Although I'm unlikely to buy one, the Forester is a car I do admire. Subaru is probably the only brand with such a huge range of accessories to make the lives of your pets safer in the car.
I feel that the seat comfort is enough to rule the car out for a decent amount of people. Ergonomics are by far the most important factor in choosing a car (if you’re spending a lot of time in it)
@@158158cow Seat comfort is subjective, you have no idea untill you spend some time in it yourself. I have driven vehicles and came away with completely different impressions than some of the reviewers.
@@158158cow We have a 2020 Forester and its the most comfortable seat we've ever experienced and we're quite picky. of course I respect jack's opinion very much. maybe its a taste thing, maybe not, maybe Subaru changed it in the new mode. BTW we have cloth seats.. cant stand the leather type.
My sisters 2015 Subaru needed a new shortblock (under warranty) after just 2 years didn’t even make it to its third oil change. Dealer was really tight lipped about what the failure was but we later found out the oil pressure was so low it caused it to seize while she was on the highway due to a clogged pickup with sealant. Naturally all these warning lights came on the dash and she kept driving but considering it was in the winter and freezing outside, there weren’t exactly any good options and figured she’d try to make it home. This is a really ridiculous, common problem, that gives me pause about buying a Subaru when you have a company that gets so much complex shit right and so much basic shit wrong.
All you need is a bike rack on the back for your e-bikes, and you have the “Official Car Of Retired Tourists Who Randomly Stop In The Middle Of The Lake Superior North Shore Scenic Highway For No Apparent Reason.” Long title, but they’ve earned it.
@@BaldKiwi117 unfortunately, when they stop randomly on the only road between Duluth Mn and the Canadian border, their retirement usually ends quite tragically.
I couldn't get over how bright the interior space is. Compared to a lot of the other CUVs you've tested, the Forester really has an incredible greenhouse. I found myself looking out the windows the whole time during your drive segment, something that's not as easily done in, say, a Mazda CX-50.
@@jetplume Yes, & no matter how great the tint (I've been running tint in my cars, trucks, RVs, & in some vestibule areas at my work going back to the early 1990s), it's never as good as something other than glass in its place. There's also boatloads of states around the U.S. that are popular-tint-hostile, or outright/essentially flat just tint-hostile.
@@chrislim7976 the current interior steered me away from even considering the new WRX. I'm fairly forgiving, but the current interior UX is that frustrating and awful that I wouldn't want to live with it full time. It's a shame because I actually really liked the prior generation interior.
Thanks for this review. This is exactly how I feel about my Outback. It's an honest vehicle. It isn't fast, or sporty, but it looks good, it's easy to live with, comfortable, solid feeling, and it's tremendously capable in the snow. Thoughtful touches abound, like a washer that sprays the backup camera and the cool integrated crossbars. For $37k I got heated seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive LED headlights, Reverse Auto-Braking, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, automatic high-beams, LED foglights, a trail camera, Harmon Kardon audio, Eyesight, blind spot w/ auto emergency steering, a sunroof, wireless carplay, auto-dimming side mirrors, etc. The naturally aspirated Outback - particularly the Onyx Edition - is a tremendous value.
You'll never understand Subarus until you've driven one 300 miles on 2 lane highways through the rural upper midwest in January. They're hugely confidence inspiring in snow and on gravel/dirt in a way almost nothing else is. Would I take one rock crawling? No way, I'd get a 4WD for that. But for snow/gravel/dirt? Nobody else's AWD is even close. Subaru is a very conservative brand by nature and they don't have the budget of the bigger makers, but there's a reason people keep buying them and keep putting up with the crappy screens and the 180hp motors: the drivetrain.
I have the 2024 Subaru legacy premium and I love the confidence and no drama from the AWD..... never have to worry about winter weather or rain....it just goes
no argument there, I work with Forestry and all of our vehicles are 3-9 year old Subarus and Nissan Frontiers and they get the job done in rural BC, Canada
I just can't get past the infotainment system. Too big and gaudy. Give me something smaller with all physical controls like Honda, Toyota and Mazda are doing.
I rented a Volvo a few months ago with a similar infotainment screen setup. It wasn't this big and I already hated it. I just rented a Hyundai, and while the screen was as unresponsive as my 10 year old Camry (which is totally inexcusable these days) I at least didn't need to use the screen for any core functions, they all had physical buttons.
@Hefe179 Oh I had to totally reset it every 2 out of 3 times I drove the car, which disables half the car's functions in the process, just to get the audio to work. Like there would be no turn signal indicator noise, chimes, etc in addition to music until the entire system was reset. Doing a search revealed it was a known and totally unfixable problem on that model going back several years. Utter trash!
The outgoing 2024 model was a super duper value play, especially in the lowest two trims. The 2025 is a new body, carryover powertrain, and the huge Subaru screen nobody loves for a couple thousand more. Other parts of the general Subaru value is being able to factory-order exactly what you want and not paying for extras you don't, and usually being able to order for $1000+ dealer discount, combined with their often good financing rates, 2-4%.
Yeah, I'm not sure they improved the Forester enough between generations to justify the price increase. The '24 model was a great value. The '25 is just okay, and I'd prefer the older infotainment.
@@trdpro2grfks *Alloys Wheels are the combination of the tire and the alloy. Words have definitions for a reason. Please save this vehicular nomenclature
@@Enigmaception Alloy refers to the metal material(in aluminum alloy wheels, aluminum is the predominant metal and is mixed with several other metals). Wheels can also be made from steel, carbon fiber, titanium etc. Back in the day magnesium wheels were popular(commonly referred to a mags).
A lot of people say it looks like a Honda... I see a Mitsubishi. And historically, Subaru is pet friendly, but that doesn't mean pet proof by any means. The soft-touch surfaces are some of the worst for holding up to a the pokey points of pooch paws-- door card tops and center console lids are constantly riddled with dog dimples in countless Subaru's we recondition at my job. Honestly, my dads 2009 Sonata Limited shows less signs of his Staffordshire than a Subaru does with a Maltese.
Uhhhh… the front end is a near identical replica of an earlier gen Ford Explorer especially with the similarly sized/shaped/colored blue Subaru logo and yes, the rear end looks like a Mitsubishi.
I bought my wife the 24 model because we didn’t want the all in 1 monster touchscreen. This vehicle is comfortable & easy. Normally those attributes don’t register with me (BRZ owner) but that’s my take away every time I drive it. Also will mention Ferguson Subaru gave me a positive dealership experience which also was new to me. All around winner comfortable, reliable & capable. Get your wife one for all the above and have a fun car for yourself.
@@ThirdBrainLives Not that old. Gen X here who got to drive fun cars of last 5 decades & saw the great bands. You’ll be stuck in electric cars half your life
I was really hoping they'd ditch the decade old vertical Prius infotainment and go with something new for the '25 model. I agree the previous generation seems arguably better and at a better price.
My girlfriend and I currently own the 2025 Subaru forester sport. Here’s my few cons and pros with this car. ( just my opinion) Cons: wireless charging is wack. I have a iPhone 15 it would register for a sec that it is charging then it would not recognize it. My case is wireless charging compatible but it doesn’t want to register. I had to take my phone out of my case just for it to charge. 2: I felt like the car should’ve came dual exit instead of single exit exhaust for their “symmetrical” part. 3: (putting this together) the forester should’ve came optional with just the audio upgrade itself instead of having to get it with the power lift gate, we opted without the power lift gate. The key fob is pretty annoying as they have the lift opener button, but if you don’t have the power gate that button is rather useless. I would love to see if you didn’t have the power gate that button would just pop the lift gate ajar so you can just lift it up instead of being a useless button that makes noise. 4: As many of you guys said Subaru Fordester 😂, yes it does look like a ford. 5: Biggest thing for me is the auto shut off when you’re at a red light. I understand it’s for fuel efficiency but it’s annoying as hell and puts more stress on the starter motor. Yes they have the button to shut it off, but you’ll have to constantly turn it off every time you start the car up. Pros: the video doesn’t do it justice, but the bronze looks nice in person. That’s what attracted me to the car right away. 2: the rear gave me a retro style look to their old forester. 3: Much more space. My sister and brother-in-law has a 2019 RAV4 adventurer, and my mom has a 2024 RAV4 LE though both cars are somewhat comfortable, the forester sport felt way more comfortable for longer rides. 4: the forester sounds better via engine noise. Yes we live in a time of cvt being the norm so y’all need to stop crying about it. To the untrained person when they drive the RAV4 the sound it makes is almost like a meat grinder. You would think something’s wrong with the car. But the forester sounds much more smooth. 5: Pricing, the forester sport came in at 35k~36k while the my mother’s RAV4 LE came in at 33k for a base model. Like I said, these are just my opinion on the car. For those who’s wondering why we went for the forester instead of all the other competitors is that I live in WI I like the fact that Subaru awd system is constantly on instead of the others of being fuel efficient and transferring all the power to the front and to the rear when needed. Plus it’s a more viable option for my girlfriend to commute to work. I’m excited to try out the forester’s x-mode and see how it performs in winter.
I have 2019 forester and I just shut the start/stop off every time. It was annoying at first but is an easy habit to develop without thought. You’re already pressing one button before driving. Just press 2 instead.
Just to note. I don’t think I’ve ever used a car where the wireless charger works well. Not sure why they have them honestly but at least this one you can turn it off with the power button. As for the start/stop system. Apparently you can buy a cheap $40 override unit to disable it. Hear they work well and don’t require much to install if it’s driving you crazy. But you make good points. In my recent research Subarus are now really good bang for the buck. Toyota and Honda really push for you to get their top tier trims to get better mpg or perks like a decent sound system. And their interest rates are high on top of just being more expensive. You can find Foresters easily 2-3k cheaper than msrp with better interest. Plus more features for the money and they are safer than most cars. So I’m already getting a Forester Touring soon for those reasons.
I’m on my second forester with having a 4runner and Tacoma in between. I still think it’s better in the snow and ice than those two vehicles. Sure, I won’t make it into the back country with the forester, but I was only in the back country a handful of times with those other vehicles. Otherwise with lighter to medium off-roading the forester is fine. One thing that stands out is the “low fatigue” factor. Doing long drives in Toyotas was a chore. Lots of body roll and lots of sloppy steering. The forester feels much easier to live with and easier to drive in my experience. Plus, my oil changes cost about $34 and I can knock them out in 10 minutes instead of having to either pay $120 or spend an hour on an oil change with the 4runner, Tacoma, or tundra - all of which I’ve owned previously. One thing that does suck is the road noise. It’s better in the 5th gen and I’m sure the 6th gen than it was previously in the 3rd/4th gen, but it’s something they are clearly working on. Honestly I love it and have no qualms about buying a forester in the future.
I just had one of these while my 23 Outback was in for some minor warranty stuff. I was very impressed. If I could take my Outback seats and put them in the Forester, it would be pretty tough to beat...
I own a 2020 Forester. Love it. I was looking for an appliance with good AWD that is actually on all the time, good visibility, EyeSite is used all the time, trunk is square and very usable. Love the amounts of buttons on the steering wheel, because it they are fast to use on the road trip after getting used to them. Definately planning to update to the new gen when the hybrid comes up. I hope Subaru offers customisabily, this is important for me.
We picked up an OBW this week as a family hauler and I'm actually impressed. The handling is decent for a lifted wagon, the seats are soft, and the CVT only makes me slightly want to walk into traffic.
Spent last weekend on a trail ride sponsored by our Subaru dealer at Bells Reserve in Kingston’s Springs TN. Our 2024 Forester Wilderness performed incredibly on the trails. Quite a few areas required a professional off-road spotter to get us through some tight squeezes. Had a great time. Not gonna lie almost chickened out of the second ride but sure glad I didn’t. Special thanks to Charlotte at Darrell Waltrip Honda and the folks at Morrison’s Outdoor Adventures. I came away with a healthy respect of the capabilities of the X-Drive system.
I would settle for a hybrid like the CRV. But keep the symmetrical AWD. Honestly, hybrid torque along with a true locking set of diffs would make for a great "XH" platform.
@@matthewshultz8762 A hybrid is coming out next summer in Japan, there is another hybrid with the e-boxer but the battery is incredibly insufficient though.
Dog Car note for my dog peeps - be sure this is the vehicle your dogs need, and think twice if you are in a sunny/hot climate. Had a 2019 Forester Limited for 3 years, with Dog Car for working border collies being its key role, as well as being very capable on bad roads, bumping across pastures, and powering through Minnesota snow. The car was great for me but proved unsuitable for the dogs - all the glass that gives the driver great visibility translated to a greenhouse effect within the car. While the HVAC controls make it super-comfy for the driver, the AC in the rear/cargo area was insufficient to handle summer in a northern climate and I was constantly struggling to prevent heat stress for my dogs crated in the back. Needed window panels, supplemental fans, yada yada even with AC cranked to max, and it was still much hotter back there. I am a detail-oriented shopper yet this issue did not come up in any of the glowing reviews I read. Had I anticipated this problem I would have avoided this otherwise-fantastic Dog Car in any climate with significant sun/heat. If you buy it, be sure to budget for after-market window tinting. Ended up trading the Forester for an Ascent because that was what was available during COVID, and have few regrets about that vehicle other than its abysmal gas mileage - it is a stellar dog car and very capable on rough ground. Big difference (other than size/space) is that the Ascent has third-row HVAC (and possibly even a secondary rear AC unit?) so my dogs are far more comfortable, and I will remember to consider this when shopping future cars. Side note unrelated to dogs: both of these Subarus (2019 Forester, 2022 Ascent) had physical controls for HVAC and infotainment, with a supplemental small touchscreen; I was sad to see both cars shift to almost-full-touchscreen controls in subsequent years.
@@AlphaOmega333was about to recommend the same. I never had it until my current vehicle and it’s a night and day difference. I don’t even put the sun shade up anymore, my black on black truck is only warm when I get in it.
Did the tinting, so no need to “smh” but thanks loads for your contribution to civility on the interwebs. It did help a bit, but not enough to keep my dogs comfortable. I don’t believe it was a ceramic tint, though.
If they'd put the XT motor in it and dump the cvt, I might buy one since they are a nice looking and comfortable car. I also wish they'd beef up the wheel bearings and axle shafts to handle that 188hp better, never dumped almost $4k into a car before 100k miles and 4 years before I owned a Subaru.
My SJ air conditioning has had 2 compressors replaced, along with the TXV and entire condenser... yeah I feel that maintenance 'quirk'. The tech said it was easy at least! I have also replaced the front suspension bushings on this car which was weird to do at 75k. Old ones turned into jelly.
If it is going to be an in-town appliance with those drawbacks you mentioned, it should at least offer a hybrid option to get good gas mileage. And, get rid of the TV sized screen and put some buttons back in it.
73 GL 2WD coupe. 95 Impreza 4WD wagon. Loved them both. Bridgestone Blizzaks on my 2015 Transit Connect changed my winter driving experience from dangerous to confident. A new Forester might be coming to my house soon.
I adore my 2019 Subaru Forester. I'm excited in a few years I can replace mine with the upcoming hybrid version. My only complaint about the car was the wind noise which is not bad but could be better. I am glad they added more nvm to the car. I hope in ten years they come out with an electric version.
I love my 18 Forester, but not looking forward to hybrid because I've driven it. In Europe we have mild hybrids for SK generation. Battery sits where spare wheel is in US version. That means no spare wheel and slightly reduced storage space and a tire inflation kit. That's not the same hybrid as one supposedly coming next year, but I'm sure it will also not have a spare wheel.
If you think the wind noise on the 19 is bad... the earlier models with frameless windows were like flying an airplane. I had an 04 that the hack was to put vinyl tubing in the door gaskets to make a better seal.
Ha and here I thought they finally got away from that body style. While it does look similar to everything else out there, I like it more than the old one. Less car and more SUV looking. To each their own of course!
Sarah N Tuned calls her Forrester "Forrester Gump" which almost makes it buying for that alone. After watching the MotoMouth review of the Toyota Landcruiser that runs $22,000 CAD more (for the base version) over the top-of-the-line Outback - it's hard to justify when they noted it had cloth seats, a rattly engine, and needs premium fuel. I have looked at a lot of cars over the last few years and Subaru looks to be a pretty good bargain, if not the best bargain, when you look at what you get for the money. In Canada, their resale value is very good too as obviously their superior AWD makes them popular in Canadian winters. The Outback holds a bit more appeal for me given they offer more towing capacity and a turbo giving more power for very similar money.
Price point is a great point, but it seems like it is 2 generstions behind with tech and mechanics. So is it a good deal when you figure the biggest factor in price for manufacturers is warranty work and recalls?
Any comment on the issues they've had, at least historically with the CVT overheating and shutting itself down when it's driven slowly off road? The CVTs are the reason Subaru have been off my list of potential car options for years 😞. That and them no longer making the Legacy turbo wagon, which was fantastic despite the interior being pretty cheap and nasty.
I see they still haven't fixed the one thing that prevented me from considering these. 180hp in a full-size SUV is way too low by modern standards. Also, CVT transmissions shouldn't exist.
CRV/RAV4 hybrid does the same thing without the stupid touchscreen and returning great mpg at that same price point. Wish this was equipped with the Turbo to give it more character in the upper trims
I just wish there were modes that took away the fake shifting. Just let the CVT do what a CVT is designed to do. The fake shifting in our Ascent is so annoying and not smooth.
Planning to get one these. They seem to be really good bang for the buck cars. Subaru interest rates are the lowest compared to Honda and Toyota it seems which helps. You get good perks that don’t require expensive options/trims and I prefer non-hybrid for now (battery tech as a whole isn’t great and being locked into dealerships and their no right to repair issues is a no-go for me).
Good review, thanks. I like our 2019 Sport better overall. We have a loaner Outback Limited at the moment with that new center screen. It's fine but I also haven't bothered to learn where the settings are. The Forester suits us great and yes, very likely to get another Forester after. A side note, ours has been at the dealer for 7 weeks now waiting on a AC compressor core, coming from Japan. Seems to be still supply chain issues or this is just the new normal now. Not exactly an exotic part though. Dealer has a couple cars waiting for the same thing.
I love your videos. They are always honest and thorough. You have quite some viewers from Europe (like myself), so I would appreciate it if you (via under titles) translate the American measurements (like pound-feet of torque, cubic inches, and weight in pounds) into the European metric system.
I have a 14 Sierra z71, which I plan to keep until it disintegrates in my driveway, but the Forester is VERY likely my next daily driver to pair with my truck.
Had a 2015 and I really loved the CVT. What I didn't like what the overly aggressive gas pedal. The throttle mapping was way too aggressive. My 2018 WRX was the same way. But at least my WRX never burned a drop of oil. I can't say the same for the 2015 forester. But on the bright side, the radio in the forest was a LOT better than the radio in the WRX.
Without an engine improvement to the 200-225 horsepower and torque range, the car is underpowered if you regularly load it up with family / cargo and especially if you travel at higher altitudes or in the mountains where it borders as almost unsafe for passing.
Disagree. We just took a 800 mile trip, four humans one black lab, luggage to the ceiling, highway speeds, passing semis in farm field cross wind flats, 32mpg doing it. It's not FAST, but it's plenty.
@@OutsideTheTargetDemographic Any car will likely be fine on flat highways at sea level. As someone who lives in CO and has had 2 Subarus with the FB2.5, they are underpowered. It's one of the slowest in it's class to 60MPH, which is further worsened by altitude.
@@brandongittelman True statement. I wish Subaru would have never gotten rid of the 3.6. We were at 12K' and I never noticed any difference with our '17 Outback 3.6r. As a matter of fact, I never even thought about elevation until we were home. We're heading to Colorado next week.
I'm really glad I went for 2023. It was the last iteration that had a smaller screen with more physical buttons. I can't stand this massive one subaru now puts in everything
The “plastic” seats in the Sport are, as you referenced, easy to clean but suck to sit on. However, the seats in the Limited and Touring are actually excellent. Perforated leather in the Limited and perforated/ventilated in the Touring. Overall, our 2025 Limited is a really nice car for its intended purpose and an exceptional value.
Perferations collect lint and other crap and are super hard, if not impossible to clean out without just giving up and accepting it as is. I'd much prefer the old solid leather seats you simply wipe down.
It’s the CVT that kills me. If I was looking for a vehicle that was automatic, and not manual, the CVT trans is the last trans I ever want to have a I love everything about this Subaru but I simply would never buy it for this reason.
We looked at the Crosstrek and Forester. Getting a sunroof required a big package of several things. Steering feel was poor. Braking feel was very good. Videos for maintenance after 100 thousand miles show a lot more new parts needed than a similar Toyota or Mazda or Honda. Subarus are a good deal for the all wheel drive since it is not an extra cost option. The Outback has much better suspension feel, for a higher price.
@@trdpro2grfks Do the AWD boxer head gaskets once in their lifetime isn't a big ask or job. Older Subarus are much more enjoyable to drive and less dorkier than Camrys or Hondas.
@@trdpro2grfks Accords and Camry's aren't a direct competitor. And the CRV is, well, gross. You're probably right about it being more reliable, though.
Perfect for kiwi roads. Car designers do have to create for the globe, and that ain't easy. Super popular over here, and we'd (my wife and I) love one of these. Perfect size, not too firm and jiggly so will handle our CRAP roads. And will soft off-road no issue.
My parents have a 2020 Forester and its really good. easily one of the best in its category. As stated its really comfy but it is at the expense of handling, if feels floaty. its really hard to find anything bad about it. I love the engine and the transmission. my only issue is the economy. fuel costs a lot where we live. Now my parents want to upgrade to a newer model, I tried to sway them toward an EV, the running costs difference is huge, but they are scared of EVs and for now they pretty much want the forester.
Subaru should really invest more in making niche products. The fact of the matter is that fighting toyota is futile, although they are partly owned by them. Mazda went that route and they are making a name for themselves. What i mean as being niche is making choices and taking risks that their smaller brand can make. They already have that identity of being offroad centric and wielding boxer engines. They can lean more into making more innovative safety solutions, or for example, make their seats more comfortable.
I own a Subaru Ascent. I like it much more than I expected I would, and at 72,000 miles it has been flawless. I’m now a Subie fan. The Ascent is a bit large and if the Forester was available with the same 2.4 liter turbocharged engine that is in my Ascent, I’d downsize to the Forester. The CVT transmission is okay; smooth and pleasant. I seldom use WOT and the CVT is not inclined to engine droning in normal everyday driving.
This is a good vehicle. Sure, it's not very exciting, but it does the job, and does it well. Most cars these days are expensive, but at least it's not ridiculously overpriced as some models that Toyota is currently offering (a Land Cruiser for almost 100k, really?). Possible improvements: seat materials and maybe put a WRX engine in a higher trim. Bit it's nice... this will sell.
What's the real difference between this and the Outback? They're within about 1k on price (with the Forester being oddly more expensive than the Outback - I thought it should be the other way around?) and appear to be basically the same vehicle.
If you think it being manual will stop that you have no clue about joy riding car thieves. Everyone needs to practice dumping a clutch to initiate slides.
It does not need a manual. The people who buy the Subaru forester don’t care about transmission dynamics. You’d also be making it slower and get worse mpgs. Manuals are severely overrated for cars like this. They haven’t been relevant since the 90s
Had a 2017 Forester, my first CVT and first Subaru. It jerked at speeds below 5 mph. Dealer said that this was normal. About 6 months later get a letter from Subaru saying that they were extending warranty on the CVT. An admission in my estimation that they were having problems. Got rid of my Forester and never again any Subaru at least with a CVT.
My ex-wife had the same model and also had that issue. Turns out that was a characteristic of the throttle. Heavy tip-in. In her replacement 2020 model, it was gone.
The perfect car for my wife’s girlfriend.
😂
Or my wife’s girlfriend’s daughter.
Plot twist
Back seat comes with scissor assist 😂
Ross geller?
Although I'm unlikely to buy one, the Forester is a car I do admire. Subaru is probably the only brand with such a huge range of accessories to make the lives of your pets safer in the car.
subaru owners love thire car and pets.
Thank you for observing regular cars for regular people. Appreciate it a lot!
You know when Jack approves a car that not a Porsche or BMW the you know that car is really good!
I feel that the seat comfort is enough to rule the car out for a decent amount of people. Ergonomics are by far the most important factor in choosing a car (if you’re spending a lot of time in it)
@@158158cow Seat comfort is subjective, you have no idea untill you spend some time in it yourself. I have driven vehicles and came away with completely different impressions than some of the reviewers.
@@158158cow We have a 2020 Forester and its the most comfortable seat we've ever experienced and we're quite picky. of course I respect jack's opinion very much. maybe its a taste thing, maybe not, maybe Subaru changed it in the new mode. BTW we have cloth seats.. cant stand the leather type.
@@158158cowI think they’re pretty comfortable
Subarus are great
I own a 2015 Forester, bought it in 2017. No issues whatsoever. Probably one of the best practical all-around SUV on the market for the price.
My sisters 2015 Subaru needed a new shortblock (under warranty) after just 2 years didn’t even make it to its third oil change. Dealer was really tight lipped about what the failure was but we later found out the oil pressure was so low it caused it to seize while she was on the highway due to a clogged pickup with sealant.
Naturally all these warning lights came on the dash and she kept driving but considering it was in the winter and freezing outside, there weren’t exactly any good options and figured she’d try to make it home.
This is a really ridiculous, common problem, that gives me pause about buying a Subaru when you have a company that gets so much complex shit right and so much basic shit wrong.
Same! Hard to let it go
Anything pass 2018 have huge electricle issues.
All you need is a bike rack on the back for your e-bikes, and you have the “Official Car Of Retired Tourists Who Randomly Stop In The Middle Of The Lake Superior North Shore Scenic Highway For No Apparent Reason.” Long title, but they’ve earned it.
the life of a retired tourist sounds pretty good right about now.
Car for NPC's.
You've described my grandparents nearly perfectly, except that they drive an Outback
If they're retired it sounds like they're winning. I wish I was lmao
@@BaldKiwi117 unfortunately, when they stop randomly on the only road between Duluth Mn and the Canadian border, their retirement usually ends quite tragically.
I couldn't get over how bright the interior space is. Compared to a lot of the other CUVs you've tested, the Forester really has an incredible greenhouse. I found myself looking out the windows the whole time during your drive segment, something that's not as easily done in, say, a Mazda CX-50.
It would be even brighter if the cover on the glass roof was open.
I would spontaneously combust if I had that thing during a Vegas summer.
That's why my mom got a Forester, because she sucks at driving and it's easy to see out of 🤣
@@loseerich493 There's something called window tint
@@jetplume Yes, & no matter how great the tint (I've been running tint in my cars, trucks, RVs, & in some vestibule areas at my work going back to the early 1990s), it's never as good as something other than glass in its place. There's also boatloads of states around the U.S. that are popular-tint-hostile, or outright/essentially flat just tint-hostile.
Subaru makes great cars. Too bad their entire UX department is just one crazy dude who only accepts canned tuna as payment.
New UX system and horizontal display coming very soon
Im sure the slab in the middle was not a popular decision. Very un Subaru like
@@chrislim7976 the current interior steered me away from even considering the new WRX. I'm fairly forgiving, but the current interior UX is that frustrating and awful that I wouldn't want to live with it full time. It's a shame because I actually really liked the prior generation interior.
@@aprtur
Trust your instincts. You can't make yourself like something when it makes no sense.
😂😂😂
Petition to rename the Portland Trailblazers to the Portland Foresters
Whenever I see one of these driving I half expect to see a golden retriever with gray braided hair driving.
Aka violent ANTIFA member / commie
Thanks for this review. This is exactly how I feel about my Outback. It's an honest vehicle. It isn't fast, or sporty, but it looks good, it's easy to live with, comfortable, solid feeling, and it's tremendously capable in the snow. Thoughtful touches abound, like a washer that sprays the backup camera and the cool integrated crossbars. For $37k I got heated seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive LED headlights, Reverse Auto-Braking, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, automatic high-beams, LED foglights, a trail camera, Harmon Kardon audio, Eyesight, blind spot w/ auto emergency steering, a sunroof, wireless carplay, auto-dimming side mirrors, etc. The naturally aspirated Outback - particularly the Onyx Edition - is a tremendous value.
I f***** died laughing at a "hint of understeer" lmao
Literally was dying laughing with them too 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@armaniortiz6011 Did everyone else miss that? I started crying.
Absolutely didn't expect that. amazed it didn't trip over LOL
I drive one of the older ones and roundabouts are a great time - feels like steering a ship through a storm lmao
That was the hardest I've laughed in a long time. That joke was just quintessential savagegeese stuff
Official Car of Colorado...they are everywhere there and it makes perfect sense.
Indeed, they breed in Salida...
You'll never understand Subarus until you've driven one 300 miles on 2 lane highways through the rural upper midwest in January. They're hugely confidence inspiring in snow and on gravel/dirt in a way almost nothing else is. Would I take one rock crawling? No way, I'd get a 4WD for that. But for snow/gravel/dirt? Nobody else's AWD is even close. Subaru is a very conservative brand by nature and they don't have the budget of the bigger makers, but there's a reason people keep buying them and keep putting up with the crappy screens and the 180hp motors: the drivetrain.
I have the 2024 Subaru legacy premium and I love the confidence and no drama from the AWD..... never have to worry about winter weather or rain....it just goes
Competent AWD systems aren't that special anymore.
no argument there, I work with Forestry and all of our vehicles are 3-9 year old Subarus and Nissan Frontiers and they get the job done in rural BC, Canada
As a Subaru Ascent owner... the Patagonia shirt is just on point. Northface would also be acceptable.
I just purchased the 2025 Forrester. Love it! Just what I wanted for car camping and travel.
I bought mine i 2025 , it is still in the yard as I can not afford to buy gas
Car is superb, but that HVAC/Infotainment alone drives me away
Yes... I really dislike that I wanna be Volvo HVAC/infotainment, looks so out of space
It's so ugly!
@@wonderboy1998HVAC should not in the infotainment.
Rumors is the next gen Outback (2026) & all future Subies will have a horizontal display and digital gauge cluster borrowed from Toyota
Bye
I just can't get past the infotainment system. Too big and gaudy. Give me something smaller with all physical controls like Honda, Toyota and Mazda are doing.
I rented a Volvo a few months ago with a similar infotainment screen setup. It wasn't this big and I already hated it. I just rented a Hyundai, and while the screen was as unresponsive as my 10 year old Camry (which is totally inexcusable these days) I at least didn't need to use the screen for any core functions, they all had physical buttons.
@@jblyon2the new Volvo screens are trash, the Subaru ones aren’t great but are definitely better
Yep, my Camry’s touchscreen is only for CarPlay. Everything else is physical.
Go elsewhere
@Hefe179 Oh I had to totally reset it every 2 out of 3 times I drove the car, which disables half the car's functions in the process, just to get the audio to work. Like there would be no turn signal indicator noise, chimes, etc in addition to music until the entire system was reset. Doing a search revealed it was a known and totally unfixable problem on that model going back several years. Utter trash!
The outgoing 2024 model was a super duper value play, especially in the lowest two trims. The 2025 is a new body, carryover powertrain, and the huge Subaru screen nobody loves for a couple thousand more. Other parts of the general Subaru value is being able to factory-order exactly what you want and not paying for extras you don't, and usually being able to order for $1000+ dealer discount, combined with their often good financing rates, 2-4%.
Yeah, I'm not sure they improved the Forester enough between generations to justify the price increase. The '24 model was a great value. The '25 is just okay, and I'd prefer the older infotainment.
I think those rims look very good
@@trdpro2grfks
*Alloys
Wheels are the combination of the tire and the alloy.
Words have definitions for a reason.
Please save this vehicular nomenclature
*donuts
Anything round and yummy looking is a donut.
Please save the baking goods
No lol @@Enigmaception
@@Enigmaception Alloy refers to the metal material(in aluminum alloy wheels, aluminum is the predominant metal and is mixed with several other metals). Wheels can also be made from steel, carbon fiber, titanium etc. Back in the day magnesium wheels were popular(commonly referred to a mags).
@@trdpro2grfks * rims. It's a car thing. The non-tyre part of a wheel is indeed referred to as rim in cardom. Your nomenclature is deeply non-car.
A lot of people say it looks like a Honda... I see a Mitsubishi.
And historically, Subaru is pet friendly, but that doesn't mean pet proof by any means. The soft-touch surfaces are some of the worst for holding up to a the pokey points of pooch paws-- door card tops and center console lids are constantly riddled with dog dimples in countless Subaru's we recondition at my job. Honestly, my dads 2009 Sonata Limited shows less signs of his Staffordshire than a Subaru does with a Maltese.
Its my dogs' Subaru. They can do whatever they want to their car. I'm just their driver
They also have protection accessories for that stuff tho so that’s good
Uhhhh… the front end is a near identical replica of an earlier gen Ford Explorer especially with the similarly sized/shaped/colored blue Subaru logo and yes, the rear end looks like a Mitsubishi.
100% this is a 7/10th Explorer
I see a ford explorer
How dare you disparage Subaru's CVT by calling it Xtronic! It's the Subaru Lineartronic CVT. Xtronic is Nissan's CVT.
I bought my wife the 24 model because we didn’t want the all in 1 monster touchscreen. This vehicle is comfortable & easy. Normally those attributes don’t register with me (BRZ owner) but that’s my take away every time I drive it. Also will mention Ferguson Subaru gave me a positive dealership experience which also was new to me.
All around winner comfortable, reliable & capable. Get your wife one for all the above and have a fun car for yourself.
Okay Boomer.
@@ThirdBrainLives😂
@@ThirdBrainLives Not that old. Gen X here who got to drive fun cars of last 5 decades & saw the great bands. You’ll be stuck in electric cars half your life
I was really hoping they'd ditch the decade old vertical Prius infotainment and go with something new for the '25 model. I agree the previous generation seems arguably better and at a better price.
My girlfriend and I currently own the 2025 Subaru forester sport. Here’s my few cons and pros with this car. ( just my opinion)
Cons: wireless charging is wack. I have a iPhone 15 it would register for a sec that it is charging then it would not recognize it. My case is wireless charging compatible but it doesn’t want to register. I had to take my phone out of my case just for it to charge. 2: I felt like the car should’ve came dual exit instead of single exit exhaust for their “symmetrical” part. 3: (putting this together) the forester should’ve came optional with just the audio upgrade itself instead of having to get it with the power lift gate, we opted without the power lift gate. The key fob is pretty annoying as they have the lift opener button, but if you don’t have the power gate that button is rather useless. I would love to see if you didn’t have the power gate that button would just pop the lift gate ajar so you can just lift it up instead of being a useless button that makes noise. 4: As many of you guys said Subaru Fordester 😂, yes it does look like a ford. 5: Biggest thing for me is the auto shut off when you’re at a red light. I understand it’s for fuel efficiency but it’s annoying as hell and puts more stress on the starter motor. Yes they have the button to shut it off, but you’ll have to constantly turn it off every time you start the car up.
Pros: the video doesn’t do it justice, but the bronze looks nice in person. That’s what attracted me to the car right away. 2: the rear gave me a retro style look to their old forester. 3: Much more space. My sister and brother-in-law has a 2019 RAV4 adventurer, and my mom has a 2024 RAV4 LE though both cars are somewhat comfortable, the forester sport felt way more comfortable for longer rides. 4: the forester sounds better via engine noise. Yes we live in a time of cvt being the norm so y’all need to stop crying about it. To the untrained person when they drive the RAV4 the sound it makes is almost like a meat grinder. You would think something’s wrong with the car. But the forester sounds much more smooth. 5: Pricing, the forester sport came in at 35k~36k while the my mother’s RAV4 LE came in at 33k for a base model.
Like I said, these are just my opinion on the car. For those who’s wondering why we went for the forester instead of all the other competitors is that I live in WI I like the fact that Subaru awd system is constantly on instead of the others of being fuel efficient and transferring all the power to the front and to the rear when needed. Plus it’s a more viable option for my girlfriend to commute to work. I’m excited to try out the forester’s x-mode and see how it performs in winter.
I have 2019 forester and I just shut the start/stop off every time. It was annoying at first but is an easy habit to develop without thought. You’re already pressing one button before driving. Just press 2 instead.
Just to note. I don’t think I’ve ever used a car where the wireless charger works well. Not sure why they have them honestly but at least this one you can turn it off with the power button.
As for the start/stop system. Apparently you can buy a cheap $40 override unit to disable it. Hear they work well and don’t require much to install if it’s driving you crazy.
But you make good points. In my recent research Subarus are now really good bang for the buck. Toyota and Honda really push for you to get their top tier trims to get better mpg or perks like a decent sound system. And their interest rates are high on top of just being more expensive. You can find Foresters easily 2-3k cheaper than msrp with better interest. Plus more features for the money and they are safer than most cars.
So I’m already getting a Forester Touring soon for those reasons.
Most new vehicles, including Honda CRV have the automatic shut off at stoplights
@@SpritualTechniques it’s better implemented on some than others though
I’m on my second forester with having a 4runner and Tacoma in between. I still think it’s better in the snow and ice than those two vehicles. Sure, I won’t make it into the back country with the forester, but I was only in the back country a handful of times with those other vehicles. Otherwise with lighter to medium off-roading the forester is fine.
One thing that stands out is the “low fatigue” factor. Doing long drives in Toyotas was a chore. Lots of body roll and lots of sloppy steering. The forester feels much easier to live with and easier to drive in my experience. Plus, my oil changes cost about $34 and I can knock them out in 10 minutes instead of having to either pay $120 or spend an hour on an oil change with the 4runner, Tacoma, or tundra - all of which I’ve owned previously.
One thing that does suck is the road noise. It’s better in the 5th gen and I’m sure the 6th gen than it was previously in the 3rd/4th gen, but it’s something they are clearly working on.
Honestly I love it and have no qualms about buying a forester in the future.
I have a 2021. I am not a liberal, senior citizen nor am I a lesbian. lol.
happens now and again...
As vehicles in this class reach $40K, and eliminating gas mileage as a factor, would you buy one of them over a 2021 Lexus RX 350
They made the face look like an older Explorer
I just had one of these while my 23 Outback was in for some minor warranty stuff. I was very impressed. If I could take my Outback seats and put them in the Forester, it would be pretty tough to beat...
The new ford explorer looks great!
I own a 2020 Forester. Love it.
I was looking for an appliance with good AWD that is actually on all the time, good visibility, EyeSite is used all the time, trunk is square and very usable. Love the amounts of buttons on the steering wheel, because it they are fast to use on the road trip after getting used to them.
Definately planning to update to the new gen when the hybrid comes up. I hope Subaru offers customisabily, this is important for me.
Wow, it’s $10,000 more than it was 4 years ago! My daughter bought one then and it’s been great for her
Got a 2018 Subaru forester XT with 28k miles - no problems and pretty quick. Downgrading the engine to upgrade to the newer Forester is a no start.
My wife is all about vehicles as appliances and we got the last one of these as a rental and she LOVED it from a passenger perspective
Obviously a valid choice in the segment, but the huge screen alone would push me to pick the CRV over this. Wish it had more physical controls.
I hope their joint venture with Toyota would permit an Aisin Warner 6 or 8 speed automatic transmission behind the boxer motor.
Love the sound of the cvt drone!
😂
We picked up an OBW this week as a family hauler and I'm actually impressed. The handling is decent for a lifted wagon, the seats are soft, and the CVT only makes me slightly want to walk into traffic.
Good to know the seats are easy to clean. My wife’s boyfriend has prostate issues.
TMI
Spent last weekend on a trail ride sponsored by our Subaru dealer at Bells Reserve in Kingston’s Springs TN. Our 2024 Forester Wilderness performed incredibly on the trails. Quite a few areas required a professional off-road spotter to get us through some tight squeezes. Had a great time. Not gonna lie almost chickened out of the second ride but sure glad I didn’t. Special thanks to Charlotte at Darrell Waltrip Honda and the folks at Morrison’s Outdoor Adventures. I came away with a healthy respect of the capabilities of the X-Drive system.
there's an easter egg most people don't know about, which is the integrated clip in the glove compartment for bags of granola and trail mix.
i wish they would bring back the turbo
I would settle for a hybrid like the CRV. But keep the symmetrical AWD. Honestly, hybrid torque along with a true locking set of diffs would make for a great "XH" platform.
Nobody bought them.
I did. The heart of a WRX in a lifted box. But yea it wasn’t a big seller and most buyers don’t want to shell out the extra cash for the performance.
@@matthewshultz8762 A hybrid is coming out next summer in Japan, there is another hybrid with the e-boxer but the battery is incredibly insufficient though.
Bring back the turbo Subaru Forester ST
Dog Car note for my dog peeps - be sure this is the vehicle your dogs need, and think twice if you are in a sunny/hot climate. Had a 2019 Forester Limited for 3 years, with Dog Car for working border collies being its key role, as well as being very capable on bad roads, bumping across pastures, and powering through Minnesota snow. The car was great for me but proved unsuitable for the dogs - all the glass that gives the driver great visibility translated to a greenhouse effect within the car. While the HVAC controls make it super-comfy for the driver, the AC in the rear/cargo area was insufficient to handle summer in a northern climate and I was constantly struggling to prevent heat stress for my dogs crated in the back. Needed window panels, supplemental fans, yada yada even with AC cranked to max, and it was still much hotter back there. I am a detail-oriented shopper yet this issue did not come up in any of the glowing reviews I read. Had I anticipated this problem I would have avoided this otherwise-fantastic Dog Car in any climate with significant sun/heat. If you buy it, be sure to budget for after-market window tinting. Ended up trading the Forester for an Ascent because that was what was available during COVID, and have few regrets about that vehicle other than its abysmal gas mileage - it is a stellar dog car and very capable on rough ground. Big difference (other than size/space) is that the Ascent has third-row HVAC (and possibly even a secondary rear AC unit?) so my dogs are far more comfortable, and I will remember to consider this when shopping future cars. Side note unrelated to dogs: both of these Subarus (2019 Forester, 2022 Ascent) had physical controls for HVAC and infotainment, with a supplemental small touchscreen; I was sad to see both cars shift to almost-full-touchscreen controls in subsequent years.
This would rectified with ceramic tinted windows
@@AlphaOmega333was about to recommend the same. I never had it until my current vehicle and it’s a night and day difference. I don’t even put the sun shade up anymore, my black on black truck is only warm when I get in it.
@@cristianjimenez3657 yup, this part. Ceramic tinted windows look great and how much they reduce interior heat cannot be understated.
Get a good tint smh
Did the tinting, so no need to “smh” but thanks loads for your contribution to civility on the interwebs. It did help a bit, but not enough to keep my dogs comfortable. I don’t believe it was a ceramic tint, though.
If they'd put the XT motor in it and dump the cvt, I might buy one since they are a nice looking and comfortable car. I also wish they'd beef up the wheel bearings and axle shafts to handle that 188hp better, never dumped almost $4k into a car before 100k miles and 4 years before I owned a Subaru.
My SJ air conditioning has had 2 compressors replaced, along with the TXV and entire condenser... yeah I feel that maintenance 'quirk'. The tech said it was easy at least! I have also replaced the front suspension bushings on this car which was weird to do at 75k. Old ones turned into jelly.
The damage nissan did to the CVT….
pretty much describing the turbo CX-50. 250hp with premium, 6 speed.
@@andrewcallister9855yes but what’s the price. Also Mazdas look “old”
@@angelgjr1999 Mazdas look old? I only hear good things about their styling
If it is going to be an in-town appliance with those drawbacks you mentioned, it should at least offer a hybrid option to get good gas mileage. And, get rid of the TV sized screen and put some buttons back in it.
73 GL 2WD coupe. 95 Impreza 4WD wagon. Loved them both. Bridgestone Blizzaks on my 2015 Transit Connect changed my winter driving experience from dangerous to confident. A new Forester might be coming to my house soon.
I drive my Forester up some pretty nasty un-plowed roads in Mammoth. The only time it gets stuck is when the road is closed.
I adore my 2019 Subaru Forester. I'm excited in a few years I can replace mine with the upcoming hybrid version. My only complaint about the car was the wind noise which is not bad but could be better. I am glad they added more nvm to the car. I hope in ten years they come out with an electric version.
I love my 18 Forester, but not looking forward to hybrid because I've driven it. In Europe we have mild hybrids for SK generation. Battery sits where spare wheel is in US version. That means no spare wheel and slightly reduced storage space and a tire inflation kit. That's not the same hybrid as one supposedly coming next year, but I'm sure it will also not have a spare wheel.
If you think the wind noise on the 19 is bad... the earlier models with frameless windows were like flying an airplane. I had an 04 that the hack was to put vinyl tubing in the door gaskets to make a better seal.
2:03 I like the "leakage" line.
Can they just make them modern using the older good looking body shape.
Amen
Ha and here I thought they finally got away from that body style. While it does look similar to everything else out there, I like it more than the old one. Less car and more SUV looking. To each their own of course!
Sarah N Tuned calls her Forrester "Forrester Gump" which almost makes it buying for that alone. After watching the MotoMouth review of the Toyota Landcruiser that runs $22,000 CAD more (for the base version) over the top-of-the-line Outback - it's hard to justify when they noted it had cloth seats, a rattly engine, and needs premium fuel. I have looked at a lot of cars over the last few years and Subaru looks to be a pretty good bargain, if not the best bargain, when you look at what you get for the money. In Canada, their resale value is very good too as obviously their superior AWD makes them popular in Canadian winters.
The Outback holds a bit more appeal for me given they offer more towing capacity and a turbo giving more power for very similar money.
Subaru please give us PHEV or a turbo (preferably both) for the forester.
The best thing to say about the non-turbo charged engines from Subaru is right: Just adequate.
they kept the dashboard dials - bravo subaru!
Weve had a few in our family, these things are billy goats in snow storms. It's Sooo easy to do oil changes. Been very reliable.
I can tell you this, for someone with a bad back, this is a great car.
Price point is a great point, but it seems like it is 2 generstions behind with tech and mechanics. So is it a good deal when you figure the biggest factor in price for manufacturers is warranty work and recalls?
Every time I see a 1st gen Forester I feel a twinge of heartache. Their looks had so much charm
Any comment on the issues they've had, at least historically with the CVT overheating and shutting itself down when it's driven slowly off road? The CVTs are the reason Subaru have been off my list of potential car options for years 😞. That and them no longer making the Legacy turbo wagon, which was fantastic despite the interior being pretty cheap and nasty.
I see they still haven't fixed the one thing that prevented me from considering these. 180hp in a full-size SUV is way too low by modern standards. Also, CVT transmissions shouldn't exist.
That second exhaust cut out makes me wonder 🤔
CRV/RAV4 hybrid does the same thing without the stupid touchscreen and returning great mpg at that same price point. Wish this was equipped with the Turbo to give it more character in the upper trims
Rav4 is truly the goat crossover.
Except they're not at the same price point. Base Forester is 28k. Base Rav4 Hybrid is 32k.
Not to mention five times more reliably.
I just wish there were modes that took away the fake shifting. Just let the CVT do what a CVT is designed to do. The fake shifting in our Ascent is so annoying and not smooth.
Planning to get one these. They seem to be really good bang for the buck cars. Subaru interest rates are the lowest compared to Honda and Toyota it seems which helps. You get good perks that don’t require expensive options/trims and I prefer non-hybrid for now (battery tech as a whole isn’t great and being locked into dealerships and their no right to repair issues is a no-go for me).
Good review, thanks. I like our 2019 Sport better overall. We have a loaner Outback Limited at the moment with that new center screen. It's fine but I also haven't bothered to learn where the settings are. The Forester suits us great and yes, very likely to get another Forester after.
A side note, ours has been at the dealer for 7 weeks now waiting on a AC compressor core, coming from Japan. Seems to be still supply chain issues or this is just the new normal now. Not exactly an exotic part though. Dealer has a couple cars waiting for the same thing.
I love your videos. They are always honest and thorough. You have quite some viewers from Europe (like myself), so I would appreciate it if you (via under titles) translate the American measurements (like pound-feet of torque, cubic inches, and weight in pounds) into the European metric system.
I have a 14 Sierra z71, which I plan to keep until it disintegrates in my driveway, but the Forester is VERY likely my next daily driver to pair with my truck.
I want to see and hear the full RPM 6:29 in reverse, park, and neutral, for a thorough comparison
Had a 2015 and I really loved the CVT. What I didn't like what the overly aggressive gas pedal. The throttle mapping was way too aggressive. My 2018 WRX was the same way. But at least my WRX never burned a drop of oil. I can't say the same for the 2015 forester. But on the bright side, the radio in the forest was a LOT better than the radio in the WRX.
That was changed in the refresh before the 2025. That tip-in was virtually eliminated.
Without an engine improvement to the 200-225 horsepower and torque range, the car is underpowered if you regularly load it up with family / cargo and especially if you travel at higher altitudes or in the mountains where it borders as almost unsafe for passing.
Disagree. We just took a 800 mile trip, four humans one black lab, luggage to the ceiling, highway speeds, passing semis in farm field cross wind flats, 32mpg doing it. It's not FAST, but it's plenty.
@@OutsideTheTargetDemographic Any car will likely be fine on flat highways at sea level. As someone who lives in CO and has had 2 Subarus with the FB2.5, they are underpowered. It's one of the slowest in it's class to 60MPH, which is further worsened by altitude.
@@brandongittelman True statement. I wish Subaru would have never gotten rid of the 3.6. We were at 12K' and I never noticed any difference with our '17 Outback 3.6r. As a matter of fact, I never even thought about elevation until we were home. We're heading to Colorado next week.
I'm really glad I went for 2023. It was the last iteration that had a smaller screen with more physical buttons. I can't stand this massive one subaru now puts in everything
24 was the last without the big screen
They have a wilderness edition at my local dealer and love the smaller screen. Unfortunately it doesn't come with memory seats, wife would kill me lol
K bye
@@Hefe179 oh my bad
@@rudy_dstroys1821 aw that's too bad lol. I have the wilderness version and it's been great so far.
I really, really do wish that Subaru would drop the CVT's.
I went with the Mazda due to that.
Honda, Toyota, Subaru just normal folks living a simple life.
The “plastic” seats in the Sport are, as you referenced, easy to clean but suck to sit on. However, the seats in the Limited and Touring are actually excellent. Perforated leather in the Limited and perforated/ventilated in the Touring. Overall, our 2025 Limited is a really nice car for its intended purpose and an exceptional value.
Perferations collect lint and other crap and are super hard, if not impossible to clean out without just giving up and accepting it as is. I'd much prefer the old solid leather seats you simply wipe down.
It’s the CVT that kills me. If I was looking for a vehicle that was automatic, and not manual, the CVT trans is the last trans I ever want to have a I love everything about this Subaru but I simply would never buy it for this reason.
The CVT really isn't bad. I drive manual cars and automatics. My 2017 Subaru Imprezas CVT is just fine.
2:00 He just threw Mark under the bus 😂😂
That’s a nice Honda CRV!
We looked at the Crosstrek and Forester. Getting a sunroof required a big package of several things. Steering feel was poor. Braking feel was very good. Videos for maintenance after 100 thousand miles show a lot more new parts needed than a similar Toyota or Mazda or Honda. Subarus are a good deal for the all wheel drive since it is not an extra cost option. The Outback has much better suspension feel, for a higher price.
@@trdpro2grfks Do the AWD boxer head gaskets once in their lifetime isn't a big ask or job. Older Subarus are much more enjoyable to drive and less dorkier than Camrys or Hondas.
@@trdpro2grfks Accords and Camry's aren't a direct competitor. And the CRV is, well, gross. You're probably right about it being more reliable, though.
I like it best when you both cackle like a geese!!!! It’s amazing that a small midsize car is 35,000.
I’ve had an Audi a7 and a bmw x5. Also both 2 outbacks. Subarus are great for what you get. Buy one lux and the other a Subaru
We need a comparison video between this, the CRV, Rav4 and CX50
The world can't possibly handle that much excitement.
Perfect for kiwi roads. Car designers do have to create for the globe, and that ain't easy. Super popular over here, and we'd (my wife and I) love one of these. Perfect size, not too firm and jiggly so will handle our CRAP roads. And will soft off-road no issue.
I wish the second gen Forester was still being made new... It hasn't improved since then
I love the new looksss especially in this white color the side angle is the best
Put the turbo back in the Forester Subaru.
And it won’t sell again lol
I don’t want to worry about blown headgaskets again 😅
My parents have a 2020 Forester and its really good. easily one of the best in its category. As stated its really comfy but it is at the expense of handling, if feels floaty. its really hard to find anything bad about it. I love the engine and the transmission. my only issue is the economy. fuel costs a lot where we live. Now my parents want to upgrade to a newer model, I tried to sway them toward an EV, the running costs difference is huge, but they are scared of EVs and for now they pretty much want the forester.
Subaru should really invest more in making niche products. The fact of the matter is that fighting toyota is futile, although they are partly owned by them. Mazda went that route and they are making a name for themselves. What i mean as being niche is making choices and taking risks that their smaller brand can make. They already have that identity of being offroad centric and wielding boxer engines. They can lean more into making more innovative safety solutions, or for example, make their seats more comfortable.
i looked at the thumbnail and thought it was a honda passport
I thought it was the new CRV tbh.
Previous generations sound system has been phenomenal. Seems to get big praise on most reviews. Hopefully continued due to the greenhouse windows.
8:25 Mark went full ventriloquist 😂
The facelift gonna look great 👌
The timing is insane
Reminds of the design of older Mitsubishi Outlander - it literally looks like a car that's 10-15 years old.
I thought about getting one of these but the new CR-V Hybrid feels better in every way.
Not in the snow!
That CVT algorithm is used with many different cars btw, all of them if you do the "launch control" like things it avoids doing fake shifts.
I live in Australia and that engine - cvt combo is one death trap…. Did the passenger say tea in North America!
I own a Subaru Ascent. I like it much more than I expected I would, and at 72,000 miles it has been flawless. I’m now a Subie fan. The Ascent is a bit large and if the Forester was available with the same 2.4 liter turbocharged engine that is in my Ascent, I’d downsize to the Forester. The CVT transmission is okay; smooth and pleasant. I seldom use WOT and the CVT is not inclined to engine droning in normal everyday driving.
This is a good vehicle. Sure, it's not very exciting, but it does the job, and does it well. Most cars these days are expensive, but at least it's not ridiculously overpriced as some models that Toyota is currently offering (a Land Cruiser for almost 100k, really?). Possible improvements: seat materials and maybe put a WRX engine in a higher trim. Bit it's nice... this will sell.
What's the real difference between this and the Outback? They're within about 1k on price (with the Forester being oddly more expensive than the Outback - I thought it should be the other way around?) and appear to be basically the same vehicle.
It needs a six speed manual for two reasons; firstly less boring and secondly nobody will steal it because it’s a manual….
Subaru has mostly lost the demographic that buys manual cars. Well, in the Forester at least.
I have a 2018 MT Forester. 27.8mpg yearly average, dragging 1k trailer, kid transporting, concert going, and eating the Cleveland snow. Love it.
And it won’t sell lol
If you think it being manual will stop that you have no clue about joy riding car thieves. Everyone needs to practice dumping a clutch to initiate slides.
It does not need a manual. The people who buy the Subaru forester don’t care about transmission dynamics. You’d also be making it slower and get worse mpgs. Manuals are severely overrated for cars like this. They haven’t been relevant since the 90s
Had a 2017 Forester, my first CVT and first Subaru. It jerked at speeds below 5 mph. Dealer said that this was normal. About 6 months later get a letter from Subaru saying that they were extending warranty on the CVT. An admission in my estimation that they were having problems. Got rid of my Forester and never again any Subaru at least with a CVT.
My ex-wife had the same model and also had that issue. Turns out that was a characteristic of the throttle. Heavy tip-in. In her replacement 2020 model, it was gone.
The ultimate Bloody Kisses Type o Negative SUV. If only it rocked October Rust....