CRV, so that would be a great addition to Subaru. Among other things involving powertrain, I would have loved to have seen laminated front windows for sound deadening. Took a family members 2020 Escape with the 3 cylinder to get gas and after a month in the CRV Hybrid, thought I was driving a diesel. Even Subarus boxer sounds better than that 3 cylinder. Really, there wasn't much change for 2021, as 2022 should be the actual refresh with 2024 being a a full redesign.
We are pleased with our 2019 Forester Touring. All the safety features, good sound system, good passenger space. Power is only adequate, but the mpg is a reasonable. Zero mechanical issues so far makes me happy. Prefer it over the Ascent my parents purchased.
I love my 19 Forester Touring as well. It’s the perfect size for my needs. When we go on long road trips we take my wife’s Outback. It has more room for our luggage and our 120# chocolate lab.
@@Doc1855 Aha! You are uniquely qualified to answer my next question: do you find the Outback quieter on highways and long road trips? While I plan to pass the Forester to my daughter going to grad school in Buffalo, I was thinking of upgrading to the Outback. (I assume this is the case based upon your earlier answer, but my 90# Rottie wants to know ;-). Thanks in advance.
@@davidcarroll8735 Yes the Outback is quieter. Bc the wheelbase is longer, it’s more comfortable as well. Our Lab, Joe, has no problems standing up in either car. The naturally aspirated engine in the Outback is just adequate. The XT performs much better. Bc both the Outback and the Forester have the same naturally aspirated engine and transmission, my lighter more agile Forester does better over our Mtn passes while going to Seattle or over the Rockies to get to the family farm in MT. The Outback just takes longer 😂
@@Doc1855 thank you very much, that confirms what I’d been gleaning from the various RUclips videos. I may opt for the larger engine if it’s an option - I’m not sure if I’m going for a 2022/3/4 Outlook. Have a great day!
@@davidcarroll8735 The 23 has vastly improved the infotainment system to make it easier to navigate through the system. The 2.5L is a naturally aspirated with 182hp. The 2.4L turbo has 260hp and a “tougher” CVT to handle the extra hp and torque. The XT is the turbo. The Wilderness has the turbo but the final gears in the rear are shorter, 4.11 whereas the regular XT and the naturally aspirated engine have I believe 3.11 as the final drive ratios. The Forester is no longer available in XT form. I / We Love our Subie’s and will continue to buy them when they’re worn out.
The NFC function on the bigger starlink headunits is super handy, especially if it's shared as a company vehicle. I have like 10+ 'SUBARU BT' pairings on my phone and if someone deletes my phone pairing then all I have to do is touch my phone to the radio when it's ready to pair.
I've had my 2019 Touring model for almost 2 years now. To date, I'm averaging 31.7 mpg. It's absolutely fabulous out on the highway, I've gotten as much as 35 mpg at 65 to 70 mph. It's very comfortable as well. Honestly, the only other compact CUV I might consider vis the new Tuscon Limited hybrid, but I haven't driven one yet.
Are you talking about the dashboard's MPG readout value? in my '17, that is about 1 mpg optimistic compared to the truth. I have calibrated my odometer several times against highway "speedometer check" 5 mile sections, actually showing the odometer pessimistic by ~2+% (i.e. it turns about 4.9 miles over the section). After accounting for that, and dividing by the actual cumulative number of gallons purchased over the same period since I last reset the trip computer, the true number comes out about 1 mpg less.
Just because of the thing at the end of the video where you put the different trims, the prices, and what they all come with, you get my my sub and respect for that. The review wasn't bad either LoL 😁
Third Gen Forester was good for that. The center area had a removable divider that allowed for long and bulky items to fit in that storage area. Subaru moved away from that configuration unfortunately. I had a 2010 at one time, now on a 2018.
The standard Forester seems like a good deal. For long body life and fewer issues avoid sunroofs. If money is no object get a hybrid RAV4. The Rogue is a logical alternative, but Subaru has a loyal following in the snowbelt. Great review and discussion of the competition Alex. 👍
My wife and I test-drove a Forester Sport last year. It had a fantastic, high end quality interior and super comfy seats, but... the seating position was less vertical than others, the noise insulation was worse, the acceleration was poor and it felt rather unstable going on the highway at 70mph. Definitely didn’t feel as planted as the Rav4 or the CR-V. In the end, we went with a Rav4 hybrid for the same price and no regrets.
Well, that's why there are so many cars on the market! We went the other direction and got the Forester (2019). Same generation so they probably haven't change much and we have no problems with noise or stability at speeds around 75. It's acceleration keeps up with all Chicago area suburban and highway traffic, but then we don't drag race it. Although it's the fourth Subie I've had over the decades so that is a bias for us and I can't fault anyone going with one of the other choices.
I had the same experience unstable at high way speeds. Than I looked the tire pressure. For some reason the dealer set the tire pressure to about 45 psi. Once that fixed it was fine.
@@elizbeth8659 45psi?! That’s dangerous! While I’ll admit to not having looked at the tire pressure on my test drive vehicle, I did drive a friend’s 2020 Limited and it felt basically the same. It was fine up until 60, but then it got kind of wobbly, and required lots of steering corrections. It felt almost as if it didn’t have enough down force. Perhaps it’s the effect of being higher off the ground or maybe the steering is too light, but the Toyota and Honda felt more planted.
I would be interested in this also at the very least the style cues from the crosstrek PHEV. Really like the blue highlights and stitches. I like the Forester Sport trim minus all the orange.
Yeah I agree with you there on the current crosstrek PHEV you loose something like 20% cargo to get 17 miles about no thanks. I just really enjoyed the interior color scheme of it.
Suggesting the outback turbo as a bit more expensive is a masterpiece of understatement. 9.9 to 60 is seriously slow; even slower than the old model and the handling is sloppy on road. 71 DB is not actually quiet.
Great review Alex. We would love to trade in our Outback XT as we plan to downsize but unless Subaru offers a turbo in the Forester it is not on our list. The Forester 2.5 feels OK on the test drive but load it down with the family and luggage and it becomes even slower making passing all but impossible, the engine is over taxed and noisy and the car is definately not fun to drive.
Really begging for the XT on this. Hopefully a wilderness option in 2022 adds it. Tried out the 2.5 and it felt way too slow to reach highway speeds and maneuver for lane changes
Yes, and it sucks how Subaru is charging XT price and giving this "sport" joke trim. They'll bring in actual XT in few years but will hike the prices again, so expect like a 10k bump.
It’s not too slow, it’s just as fast as the cx5. And just so you know, I use to own a 1995 Saturn sl2 with 100 hp. Drove that on the highway no problem.
Lol. I have a forester. I really enjoy it. It’s just a safe fun vehicle. My “lol” was at the beginning of this vid. Honda CR-V Toyota RAV4, equinox by Chevrolet, and I’m sure a few others say the exact same thing…….their suv is the number one selling crossover. Hope the very best for Subarus!
DriverFocus on the Touring model has up to 5 profiles, and works like FaceID to automatically set the seat position, side mirror position, and even climate control settings. It’s the least understood feature Subaru offers.
Thanks for the detail review. Definitely waiting for the Forster to match or better the fuel mileage of the Tucson Hybrid before making the final decision.
Don't be too impressed the quality is trash on the inside. I have the same color and spec but a 2019 ... I loved the way it looked but after 2 years ..it's a rattlebox and the quality is subpar
I'm happy with my Forester 2020 e-boxer. It is not smooth in the city at slow speeds when the engine kicks in, but then I didn't buy it for the city. I works well in the mountains and returns decent fuel efficiency. I drive smoothly. The power is enough for these who don't race in their SUVs. Square cargo room is more practical, although I'd love to be able to move the rear seats forward. On Japanese market, Forester has a very competitive price. So my expectations whe comes to certain things were appropriate to the price. The Eyesite works well as well. I like it especially in the wind. It's just more relaxing on the motorways.
Many nice features and capability undermined by the Chihuahua engine under the hood (all bark and no passing/mountain "bite"). Perhaps the upcoming wilderness version will bring the 2.4 turbo! Am very grateful Subaru's passing up the giant grille consuming other car brands!
Alex, I think the earlier, more 'wagony' Foresters were more distinct. If anyone can still sell a wagon to 'mericans it is Subaru. One thing is for sure, in this class RAV4 leg room is becoming an embarrassment. At this point it only has minor details like mpg and reliability going for it. ;-)
Except there’s more leg room in the Rav4 than in most cars out there. It may be less than the Forester, but it’s still more than enough for a 6’2 person to sit comfortably. Also, fuel economy and reliability are literally the biggest influencers in car sales.
Love the Forester but it badly needs more power. We love our 2022 but once you pack in the kids and luggage, the lack of power borders on dangerous when merging and passing.
I'm always confused by the seatbelt coming out of the ceiling. A feature (5th passenger) the likely rarely gets used at the cost of so many other possibilities
The Subaru 5th belt can be disconnected at the passenger's hip point, and completely stowed away in the ceiling cavity. It takes only 2 minutes to do or undo if you know how. The secret is the tiny slot to push with the metal buckle end.
Thanks for the video. Loved my 2014, until it needed an engine rebuild at 32,000 miles, and then leaked oil after the rebuild. Never again, fun to keep tabs on the forester though.
Subaru has one of the best CVT out there. If you are worried about the longevity you can change the transmission fluid. Plenty of threads out there of Subaru owners who do offroading that do change the transmission fluid so you can read up on that.
Your 0to 60 is off every one else clocked at 8.5 either do over because I driven the competitor with similar specs and most do between 8.3 and 8.5 I have a 2021 forester and I know does in 8.3
Probably because he use to driving vehicles with excessive amount of power plus trust because the car has a broad torque curve and I have no issues on the highway and I'm use to driving cars with more power plus it's not that heavy I love the engine s and I there a difference but it drives fine to me in either one and personally I'll take it over the crv or toyota or escape
As an owner of 2019 Base level model, I can say that there is 3 setbacks I had with the forester that driven me mad. First, It is noisy on a highway, like you can't really talk to passenger normally. Along with the system that makes music louder when car going faster - I had a headache after 1h driving. Second, once in a while CarPlay won't connect phone. It just not showing it and the only fix is either restart multimedia (push volume for 10 sec) or turn off ignition for 5 min and be back. And the last one, it becomes really slow after 50 MPH, it takes forever to get from 50 to 80 MPH when you merge on a toll road. Other than this, as said, good value.
Not for the typical owner! It passes fine, drives around town like anything else, and devours highway miles the same as others in this category. I've done some racing but my wife can't tell the difference between 10 seconds or 8. Remember who the target audience is. The family going to a national park, going to the dog park, driving to Target in 6 inches of fresh icy snow, and driving on their 400 meter dirt entryway. I have done my share of exploring the middle of nowhere Arizona (much of the state is unpaved public lands), Isuzu Rodeo back then, and I can tell you a modern Forester would have no issues finding abandoned mining towns with just a more aggressive tread tire of the stock size.
Here in many parts of asia, this Forester is even slower because we only get the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine! And the new e-boxer version is worst because there's a noticeable jolt at low speed! Subaru CEO should be fired.
Have you compared the prices of the e-boxer to the competition? At least in Japan, the price is very competitive. So I don't complain about it as the competition was 20% more expensive. The e-boxer works well in the mountains and motorways, which is the usecase of the vehicle. When taxes were included, there was no extra price btw 2.5l NA Vs e-boxer. So yes, it is a cheap solution. But it does work for intended purpose. Forester was never intended to be a city car.
I have two Foresters - 2020 and a 2010 so I'm definitely a Subaru fan. I really wish they'd done a better job with the hybrid model though. My next car will probably be a hybrid and I'd love to consider Subaru but they're SO far behind the competition at this point.
@@Grant_Ferstat Sorry, they are not that much behind. Make sure your are comparing apples to apples. :) My Subaru Forester e-boxer was the same price as NA 2.5l, if taxes were included for the next five years. It was the cheapest in the class. RAV4 hybrid was 25% more expensive. Both manufactured in Japan, where I live right now. Forester, at least in Japan, is relatively cheap. So I include the price in the technical comparison. Also, Subaru has the hybrid system based on two e-motors. The Crosstreck PHEV has it. From what I read in the Japanese media, they will offer it in the future. It is just expensive so Subaru doesn't offer it. I wished they did, to be honest. I think there is a marker for Forester PHEV, even though the price would be higher. My e-boxer experience: rough in the city, good on the motorway, decent in the mountains. So for my usecase it works. It's not perfect and I want my next Forester to be PHEV, with two e-motors system. :)
@@valdius85 The Hybrid offered in Australia offers very little real world fuel economy advantage according to independent tests over the 2.5L and costs more than A$3000 more. You also lose your spare tyre (not great in my book for an SUV that you might want to take out of the city) and also lose 600 kg worth of towing capacity which means it will struggle to tow even a small camper trailer. Once again something you might want to do if you own an SUV. The RAV4 AWD IS significantly more expensive here but offers a significant increase in fuel economy over the hybrid Forester, a big increase in performance, better towing capacity and, at least the option to include a full sized spare. In Australia at least if you want to go Hybrid it is a better value proposition.
@@Grant_Ferstat So you said "significantly more expensive" and yet compare two directly to eachother calling one worse than another. Your points are valid, it's just the comparison is unfair because of the price difference.
Too bad the Forester doesn't offer a more powerful and fuel efficient hybrid version, like the Rav-4 hybrid(I'd love it) or if it got the same 2.5 turbo option from the Outback or Ascent, that seems like a pipe dream. Now if you really want to make my wife happy, add the interior niceties of a Tiguan: 360 camera, wireless Carplay and charging, power folding mirrors and 12" digital dash, among other things. The new Hybrid Tucson or Hybrid Rav-4 are better options. If the bigger Tiguan adds a hybrid engine option next year with around 225hp and higher MPG, my wife can finally have a car that meets all her needs.
I wanted to like the Forester even though I know is made to look rugged, but I just can't get over the body design. To me it looks like a 2015 styling. I'm most likely getting the Rogue, it feels more high end, plus the wife already has the new RAV4.
I dont get why they didnt bring the diesel or eboxer to the states. They were both WAY more efficient than the 2.0 and 2.5L engines subaru uses for base engines
I have a 2005. Dog slow, especially living at elevation in Montana. Contemporary versions are no faster. Give it some sort of turbo-4 and I will buy it.
@@shivamarya5225 hell no. This smaller screen is much more user friendly and has all the easy to use buttons and nobs. Most people dislike Subarus larger infotainment system.
Now in January 2022, we see Subaru failed in giving us a turbo engine for the wilderness model. So, disappointing. I have a 2019 forester sport, lease is ending. Don't think Subaru will be my next choice?
I got 30k budget should I get Crosstrek sport, Forester Premium, or Outback Premium? I will be using the car for opportunity to make some income such as deliver food, packages and some uber/lyft work as well.
Hi Alex! This question just came to mind, but do certain brands of sunglasses prevent the Driver Monitoring feature in cars from working, similar to how some sunglasses prevent FaceID in iPhones from working, or do these systems work differently for attention detection? Thanks if you can answer this!
I would buy this in a second if it came with a hybrid system. It does in other countries but not in Canada or US. Why? Subaru has a connection with Toyota now so it would be great if there was a sharing of the hybrid system.
Add Mazda to the list for not utilizing Toyota's hybrid tech for their NA car. I see everything talking about Subaru should add the turbo motor for the Forester Wilderness, but i do no see many people are going to buy it like the XT trim from the last gen. Subaru will make more money on a hybrid version than doing outright performance.
Exactly the reason I bought the Forester. Subaru, Jeep Wrangler, and most Toyotas have a ridiculous used price. I'm only a year into ownership and I could still make a profit if I sold it now, which is not the maxim for most used vehicles.
RAV4 is great for banging your head when you get into the thing. Forester, no banging heads. Just a thought for those of you not donning racing helmets during your weekly jaunts.
got a 2021 Rav XLE no sunroof from Enterprise. didn't think they were in rental fleets? 650 miles round trip, 99% freeway and hiway. it was great on the Interstate, almost 38mpg, smooth and comfortable. was a tiny bit jarring over larger pavement breaks. anyway, the one negative, and it was VERY glaring; i had an injury that required i get into the drivers seat slowly. i am 3 + inches under 6 foot, and bumped my head every time. even with the seat all the way down and back. bumped AND rubbed. yikes!
@@louisgiraldin3827 Agree on the height problem when entering the vehicle. I wouldn't take one last April when Enterprise offered it to me. I took a Ford Edge instead, and I'm not exactly in love with an Edge, either.
Didn't see the cargo area with the second row seats folded down. How much cargo space does that leave? Is the floor completely flat? (critical for usability)
Rapid brake light actuation is an actual safety issue that insurance companies look at and LED break lamps get lower rates. Turn signals and reverse lights aren’t a concern with actuation timing.
In my Impreza, the brake lights were incandescents and a pain to change bulbs as they got fused to the plastic lamp holders. Had to cut the holders off, but fortunately Amazon had replacements sockets and the LEDs. LEDs are safer as they illuminate faster.
I think the Forester is a solid vehicle but it's boring. I used to think the Rav4 was boring but gosh this makes that looking exciting. They need hybrids, more powerful engines, more off road edition. The top level trims just don't make sense to me past the sport because of the engine choice.
![2021 Subaru Forester | How Foresty is the Forester Really? [OFF-ROAD]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZSlzOQByC7s/mqdefault.jpg)
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
On my 3rd Forester now and will admit that I am addicted to these things! They are super easy to own and comfortable to drive. The visibility though is what really sets the Forester apart from every other vehicle on the market. It is the Forester's secret sauce, and is a very underrated feature IMO, especially after you drive other cars. Having those big windows all around you and being able to see the world in 4k makes the driving experience very pleasant.
Agreed! I just purchased one and I love that about it!!
I agree, i love this car, i cannot wait to own one
What about the CVT? I have heard people say they are unreliable? I am so torn between the RAV4 and the Forester. I want to go with Toyota because of reliability, but Subaru is calling my heart.
Happy owner of one of these, great ride and very easy going family vehicle. I'd note for prospective buyers that the highway MPG on this car can easily exceed 33 MPG if driven with a light foot. Consistently netting 38+ on 65 MPH highway trips.
Would you recommend it for w commuter car in the city?
I have a 2021 Forester Touring edition and I just love it! It's my 10th Subaru and the best one I've owned. Great gas milage! And all the bells & whistles!
Never thought I'd end up in a Subaru, but here I am with my Forester Sport and will never get anything else!!
I Will like to Buy one Forester SPORT what years is yours? It is expensive the mentiment
I was surprised you didn't mention the cargo room with the seats folded down. If I recall, the Forester was among the largest cargo area with the seats down which is one of the reasons why I bought it. It also has the electric release buttons for the 2nd row seats. I wish it had a motion activated cargo door open feature.
On a different note, the front console storage and center console storage designs are inexcusably poorly designed. As you pointed out, you can't get a normal size phone in the front storage and it's almost impossible to plug in a USB cable in the blind ports without contorting your body to see what you're doing. The center console is also unreasonably to rearward for the front passengers to access without really twisting your body. A sliding console cover lid would have been nice too.
The roof line in the back is 1,5 inches lower than in the Outback-so not much to gloat about when it comes to rear cargo area
@@keytothegate68 And the sun roof on the Outback it 1/2 an inch wider so it must have greater surface area.Duhhhh
1. My 2nd row seats do not have electric release! 2. I heartily agree that the console "pocket" is too small - I can barely get my hand in to plug into the ports and have to do it all by feel!
We opted for the premium Forester. We believe you get more bang for the buck in the premium trim. We choose the Forester over the Outback, mainly because of the space configuration. It is taller. We are pleased with our choice.
We just got a the same model on White.
Last November (2021) I bought my wife a 2019 Outback (it had only 5,600 miles). It was our first Subaru. It’s her commuter car. We had to have an AWD or 4WD as we get 5-6 feet of snow every winter in the mountainous area of north central WA state where we live .
She used to park her Camry and drive my 11 Rav 4WD Limited so I had to drive our 4X4 pickup.
Anyhow we Love her Outback. It goes everywhere we need it to go.
I love the AWD system on her Subie so much that on 12/11/22 I/we bought a 2019 Forester Touring for me. It only had 4,700 miles.
I’m so pleased with my Forester.
Her Outback is Cinnamon Brown Pearl with Ivory interior and my Forester is Sephia Bronze with Brown leather interior.
I wanted the Sport but the only Forester that has the Brown interior is the Touring. The heated steering wheel is awesome !
I’m glad y’all like your Forester Premium. I too like the higher roof line and how much visibility the Forester has. Even more so than the Outback.
Enjoy your day !
My 2004 2.5XT was the love of my life. What a fantastic car. Sure hope the 2.5L Turbo finds its way back under the hood! Thanks Alex!
You'd find the '14-'18 2.0L Turbo just fine, I imagine.
How many miles it had?
I bought a Forester, Touring this week. It’s a great vehicle. It amazes me that some comments read (paraphrasing), “the engine is too slow, I wish it had the Turbo engine, “ blah blah. If you don’t like the engine, why did you buy it? Did you not test drive it?
I like when I find a part of the video where you redid a line but didn't edit out the flub. Def makes it more human and as robotic just reading off stats or features.
Hands down the best car reviewer on YT. Keep up the great content! Greatly appreciate your thorough analysis! Many thanks from New Zealand
I don’t care about the Wilderness trim, but I want the XT back.
I still have my 2016 XT, and love it.
We have heard your request and have countered with substitution of chrome with black and red accents.
Exactly. We have a 2018 XT and would never consider a 10 second 0-60 car. The “Sport” model in 2019 was so sad..
Love my 17 XT holding on til they bring it back!
No one bought it when they had it, hence discontinued. Simple
Thanks Alex. I have a 2020 Forester Limited with all the options I could afford. I needed more driver and passenger room, more comfort, quieter, and better seats than my old RAV4. It has worked out great with the Forester so far. I will say that If you are aggressive with the pedal you will not realize the great mpg... it is up to you.
Ive got the 2022 SFWE in my driveway...377miles on it...very, very nice and capable in the snow...we just were hit with 15 inches of snow last monday...not a single time did I get stuck...I'm very happy with it.
Did some off reading and rock crawling in mine. Was a total champ and does average right around 29 mpg. Slow af off the line but quicker from 30-70. Not quick. QuickER.
We bought one of these recently, the lack of a good place to put a phone is more annoying than you might expect, an interior refresh is very much needed for the forester. Its also much louder than i expected on the highway.
Am I the only one who just puts their phone in a cup holder?
@@mitchellsteindler no, but it tends to rattle around, and if you have drinks you're a bit out of luck
I agree it’s very loud on the Highway. And didn’t do well in windy conditions
Thanks Alex for another great review, I bought 2020 forester and want to add some opinion
1. Regarding noise level, forester pick up a lot of wind noise when driving over 80 miles, I think mainstream SUV all sound like that
2. Get 0 deductible windshield insurance right away, I had and heard windshield crack due to the angle of windshield, it cost a lot to replace that large front windshield and calibration for eyesight is also adding $$$
3. 2021 gets new rear seatbelt alarm, it makes backseat passenger safer
A\A has an interesting approach to CUV shopping. Write down your must have features. Find the cheapest CUV that checks those boxes. Makes sense given the super competitive class.
Yep- I want the "Wilderness trim + TURBO-under the hood" in the Forester!
Too bad Subaru doesn't even offer, and probably never will, an option to get a stronger engine. I wanted it too, either the 2.5 turbo option or a more powerful and efficient hybrid, but alas it will never happen.
Just traded my 19 Forester Sport for a 21 CRV Hybrid last month. The OE tires on the Forester do it a complete disservice, had a pair of Falken Wildpeak A/Ts on it and while there was a slight MPG penalty, the ride and handling both improved greatly, as well as overall grip. I am getting about 8mpg better in the CRV Hybrid than I was in the Forester, and I'm not even trying. That said... I miss my HK audio system, Subarus infotainment system, and being able to remote start/control climate from anywhere from my phone. If Subaru had a not half-assed hybrid Forester and brought it to the US, I likely would have gone that route. Oddly enough, I miss having a place to put my right hand while driving.. Yeah I know it should be on the wheel, but even in an automatic I always had my hand on the shift knob. Just had my first evasive maneuver in the CRV and was honestly unimpressed by comparison, maybe some slightly lower profile tires would make a difference... but it definitely didn't feel like the Forester before or after the new tires.
I know it's not going to happen with the refresh, but maybe with the redesign. Subaru needs to lower and widen the cup holder area, that was tight with larger tumblers. 4 Way lumbar is amazing, in the CRV, so that would be a great addition to Subaru. Among other things involving powertrain, I would have loved to have seen laminated front windows for sound deadening. Took a family members 2020 Escape with the 3 cylinder to get gas and after a month in the CRV Hybrid, thought I was driving a diesel. Even Subarus boxer sounds better than that 3 cylinder. Really, there wasn't much change for 2021, as 2022 should be the actual refresh with 2024 being a a full redesign.
We are pleased with our 2019 Forester Touring. All the safety features, good sound system, good passenger space. Power is only adequate, but the mpg is a reasonable. Zero mechanical issues so far makes me happy. Prefer it over the Ascent my parents purchased.
I love my 19 Forester Touring as well.
It’s the perfect size for my needs.
When we go on long road trips we take my wife’s Outback. It has more room for our luggage and our 120# chocolate lab.
@@Doc1855 Aha! You are uniquely qualified to answer my next question: do you find the Outback quieter on highways and long road trips? While I plan to pass the Forester to my daughter going to grad school in Buffalo, I was thinking of upgrading to the Outback. (I assume this is the case based upon your earlier answer, but my 90# Rottie wants to know ;-). Thanks in advance.
@@davidcarroll8735 Yes the Outback is quieter.
Bc the wheelbase is longer, it’s more comfortable as well.
Our Lab, Joe, has no problems standing up in either car.
The naturally aspirated engine in the Outback is just adequate. The XT performs much better.
Bc both the Outback and the Forester have the same naturally aspirated engine and transmission, my lighter more agile Forester does better over our Mtn passes while going to Seattle or over the Rockies to get to the family farm in MT.
The Outback just takes longer 😂
@@Doc1855 thank you very much, that confirms what I’d been gleaning from the various RUclips videos. I may opt for the larger engine if it’s an option - I’m not sure if I’m going for a 2022/3/4 Outlook. Have a great day!
@@davidcarroll8735 The 23 has vastly improved the infotainment system to make it easier to navigate through the system.
The 2.5L is a naturally aspirated with 182hp. The 2.4L turbo has 260hp and a “tougher” CVT to handle the extra hp and torque.
The XT is the turbo. The Wilderness has the turbo but the final gears in the rear are shorter, 4.11 whereas the regular XT and the naturally aspirated engine have I believe 3.11 as the final drive ratios.
The Forester is no longer available in XT form.
I / We Love our Subie’s and will continue to buy them when they’re worn out.
The NFC function on the bigger starlink headunits is super handy, especially if it's shared as a company vehicle. I have like 10+ 'SUBARU BT' pairings on my phone and if someone deletes my phone pairing then all I have to do is touch my phone to the radio when it's ready to pair.
I've had my 2019 Touring model for almost 2 years now. To date, I'm averaging 31.7 mpg. It's absolutely fabulous out on the highway, I've gotten as much as 35 mpg at 65 to 70 mph. It's very comfortable as well. Honestly, the only other compact CUV I might consider vis the new Tuscon Limited hybrid, but I haven't driven one yet.
Are you talking about the dashboard's MPG readout value? in my '17, that is about 1 mpg optimistic compared to the truth. I have calibrated my odometer several times against highway "speedometer check" 5 mile sections, actually showing the odometer pessimistic by ~2+% (i.e. it turns about 4.9 miles over the section). After accounting for that, and dividing by the actual cumulative number of gallons purchased over the same period since I last reset the trip computer, the true number comes out about 1 mpg less.
Just because of the thing at the end of the video where you put the different trims, the prices, and what they all come with, you get my my sub and respect for that. The review wasn't bad either LoL 😁
Great review! My 2021 Forester Sport excels as a daily driver in the snow belt.
Subaru needs to put a more powerful engine option in the Forester like the previous generations but make it run on regular gas.
12:46 Alex! You didn’t tell us if we could fit a tablet computer in the center storage compartment!
Third Gen Forester was good for that. The center area had a removable divider that allowed for long and bulky items to fit in that storage area. Subaru moved away from that configuration unfortunately. I had a 2010 at one time, now on a 2018.
One thing worth noting is that the Sport Sharp Mode is exclusive in the sport, that coupled with the paddle shifters makes it not a total dog.
The standard Forester seems like a good deal. For long body life and fewer issues avoid sunroofs. If money is no object get a hybrid RAV4. The Rogue is a logical alternative, but Subaru has a loyal following in the snowbelt. Great review and discussion of the competition Alex. 👍
My wife and I test-drove a Forester Sport last year. It had a fantastic, high end quality interior and super comfy seats, but... the seating position was less vertical than others, the noise insulation was worse, the acceleration was poor and it felt rather unstable going on the highway at 70mph. Definitely didn’t feel
as planted as the Rav4 or the CR-V. In the end, we went with a Rav4 hybrid for the same price and no regrets.
Well, that's why there are so many cars on the market! We went the other direction and got the Forester (2019). Same generation so they probably haven't change much and we have no problems with noise or stability at speeds around 75. It's acceleration keeps up with all Chicago area suburban and highway traffic, but then we don't drag race it. Although it's the fourth Subie I've had over the decades so that is a bias for us and I can't fault anyone going with one of the other choices.
I had the same experience unstable at high way speeds. Than I looked the tire pressure. For some reason the dealer set the tire pressure to about 45 psi. Once that fixed it was fine.
@@elizbeth8659 45psi?! That’s dangerous!
While I’ll admit to not having looked at the tire pressure on my test drive vehicle, I did drive a friend’s 2020 Limited and it felt basically the same. It was fine up until 60, but then it got kind of wobbly, and required lots of steering corrections. It felt almost as if it didn’t have enough down force. Perhaps it’s the effect of being higher off the ground or maybe the steering is too light, but the Toyota and Honda felt more planted.
You definitely made the smart choice
2022 Forester refresh and Wilderness trim are coming later this year.
I really love your reviews Alex, very informative. I can't wait for an e-boxer Subaru Forester from you. Thanks
The Tucson or Rav4 seems to be the top two in this segment IMO. Probably the Tucson overall but the Rav4 hybrid is a great choice also.
I'd be all over a PHEV version of this.
I would be interested in this also at the very least the style cues from the crosstrek PHEV. Really like the blue highlights and stitches. I like the Forester Sport trim minus all the orange.
Subaru’s Crosstrek PHEV is a giant fail, so if it’s anything like that, no thanks!
Subarus hybrids might as well be an internal combustion engine since their mpg are terrible for a hybrids
Yeah I agree with you there on the current crosstrek PHEV you loose something like 20% cargo to get 17 miles about no thanks. I just really enjoyed the interior color scheme of it.
Skip the PHEV and just got straight to electric I hope.
Moonroof is standard on all trims, if you want without it's on the base trim. 👍
Suggesting the outback turbo as a bit more expensive is a masterpiece of understatement.
9.9 to 60 is seriously slow; even slower than the old model and the handling is sloppy on road. 71 DB is not actually quiet.
You're a liar.
Same engine with quite a bit more weight, and a programming to save fuel. That said, 71dB is actually pretty average.
Saw a blue mustang Mach E near half moon bay on 5/29 Saturday and I screamed to myself “that’s gotta be Alex’s” 😂
Great review Alex. We would love to trade in our Outback XT as we plan to downsize but unless Subaru offers a turbo in the Forester it is not on our list. The Forester 2.5 feels OK on the test drive but load it down with the family and luggage and it becomes even slower making passing all but impossible, the engine is over taxed and noisy and the car is definately not fun to drive.
Really begging for the XT on this. Hopefully a wilderness option in 2022 adds it. Tried out the 2.5 and it felt way too slow to reach highway speeds and maneuver for lane changes
Yes, and it sucks how Subaru is charging XT price and giving this "sport" joke trim. They'll bring in actual XT in few years but will hike the prices again, so expect like a 10k bump.
It’s not too slow, it’s just as fast as the cx5. And just so you know, I use to own a 1995 Saturn sl2 with 100 hp. Drove that on the highway no problem.
@@kevinW826 I think you meant to say it's not too slow for you.
@@damo5701 nope. I have a mazda3 with the 2.5 and my wife has the cx5 with the same engine. So no, not slow. I use to own a pair of Ford 4.6 v8s.
The 2.5 NA boxer seems adequate to me but that’s in my 2021 Crosstrek Sport.
Lol. I have a forester. I really enjoy it. It’s just a safe fun vehicle. My “lol” was at the beginning of this vid. Honda CR-V Toyota RAV4, equinox by Chevrolet, and I’m sure a few others say the exact same thing…….their suv is the number one selling crossover. Hope the very best for Subarus!
DriverFocus on the Touring model has up to 5 profiles, and works like FaceID to automatically set the seat position, side mirror position, and even climate control settings.
It’s the least understood feature Subaru offers.
I've seen you on the 2019 Forester owners group on Facebook!!
Thanks for the detail review. Definitely waiting for the Forster to match or better the fuel mileage of the Tucson Hybrid before making the final decision.
1989 Ford Fiesta XR2 0-60 9.9 seconds. If you enjoy loud engines coupled with poor performance you’ll love our new Forester.
I've also been described as "relatively" attractive.
I’ve also been described as “one of the slowest options”
But reliable
Looks really stunning in this spec and colour!
Don't be too impressed the quality is trash on the inside. I have the same color and spec but a 2019 ... I loved the way it looked but after 2 years ..it's a rattlebox and the quality is subpar
Love my Crystal White 2021 Sport. My 2019 was fun in deep snow on winter roads, looking forward to winter haha.
I'm happy with my Forester 2020 e-boxer.
It is not smooth in the city at slow speeds when the engine kicks in, but then I didn't buy it for the city.
I works well in the mountains and returns decent fuel efficiency.
I drive smoothly.
The power is enough for these who don't race in their SUVs.
Square cargo room is more practical, although I'd love to be able to move the rear seats forward.
On Japanese market, Forester has a very competitive price. So my expectations whe comes to certain things were appropriate to the price.
The Eyesite works well as well. I like it especially in the wind. It's just more relaxing on the motorways.
Many nice features and capability undermined by the Chihuahua engine under the hood (all bark and no passing/mountain "bite"). Perhaps the upcoming wilderness version will bring the 2.4 turbo! Am very grateful Subaru's passing up the giant grille consuming other car brands!
Too bad Subaru never gives the option of the 2.5 turbo engine even in the wilderness version, sadly they only tweak the transmission.
Great review as always. Won't consider one until they fix the windshield cracking problem and crap powertrain.
They don't want your money.
Alex, I think the earlier, more 'wagony' Foresters were more distinct. If anyone can still sell a wagon to 'mericans it is Subaru. One thing is for sure, in this class RAV4 leg room is becoming an embarrassment. At this point it only has minor details like mpg and reliability going for it. ;-)
Yes, I liked the look of the earlier wagony Forresters better also, and moreover, it would be more unique than these newer Forresters.
Except there’s more leg room in the Rav4 than in most cars out there. It may be less than the Forester, but it’s still more than enough for a 6’2 person to sit comfortably.
Also, fuel economy and reliability are literally the biggest influencers in car sales.
You missed the coolest feature in the trunk, the designated cutout under the floor for the cargo cover to fit perfectly into when you're not using it!
I just Love Forester Sport model...👍😍
how is this shorter than the Venza yet feels like it has more rear seat room and cargo space? :D
Forester for my 1st boxer eng . soon .! Then trade in on an electric forester for my last .! Timeless .
A Wilderness model will be awesome!
Totally looking forward to that! Assuming it gets the turbo engine!
@@armaniusmaximus oh yes, the turbo is a must have!I like the Outback but looks too much like a station wagon.
Forester did have turbo not to long ago but limited were sold.
Love the Forester but it badly needs more power. We love our 2022 but once you pack in the kids and luggage, the lack of power borders on dangerous when merging and passing.
Forester XT please.
It’s official, there is no turbo. I get my wilderness in January.
Could you please suggest any other small SUVs that ride just like the Forester. That soft & forgiving suspension is what my back demands.
I'm always confused by the seatbelt coming out of the ceiling. A feature (5th passenger) the likely rarely gets used at the cost of so many other possibilities
The Subaru 5th belt can be disconnected at the passenger's hip point, and completely stowed away in the ceiling cavity. It takes only 2 minutes to do or undo if you know how. The secret is the tiny slot to push with the metal buckle end.
Great all around SUV.
It would be way better with a Turbo engine, still it does the job pretty well.
The best Trim: Sport...lots of value.
Alex, Is there any truth at all to the rumors Subaru will soon release a BEV car with horizontally opposed electric motors?
🤣🤣🤣
@@mitchellsteindler Why change core brand values over a trivial matter like electrification?
Thanks for the video. Loved my 2014, until it needed an engine rebuild at 32,000 miles, and then leaked oil after the rebuild. Never again, fun to keep tabs on the forester though.
Was thinking about buying 1 . Worried about longevity of CVT . Other than that it appears to be a good vehicle
Subaru has one of the best CVT out there. If you are worried about the longevity you can change the transmission fluid. Plenty of threads out there of Subaru owners who do offroading that do change the transmission fluid so you can read up on that.
You can thank Nissan for making people afraid of CVTs 😁😀.
@@damilolaakanni not Nissan explicitly. JATCO makes the cvts. Nissan owns JATCO just like how Toyota owns a part of Aisin
Subaru Toyota and Honda make good cvts.
@@naveenthemachine you can't put toyota and subaru cvt in same class .
Your 0to 60 is off every one else clocked at 8.5 either do over because I driven the competitor with similar specs and most do between 8.3 and 8.5 I have a 2021 forester and I know does in 8.3
i wonder if he drove in I mode instead of S for the test.
Probably because he use to driving vehicles with excessive amount of power plus trust because the car has a broad torque curve and I have no issues on the highway and I'm use to driving cars with more power plus it's not that heavy I love the engine s and I there a difference but it drives fine to me in either one and personally I'll take it over the crv or toyota or escape
@@jeremyanddanaeferguson6020 He uses a 0-60 timer, not his opinion.
Great review.
As an owner of 2019 Base level model, I can say that there is 3 setbacks I had with the forester that driven me mad. First, It is noisy on a highway, like you can't really talk to passenger normally. Along with the system that makes music louder when car going faster - I had a headache after 1h driving. Second, once in a while CarPlay won't connect phone. It just not showing it and the only fix is either restart multimedia (push volume for 10 sec) or turn off ignition for 5 min and be back. And the last one, it becomes really slow after 50 MPH, it takes forever to get from 50 to 80 MPH when you merge on a toll road. Other than this, as said, good value.
You can adjust the speed sensitive volume adjustment in the settings section of your head unit
The hatch not being a portal into another dimension is a deal killer for me…. ;)
9.9 seconds 0-60? That’s way too slow, Subaru needs to put 2.4T on this thing.
It’s fast enough for 0-40ish ;)
The CVT kills this car as well
They can keep tweaking, but until it gets some better HP, and a real transmission it is off my list.
@@digitaldoc100 never happen. They need it for fuel economy. Fleet average is lower because all modes are awd
Not for the typical owner! It passes fine, drives around town like anything else, and devours highway miles the same as others in this category. I've done some racing but my wife can't tell the difference between 10 seconds or 8. Remember who the target audience is. The family going to a national park, going to the dog park, driving to Target in 6 inches of fresh icy snow, and driving on their 400 meter dirt entryway. I have done my share of exploring the middle of nowhere Arizona (much of the state is unpaved public lands), Isuzu Rodeo back then, and I can tell you a modern Forester would have no issues finding abandoned mining towns with just a more aggressive tread tire of the stock size.
If only it had more power. Really hoping that the updated ‘25 Forester has a more powerful gas / hybrid engine option.
Here in many parts of asia, this Forester is even slower because we only get the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine! And the new e-boxer version is worst because there's a noticeable jolt at low speed! Subaru CEO should be fired.
Have you compared the prices of the e-boxer to the competition?
At least in Japan, the price is very competitive. So I don't complain about it as the competition was 20% more expensive.
The e-boxer works well in the mountains and motorways, which is the usecase of the vehicle.
When taxes were included, there was no extra price btw 2.5l NA Vs e-boxer.
So yes, it is a cheap solution. But it does work for intended purpose.
Forester was never intended to be a city car.
I have two Foresters - 2020 and a 2010 so I'm definitely a Subaru fan. I really wish they'd done a better job with the hybrid model though. My next car will probably be a hybrid and I'd love to consider Subaru but they're SO far behind the competition at this point.
@@Grant_Ferstat
Sorry, they are not that much behind.
Make sure your are comparing apples to apples. :)
My Subaru Forester e-boxer was the same price as NA 2.5l, if taxes were included for the next five years. It was the cheapest in the class.
RAV4 hybrid was 25% more expensive. Both manufactured in Japan, where I live right now.
Forester, at least in Japan, is relatively cheap. So I include the price in the technical comparison.
Also, Subaru has the hybrid system based on two e-motors. The Crosstreck PHEV has it. From what I read in the Japanese media, they will offer it in the future.
It is just expensive so Subaru doesn't offer it.
I wished they did, to be honest. I think there is a marker for Forester PHEV, even though the price would be higher.
My e-boxer experience: rough in the city, good on the motorway, decent in the mountains. So for my usecase it works. It's not perfect and I want my next Forester to be PHEV, with two e-motors system. :)
@@valdius85 The Hybrid offered in Australia offers very little real world fuel economy advantage according to independent tests over the 2.5L and costs more than A$3000 more.
You also lose your spare tyre (not great in my book for an SUV that you might want to take out of the city) and also lose 600 kg worth of towing capacity which means it will struggle to tow even a small camper trailer. Once again something you might want to do if you own an SUV.
The RAV4 AWD IS significantly more expensive here but offers a significant increase in fuel economy over the hybrid Forester, a big increase in performance, better towing capacity and, at least the option to include a full sized spare. In Australia at least if you want to go Hybrid it is a better value proposition.
@@Grant_Ferstat
So you said "significantly more expensive" and yet compare two directly to eachother calling one worse than another.
Your points are valid, it's just the comparison is unfair because of the price difference.
Too bad the Forester doesn't offer a more powerful and fuel efficient hybrid version, like the Rav-4 hybrid(I'd love it) or if it got the same 2.5 turbo option from the Outback or Ascent, that seems like a pipe dream. Now if you really want to make my wife happy, add the interior niceties of a Tiguan: 360 camera, wireless Carplay and charging, power folding mirrors and 12" digital dash, among other things. The new Hybrid Tucson or Hybrid Rav-4 are better options. If the bigger Tiguan adds a hybrid engine option next year with around 225hp and higher MPG, my wife can finally have a car that meets all her needs.
I wanted to like the Forester even though I know is made to look rugged, but I just can't get over the body design. To me it looks like a 2015 styling. I'm most likely getting the Rogue, it feels more high end, plus the wife already has the new RAV4.
Fozzy is cool but I am holding out for that new #Solterra EV next year!
I dont get why they didnt bring the diesel or eboxer to the states. They were both WAY more efficient than the 2.0 and 2.5L engines subaru uses for base engines
As a previous first/ second gen Forester owner....I really hate the styling..( the Outback looks great).
I have a 2005. Dog slow, especially living at elevation in Montana. Contemporary versions are no faster. Give it some sort of turbo-4 and I will buy it.
Thats why i got an outback xt .. its a dag rocket compared to the NA motors.
2022.
I hope it gets an electronic parking brake so it can stop and hold in bumper-to-bumper traffic like the Outback.
12:27 should help
Wish the dash was more updated and modern
they should ve used that newer 11.6 inch infotainment, i like that one.
@@shivamarya5225 hell no. This smaller screen is much more user friendly and has all the easy to use buttons and nobs. Most people dislike Subarus larger infotainment system.
Why did you compare the cargo area with seats up but not seats down?
Here in Colorado I think #1 is Outback with #2 being Crosstrek.
Any reason specifically why they like the outback over the Forester?
Wilderness Forester would be "Take My Money!"
Mostly if they put the 2.4DIT in there.
I love my Forester!
Now in January 2022, we see Subaru failed in giving us a turbo engine for the wilderness model. So, disappointing. I have a 2019 forester sport, lease is ending. Don't think Subaru will be my next choice?
Too many other manufacturers better options, either with hybrids and turbo engine options. The sport model did offer a cute color scheme.
I got 30k budget should I get Crosstrek sport, Forester Premium, or Outback Premium? I will be using the car for opportunity to make some income such as deliver food, packages and some uber/lyft work as well.
I'm not a fan of the pac-man style tail light on the accord as well as the forester. Luckily, the mustache is now black🥸
Hi Alex! This question just came to mind, but do certain brands of sunglasses prevent the Driver Monitoring feature in cars from working, similar to how some sunglasses prevent FaceID in iPhones from working, or do these systems work differently for attention detection? Thanks if you can answer this!
If it had the same seats as the outback and legacy id buy one
I would buy this in a second if it came with a hybrid system. It does in other countries but not in Canada or US. Why? Subaru has a connection with Toyota now so it would be great if there was a sharing of the hybrid system.
Add Mazda to the list for not utilizing Toyota's hybrid tech for their NA car. I see everything talking about Subaru should add the turbo motor for the Forester Wilderness, but i do no see many people are going to buy it like the XT trim from the last gen. Subaru will make more money on a hybrid version than doing outright performance.
@@JT-fq2bl I completely agree. If Mazda came out with the CX5 Hybrid, I would be at the dealership tomorrow to buy one.
The Toyota hybrid system cannot be used with a mechanical AWD system and that’s Subaru’s perhaps only selling point.
@@JT-fq2bl Mazda has no connection to Toyota, so why would they use Toyota’s proprietary hybrid system?
Actually Toyota owns 5% of Mazda.
um...I don't like CVTs that simulate gear shifts. Glad my Outback doesn't do that, my Corolla did...annoying.
Your Corolla had an actual first gear.
@@afcgeo882 my 2014 ECO didn't, Toyota didn't do that until later
Don't worry, in just a few years cars won't have any gears at all! And let me tell ya, it's awesome!
Newer Outbacks DO simulate gear shifts.
RAV4 hybrid please. Going for the reliability and resale value.
Exactly the reason I bought the Forester. Subaru, Jeep Wrangler, and most Toyotas have a ridiculous used price. I'm only a year into ownership and I could still make a profit if I sold it now, which is not the maxim for most used vehicles.
What about a manual transmission!?
2021 Subaru Forrester. How do you keep the headlights from coming on at night when you put the car in drive and the switches in the off position?
Slowly and steady.
RAV4 is great for banging your head when you get into the thing. Forester, no banging heads. Just a thought for those of you not donning racing helmets during your weekly jaunts.
True, Toyota's new models have really sacrificed head and leg room. Hopefully they correct this defect in the next generation.
got a 2021 Rav XLE no sunroof from Enterprise. didn't think they were in rental fleets? 650 miles round trip, 99% freeway and hiway. it was great on the Interstate, almost 38mpg, smooth and comfortable. was a tiny bit jarring over larger pavement breaks. anyway, the one negative, and it was VERY glaring; i had an injury that required i get into the drivers seat slowly. i am 3 + inches under 6 foot, and bumped my head every time. even with the seat all the way down and back. bumped AND rubbed. yikes!
@@louisgiraldin3827 Agree on the height problem when entering the vehicle. I wouldn't take one last April when Enterprise offered it to me. I took a Ford Edge instead, and I'm not exactly in love with an Edge, either.
Didn't see the cargo area with the second row seats folded down. How much cargo space does that leave? Is the floor completely flat? (critical for usability)
Why doesn't Subaru have full LED Lights in break lights rather than regular non-Life bulbs?
the brake lights and tail lights are LED - it's the backup and turn signals that are not
Wow! Not full LED!
@@luisurbieta8924 Cry.
Rapid brake light actuation is an actual safety issue that insurance companies look at and LED break lamps get lower rates. Turn signals and reverse lights aren’t a concern with actuation timing.
In my Impreza, the brake lights were incandescents and a pain to change bulbs as they got fused to the plastic lamp holders. Had to cut the holders off, but fortunately Amazon had replacements sockets and the LEDs. LEDs are safer as they illuminate faster.
Please redo the Tucson with the normal format. Please!!!!!
I get 24 combined at 650ft above sea level.
How reliable are their CVT transmission?
I think the Forester is a solid vehicle but it's boring. I used to think the Rav4 was boring but gosh this makes that looking exciting. They need hybrids, more powerful engines, more off road edition. The top level trims just don't make sense to me past the sport because of the engine choice.
Why Subaru stopped making WRX wagon and doesn't make turbo Forester and/or Crosstrek is beyond me. They'd sell like hot cakes.
The DIDN’T sell. That’s why they dropped them.
Great review, although I would have compared the Mitsubishi Outlander as well