Although Forester isn't designed stylishly, the visibility, the symmetric all wheels, the wide opened sunroof, the full sized spare tyre, well priced and so on~ I owned 2018 2.5i-S CVT for 6 months, satisfied !
I have a manual diesel. This is my third Forrester and all I can say is the ride is incredibly smooth due to the boxer engine.Motorway speeds are relaxing and the construction is rock solid.
The visibility on this car is amazing. I test drive one last week. My wife went out to test a Mazda CX-5. We drove the subi on a whim. Really liked the Forrester.
did you end up getting the subi or cx5? I am looking at those two currently. Not buying anything yet but my mazda 6 is getting up there in mileage so I want to start considering getting a different car in the future.
@@thelibertyapproach7301 I did end up buying a Subi, but the next generation Forester. Honestly, if you can get a deal on the 2018 I would go for that one. The rear visibility is slightly worse in the current gen subarus and they've gotten a little bigger, for better and worse.
we have a 2007 model forester which my wife drives to work everyday except her days off, it's 2018 already and it has'nt given her a problem through all these years! Thinking of buying her a new one for her birthday, great dependable SUV.
In the UK, Foresters are a rare sight. Tested one once for something to do, very comfy ride. Cant afford one but maybe just as well because I dont need a car like that, but I would get one if circumstances changed. Tough, comfy long lasting car.
I have a 16 Forester. Overall great suv. Everyone has their opion, mine, Subaru’s are very safe, good quality, great in snow and fun to drive. It’s not perfect, and there isn’t a vehicle that is, but I feel better behind the wheel of my subbie when on the road.
Martin Russo I hit a dumptruck full of snow in my 2016 forrester.my drivers side was ripped off.my drivers window exploded.the car unfortunately was declared totaled,but I didnt even get one scratch,nick,or bruise,they may not be the most beautiful to look at,but it saved me from death.i used to have a Ford fusion,if I hit a dumptruck in that car I absolutely would have been killed.
Renata Warec that’s just amazing and thank you for sharing that. Thank God you survived and what a true testament to Subaru’s. What are you driving now?
We have 2001 and 2018 Foresters. We only bought the 2018 because safety and fuel economy have come so far in the last 17 years; the 2001 is still very dependable. The 2018 is a much better car, though. I'm floored by how much quieter it is, for example. We're not used to being able to converse at a normal volume while driving on the interstate.
Dakota Morgan are u referring to western USA Coz the moment one gets to Colorado going west and up to Seattle you see a bunch of subarus but here in southeast its full of camrys and accords.
I have an 05 Outback, before that an 01 Forester. Yes trivial but when will the Forester get a door open light that tells you which door is open??? I'll stick with the Outback for that tiny reason :-) I am not sure about the CVT though.
In Canada, is just about as popular as CR-V, and RAV-4, from what I can see. The CR-V's are everywhere, I use to see lots of RAV-4's, but many Rogues now... I think they are less expensive. Subaru is marketed as great handling vehicles, especially in winter. The cheaper Crosstek are popular, and smaller than Outback and Forrester. That segment now has HR-V, C-HR and other small size cross-overs. Subaru's are not known for their bling styling... you go from interior on Impreza to Outback to whatever car, it is geared towards functionality.
There's plenty of Subarus in Australia. Plenty of foresters, outbacks, imprezas and xvs still on the road. The only people I know that bought a brand new SUV in the last 5 years drove a CX5, Rav4 and Mitsubishi ASX. The Subaru Forester sells for $35k in Australia and you can buy brand new FWD SUVs for 23-25k. Most aussies don't need AWD, they drive around the city and highways. Toyota is the brand Aussies trust the most too so they'd be looking at those vehicles and comparing cost of servicing etc.
Dude from Australia apparently don't understand how popular Subaru is in Canada and Northeast US, come take a look and you will know what I'm saying. You don't buy them for style or features you buy them to save your lives if you live somewhere it snows for 4-5 months.
Exactly. I'm in NE, just got my 2018 and I LOVE IT. Smooth, quiet, roomy, simple and safe. Good resale value. I tested Rav4 and CRV, no comparison. Most people trust Subaru for value and safety.
When there is no XV the forester was the number one saler in Australia because its the best in the market but these days a lot of its competitors have become better, the forester meanwhile remained relatively unchanged.
In the USA? They can sell these as fast as they can get them off the Japanese transport ships. The Forester sells the quickest with only 5 days total supply. Forget about getting a discount on this model...
In Florida my A/C is terrible when the outside temp goes over 80. It starts to warm up no matter what setting I try. My 2018 Forester was checked under warranty with no finding of malfunction. This continues to happen. Not enough cup holder in front. Never used the link and the Vehicle book is terrible. My wife likes the heated leather seats.
H. Jon McCargar I don't know which state you're in, but I'm in Massachusetts and it's the same thing. You can't even find a decent used one because they get snatched up so fast.
Yes, they are such a boring/crappy/poor selling vehicle, to get one here in MN, you are on a waiting list. They average a 28 day turn around from off loading the vehicle at the rail station to the new owner-shortest turn around by any manufacturer. Their AWD is suited for all climates -unless you never get rain or don't like secure cornering. The further Northwest you travel, you stop seeing Camry's and all you see is Subaru's. Looks are subjective just like ex-wives. Boring, well, I'm not sure what you need to be doing while you drive. We own a RAV4 as well and the only thing it has ever needed in 149000 miles is tires, shocks and a new engine-love the dependability-except for the new engine part. Honda, nice but for the same money, I got what equals the EX for the LX price. Love my Mazda though.
I have, honestly, never seen a single customer at the Subaru annex of our local Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler dealer. In the South the awd holds little appeal for most (I drive an AWD Volvo) and nobody needs high ground clearance, so there isn't a whole lot of reason to get one other than the excellent reliability.
I can speak to what they tell me the reliability is but I have only owned mine for 3000 miles. I know the resale is fantastic, which speaks to reliability and satisfaction of ownership. They must be doing something right.
I have a 2016 XT Touring. It's fantastic!!! 250 HP is pretty sweet. I think 2018 is the last year they made the XT. Lots of forester costumers scratching our heads over that decision.
You guys in OZ get the beige interior? Is that an option or comes depending exterior color? Here in NZ we only get black... The Forester in NZ probably is the same as in OZ, although we have the weather and roads for this type of car, kiwis prefer way more the Outback and XV, numbers of sales for both of them are great, but here are expecting that when new Forester comes on September to our market, numbers will change again.
Just bought the 2018 Touring Turbo; arriving tomorrow morning from upstate to Dallas; first owner. A bit nervous about the Eyesight feature, as the last car I've driven has zero inside tech. This is my second Forester; the first one I bought was the first turbo sold in Louisiana (USA) in 2003. Drove Saabs since 2007, and if Saab was still in Sweden, I would have bought another. Will give my update on how it's going in a bit...Been driving for over four decades, so all this tech stuff really isn't necessary to me.
Next day: Holy Cow!!!! Husband drove it to our top deck level from the delivery space, and now he just bought one. We now have his & hers black XTs; and that says a lot from a man who said he would never have an SUV for himself. As far as myself, I am blown away. What an amazing gift.
Youve seen the interiror of that thing. They made sure they went super cheap and you are basically paying for the symmetrical AWD, thats it. I held back buying it because the dealer trying to con me on our deal. Im glad because now the 2019 is almost out. I may get that instead.
Why is it not selling. Because the Forester, Crosstrek and Outback look to be the essentially the same thing to non-car person. And this year the crosstrek is the small sized option and the outback is the large size option leaving little room in the middle for a forester.
This generation had improvement over the last model, previous model have used lots of cheap platic materials and 2.4litre engine was sluggish . This generation the 2.5litre combined with better transmission gives better acceleration.
Well here in the states, specially the southeast region, there are alot of these out there, I owned one, NO complaints whatsoever (17 Forester premium) the wife and I really loved our Subie, but the lease was up and well we traded it for an 18 Outback limited, awesome cars, only issues we have are the dumb kids blowing up headgaskets on Wrxs, cus the race them.....then lie about any mods.....other than that great cars
Its probably because they prefer the outback. If not it is because Subaru have not marketed it well enough there as not many in class can hold a candle to the Forester. It beats the Rav4 in everything I can think of in my market. Fuel economy is an issue of the past with the CVT which drives very nice if you are open minded enough to give it a fair chance. Subarus CVT is the only trans I could be excited about besides a manual.
My complaint on the CVT is that they diddn't optimize it. I have read that they programmed it to seem a bit like a regular AT. YOu can see it reving, then dropping, etc. You ought to be able to press the pedal a certain distance and have the rpm find it's sweet spot and stay there.
Fair review & agree with most comments.The interior features looks like early 2000 model with boring or outdated features. One can get a better SUV for the same price tag. Less features means less likelihood of breaking down or less costly for parts however it's a niche market in some countries.
Its just missing so many little features ! I wanted to buy one but ended up getting CX5 more power and toque, better on fuel, digital radio longer service intervals and cheaper services the list goes on !
Joshua Knight That’s interesting. I’m researching these vehicles and a comparison at EPA.gov shows the Forester gets higher mpg than Mazda CX-5. I wonder if the CX-5 is as good in the snow.
It is very simple, actually, why this model isn't selling well. Primary set-up of this 4 wheel driven vehicle is suited for slippery cold weather nature or zones. In hot places and nations with tropical climate this is not that necessary type of fuel hogging design. This all time Subaru transaxles are oddities for the places where never snow or see snows occasionally.
Agreed - that full-time symmetrical AWD reacts better than other SUVs in slippery conditions but at an MPG cost. Where I live in the rainy pacific NW subarus are everywhere. We preferred the new CRV though.
The problem with 4 wheel drive is the expense of tire replacement. I blew a tire, and Subaru told me the replacement must be within 2/32 of the tire on the good side. If more than 4 /32, all tires must be changed. I was lucky enough to find a good used ( same Bridgestone Dueller ) online with the same ware as my remaining tires.
@Jake - 28 mpg average ain't bad, but that's an outlier and not the EPA numbers or the average on Fuely. With adaptive cruise, our 2017 CRV AWD usually beats the EPA numbers on hwy and we tend to get 35-37mpgs. It also has slightly more room and power. @Tony - My inlaws got a flat tire on their Forrester and had to change all 4 tires because of that rotational difference constantly taxing the symmetrical AWD transmission. They ended up replacing it with a CRV. That incident was also a tick against buying a Forrester or Crosstrek for us since we don't see snow and ice for more than a few months annually.
But the point is it's still a slightly higher fuel and tire cost over the life of the vehicle and the full-time awd advantages are moot for me and especially for Australians. Btw the 4th gen CRV had a 60/40 torque split, but the new one can send 100% to the rear and for many more situations besides simply detecting wheel slippage. If I went off-roading more often I'd want a manual transmission and would probably go the Subaru route, but that's just not the reality for most. With crossovers selling like hotcakes now, it doesn't help that Subaru barely updates their conservative styling. Some really like the simple honest look, but you'd have to be a fan to recognize the differences in the past model years. Their concept vehicles look fantastic, but production version is always a letdown to me (as an industrial designer). It's also unfortunate that you couldn't get the XT in stick and that they're ditching the 2.0T for the next model.
i have a '15 outback, not the forrester, but my lifetime average is over 30mpg. given they are almost the same car, i'd guess i'd get around the same on a forrester. most of my driving is short local. if i go on a trip, i'll general get 35 or 36. i do drive conservatively, especially the acceleration.
Ive owned 7 Subarus. Through the years, Subaru seems to have lost their focus in the styling department while holding on with a vengeance to the boxer engine without significant upgrades for seemingly decades. My latest purchase is a Legacy 3.6R Limited. I HATE this car. It has every option, most of which seems like it would be a great idea. None of it actually works as imagined. The leather seats are unbelievably uncomfortable with a headrest that forces your head forward. This car has the same power output as the Legacy GT (from more than 13 years prior) as well as the 3.0R. On the day I brought this car home, I called the dealer and told them I wanted to trade the car in on an STi with a paddle shift automatic. Well, Subaru doesnt make an auto version of the STi. They told me sports car enthusiasts want manual transmissions. Really? Ferarri, Porsche, Lamoborghini, Audi all have paddle shift sports cars. I would own one if Subaru made it. Oh well.
Modern Subaru's have ratcheting head rests. I even have to show this feature to Subaru Sales People. You grab the head rest and twist it forward, the you can move it back to a comfortable position. It is the only car maker to do have this feature to my understanding.
Old Forest was bigger with ber off roading capability . Those new are smaller then the Outback who can do everything that a forester can do even beter on the road .
Station wagons went out a long time ago if they pump it up to suv status they might sell more, tires poor choice and the engine could use a major overhaul also too expensive for what it is a station wagon chk Nissan rogue for an example to compare
The CVT is the least responsive transmission on the face of the earth. Dangerously underpowered engine mated to that sloshy cvt is a bad combo. The body creaks and groans the lane departure and obstacle avoidance slams on the brake at interesting times. Horrible vehicle in all those respects. Could be mega reliable, I don't know.
You obviously did not test the seat heaters. They are not on constantly, heat for 1 - 2 minutes and then off for 12 - 15 minutes. Pretty useless when you live in Northern Canada and have -40 C days in winter. My fifth and last Subaru. Subaru Canada says it is a safety feature. All my previous Outbacks and Forester did not have the same annoying problem. Winter has been almost 7 months this year. Bring on global warming.
I love my 2018 forester. But the delay in drive after reverse is so annoying. Also the shitty infotainment system sucks. More so now Pandora is gone - and Subaru hasn't removed it.
Let me tell you why, because in Australia there isn't a propaganda campaign keep pushing that SUVs and pickup trucks are the only kind of vehicle you can buy. It's not only the only type of cars make you look cool and it saves the planet yoo.
Well, until I'm convinced Subaru has resolved their head gasket problem I'm not giving them any of my money. This was supposedly fixed by 2013 but the jury is still out on 2014 forward.
My 2015 lost a quart in 1st 400 miles. Now at 26,000 miles i haven't consumed more than a pint within 6,000 mile oil changes. Hoping this stays OK, or completely fails before power train warranty is up.
@Jake Colbert Seems like someone got butt hurt for being corrected. Once you dry your eyes, thank him for correcting you and TRYING to make you a better person, or in your case a slightly more educated hillbilly
in those type of cars now the size of the xt,you get small diesel engines.look at the qashqai, for example,they fit it with a 1.5 diesel also.subaru will never progress they way they should like this.you can be stubborn and not listen to reason but you are not right.see you.
I own a 2017 2.5 it gets 7-8L/100kms my wife use to drive a AcuraMDX. I would have to pry her hands off the steering wheel if I tried to sell this. 70,000kms and not a stitch of problems. Winter here in Canada is tough on vehicles and the Forester is the best.
Wow ya my Ford F-150 averages 14L/100kms but is is 365hp 5.0 V8. Need that to haul my holiday trailer. The Forester is a beauty. Mind you we were paying about $1 Cdn dollar per liter about 4 weeks ago it has jumped to $1.30 so it getting pricey filling up the Ford. $150 per.
Subaru's boxer engine has this oil consumption issue. According to Subaru it is expected engine oil needs to be topprd up between oil change due to oil consumption starting when he car is new. There is pamphlet in the Canadian dealership explaining this unique requirement. One thing I am sure of, if the car consumes oil when it's new, it will consume more as it gets older. Not to mention the historical issue of head gasket failure of the boxer engine. Just go online and you will find a lot of TH-cam video discussing thes problems. I bet a lot of the Subaru buyers are not aware of these problems. Subaru is a great brand but you need to be aware of these risks and problems.
CVT sucks out life , boatish handling , rather 90's like cabin, underpowered , solid AWD is not enough these days.... mazda CX5 has its iAWD not as durable and tough but it all other aspects it runs circles around this Subbie or feels like a different class all at the sake cost!
🧘♀️🤔👋🏽Lower sales/demand that translates into lower prices is fine by me. If you’re not a Subaru fan “naturally” do your best to stay away from buying one- #insertsubarufaulthere 🙏🏽🇦🇺🥋🐢
If you get in the 2018 subaru xv or any of the other competitors you can see why no one is buying it. The interior is drab and outdated compared to the others.
I can tell you I wouldn't buy such a homely vehicle, nor one lacking real passing power. And it doesn't offer enough advantage in handling over a sporty crossover. It may be quite logically efficient and reliable, but for me cars are about more than just getting from A to B.
I like the boring design. I do not like though the car with poor visibility and limited cargo due to design. Subaru doesn't need to be a mass-manufacturer like Honda or Toyota. In Japan, where I live now, Foresters are driven by people who live in the mountains or those who like nature. In Tokyo Foresters share little market, in the rural area there is plenty of Foresters and other Subarus for that matter.
1. The XV is so cheap it takes away a lot of Forester sales. 2. Its front end is uglier 3. Interior is very outdated which can work for a car like a WRX, but not a forester 4. Failed marketing. You see Mazda, Isuzu, Nissian advertisment all the fucking time, not enough Subaru.
Front end is ugly? Thats just your opinion. The interior is not as good as other SUVs, but who cares? I just love driving my car but not looking at my interior when driving. Marketing is not enough. But we dont want everybody to be subi. We want those who know the true value of subaru.
quality same or better than most Japanese cars, engine? you are joking arent you? noise is no different, lord knows what "unrefined" means in your book but you often have to look at the tacho to see if its idling (which in the newer models it may not be anymore) Sounds like the closest you have got to one is a youtube review.
yarpos Japanese Asian and Korean vehicles are very cheaply made it's true sorry .. I test drove a Subaru Forester and many Subarus and they're awful vehicles they are loud/ noisy and not comfortable
LOL, there's always that guy who ignores all the big data and decades of research on CR and JD power placing Asian brands at the top spots to use personal biases and annecdotal cherry-picking to yell Merica!
Interiors are indeed very cheap and cabin noise is quite a big issue. I had an 08 forester and now a 17 WRX. No improvement on cabin noise and same cheap interior compare to many others. Thats about all the complains I have. The thing is you are paying 40k for a lot of horse power or 50k for a very capable SUV, you can't expect much more than that.
Watch the comparison video of lets say a Volvo awd and a Subaru. The Volvo has better interiors for sure but when they go off road or on harsher terrain then you will see the value of Subaru. Depends on how you use it I guess.
Although Forester isn't designed stylishly, the visibility, the symmetric all wheels, the wide opened sunroof, the full sized spare tyre, well priced and so on~ I owned 2018 2.5i-S CVT for 6 months, satisfied !
I purchased one a year ago. No complaints. Great all round vehicle.
This is by far the best interior walk through I have ever seen. Good job! Nice vehicle too!!
Gold
Thanks
🚳🚮🚮
I have a manual diesel. This is my third Forrester and all I can say is the ride is incredibly smooth due to the boxer engine.Motorway speeds are relaxing and the construction is rock solid.
The visibility on this car is amazing. I test drive one last week. My wife went out to test a Mazda CX-5. We drove the subi on a whim. Really liked the Forrester.
That's what sold me too, you can see out of them so well, particularly if you're a smaller person.
did you end up getting the subi or cx5? I am looking at those two currently. Not buying anything yet but my mazda 6 is getting up there in mileage so I want to start considering getting a different car in the future.
@@thelibertyapproach7301 I did end up buying a Subi, but the next generation Forester. Honestly, if you can get a deal on the 2018 I would go for that one. The rear visibility is slightly worse in the current gen subarus and they've gotten a little bigger, for better and worse.
we have a 2007 model forester which my wife drives to work everyday except her days off, it's 2018 already and it has'nt given her a problem through all these years! Thinking of buying her a new one for her birthday, great dependable SUV.
Get her an Outback, that way she'll know what door is open :-) I have an 05 Outback, last car was a Forester, didn't know what door wasn't shut :-)
@OJ, big deal, sheesh.
Is it just me, or is the first little bit of the gas pedal uber sensative and then the rest doesn't do a whole lot?
In the UK, Foresters are a rare sight. Tested one once for something to do, very comfy ride. Cant afford one but maybe just as well because I dont need a car like that, but I would get one if circumstances changed. Tough, comfy long lasting car.
This narrator has a great talking voice and does an amazing job of showcasing the Outback. Well done!!
I have a 16 Forester. Overall great suv. Everyone has their opion, mine, Subaru’s are very safe, good quality, great in snow and fun to drive. It’s not perfect, and there isn’t a vehicle that is, but I feel better behind the wheel of my subbie when on the road.
Martin Russo I hit a dumptruck full of snow in my 2016 forrester.my drivers side was ripped off.my drivers window exploded.the car unfortunately was declared totaled,but I didnt even get one scratch,nick,or bruise,they may not be the most beautiful to look at,but it saved me from death.i used to have a Ford fusion,if I hit a dumptruck in that car I absolutely would have been killed.
Renata Warec that’s just amazing and thank you for sharing that. Thank God you survived and what a true testament to Subaru’s. What are you driving now?
I drive a 2006 Forrester and its the most reliable car I've ever owned.
We have 2001 and 2018 Foresters. We only bought the 2018 because safety and fuel economy have come so far in the last 17 years; the 2001 is still very dependable. The 2018 is a much better car, though. I'm floored by how much quieter it is, for example. We're not used to being able to converse at a normal volume while driving on the interstate.
Are they reliable
I live in Canada, Forester is as common as Rav4 and CRV. I simply fail to understand how they don't sell in Aus
Louis Lin coz aussies rather buy a hilux for the price! 😂
I guess because of there is not so much snow.
good luck getting a hilux for that money
dont sell is probably stretching it, I think XV is cannabilising Forestor sales
Little in the way of snow in Aus.
I work for a Subaru dealership in the states, and these sell like crazy here! This and the Outback are easily are two best sellers
Dakota Morgan are u referring to western USA Coz the moment one gets to Colorado going west and up to Seattle you see a bunch of subarus but here in southeast its full of camrys and accords.
Maxwell Mwenda no, sorry. I live in upstate NY. The northeast.
Dakota Morgan that makes sense due to the inches of snow in northeast.
The Outback is popular in Australia. I live in a coastal town, and they are everywhere (myself included)
I have an 05 Outback, before that an 01 Forester. Yes trivial but when will the Forester get a door open light that tells you which door is open??? I'll stick with the Outback for that tiny reason :-) I am not sure about the CVT though.
I hired a forester when on holiday in Aus and thought it was a lovely vehicle.
If I had a chance to go there I'd hold out for a Falcon or Commodore before they're all gone from the rental fleets.
nlpnt they’re not much good on the rough roads and tracks in the outback though.
In Canada, is just about as popular as CR-V, and RAV-4, from what I can see. The CR-V's are everywhere, I use to see lots of RAV-4's, but many Rogues now... I think they are less expensive. Subaru is marketed as great handling vehicles, especially in winter. The cheaper Crosstek are popular, and smaller than Outback and Forrester. That segment now has HR-V, C-HR and other small size cross-overs. Subaru's are not known for their bling styling... you go from interior on Impreza to Outback to whatever car, it is geared towards functionality.
There's plenty of Subarus in Australia. Plenty of foresters, outbacks, imprezas and xvs still on the road. The only people I know that bought a brand new SUV in the last 5 years drove a CX5, Rav4 and Mitsubishi ASX. The Subaru Forester sells for $35k in Australia and you can buy brand new FWD SUVs for 23-25k. Most aussies don't need AWD, they drive around the city and highways. Toyota is the brand Aussies trust the most too so they'd be looking at those vehicles and comparing cost of servicing etc.
Dude from Australia apparently don't understand how popular Subaru is in Canada and Northeast US, come take a look and you will know what I'm saying. You don't buy them for style or features you buy them to save your lives if you live somewhere it snows for 4-5 months.
Colorado too.
Exactly. I'm in NE, just got my 2018 and I LOVE IT. Smooth, quiet, roomy, simple and safe. Good resale value. I tested Rav4 and CRV, no comparison. Most people trust Subaru for value and safety.
When there is no XV the forester was the number one saler in Australia because its the best in the market but these days a lot of its competitors have become better, the forester meanwhile remained relatively unchanged.
I bought it for safety...I live in Dallas.
You should see how well these sell in the U.S... they're great vehicles. :)
FROM UPSTATE N.Y. i LOVE MINE!!
Vincent D love my legacy !
Vincent D yes
Love mine too! U.S.
I was going to post the same thing, they can't make them fast enough in the US. Very odd.
Here in the USA and we love them!😄
In the USA? They can sell these as fast as they can get them off the Japanese transport ships. The Forester sells the quickest with only 5 days total supply. Forget about getting a discount on this model...
they are manufactured in the usa.
Doesn’t sell in Australia? They are everywhere
I have a 2018 Limited and LOVE IT. Once you get used to that insane level of visibility combined with the AWD, you can't drive anything else.
In Florida my A/C is terrible when the outside temp goes over 80. It starts to warm up no matter what setting I try. My 2018 Forester was checked under warranty with no finding of malfunction. This continues to happen. Not enough cup holder in front. Never used the link and the Vehicle book is terrible. My wife likes the heated leather seats.
Mine is 2017 and I love it
In our State, you can barely fit inside a Subaru dealership on the weekend. They can't keep up with the demand. Nicely made, well designed.
H. Jon McCargar I don't know which state you're in, but I'm in Massachusetts and it's the same thing. You can't even find a decent used one because they get snatched up so fast.
Yes, they are such a boring/crappy/poor selling vehicle, to get one here in MN, you are on a waiting list. They average a 28 day turn around from off loading the vehicle at the rail station to the new owner-shortest turn around by any manufacturer. Their AWD is suited for all climates -unless you never get rain or don't like secure cornering. The further Northwest you travel, you stop seeing Camry's and all you see is Subaru's. Looks are subjective just like ex-wives. Boring, well, I'm not sure what you need to be doing while you drive. We own a RAV4 as well and the only thing it has ever needed in 149000 miles is tires, shocks and a new engine-love the dependability-except for the new engine part. Honda, nice but for the same money, I got what equals the EX for the LX price. Love my Mazda though.
colorado
I have, honestly, never seen a single customer at the Subaru annex of our local Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler dealer. In the South the awd holds little appeal for most (I drive an AWD Volvo) and nobody needs high ground clearance, so there isn't a whole lot of reason to get one other than the excellent reliability.
I can speak to what they tell me the reliability is but I have only owned mine for 3000 miles. I know the resale is fantastic, which speaks to reliability and satisfaction of ownership. They must be doing something right.
Subaru has a strong niche following in snowy countries..it might not be in its natural element in the outback.
I love my 2018 here in the US. 6 speed manual. I see them everywhere
I have a 2016 XT Touring. It's fantastic!!! 250 HP is pretty sweet. I think 2018 is the last year they made the XT. Lots of forester costumers scratching our heads over that decision.
I had a '14 XT, LOVED it. The only thing I didn't like was the CVT, but ours had 100k miles. Sadly, it was totalled 3 months after buying it :(
You guys in OZ get the beige interior? Is that an option or comes depending exterior color? Here in NZ we only get black...
The Forester in NZ probably is the same as in OZ, although we have the weather and roads for this type of car, kiwis prefer way more the Outback and XV, numbers of sales for both of them are great, but here are expecting that when new Forester comes on September to our market, numbers will change again.
This was great thank you!
Love, Love my Forester! :)
Me too!
Just bought the 2018 Touring Turbo; arriving tomorrow morning from upstate to Dallas; first owner. A bit nervous about the Eyesight feature, as the last car I've driven has zero inside tech. This is my second Forester; the first one I bought was the first turbo sold in Louisiana (USA) in 2003. Drove Saabs since 2007, and if Saab was still in Sweden, I would have bought another. Will give my update on how it's going in a bit...Been driving for over four decades, so all this tech stuff really isn't necessary to me.
Next day: Holy Cow!!!! Husband drove it to our top deck level from the delivery space, and now he just bought one. We now have his & hers black XTs; and that says a lot from a man who said he would never have an SUV for himself. As far as myself, I am blown away. What an amazing gift.
Would probably sell a few more units if they have the turning indicator on the right for right hand drive cars.
Youve seen the interiror of that thing. They made sure they went super cheap and you are basically paying for the symmetrical AWD, thats it. I held back buying it because the dealer trying to con me on our deal. Im glad because now the 2019 is almost out. I may get that instead.
There are 2 of these around every corner here in Central New York State.
I sure wish we could get the diesel Subarus in the USA.
They don't sell them in the US? I got the 2017 Outback Diesel, they are a great car.
Nope. They don't meet emission requirements in the USA. I wish I could get one.
I live in new england and u cant drive a mile without passing one
That's because they're being driven so slowly!
Why is it not selling. Because the Forester, Crosstrek and Outback look to be the essentially the same thing to non-car person. And this year the crosstrek is the small sized option and the outback is the large size option leaving little room in the middle for a forester.
This generation had improvement over the last model, previous model have used lots of cheap platic materials and 2.4litre engine was sluggish . This generation the 2.5litre combined with better transmission gives better acceleration.
i rented one for a week first time an loved it but this video should tell what colours there is to get one
Very informative review!
They can't keep them in stock here in Oregon!
Well here in the states, specially the southeast region, there are alot of these out there, I owned one, NO complaints whatsoever (17 Forester premium) the wife and I really loved our Subie, but the lease was up and well we traded it for an 18 Outback limited, awesome cars, only issues we have are the dumb kids blowing up headgaskets on Wrxs, cus the race them.....then lie about any mods.....other than that great cars
Kids are the problem, not the cars.
Why doesn't it sell? CVT, CVT, CVT. Too short servicing intervals and an interior that looks like something from the late 90s.
Its probably because they prefer the outback. If not it is because Subaru have not marketed it well enough there as not many in class can hold a candle to the Forester. It beats the Rav4 in everything I can think of in my market. Fuel economy is an issue of the past with the CVT which drives very nice if you are open minded enough to give it a fair chance. Subarus CVT is the only trans I could be excited about besides a manual.
My complaint on the CVT is that they diddn't optimize it. I have read that they programmed it to seem a bit like a regular AT. YOu can see it reving, then dropping, etc. You ought to be able to press the pedal a certain distance and have the rpm find it's sweet spot and stay there.
These look very sharp!
Fair review & agree with most comments.The interior features looks like early 2000 model with boring or outdated features. One can get a better SUV for the same price tag. Less features means less likelihood of breaking down or less costly for parts however it's a niche market in some countries.
Its just missing so many little features ! I wanted to buy one but ended up getting CX5 more power and toque, better on fuel, digital radio longer service intervals and cheaper services the list goes on !
Joshua Knight That’s interesting. I’m researching these vehicles and a comparison at EPA.gov shows the Forester gets higher mpg than Mazda CX-5. I wonder if the CX-5 is as good in the snow.
Why does the Audi Q5 Quattro sell so well then ?
The US model without the sunroof has enough room for me (6' tall) to wear a cowboy hat without touching the interior headliner...
It is very simple, actually, why this model isn't selling well. Primary set-up of this 4 wheel driven vehicle is suited for slippery cold weather nature or zones. In hot places and nations with tropical climate this is not that necessary type of fuel hogging design. This all time Subaru transaxles are oddities for the places where never snow or see snows occasionally.
Agreed - that full-time symmetrical AWD reacts better than other SUVs in slippery conditions but at an MPG cost. Where I live in the rainy pacific NW subarus are everywhere. We preferred the new CRV though.
The problem with 4 wheel drive is the expense of tire replacement. I blew a tire, and Subaru told me the replacement must be within 2/32 of the tire on the good side. If more than 4 /32, all tires must be changed. I was lucky enough to find a good used ( same Bridgestone Dueller ) online with the same ware as my remaining tires.
@Jake - 28 mpg average ain't bad, but that's an outlier and not the EPA numbers or the average on Fuely. With adaptive cruise, our 2017 CRV AWD usually beats the EPA numbers on hwy and we tend to get 35-37mpgs. It also has slightly more room and power. @Tony - My inlaws got a flat tire on their Forrester and had to change all 4 tires because of that rotational difference constantly taxing the symmetrical AWD transmission. They ended up replacing it with a CRV. That incident was also a tick against buying a Forrester or Crosstrek for us since we don't see snow and ice for more than a few months annually.
But the point is it's still a slightly higher fuel and tire cost over the life of the vehicle and the full-time awd advantages are moot for me and especially for Australians. Btw the 4th gen CRV had a 60/40 torque split, but the new one can send 100% to the rear and for many more situations besides simply detecting wheel slippage. If I went off-roading more often I'd want a manual transmission and would probably go the Subaru route, but that's just not the reality for most. With crossovers selling like hotcakes now, it doesn't help that Subaru barely updates their conservative styling. Some really like the simple honest look, but you'd have to be a fan to recognize the differences in the past model years. Their concept vehicles look fantastic, but production version is always a letdown to me (as an industrial designer). It's also unfortunate that you couldn't get the XT in stick and that they're ditching the 2.0T for the next model.
i have a '15 outback, not the forrester, but my lifetime average is over 30mpg. given they are almost the same car, i'd guess i'd get around the same on a forrester. most of my driving is short local. if i go on a trip, i'll general get 35 or 36. i do drive conservatively, especially the acceleration.
I wish people would stop using their side-view mirrors as rear-view mirrors. They are much more effective when used to see your blind spots.
Ive owned 7 Subarus. Through the years, Subaru seems to have lost their focus in the styling department while holding on with a vengeance to the boxer engine without significant upgrades for seemingly decades. My latest purchase is a Legacy 3.6R Limited. I HATE this car. It has every option, most of which seems like it would be a great idea. None of it actually works as imagined. The leather seats are unbelievably uncomfortable with a headrest that forces your head forward. This car has the same power output as the Legacy GT (from more than 13 years prior) as well as the 3.0R. On the day I brought this car home, I called the dealer and told them I wanted to trade the car in on an STi with a paddle shift automatic. Well, Subaru doesnt make an auto version of the STi. They told me sports car enthusiasts want manual transmissions. Really? Ferarri, Porsche, Lamoborghini, Audi all have paddle shift sports cars. I would own one if Subaru made it. Oh well.
Modern Subaru's have ratcheting head rests. I even have to show this feature to Subaru Sales People. You grab the head rest and twist it forward, the you can move it back to a comfortable position. It is the only car maker to do have this feature to my understanding.
Old Forest was bigger with ber off roading capability .
Those new are smaller then the Outback who can do everything that a forester can do even beter on the road .
Is it big enough to raise a baby and have enough trunk space?
Station wagons went out a long time ago if they pump it up to suv status they might sell more, tires poor choice and the engine could use a major overhaul also too expensive for what it is a station wagon chk Nissan rogue for an example to compare
I drive SG 9. The best.
The CVT is the least responsive transmission on the face of the earth. Dangerously underpowered engine mated to that sloshy cvt is a bad combo. The body creaks and groans the lane departure and obstacle avoidance slams on the brake at interesting times. Horrible vehicle in all those respects. Could be mega reliable, I don't know.
You obviously did not test the seat heaters. They are not on constantly, heat for 1 - 2 minutes and then off for 12 - 15 minutes. Pretty useless when you live in Northern Canada and have -40 C days in winter. My fifth and last Subaru. Subaru Canada says it is a safety feature. All my previous Outbacks and Forester did not have the same annoying problem. Winter has been almost 7 months this year. Bring on global warming.
Love mine
I love my 2018 forester. But the delay in drive after reverse is so annoying. Also the shitty infotainment system sucks. More so now Pandora is gone - and Subaru hasn't removed it.
Because Australia car buyers are not getting as good a deal or they are uninformed
I have owned three Subarus in the past and none of them had good brakes.
Let me tell you why, because in Australia there isn't a propaganda campaign keep pushing that SUVs and pickup trucks are the only kind of vehicle you can buy. It's not only the only type of cars make you look cool and it saves the planet yoo.
Because it looks like it's from 2004
i wish to me it looks so bland and modern.
I agree, it a suv from the last decade, it looks so boxy even with the latest model, why can't subaru just round up the edge a bit?
No, it actually looks like an SUV. None of this pussy looking crap cars like the CRV.
Well, until I'm convinced Subaru has resolved their head gasket problem I'm not giving them any of my money. This was supposedly fixed by 2013 but the jury is still out on 2014 forward.
My '09 Forester is failling on me right now.. :(
Shocking.
My 2015 lost a quart in 1st 400 miles. Now at 26,000 miles i haven't consumed more than a pint within 6,000 mile oil changes. Hoping this stays OK, or completely fails before power
train warranty is up.
Jake Colbert THEIR...lol. By the way, check your "shift" key. It appears not to be functioning.
@Jake Colbert Seems like someone got butt hurt for being corrected. Once you dry your eyes, thank him for correcting you and TRYING to make you a better person, or in your case a slightly more educated hillbilly
Good car.
At least you Aussies have the Levorg.
I bought one 6 months ago =)
barely sells in Australia and is basically the best selling SUV in America haha
I think most prefer the Outback
It was supposed to be taller.
People in North America don't want an SUV that looks like a wagon.
b/c aussies don't fear the snow
in a world of economy there is no room for a 2.5l engine.subaru put a smaller more economical engine and turbo it.
in those type of cars now the size of the xt,you get small diesel engines.look at the qashqai, for example,they fit it with a 1.5 diesel also.subaru will never progress they way they should like this.you can be stubborn and not listen to reason but you are not right.see you.
not now.you can still get a diesel.the law banning diesels will come by 2040.you can also go hybrid.maybe subaru should look at hybrid.
I own a 2017 2.5 it gets 7-8L/100kms my wife use to drive a AcuraMDX. I would have to pry her hands off the steering wheel if I tried to sell this. 70,000kms and not a stitch of problems. Winter here in Canada is tough on vehicles and the Forester is the best.
if for you 7-8/100kms is good economy,then carry on.in europe that is looked at as toooo thirsty.
Wow ya my Ford F-150 averages 14L/100kms but is is 365hp 5.0 V8. Need that to haul my holiday trailer. The Forester is a beauty. Mind you we were paying about $1 Cdn dollar per liter about 4 weeks ago it has jumped to $1.30 so it getting pricey filling up the Ford. $150 per.
Subaru's boxer engine has this oil consumption issue. According to Subaru it is expected engine oil needs to be topprd up between oil change due to oil consumption starting when he car is new. There is pamphlet in the Canadian dealership explaining this unique requirement. One thing I am sure of, if the car consumes oil when it's new, it will consume more as it gets older. Not to mention the historical issue of head gasket failure of the boxer engine. Just go online and you will find a lot of TH-cam video discussing thes problems. I bet a lot of the Subaru buyers are not aware of these problems. Subaru is a great brand but you need to be aware of these risks and problems.
I've never ever had an issue with oil consumption!?
54k miles on my 2016 crosstrek. no oil consumption issues
This should have been mostly fixed in the 2015+ engines
2015 XV with 50k, its never consumed oil, 6k between changes always the same, dealer uses 0-20 Castrol Synthetic.
Jeffrey: why you have chosen XV over Forester? I can't make up my mind between these two :)
New stylish design please..it seems like an old design..
CVT sucks out life , boatish handling , rather 90's like cabin, underpowered , solid AWD is not enough these days.... mazda CX5 has its iAWD not as durable and tough but it all other aspects it runs circles around this Subbie or feels like a different class all at the sake cost!
Oil leak is a big problem
Why is this guy not doing ASMR videos?
atticstattic maybe I will? :)
Count me in if it happens!
Easy... Coz of cvt...
#1. no boxer rumble sound
#2. no turbo
#3. boring old interior
#4. no manual transmission
#5. too much electronic
Don’t sell well what I disagree
🧘♀️🤔👋🏽Lower sales/demand that translates into lower prices is fine by me. If you’re not a Subaru fan “naturally” do your best to stay away from buying one- #insertsubarufaulthere 🙏🏽🇦🇺🥋🐢
Good video, but dude, if you're hauling a basketball team, get a bus!
If you get in the 2018 subaru xv or any of the other competitors you can see why no one is buying it. The interior is drab and outdated compared to the others.
The new F. has lovely interior. Big difference to previous models.
I can tell you I wouldn't buy such a homely vehicle, nor one lacking real passing power. And it doesn't offer enough advantage in handling over a sporty crossover. It may be quite logically efficient and reliable, but for me cars are about more than just getting from A to B.
Aussies are a funny lot. Taste for cars like their taste for women. Please help them god !
They need to make the cars more appealing, they have boring design from 2000
I like the boring design. I do not like though the car with poor visibility and limited cargo due to design. Subaru doesn't need to be a mass-manufacturer like Honda or Toyota.
In Japan, where I live now, Foresters are driven by people who live in the mountains or those who like nature. In Tokyo Foresters share little market, in the rural area there is plenty of Foresters and other Subarus for that matter.
1. The XV is so cheap it takes away a lot of Forester sales.
2. Its front end is uglier
3. Interior is very outdated which can work for a car like a WRX, but not a forester
4. Failed marketing. You see Mazda, Isuzu, Nissian advertisment all the fucking time, not enough Subaru.
Front end is ugly? Thats just your opinion. The interior is not as good as other SUVs, but who cares? I just love driving my car but not looking at my interior when driving. Marketing is not enough. But we dont want everybody to be subi. We want those who know the true value of subaru.
Raspulse V Apparently a lot of people dislike the newer look and a lot of people care about the interior, as reflected by the poor sales.
Zhongmin: Subaru is not looking for growth on the cost of their market nish. The factory is doing fine. :)
Marketing all day long
I hate the body roll
The Germans are worried
The Ford Escape 2.0 looks much better and is faster, more fun to drive.
1. Look 2. Look 3 brand isn’t very well know and popular.
No dude talk in your real voice. I 1 chicken flied lice
LOL....With a name like "Hank" you should just STFU......Hee-Haw is starting Hillbilly!
It’s a ugly crossover
It is really ugly.
Sorry they are cheaply-made their Interiors are awful and they're engines are so noisy and unrefined
quality same or better than most Japanese cars, engine? you are joking arent you? noise is no different, lord knows what "unrefined" means in your book but you often have to look at the tacho to see if its idling (which in the newer models it may not be anymore) Sounds like the closest you have got to one is a youtube review.
yarpos Japanese Asian and Korean vehicles are very cheaply made it's true sorry .. I test drove a Subaru Forester and many Subarus and they're awful vehicles they are loud/ noisy and not comfortable
LOL, there's always that guy who ignores all the big data and decades of research on CR and JD power placing Asian brands at the top spots to use personal biases and annecdotal cherry-picking to yell Merica!
Interiors are indeed very cheap and cabin noise is quite a big issue. I had an 08 forester and now a 17 WRX. No improvement on cabin noise and same cheap interior compare to many others. Thats about all the complains I have.
The thing is you are paying 40k for a lot of horse power or 50k for a very capable SUV, you can't expect much more than that.
Watch the comparison video of lets say a Volvo awd and a Subaru. The Volvo has better interiors for sure but when they go off road or on harsher terrain then you will see the value of Subaru. Depends on how you use it I guess.
Too much cheap plastic, too big, dog slow with the CVT and ugly. The 2019 is worse.