The not-apple exterior (and interior) is one of the reasons I prefer Forester over the competition, I don't want my car to look like something that came out of a sci-fi set. :)
This is how a review should be. Show and mention the 'plus' and the 'minus'. And the reviewer talks clearly and relaxed, not too fast, not too slow!And the review is with metrics, great. Thanks from Europe
Thank you so much for this review. My wife and I will be purchasing this very model this coming spring. We're really excited about switching to Subaru. Thanks again!
I have the 2015 non-turbo model. Here are a few pros and cons I have found with my 18 months of driving: some pros: AWD amazing in snow (with snow tires I am unstoppable), very tight turn radius, awesome visibility, back doors open almost 90, good mileage, great heated seats. The car is responsive and power more than adequate for my needs. Cons: the heater absolutely sucks especially at the floor level; windows often freeze shut and its a bit of a rougher / tightly sprung ride than I am used to. I have noticed gas mileage drops significantly in winter (I get about 7.4L/100km in summer and about 10.2L/100Km in winter). Overall I love the car.
+Holdfast I have a 2001 Forester I bought as a beater. It has 188,000 miles on it and it runs like a charm. Tough as dirt, and still tight after all these years.If you think long term you have to consider the Subaru Forestser or, for that matter, any Subaru model
I recently purchased a used 2016 Subbie Forester XT with only 17,000 miles. I'm on my fourth Subbie and still have the 2005 Legacy GT 250 horsepower "turbo" model but it has 103,000 miles on it and we needed more cargo room for our two dogs:) Yup we fit the typical Subbie customer. Best part is I grew up a few miles from where there plant is in Lafayette/Datyon, Indiana area. This XT model has 250 horsepower and has been somewhat difficult to find here in the Austin, Texas area and after months of waiting till the right one showed up, I pulled the trigger and put 60% down and financed the remaining at 3.39%. Subbie's are not cheap but they tell the truth in that their cars are still on the road after 10 years. It's nice to not be driving what everyone else drives and Subbie owners always wave to acknowledge one another when passing on the street:)
I just bought a Quartz Blue Subaru 2.0XT Premium this past weekend. I hope to pick it up on Tuesday. Added a few extras on it like, fog lights, splash guards, and a few other tid bits. We sold our Nissan Xterra Off Road edition that has a 6 speed manual. We really loved the Nissan, bit after 10 years it was time to get a new vehicle. There is no replacement for the Xterra.. I liked the power on the XT a lot, and it seems like a pretty nice all around car. They are gonna be different animals, but I am fine with it. The Xterra was an overkill beast 99% of the time. Other stuff we look at were the 2016 Hyundai Tuscon turbo, which has really gone up in price since the redesign. Tried the 2.5 Forester and the Crosstek too. Everyone that has a Forester rants and ravs about it, so I hope they are spot on. I'm kind of getting excited about taking possession of the new Subaru. I can let folks know what I think down the road. Ours will also have the standard sound system. I'm not sure how good the Kicker speaker upgrade is, but the standard sound system should be fine, right now.
I just purchased a used 2016 Subbie Forester with 250 horsepower turbo and it has a good sound system and allows for playing mp3 audio files off a cd rom. It doesn't have the six cd changer in it like my 2005 Subbie Legacy GT turbo has but my older Subbie also doesn't have a mp3 encoder. So you see..Subbie has added a bit more style without getting all "Appled". Stay true to your heritage Subbie. No other manufacturer offers so much for the same amount of money. VW had issues with "fixing" their emission readings and it cost that company a ton of money to try to fix which is why I never even looked at VW although back in the late 70's I did have a VW Dasher but it always had issues with starting in the cold Kansas winters. The Forester has the perfect blend of speed, utility and looks. I'm thinking about adding some white pinstripe to let it be known that this Subbie has 250 horsepower under the hood. I wish they would have added a "hood scoop" but then it would probably look a little too much like a taller WRX:)
Except IBM hasn't made a personal computer since 2005 ... we'll forget about the vast number of highly stylish cases and other mods you can get for PCs.
+Village Idiot rumours have it that the 2.5i has a fair number of issues, so I would go for the turbo. Also resale value will be higher and needless to say, performance. Thanks for etching and for your kind words.
Thankyou for the review. I love Subaru and was thinking about updating my current forester but not worth it cause mine has the bad body roll as well. Also, has the cheap plastic interior. And I dislike the styling of the current model. Think I'll wait for the next model in 2017. See what that looks like.
Subaru has been making a lot of strides to get better gas milage which is good. That said I hate CVT transmissions. Even with a manual mode they still suck the fun out of driving. The idea that Subaru has programed the CVT to go from a fake 6 speed in one mode to a fake 8 speed in another mode seems like a recipe for a confused driver. I can see someone forgetting there is now 8 pretend gears to switch though after driving in modes with only 6.
The CX-5 is sportier with more involving handling and steering. It looks less utilitarian but the Forester XT is faster, roomier, much more comfortable and has a much better AWD system. Both are great picks, but so different in nature.
Well, if you put the X3 in the same bucket as the Forester, then you need to also add the GLC and Q5. But the truth is that these are all in a higher price range so I wouldn't do a direct comparison. The Forester is an incredible all-rounder, but it's really down to what you want. My top picks in the segment would be the CX-5 2.5 (for urban driving pleasure) Cherokee V6 (for very active lifestyle) and Forester XT for an all-in-one solution.
+MotorPress.ca Great review! CX-5 has more road noise and much worse automatic transmission plus I don't think you can get the CX-5 awd with a manual. Forester's interior is really bad and seats seem uncomfortable
This Apple vs IBM analogy is terrible. I bought buy a Subaru because I can throw my gear and my dogs in the back, take it to the woods and not worry about it breaking down or getting dirty. If I wanted premium finishes, I'd buy an Audi, Volvo or Land Rover and I'd pay someone to clean the mud, fur, and stains out of my trunk carpet lining and my Nappa leather seats. Subaru knows what they're doing. They know who they're selling these vehicles to. The only complaints I have about the Forester are that there's no option for ventilated seats, no auto wipers and there are no rear passenger vents. I think these should be standard on the higher trims. (Rear vents should be standard on every trim.)
If they went "Apple" on these vehicles they would cost $10K to $15K more. As Apple costs so much more than the competitors. Subaru is great at putting technology where it needs to be and skimping on cosmetics and aesthetics to keep prices reasonable. Especially in the 2 year old "New / Used market. That's why U get so much vehicle for a reasonable cost.Out of all 8 comparable suv/crossover vehicles I tested from 20K to 26K used, the Forester destroyed them all in every way.. It's like your driving a truck tha handles like a sport luxury vehicle.. I Love my 2016 Forester XT ! I do not work for Subaru 8))
The review was not a one-liner. You are citing my conclusion, which states that I have no reason to stop you from buying one. In most parts of the world, that would suggest it is a solid buy. Hope this helps.
I only wish styling inside and out was done by VW. Yes, seats are not comfortable, HVAC poorly designed. There should not be no x-mode button everything should be automatically with no driver's attention required . Have I mentioned that thing is ugly inside and out
It's not fast , but is brisk. I mean come on man , you can only do 60 in most places and you want what ? a TT V8 for the shopping? Mediocre review at best.
Not everyone can afford a car for shopping and a car for fun, so I need to tell you how well it performs. Pretty basic stuff even a mediocre review should include.
The not-apple exterior (and interior) is one of the reasons I prefer Forester over the competition, I don't want my car to look like something that came out of a sci-fi set. :)
This is how a review should be. Show and mention the 'plus' and the 'minus'. And the reviewer talks clearly and relaxed, not too fast, not too slow!And the review is with metrics, great. Thanks from Europe
+frankmiller99 you are very welcome and thank you for your kind words!
Thank you so much for this review. My wife and I will be purchasing this very model this coming spring. We're really excited about switching to Subaru. Thanks again!
You are very welcome! Have a very happy new year!
I have the 2015 non-turbo model. Here are a few pros and cons I have found with my 18 months of driving: some pros: AWD amazing in snow (with snow tires I am unstoppable), very tight turn radius, awesome visibility, back doors open almost 90, good mileage, great heated seats. The car is responsive and power more than adequate for my needs. Cons: the heater absolutely sucks especially at the floor level; windows often freeze shut and its a bit of a rougher / tightly sprung ride than I am used to. I have noticed gas mileage drops significantly in winter (I get about 7.4L/100km in summer and about 10.2L/100Km in winter). Overall I love the car.
Thanks for sharing!
+Holdfast I have a 2001 Forester I bought as a beater. It has 188,000 miles on it and it runs like a charm. Tough as dirt, and still tight after all these years.If you think long term you have to consider the Subaru Forestser or, for that matter, any Subaru model
Samantha Aberdein That is good to hear!
+Holdfast i have the same car, but honestly I wish the CVT is a little more responsive.
+Holdfast All vehiculeon the planet= gas mileage drops significantly in winter.
Very true and honest review, loved it.
Thank you!
Subbed! Perfect review for me. Very well done and thank you.
Thank you for your kind words. Glad you liked it.
Honest Review! Thanks for helping me decide
+Oliver Olonan You are very welcome, thanks for watching!
I recently purchased a used 2016 Subbie Forester XT with only 17,000 miles. I'm on my fourth Subbie and still have the 2005 Legacy GT 250 horsepower "turbo" model but it has 103,000 miles on it and we needed more cargo room for our two dogs:) Yup we fit the typical Subbie customer. Best part is I grew up a few miles from where there plant is in Lafayette/Datyon, Indiana area.
This XT model has 250 horsepower and has been somewhat difficult to find here in the Austin, Texas area and after months of waiting till the right one showed up, I pulled the trigger and put 60% down and financed the remaining at 3.39%. Subbie's are not cheap but they tell the truth in that their cars are still on the road after 10 years.
It's nice to not be driving what everyone else drives and Subbie owners always wave to acknowledge one another when passing on the street:)
Did it hold up well? About to recieve a 2014 XT with 70k miles
Great video. Loved how you filmed the da ash. I felt like I was driving
+Trudes TC thanks! Glad you liked it!
Great review.
The Forester is a very utilitarian vehicle (which is what people love about it).
Darkangel754 z
I just bought a Quartz Blue Subaru 2.0XT Premium this past weekend. I hope to pick it up on Tuesday. Added a few extras on it like, fog lights, splash guards, and a few other tid bits.
We sold our Nissan Xterra Off Road edition that has a 6 speed manual. We really loved the Nissan, bit after 10 years it was time to get a new vehicle. There is no replacement for the Xterra.. I liked the power on the XT a lot, and it seems like a pretty nice all around car. They are gonna be different animals, but I am fine with it. The Xterra was an overkill beast 99% of the time.
Other stuff we look at were the 2016 Hyundai Tuscon turbo, which has really gone up in price since the redesign. Tried the 2.5 Forester and the Crosstek too. Everyone that has a Forester rants and ravs about it, so I hope they are spot on. I'm kind of getting excited about taking possession of the new Subaru. I can let folks know what I think down the road.
Ours will also have the standard sound system. I'm not sure how good the Kicker speaker upgrade is, but the standard sound system should be fine, right now.
so 6 months later, how do you like it?
I just purchased a used 2016 Subbie Forester with 250 horsepower turbo and it has a good sound system and allows for playing mp3 audio files off a cd rom. It doesn't have the six cd changer in it like my 2005 Subbie Legacy GT turbo has but my older Subbie also doesn't have a mp3 encoder. So you see..Subbie has added a bit more style without getting all "Appled".
Stay true to your heritage Subbie. No other manufacturer offers so much for the same amount of money. VW had issues with "fixing" their emission readings and it cost that company a ton of money to try to fix which is why I never even looked at VW although back in the late 70's I did have a VW Dasher but it always had issues with starting in the cold Kansas winters.
The Forester has the perfect blend of speed, utility and looks. I'm thinking about adding some white pinstripe to let it be known that this Subbie has 250 horsepower under the hood. I wish they would have added a "hood scoop" but then it would probably look a little too much like a taller WRX:)
Great review, and fun to watch! Two...👍👍
+George Pichl thank you, George! Glad you liked it.
Nothing wrong with your apple analogy, I completely agree with you.
Except IBM hasn't made a personal computer since 2005 ... we'll forget about the vast number of highly stylish cases and other mods you can get for PCs.
+eitughtueir well, you got the point :)
Add memory seats please... Like to have this over my outback for offroad
What are the dynamics of the engine and fuel efficiency in this car?
I disagree with the IBM/Apple comment. I don't want to pay Apple prices. if I did, I'd get a Porsche!
Do you have the Subaru Legacy review? Couldn't find in the videos.
+Sang Eeth sorry no video. Only written review www.motorpress.ca/cars/2015-subaru-legacy-2-5i-limited-package-with-technology-option/
Are there any significant differences between the XT tiers (Touring vs Limited vs Limited Tech)?
+johntsingis no, all XT trims get Bridgestone Dueler all season 255/55/18 tires
perfect car for me but i need a manual trans.
Good review, would you go for the fully loaded 2.5 or the 2.0 turbo? Which is more reliable long term? Thanks!
+Village Idiot rumours have it that the 2.5i has a fair number of issues, so I would go for the turbo. Also resale value will be higher and needless to say, performance. Thanks for etching and for your kind words.
Excellent, I was not aware of the issues on the 2.5... good to know, thanks again!
how about a lighter interior option for a change...
I enjoyed your review. Do one of a VW Tiguan!!
+Chiefin Mina it's coming fall 2017
YAYYY!!! =)
Thankyou for the review. I love Subaru and was thinking about updating my current forester but not worth it cause mine has the bad body roll as well. Also, has the cheap plastic interior. And I dislike the styling of the current model. Think I'll wait for the next model in 2017. See what that looks like.
Subaru has been making a lot of strides to get better gas milage which is good. That said I hate CVT transmissions. Even with a manual mode they still suck the fun out of driving. The idea that Subaru has programed the CVT to go from a fake 6 speed in one mode to a fake 8 speed in another mode seems like a recipe for a confused driver. I can see someone forgetting there is now 8 pretend gears to switch though after driving in modes with only 6.
20 Buttons!
How do you compare it to CX-5?
The CX-5 is sportier with more involving handling and steering. It looks less utilitarian but the Forester XT is faster, roomier, much more comfortable and has a much better AWD system. Both are great picks, but so different in nature.
So, who do you think is the best car for this medium crossover class? Forester, cx 5, X3, Tiguan, or there's anything else?
Well, if you put the X3 in the same bucket as the Forester, then you need to also add the GLC and Q5. But the truth is that these are all in a higher price range so I wouldn't do a direct comparison. The Forester is an incredible all-rounder, but it's really down to what you want. My top picks in the segment would be the CX-5 2.5 (for urban driving pleasure) Cherokee V6 (for very active lifestyle) and Forester XT for an all-in-one solution.
+MotorPress.ca Great ! Shouldn't put X3 in comparison, as it have its own price range. The CX-5 are great, but the second row seems not very roomy.
+MotorPress.ca Great review! CX-5 has more road noise and much worse automatic transmission plus I don't think you can get the CX-5 awd with a manual. Forester's interior is really bad and seats seem uncomfortable
Subaru's engines and drivetrains are more expensive to produce than other cars. If you want all show and no substance, get a Hyundai.
+Walter Black Agree 100%
This Apple vs IBM analogy is terrible.
I bought buy a Subaru because I can throw my gear and my dogs in the back, take it to the woods and not worry about it breaking down or getting dirty. If I wanted premium finishes, I'd buy an Audi, Volvo or Land Rover and I'd pay someone to clean the mud, fur, and stains out of my trunk carpet lining and my Nappa leather seats.
Subaru knows what they're doing. They know who they're selling these vehicles to.
The only complaints I have about the Forester are that there's no option for ventilated seats, no auto wipers and there are no rear passenger vents. I think these should be standard on the higher trims. (Rear vents should be standard on every trim.)
If they went "Apple" on these vehicles they would cost $10K to $15K more. As Apple costs so much more than the competitors. Subaru is great at putting technology where it needs to be and skimping on cosmetics and aesthetics to keep prices reasonable. Especially in the 2 year old "New / Used market. That's why U get so much vehicle for a reasonable cost.Out of all 8 comparable suv/crossover vehicles I tested from 20K to 26K used, the Forester destroyed them all in every way.. It's like your driving a truck tha handles like a sport luxury vehicle.. I Love my 2016 Forester XT ! I do not work for Subaru 8))
subaru dont be apple!!!!!
"so if you like it and you want one, go ahead" what kind of half-assed review is this?
The review was not a one-liner. You are citing my conclusion, which states that I have no reason to stop you from buying one. In most parts of the world, that would suggest it is a solid buy. Hope this helps.
it's not a 4wd it's an AWD..
+TreVox not unless you accurately explain the difference. ;)
I only wish styling inside and out was done by VW. Yes, seats are not comfortable, HVAC poorly designed. There should not be no x-mode button everything should be automatically with no driver's attention required . Have I mentioned that thing is ugly inside and out
What ? No HID No Bi Xenons!
+mark williams I think it did have HID headlights. Not for the high beams though.
sorry apple sucks.
+Carlos Pereira I don't own Apple stocks so no need to say sorry. :)
It's not fast , but is brisk. I mean come on man , you can only do 60 in most places and you want what ? a TT V8 for the shopping? Mediocre review at best.
Not everyone can afford a car for shopping and a car for fun, so I need to tell you how well it performs. Pretty basic stuff even a mediocre review should include.