Subaru’s Forester is a much-loved SUV; it might not be the very best SUV, but it’s so reliable and reasonably capable in every category, that it’s like the Ford F-150 or the Honda Accord: it just works.
Starting at $25,000, the car occupies the compact crossover tier, and competes with cars like the RAV4 from Toyota, with a focus on lifestyle and reasonable off-roading ability; although it won’t be offering Land Rover Defender levels of off-road performance or sports car levels of acceleration.
This car began its life around 1997 and was one of the first car models to the crossover party before that became a thing – it was historically based on a Subaru Impreza and has always used the boxer engine with four-wheel-drive.
The Subaru Forester Is A Good Companion And A Good All-Rounder
Where the Forester excels is in its ability to offer almost everything you might need in an ordinary situation.
That means it looks rugged but understated, the cabin is attractive enough, there is a lot of equipment as standard and the engines are adequate.
For that $25,000 entry price you get access to the 2.5-liter motor (naturally aspirated and in a boxer configuration), CVT automatic gearbox, all-wheel-drive and torque vectoring, the Si-Drive intelligent drive system (selectable drive modes) plus the Eyesight safety suite of features and 17” wheels.
Dynamic LED lights, 6.5” smartphone-compatible infotainment, automatic climate control, plenty of storage and amenities, plus utilities like hill-assist, high-beam-assist, and keyless entry are just some standard items.
It has an attractive cabin and dashboard, with a modern and easy-to-clean set of materials and fabrics. The design in general is good, although it lacks a little character and cohesion.
The engine is adequate with 182 hp and 176 ft-lb of torque, with around 30 MPG advertised fuel economy and enough power for most journeys – it can also pull 1,500 lbs and up to 3,000 lbs in the range-topping trim.
Subaru Forester Is A Good Crossover SUV Compared To The Usual Rivals
There is a hybrid option, connected to the 150 hp 2-liter engine which offers 16 hp from the electric module alone, boosting efficiency and power, but the 2.5-liter with 182 hp remains the better bet.
Going further up the range, to the top, you will be spending $35,000 but for that, you end up with the fully-loaded Touring trim.
Highlights include 18” wheels, panoramic moon roof, heated windshield wiper and mirrors, heated seats and steering wheel, bigger 8” screen, leather trim for the seats and cabin, premium audio system, and more.
Toyota’s RAV4 starts at over $26,000 and is slightly less practical with less cargo space and only two-wheel drive – hardly a good start for an off-road-focused car.
From there, the RAV4 picks up speed, because it has an 8-speed automatic trans instead of the bothersome CVT in the Forester and can tow 3500 lbs: 500lbs more than the Subaru.
It also has 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque from a 2.5-liter engine, although these gains are small at 20 hp and 8 lb-ft more than the Forester, hardly game-changing.
If you were looking at spending around $25,000 though on a crossover with off-roading ability, the Forester has all the equipment that its main rivals offer (with a smaller and less-advanced engine range); but with a low price and four-wheel-drive out of the door. It just works.