2025 Subaru Forester vs Outback Comparison / Awkward Timing!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ส.ค. 2024
- Due to an increase in price, the Subaru Forester no longer holds the title has the bargain 2-row family suv in the brand's lineup. So it's time to see if it can justify its cost next to the 2025 Subaru Outback.
Other key competitors to consider would be the Honda CR-V and Passport, Mazda CX-5 and CX-50, Toyota RAV4, Venza and Crown Signia, Nissan Rogue and Murano and a whole host of others.
Thank you, Royal on the Eastside, for letting me test drive the Forester and Outback for today's video!
royalontheeastside.com
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00:59 Correction: I flipped the Outback and Forester specifications for height and width (my apologies)!
"maybe a different transmission. On that I'm just dreaming, Subaru is not doing that."
I felt that.
I’ve owned 2011 Forester Premium and 2017 Forester Touring. I upgraded to the Outback Touring XT. The new Forester w/o a better engine is not worth it for a near 40k car.
"We all have our weak points, but usually we also have the self-awareness to try to conceal them. That's the reason this channel is about cars, and not escaping social anxiety, or dancing." - Tyler Soprano, having apparently resumed his sessions with Dr. Melfi.
Too much Gaba, not enough gool🥸
This channel is great for comprehensive and well-balanced reviews 👍.
I went down the rabbit hole of researching and buying a new car 2 years back i originally went for a twin cab truck ( we call them utes in Australia) but after a couple of weeks i realized that I had made a huge mistake. I took the hit sold the ute and started again.
I then stumbled upon the subaru outback and it was like i had come home . The smooth ride quality made it a pleasure to drive, it just soaks up the bumps on our terrible country roads . , the seating felt like it was made for my 6ft5in frame . . 2 years on i still love my outback. It does everything i need it to .
For other markets where the 2025 Forester isn't yet released/unveiled, this review is helpful for those who have it as their option to buy even if they may be of different variations.
The 2025 redesign is hideous. Bronze rims on the sport???
Very disappointed!!
Put that XT engine into Forester and all is forgiven.
I would love for them to do this
The Forester is more at ease off-road, and the Outback is a more relaxing experience on the highway.
This is the best looking Forester design since pre-2009. I'm glad they made it more boxy and less frumpy and finally ditched the lobster claw taillights. Only gripe with the design is the bumper and that left side port covering where a dual exhaust should have gone.....Subaru always teasing us with a non-existent turbo. :)
The Height and Width stats are backwards... For clarification- the Outback is longer and wider, while the Forester is taller.
Thank you! I just made a pinned comment with the correction and time stamp.
The 2.5 is a snoozer no-go - literally - for me. The Legacy XT (which we have) and Outback XT can get out of their own way, pass at speed, and merge onto highways with ease. It's a shame the Forester doesn't have that option. Also, while I would have preferred a smaller screen and more physical buttons in our XT, we find it to be fine, certainly not the big negative a lot of people talk about. To each their own
I sold my Ranger turbo and got an Onyx outback 2.5. Literally zero issues getting around and the gas mileage is sick. I am done with turbos. The funny thing is I had a V6 BMW 323i and it had 170hp. My Outback has 182. Perspective I guess. I live in Wyoming near the northern wind river range. No issues getting to speed even at altitude.
@@danielrn133 that's awesome, enjoy the ride!
Amazing video! Very funny, and knowledgeable! We will be test driving both, 2025 forester and Outback tomorrow morning and im hoping the forester is what i hope it will be. We test drove the Honda HR-V and were blown away with how great it was. But its the same price as a new forester. So its almost worth just getting the bigger car.
As an owner of both, I think your review was spot on. It was kind of hard to justify the Forester's price over the Outback, but once you start to list all the upgrades from the Forester SK to SL, it starts to make sense. Also, we liked the lack of the TCV and the residual value of a Forester is historical higher than that of an Outback in case we trade it in.
I really hope the Forester’s future hybrid coming out next year fixes the under power. The 2.5L engine really is slow. I know it wasn’t huge sale success but the Forester not having a XT trim sucks.
I have zero desire to buy another Forester until they put the 2.4L DIT engine in it.
Currently have 2014 Forester XT, while CVT, still peppy and not terrible on gas. (I had 2004 XT with a manual as well before that)
I have had multiple Foresters with 2.5L as a loaner and all of them have been gutless.
I must be missing something because I don't understand how these higher trim Foresters with base 2.5L non-turbo engine is selling for 35-40K and people still buy them. "Sport" meaning some colored accents??
I own a 24 Outback Onyx XT. I had a 4Runner but the fuel economy was killing me. I first bought a Crosstrek Wilderness but traded it out for the Outback. Couldn't be happier and been getting like 32 MPGs on the Interstate.
You're full of crap too.. no outback gets 32mpg
I understand you reassonings, but from experience i will say; Had an outback, went to forester, and then went back to Outback. Outback is a more comfortable road car, and the room, though close, is more usable on a daily basis. besides it looks better, in my and my wifes opinion.
Great review! Would love to see your review for a 2025 Crosstrek.
My 21 outback xt comes off lease and I extended it so I could get the new redesigned 2025 model! I’m so disappointed that it’s going to be at least another year now!? 😮 I wish they would be clearer with customers when these changes will come. I had a Forester in the past but when they took out the turbo I changed to the XT. The forester without the turbo is just no fun and lacks power when you need it.
I love my XT except for the incredibly finicky and super slow screen and gps. If you need to change destination it takes more than one stop light to do it because it keeps skipping letters or getting it wrong. So ridiculous. That was enough to get me to switch, but with a new update and refresh for that screen system supposedly to address those issues , the redesign not coming for at least a year, and frankly for me, the new Forester redesign looks like it was done by a committee who couldn’t draw curves on their cad program. I’m not impressed with that awkward style and the wheels look much too small for the body. Looks like a baggage cart to me. I may just stick with my XT a while longer.
Try harder or hire some more adventurous designers.
I like the updates to Forester, for the exception of the Ford Exploder front grill. If the long-term reliability is there in the 2.5T, it would be nice to see that offered in the Forester also.
The 2.5T is no longer offered in any Subaru. They have the 2.4T from the WRX in the higher Outback trims, but the Forester only has the NA 2.5 which is underwhelming IMO.
Lol your thumbnail title works on so many levels
Good on you for alertly observing the price overlap, although I'm confident it's only temporary. Meanwhile, this is pretty ambitious Forester pricing by Subaru, considering it basically comes with no upgrades to either power or infotainment, both of which are lacking. I suppose their faithful will pay it, but more's the pity.
My OB has 260 hp and 28.5mpg around town. 5.8 seconds 0-60. Never driving a Forester.
The info/tainment system is just terrible.. I want buttons not a giant screen...
First time viewer and loved your comparison review, bro!! Just fantastic and sooo much more thorough and on point than the vast majority!! Instant subscriber ❤
Side note, and important question...
I've owned three Subarus. An '03 MT Outback, a '10 MT Outback, and an '18 MT Crosstrek. My Crosstrek was sadly totaled by a hit and run driver and although I had a witness and got full reimbursement from my insurance company, I just kept driving my '10 Outback that I still had. Now, I'm in the market for a '24 Crosstrek, but I'm a bit leary on the CVT having never driven one and hearing mixed reviews on the CVT in general. Is this something you could respond to? I'm quite nervous and could use some help!!
Thanks, bro!! I'll take a look and see if you have any reviews on the '24 Crosstrek too 😃
If you're going to keep it for more than 5 years you may want to consider a Toyota or Mazda.
Keep up the great work!
Hi Tyler, another great review. I’m looking to replace my 2015 Outback and am considering the Toyota Crown Signia for its better gas mileage, more modern infotainment system, and overall greater refinement. Do you have any additional thoughts on the two cars beyond what you said in the Signia review? I’m particularly interested in differences in driving dynamics, ride, and seat comfort.
One side note on roof racks, reviewers always point out the great swing-out roof bars on the Outback, but as someone that’s hauls a wide variety stuff on my roof, I’ve always thought it was a weak point for a car aimed at outdoors enthusiasts. I can see how they be great if everything you haul fits between the rails, but having bars that extend out beyond the rails is necessary for hauling wider items. I replaced the factory Outback crossbars with Yakima towers and crossbars that really feel solid, with none of the bend found in the factory bars. You might consider adding some basic information on roof racks to your reviews. Things like rack weight capacity, between rails versus overhanging crossbars, fixed point or sliding bars spacing, and the maximum bar spacing would be really helpful. Just a thought, though probably too niche to be useful!
The Outback is a more heavy car. The ride is better without a doubt. And it is more luxurious inside. (for a Subaru) We have both
I've owned four Subarus, including a 98 S and a 21 Sport, and I would NOT consider buying this generation at all. I hate how it looks. Awful, boring front clip, ugly taillights, weird crimps above the RAV-esque wheel arches, odd belt on the weirdly shaped D pillar, and strange geometric shapes all along the bottom.
Yuck.
Hopefully they fix at least some of that in a refresh in a few years.
Good review, honest and not pandering
Pro tip: Avoid the new giant touchscreen by purchasing the previous gen 2024 Forester Wilderness.
Base model doesn’t have the giant screen but still lacks most of the physical buttons we need
@@eamonfr6526 2024 F Wild still has the climate control dials and buttons. They remain in inventory for the moment.
Love the big screen 😅
Previous gen forester and current gen outback have the TCV issue. Only the new forester and the turbo outbacks are exempt from it.
I drove a 2024 Forester with the little screen... Did not like it at all. Love the big screen in my Outback.
If they put normal transmission, I will buy one.
@Realistick -- At 12:43 you comment on the steering differences. But your commentary was confusing. You say that the Outback has heavier steering. But then you say that the Outback steering is lifeless/disconnected (generally attributes associated with light, boosted steering) and that it gives you no sense of what's going on as you demonstrate back-and -forth steering play.
This is confusing. If the Outback steering is heavy you shouldn't be able to shift it back and forth at speed, like that. And it should feel less lifeless if it is heavier than the Forester.
So is the Outback steering truly heavier? Does it have more or less steering play on center than the Forester? What do you mean when you say that the Outback feels "more flat-footed"?
Maybe I can help clarify! Heavier weight does not mean more feedback or a better sense of connection. I explain in the video how it feels disconnected. It’s most notable just off center. I describe it as vagueness on center, the steering is floaty there, you have no feel for what the car is doing until you see where the car is going. The forester has a different steering rack design that essentially eliminates that. Btw, some of the most communicative steering racks, are light to medium in weight! As for flat footed, it means less agile, a good athlete runs on their toes, one with bad habits is flat footed.
NOPE. That 11.6" StarLink infotainment system is a death-knell for Subaru. IT IS AWFUL.
Subaru is bleeding customers with that impractical and infuriating glossy touchscreen.
👎
The front seats on the Outback don't feel right for me. The seats upper back is just not touch around the shoulder blades, as though the seat is sweeping backwards nearer the top. The CrossTrek and Forester seem like better seats. I assume that for most people, the Outback seats work, thus I cannot say they are not right for everyone. It always varies.
I wish more companies made "pleasant wagons", the outback is almost more SUV than wagon. Discontinuing the Legacy instead of offering it as a wagon seems like a bone-headed move. I believe that people of our generation want affordable wagons and would buy them if they were available.
The Forester has better acceleration too, based on owning a 21 Forester and recently test driving an Outback, The 21 Forester just feels good when I sit in it, whereas the 25 Forester, just doesn't do it for me, not sure why but it doesn't, so, looking at Outbacks. Outbacks seem to be selling slower, I wonder if it is because of the cladding. I think they overdo it with the cladding on the Outbacks, maybe ok for the Wilderness but get rid of at least some of it on other models. I think I am in the minority who do not have a problem with a CVT. Some of the automatics can hunt for gears and have erratic shifts in certain situations.
The Forester had a lot better deals, especially because a new generation is coming. The Outback will have a new generation for 2026.
Also, the pricing for the Forester is lower. So the Forester outselling the Outback isn’t just because the Forester is “better”.
It’s OVERPRICED!
OK, I remain a staunch fan. Sometimes when you are in the midst of this review, I lost track of which vehicle you are driving. Since you have such obvious skills with your video editing, maybe consider a banner with the car you are driving at the time. However, your review at the end summarized succinctly everything I needed to hear about your impressions. Another detailed and spectacularly educational video.
On another subject: I would like to see Subaru do what Toyota did with Lexus so well, and what Nissan did with Infiniti (less well) . The sport BRZ is an obviously niche vehicle for fun daily driving, but I would like to see a luxury model. Subaru may not be big enough to take this on. Also, I note the obvious disappointment from most reviewers about that giant screen with poor sensitivity. That alone is keeping me from buying any Subaru yet, I consider that a giant step backwards. On the other hand, the CVT is taking too much heat. If you buy this vehicle you better service the CVT transmission, and that is not optional. Odd, though, that all of this is to save a couple of miles per gallon means that I keep putting off any new vehicle purchase until my current vehicle dies, because I don't want the compromises of the govt imposed regulations....yet. Yeah we are saving gas, but losing performance. More performance, and no car payment, I keep putting money into my old car because maintenance has kept it running perfectly at 200K miles.
The comparisons can get tricky at times, I will try to add in more of those lower third graphics if I bring up the other car while driving!
There are differences between the two, for sure, but I question whether Subaru truly needs both models in their lineup, or could instead invest in something more differentiated. But obviously sales have justified having both.
I'm picking my 2023 Forester Premium.
OK Forester or CrossTrek. IMO, the CrossTrek still has more sporty look and maybe slightly faster? I like how big the windows are, but sitting on a car instead of in a car reminds me of a Model T Ford. 😅 Is the noise level on CrossTrek higher or lower than a Forester?
Forester's styling is better, I guess, than prior iterations, but to me it's like a glass of skim milk--good for you, perhaps, but hard to get excited about it. I read many, many years ago an article on a car that said the car's design utterly fails to incite a pulse--my feeling exactly about this new Forester design. It's an appliance, and a very effective one at that if you deal with seasons, but will I be excited about it or open the door to the garage appreciating the beauty of a car I have in the garage? Nah, but that is just me. That being said, Subaru will sell every Forester they can build because what it does, it does well.
I agree, it's a car designed to do most things for most people, and that tends to make a vehicle dull, however, I'd also say that's the idea behind most compact crossovers with the exception of the CX-5 and CX-50. They made some meaningful improvements here to make it feel like a nicer appliance without sacrificing the rugged side of the nameplate. It's exactly what I'd expect from Subaru, even if the price now sways me even more toward an Outback!
Great review as always! ❤️
They should have redesigned them both at the same time because you know the outback is going to get a price increase as well. Currently there is like no good reason to get a forester over an outback other than length. Forester does not have a powerful option nor a wilderness modwl currently. I am seeing the forester already with 2-3k off msrp. Not a good look for subaru.
Whyyyyyyy don't they offer that 2.4T engine in the Forester? So short-sighted.
Forrester Fov and spaciousness wins vs Outback. Outback feels like a big sedan/ wagon.
EASILY CRACKING WINDSHIELDS 100%. I'd 3 windshilds in my 2018 Outback in 3 years!
I can;t get over that awful screen
I really want an outback but that black trim is butt ugly.
Is the Forester color at 14:37 the new River Rock? or what color is it?
Outback Turbo - this is the way.
16:26 [Subaru is not moving away from the CVT] - If they adopt Toyota's hybrid system in the next major update, they might go to the planetary gearset. Still technically a CVT, but a completely different animal from the current one.
Agreed, E-CVT is superior. I'm sure they will use one in the upcoming hybrid, which was confirmed to be in partnership with Toyota! I'd still like to see an 8 speed with the turbo, non-hybrid powerplants but that's a fantasy at this point unless they borrow a Hybrid Max system from Toyota too.
@@Realistick Is there a solid timeline when the hybrid Outback will be coming, and will it also be offered on the Wilderness edition?
Toyota's E-CVT is vastly more durable than conventional cvts. Talk to rideshare and taxi drivers. Tons of hybrids have 400k+ and are still on the original trans.
@@mountainhobo I haven't heard anything specific yet. If I'm to make guesses, I'd say that they'd debut the hybrid late this year or early next year with the Forester or with the 2026 Outback redesign!
Waiting for a Forester XT
Have you driven the new Forester? It has plenty of go and the cvt transmission is quiet. Hell the whole interior noise is quite a bit lower than previous Forester and uses the WRX steering gear which makes it a bit more tighter.
Purchased a 24 Forester Wilderness and it’s been great so far. Took our granddaughter with us as she is tall and used her to check for backseat legroom. The Outback had more comfortable front seats the Forester had more useable legroom. The Forester beat out the Outback, CR-V and RAV4. All of them would’ve been good choices but my wife liked the Forester Wilderness looks. Mazda 5 would have been in the running but no dealer within 50 miles.
I like the new Outbacks, I own 2 Foresters because you can put a two-tier cat cage in it because of the large opening. I like Toyotas but my cat cage wouldn't fit in any other car, so... I also fit in the back if I need to take a nap in it. I have been all over the US, including Alaska, and Canada in my Foresters without any problems. I still have Alaska and Canadian mud underneath one of my Subarus, which I think is now permanent. That mud would have caused problems in some other vehicles. So having the all-wheel drive is always reassuring no matter where you end up. I love them. The new Outbacks look awesome, but the rear space has less headroom than the Forester, but I love the rack on the top because you can flip it so fast. But on that note, anything on top of your car is an instant mpg problem, so I have hitches and can put stuff in the back which helps with the mpg problem. The only time stuff on the top is warranted is if you are on a ferry, where they go by length measurements. I've driven the Ascent, and that is a step up, but a bit too much car for my needs. I am hoping that Subaru will come out with a hybrid Forester soon. I like the EV they have, but I'm usually in the middle of nowhere so hard to hook up to electric.
For a company that prides itself on utilitarian vehicles it is surprising that the infotainment is so cumbersome and non-intuitive.
Subaru got the balls to put CVT in off-road cars. It shows how confident they are in their customers that they will never go off-road.
In Canada, at least my location, there’s only a $500 increase in price amongst the Outback trims from 2024 to 2025. Forester, OTOH, has around a $2000 price increase. Obviously more features, redesign, etc, but that’s still a factor for one looking at a new vehicle. I’m personally content with my ‘24 Crosstrek for the price to features ratio. 😁
Not a huge fan of the Forester redesign but that interior does look really nice. I really do hope there’s a Wilderness trim in the future, though.
shouldnt the forester be taller?
Yes, i pinned a correction but it seems the pinned comments don’t show anymore. I switched the width and height of the forester and outback in the graphic! My apologies.
i want manual gearbox frameless windows and a spare wheel.. just like subaru used to be.
Topguns 🥇
Wait for hybrid engines folks and new infotainment system ✅
all hybrid cars are not worth the extra cost! It`s not that efficient as they are claiming 2B
Owned three Foresters and now a sleek Outback! Great vehicles!
FORESTER no turbo
Credible buzz directly from Subie sales rep and online Outback forums is that the new Outback is going upscale. Like 4-7K more! It will be styled more like the now ubiquitous and frankly tiring "Land Rover" look🥱. It will bring back more physical controls, which would be a plus. It will be more SUV-like and less Wagon-like. "Discontinuing the Legacy frees them from the constrains of the OB being a lifted wagon variant of a car." Per Dealer rep. This will be a terrible change in my opinion😠. It will essentially be closer to the Ascent in size, because the Ascent is rumored to be going away (or be replaced with something larger and much more competitive in a 3 row SUV). This also helps explain the current price inversion of Forester and Outback. In short: Expect it to look and be sized and priced like the new Hunyadi Santa Fe, which I think looks gimmicky and cartoonish and won't age well at all.
Own a 2021 Forester Touring.. purchased thru Costco. Good suv..for 2 adults.
I dunno man - I'm hearing more and more issues with the Outbad. Leaking CVT seals, persistent electronic issues and routine, regular oil consumption. This is on a sub 25k mileage vehicle. NONE of that crap should be happening on a brand new car/suv and it 100% DOES NOT bode well for their reliability. I'm starting to think the people talking about their reliability are simply fan bois who don't want to be honest. AND they haven't lived with one of these for anything beyond 50k miles.
Which color is better for a girl ? Green or blue ? I can’t decide for Forester 😅
Can not buy a 2025 Oouback where i live.
There are 38 in stock at my local dealer... they still have 26 2024s also. There are no changes to the 2025 Outback except some trim feature changes... so get a 2024 if you can get a good deal.
@@GetOffMyyLawn Why would I buy a 2004 when I don't know how long this car is sitting. I want fresh with options I want and willing to wait. Price is not top priority.
@@Widebody20 Lol its your money.
New Forester is really ugly, even for Subaru standards
I'm curious how Subaru will incorporate Toyota's 4th gen hybrid and deliver symmetrical all-wheel drive. They will be the first.
Where is 2025 Forester Wilderness?
It’s an easy decision get both
what is the debate? subaru makes the best all wheel drive system in the automotive industry, its leaps and bounds ahead of anything else irregardless of class
Peccato che ai motori Subaru mancano almeno 70/100 cavalli specialmente qui in Europa. Io ho avuto 12 Subaru. Mai avuto problemi. Trazione integrale ai massimi livelli. Ripeto peccato per la grande sotto dimensione dei motori. Ottimo servizio. Saluti dalla Svizzera 🇨🇭 👍👍👍👍❤️
Facial recognition? So now my insurance company will know who is driving when the car just happens to be doing whatever.
Nope, local storage only, no cloud or online access for the facial recognition! Though I want to say many cars do share driving data these days. Toyota sells each new car with a sticker saying so, Mazda does the same thing too.
@@Realistick I'm not a privacy hawk by any means, but I find the collection and commercial sharing of data derived by a product that I own to be too intrusive. Guess I'll continue to drive my 26 yo car that's still a joy to own and which doesn't spy on me.
@@Realistick BTW, why any "storage"? Is it so that when they get their hands on your car for "service", they can collect those data and images?
@@wholeNwon The storage is so that it remembers your face for the driver profile. You can have up to 3 driver profiles linked to the car. The storage remembers who is who and then matches your face with memory settings. So when you hop in, it sees your face, then changes the mirrors and seat to your memory settings!
@@Realistick I have a memory button in my 26 yo car that does that.
❤❤❤❤❤
🥴👍
Forester 100 better
I bought outback because of the videos here … I regret it every day
Why?
The BASE version Mazda 3 hatchback has 192 HP with 6sp AT. It will run circles around this slow poke Subarus.
People aren't buying these to race. Ever think about cargo capacity?
@@chuckg6039 We are not talking about a hot hatch with turbo. It's a 'base', cheapest model. If Mazda can put 192 hp on their cheapest car, why is Subaru stuck with 180hp? Sure, buyers want cargo space, but not with something that is slow as molasses. There are alternatives abound with more space and oomph.
@@gromit576 I've put 67,000 miles on my 2020 Forester and camped many times with 900 lbs and 2 people. Not once have I ever felt the need for more power. Not once. Engine and drivetrain seem just fine. And I get good mileage and enjoy a ton of cargo space. For me, there are zero issues. Seriously thinking of getting a 2025 this Fall.
@@chuckg6039 That's your benchmark, good for you. Enjoy
@@gromit576 I'm lucky I guess.