Let's see, Subaru is cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain and repairs, awd for better grip, it has great ratings in the IIHS crash test, it's roomier, has a smoother ride and Subaru has the best resale of any car manufacturer. Unless you want to impress people and throw money away, Subaru is the right choice. I love my 09 Forester!
Subaru impresses plenty of people where I'm from ;) My whole family owns Subarus and the trend has caught on in the States here in the past few years. Outbacks are much more popular though.
The CR-V is a great option, especially since the new generation came out in 2017. We have a 2001 Forester we've been driving since 2004, and since we've loved that car so much, we'll probably stick with the same model when we replace it. The Forester is still considered a great option by reviewers, especially those who share our priorities (safe; reliable; great visibility; pleasant in the city and on the interstate; good in the snow; intuitive to operate; holds a lot of stuff). But the CR-V is the one contender we can't seem to rule out. It ticks those boxes, too, and pleases the same reviewers, as well as some of those who aren't wild about the Forester.
I own an XT, the visibility is the BEST. Huge glass area up front, low side window, and large quarter glass on c-pillar is really good. 15.000 km ongoing and not a single problem on my car. Turbocharged Boxer, AWD, perfect SUV :)
@@Nun6566 nah man, it's a big problem in other years and models. I researched it before I made the purchase and found out how big and absurd that problem was and is.. How can their engineering be so good and pathetic at the same time and allow it to go on.
Subaru is a bigger car so of course it weighs more. and if the BMW had AWD it wouldn't struggle with torque steer so much, and you'd be surprised where you can go with a Subaru, the only thing you need is a good quality sump guard and a good set of all terrains.
In New Jersey we recently bought a new '16 XT Touring for $35k. The best car purchase we've made as a family. The X1 is $45 in our neck of the woods and after visiting a few BMW dealerships we vowed not to return - experience wasn't very pleasant.
+Mr. Pugsalot Every car has its problems and that includes Subarus. However, and based on many statistics and reports that you can find online, Subarus are one of the most reliable cars.
+Mr. Pugsalot you're just plain stupid, reliability subaru outstand your bmw, they're only good when they're new give a 4-5 yrs & you're screwed European parts are just expensive than the value of the car in 5yrs time, plus resale value with bmw has a lot of depreciation, comparrs on subaru has still a high resal value even tho its 5 or 10yrs old, plus parts are pretty affordable than a bmw.
+Mr. Pugsalot you're not thinking again, bmw doesn't have a long wait for order, subaru itll take you 3months but its worth the wait, plus subaru has the highest resale value amongst its competitor, you can check it yourself.you see alot of bmw is because bmw didn't change their design at all, a 2001 bmw just look the same as the new ones today.
+Alexander aguirre actually today's video from youtube channel TFLNow (USA) just stated that Subaru has the highest resale value and there is high demand on them. You can check this yourself on that channel Mr. Pugsalot.
"Lugging around an AWD system that you don't need day to day." Overly subjective and wrong. The symmetrical AWD System [according to the owners I know - including myself] provides a value on a day by day/drive by drive basis.
On a wet and windy road/highway - symmetrical AWD system is miracle. It's always put a smile on my face each time my Fozy passed those front wheel/rear wheel drive system. It's just because those front/rear system could not keep up to the limit under those wet and windy condition. Missing air vents from the back seat , it's not a big deal, as I find the air circulation inside the cabin is working quite well, sufficient and comfort on those hot and humidity days in Australia.
Symmetrical AWD feels good to drive. I think Subaru nailed it with confidence in motion. And I live in Norway so I see plenty of WET, ICY, SNOWY, MUDDY, SLOSHY AND SHIT BROKEN POT HOLE ROADS and hills. Studded tires + AWD = magic. No way In hell Ill trade confidence, traction and magic for a bit of economy. lol. :)
+Boris Mihaylov Likely not, certainly won't help if the lawmen hear it. FWD/RWD has a lot of disadvantages. Cornering, braking, accelerating, all are hampered from the drivetrain bias.
That all wheel drive saved my life a few weeks ago. I nodded out while driving on a back road from Las Vegas and two wheel went off the road. I would have rolled the car if it had not been all wheel drive.
Anyone who buys an SUV that isn't AWD or 4x4 shouldn't buy an SUV. They should buy a hatchback or wagon. The entire point of SUV's is the ability to take snow and dirt better than their car counterparts.
Or how about you shut the fuck up and understand that many wagons offers the same space a pathetic FWD small SUV can offer... Just look for most Europeans wagon models and you'll see it... Buying a SUV with no 4WD system is simply a waste of money...
In that comparison,although some would say i am biased,judging from my avatar,i would not even think twice before taking the BMW. Let me explain why. The X1 is one of the ugliest SUV"s on the market. Also one of the least off road capable of. Subaru"s off road skills,practicality and durability have become legendary,and there is a good reason why. However,in the city,home-work-picking kids from school-supermarket-picnic trips,you will most likely not notice Subaru"s off road edge. Now,if someone havent experienced yet the interior quality and materials in Subaru,i strongly suggest go to your nearest dealer and do so. Hands down,it has the most disgusting interior,which i am sure if i tight up my dog inside,it will rip off the chain to run away! Cheap plastics and fabrics,big gaps..,everything is hard to touch and feels miserably cheap. Just to open the door and the smell of chemicals and plastics talks..CHEAP. Now,you wont find leather stitched dashboard in X1 either,but it feels rock solid,it has that nice BMW smell inside,and feels premium and expensive. Everywhere you touch is small extasy for your senses. I will never consider buying Subaru,until these people in Fujita Heavy Industries understand,that in 2016 good 4WD system is not enough!! Just like Nokia understood in the hard way,that in 21 century cant survive with naked good reception and solidly build device. People want to spend their trips in a nice atmosphere,nice to touch and feel materials,quality fabrics and plastics. Once Subaru gets to learn that,it might turn the game.
+S.T T. read my comment. What BMW brings to the market falls way way behind their reputation. The new grand tourer 2 feels cheap and horrible, the X1 feels cheap and horrible. And they make you pay for everything that the subaru or others have as stock. A fwd four cylinder barge is not a BMW. Not in my books.
waclosh Now,lets stay away from arguing about what car manufacturers reputation was 20 years ago,and what is it now. We all agree,that overall the quality of cars has decreased a lot in the last 20-30 years. Not only with BMW,but Honda,Lexus,Mercedes,and even Toyota to name few. Car manufacturers invest in upgrading the software ( touch screens,sensors for self parking,self driving,etc,multi media),while downgrading on build quality,engines,gearboxes and therefore the reliability is not what it used to be. Since i drove F30 for a week,i was disappointed from the quality of the interior,compared to Mercedes and even KIA. But,as much as its downgraded compared to lets say E39/E38,it still is arms and shoulders above the one found in Subaru! I can absolutely guarantee you that! Again,i dont want to argue about the looks of GT2 and X1,since they are not and will never be my cup of coffee. We talking about attention to detail and premium feel. Lets not argue any more,go to your nearest car dealer,get inside the X1 cabin,and soon after that try the Subaru. Then,please come back here to chat again:)
I know this a 9 month old comment but how is it still holding up, specially the CVT? That's my only reservation about the Forester is the CVT is the only option on the XT 2.0 models.
I'm at 110k miles now. My car has been bone stock no modifications. I replaced rear wheel bearings at 94k miles (no biggie). I did have a hiccup with the CVT at 89k miles: a solenoid in the valve body began intermittently failing [but I had the dealership change the high torque transmission fluid at 65k for no reason other than I wanted it done - the service schedule says transmission is lifetime fluid unless I tow which I never do] Anyway, I called SOA about it back then and they actually had a TSB out about the CVT issue and I had the repair done for free...at 89k miles! It would've been a $2k repair. It's still warrantied also until July 2018 with unlimited mileage .. amazing customer service from Subaru. And the car is still a joy, no regrets!
i love the awd from subaru. and its very useful to me everyday. I travel from different islands and when getting on to the ferry, usually theres and inclined ramp. most fwd or rwd cars skid from the steel ramp. my forester just climbs like its nothing
That all wheel drive saved my life a few weeks ago. I nodded out while driving on a back road from Las Vegas and two wheel went off the road. I would have rolled the car if it had not been all wheel drive. Also in the USA the BMW is almost 10K more than the XT.
Recently I did purchase my 2nd Subaru Forester XT. I exchanged my 2013 & 150M km for 2017 & 44M km mileage model. Having driven so many different models of cars, I find Subaru Forester XT to be real gem of a car. Having watched the movie I was sure of the outcome. Subaru rules..
@@bineeshmathew07 , hi, there are only a few: slightly stiffer/sporty suspension; better glass thus more quiet inside. In comparison with my old XT I have now sunroof and keyless ignition. Otherwise it is my good, old, reliable Forester XT..
Just ask any BMW owner what those letters mean: "Break-My-Wallet" when it comes to maintenance costs (over 5 years). Yes, if you only flip your car every 3 to 4 years then go for a BMW, but have you ever noticed that there are no 'OLD' BMW cars on the roads? That's because after year 5 a huge repair can easily cost well over $10,000 and after year 5 'huge repairs' become fairly common. Meanwhile with Japanese vehicles 'huge repairs' don't happen until around year 12. I'm driving a 2006 Toyota with 330,000 miles on it, and so far the only thing I've had to get replaced on it (other than fluids, tires, wipers, and brake pads/rotors) is the front stabilizer links for $500 (they started to 'clunk') and the battery (twice) $100 each time. That's it, everything else is all-original from the factory. You just cannot do that in a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes, Guaranteed ! My neighbor has 2 Audi's, and one needs a new water pump, and that is gong to cost him $4,200 just for the water pump replacement procedure. In addition to that it needs another $3,000 worth of work done also, so over $7,000 of work every 3 or 4 years of Audi ownership. In the years he's own the Audi he will have sunk $11,000 into it in repairs, while I've sunk less than $1,000 into my Toyota. That is the difference in ownership costs you will experience between buying the BMW and the SUBARU. I'm not saying that an Audi or BMW or Mercedes is a bad vehicle, its just that getting one is going to quickly turn into a MONEY PIT for you so you better have a lot of money, a big income from your career, because you are going to need it. Don't just take my word for it, watch these two videos and learn from the experts why ALL German luxury brands are expensive to own if you keep your cars for the long term: ( Why Mercedes Are Money Pit Machines ) th-cam.com/video/ZPJ64sTa7KI/w-d-xo.html ( Why Not To Buy A Mercedes ) th-cam.com/video/XV9rJwEOCus/w-d-xo.html
I own a subaru and bmw (Subaru XV & 2017 BMW 330i) all I can say is, they are both reliable but I don’t work much on my XV compared to my BMW. As long as you take care of your BMW, it will be reliable, but expect the maintenance to be higher than the Subaru.
I cache another word for no resale value? If you are in it to get the most vehicle and least anything else its impossible to top the Forester. Check back in ten years. It will be on the road.
Glad to see the review doesn't bias on brand name. I'm sure that if you include reliability + resale value, there won't be competition between the two.
lol, the most interesting part of this for me was later in the review when they started talking about the road test. The Subie is quieter, rides more nicely, and is MORE refined than the BMW? What a damning assessment for a car which its badge would have you believe is something like the standard of the world.
You are thinking of Toyota. Subaru's CVT and automatic transmission are some of the worst around. If you are getting a subaru, get a manual! Subaru's reliability have gone to hell in the past few years. X1 is actually surprisingly reliable according to data.
For a similar price, there's no comparison. The X1 may be the cheapest BMW (in some markets) but it's still much much nicer inside than any Subaru. The Subaru interior is the very definition of utilitarian. It's dull and not interesting in the least. In addition, the X1 is more fun to drive. It may have a rougher suspension, but that's what makes it fun to chuck around corners while the Subaru is about as fun as driving a refrigerator. I know Aussies love their subies though...
You havent driven a subaru, have you? Because If you had you'd know that they are pretty fun to dtive - All of them... And yet BMW's small screen(not even a touchscreen) can make you blind by the time you recognize what's on it... The interior isn't better too... Personally I couldn't find any sense in your comment, sorry...
That’s correct. I have driven one since 2007 with 2006 model year. Over 123, 000 miles, now. Only change the oils (by myself and easy to do.) A few people to realize B9 Subaru Tribeca is a look of Alfa Romeo (Subaru hired Alfa’s chief designer to do the exterior for these models years, according to my research online.) It had been recalled for the hook’s hud cap and passenger’ airbag. Subaru notified me and fixed them very quickly. Now, I only need to change spark plugs, belt (only one outside and not timing belt ‘cause it is a timing chain and might not be change at all), axles boots, and the oils. That’s it. Solid vehicle. My car is 2006 model year and I bought it in January of 2007. I got a discount of $5000. MSRP $32,000, paid $26,000. A lot of drive by people looked @ my car for the first a couple of years. One gentleman even stopped @ gas station and asked how do I like the car. Cool ;) Not an expensive car but God bless a lot.
I'm so glad I just watched this video. That was my dilemma last year when I decided to save some money and go with the Subaru Forester XT. After couple of months I started thinking if I did the right choice and I think I also started a little bit to regret that I did not go with a little bit more luxurious BMW... But after watching this video I am absolutely happy with my choice so THANK YOU CarAdvice for making me feel better. I love my car even more now :D
Paweł Misiak The Forester climbs hills that Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Suzuki will not climb. Many videos here to prove it. You made a wise purchase. Look at this old Subaru climb like a champ! th-cam.com/video/TmBibFdMIRU/w-d-xo.html
Need for AWD is 100% subjective and based on where you live. I live in Wisconsin and my first 3 vehicles were FWD. first time I drove and AWD Subaru I was blown away at how much grip and confidence it gave me. Just bought a ‘17 Forester xt premium and I rly enjoy it. My version of star link is kinda junk if you want to use maps and some of the fancier apps, but connects to Bluetooth easily. Safety, reliability, resale value, “offroad” capability, and visibility are what I look for, not bells and whistles
Your review nailed the differences between the two cars (I tried the BMW X1 with AWD and found its dynamics inferior to the Forester, despite costing nearly $10K more.). FYI the Forester trim you tested is similar to the USA's "XT Limited" (top of the line Forester).
The trim level naming conventions for many automakers don't flow through globally like many name badges do. Their "Premium" is the US "Touring" while the US "Premium" is their flat out Forester XT base model. You'll notice that with Canada for instance that it goes base, touring, (sport for legacy), limited. It's an annoying worldly quirk.
There's a video on this site that shows Foresters keeping up with and in some cases out performing full bore Land Rovers off road and in deep mud. Subaru is my choice every day.
This is a good review from a price perspective, but given that the XT Premium is the highest spec model, and the X1 sDrive 20i is the base petrol, this isn't the most accurate comparison in terms of the same grade of car. Whilst the xDrive 25i is around $12,000 more, it would have been the more suitable car for grade by grade comparison, given its 170kW engine, and all-wheel drive, very similar to the XT (as well as more standard features, incl, heated seats). This price premium is nearly understandable in comparison, given that there haven't been any major recalls for BMW recently (see the recent recall of Impreza, XV and Forester for steering failure), as well as that element of german engineering/quality involved (see difference in score on the JD power dependability). Although that price premium would still incorporate that brand prestige and heritage that the BMW has over the forester.
I agree, it shouldn't be a comparison based on value, it should be a comparison based on performance and driving dynamics once u put X1 25i against the forester. I'd tested the base model 20i and the 25i, there is a world of difference in terms of features, comfort and performance.
So we are comparing a loaded Forester vs. almost base X1 ? Well in that case of course the Forester would win . ( don't get me wrong , I am all for that , I drive a fully loaded KIA that costs pretty much as much as base price C-class and I would never switch to a base german just because of the badge. )
I disagree. Both models are of the same class (compact SUV), and the reason they are being compared was to show that for the same cost the Forester slaps the shit out of the X1. Remember the price point was used because that's the ENTRY cost for the X1 while at the TOP of the Forester. The Forester obviously is a better vehicle unless you just have to have a "BMW" (yay?). Do I think upper level BMW's are great (ie X5)? Well yah! However there is a hefty price tag for "luxury" and well cars don't appreciate in value, just depreciate much higher in luxury versions actually.
where the comparison should be done is in the used vs new part like right now I'm considering a new XT and a used X1 but the X1 is the xDrive 35 model and they are about 2K apart... one being new the other has about 10,000 miles
The X1 is much more akin to the older gen Forester of the 2003-2008 era. This is when both vehicles looked and felt about identical in size and even cabin layout. When the X1 first arrived, I owned this generation Forester and the BMW almost felt like a knock off copy. The size was very similar, the proportions, dimensions, when you opened the door and got in, the door area, door sill, and seat placement and height all felt very similar. Driving position felt very similar as did position of controls like steering wheel and shifter. They were just too eerily similar to be a coincidence. It felt like they used the Forester as the base concept. In a lot of ways, the X1 appeared to be fancy looking Forester. Now future generation Foresters deviated moderately and look and feel quite different. For one, the Forester got a lot bigger externally but oddly not a lot bigger internally, at least not close to what the external growth would lead you to believe. There really isn't much more people or cargo room at all, and what you can shove in a new gen Forester will also fit into an old gen Forester of much smaller external proportions. Realistically, the Crosstrek is the modern version of the first two generations of Forester which were at the time based on the Impreza chassis. The Forester was a glorified Impreza wagon...effectively...with a more squared off body and longer struts. It was essentially 90% Impreza with nearly everything directly swappable inside and out. The Crosstrek is the modern equivalent whereas the Forester transitioned now to more of a glorified Outback wagon...effectively... with more squared off body and longer struts. It's not quite this as they're actually more unique designs than similar for the modern vehicles. The short of all of this is new Forester isn't like the old Forester, and the X1 is much more like the old Forester. well at least the first gen X1. 2016 is the new generation X1 and has changed but positively hasn't grown greatly in proportions like the Forester.
Me parece que soy el único en abla español o latino, yo tengo un forester XT Y NO LO CAMBIO POR NINGUNO. El BMW me parece muy elegante como coche europeo pero poco eficaz a la hora de meterlo por terreno accidentado
Love my 2013 (2014 spec) XT . Best all round vehicle and it tows pretty well too. Very nice get up and go especially if you floor it or engage Sport or Sport Sharp modes!
+CarAdvice.com You did a really good job to perform select one of the worlds most boring most car at the cost of some pizza and cheesburgere . You must be Americans !
From S Africa, I recently traded X3 and X5 (wife and I )for latest Forrester and Outback, saved a ton of money(equivalent to another outback) feature for feature ...works 100% for our situation and I expect a longer life than the BMW's
Bad comparisson... The Subaru is an AWD and the version of the BMW is the Sdrive, front wheel drive... They had to compare the Forester with the X1 Xdrive, AWD technology of BMW.
subaru has a much higher resale value, for now. who knows what will happen 4-5 years from now. whatever the buyer chooses they should be happy with it. i own a '15 xt.... 28.5k was an acceptable price on maui.
Forester.. if you drive subaru once... you will not swap this car for anything else. Proud owner of 2003 XT 2.0 petrol subaru supercharged. Such an excellent car!
One thing i absolutely love is driving behind a Subaru Forester with a COEXIST bumper sticker and a "i love my Korgi" bumper sticker going 10mph under the speed limit. LOVE!
Too bad they didn't talk about angles of accent and descent, the Subaru would show just how much more off road worthy it is over the BMW. Also, more ground clearance and a much better drive system for mud, snow, gravel, sand and trails.
Very honest and good review. Forester does indeed badly need rear vents, considering its heating system is at best deficient. One thing you missed is the front seats of the Forester; they are too short and on long travels (2h+) your legs do get soar quickly.
They are comparing apples with bananas. Subaru Forester is serious AWD SUV with good road clearance. Reliable, comfortable and hardworking workhorse. X1 is pseudo SUV for city use.
Such a pointless video : SUV vs MINI SUV, they got higher spec Subaru vs a poorer spec X1, they got an AWD vs a FWD. Through the video they keep saying that the BMW does not handle as good as the Subaru, well guess what there is the xDrive BMW X1
If you want to make a "fair" comparison (car wise) you'd need a BMW X3 plus AWD, and higher trim added. Guess what, you'd be paying 20k more than the Forester.
Great video!! Here in Italy I see one petrol BMW on 100 BMW. The X1 has only one petrol choice: 1.5 turbocharged 85 kw 3 cylinder sDrive. Instead there are more than 10 choices of diesel engines (power/transmission/gearbox), so nobody takes a petrol X1 and in general a BMW (for ex. 3 series petrol isn't available with 4 cyl., only with 3 cyl. or 6 cyl. !!! instead you can take 316d/318d/320d eff. dyn./320d/325d/330d/335d !!!) Thanks
1 or 2 days AWD is usefull? Never driven in the rain? He even mentioned himself the BMW was losing grip accelerating.. If you're losing grip - an AWD is an advantage
The 2017 Subaru xt exploads on the highway I love it, as a Canadian I also take great pride in the fact that the steering wheel is heated and the passengers in the rear are comforted by heated seats as well. The Forster has really evolved over the years and it's truly wonderful. Sorry BMW ❤️
At 4:57, discussing lack of seat vents in the Subaru and noting the seat bench style, then splicing in X1 video footage which actually depicts vents making it seem like they're still in the Subaru. That was a little trippy. Nice comparison though!
Why would you compare a AWD Subaru to an FWD X1 when there is an AWD X1 available? And the AWD X1 is the more preferred and more often sold variant of the X1?
Not a fair comparison. Base sdrive vs fully loaded XT pfft. Anyways the XT is a great vehicle, the X1 is as well. Ended up getting the X1...couldn't get over the very dated exterior and sub par dash of the XT and the CVT is a kill joy. BTW the Xdrive accelerates better than the sdrive..forester numbers. Both can last if maintained...but if aren't..the x1 will be the first to complain. Fair trade off.
Gimme a break. I bought an X1 x drive 25i with M sport brand new for 65k, all bells & whistles included. The comparison is the Subaru Forester XT Premium which is 60k. It's 6.5 sec 0-100 vs 7.5 and 6.6 L/100 vs 8.5....add in adaptive suspension, design, refinement, free servicing for 5 years etc etc. it's a no brainer. The Subaru is plain fugly, especially the interior. No contest imo, but we all have one....cheers
And it costs Rp. 568,000,000 in Indonesia. All pricing by CarAdvice is noted in Australian dollaridoos. Besides, $50k AUD is $37,500 USD (direct conversion) and consideing the range-topping XT Forester costs US$34,295, we'd say its about right.
Mid 40's now , decision making has changed over time. After my research the smart buy was the Subaru Outback for me. I did have other options, but there are 2 types of BMW owner that I know personally. One who complains how much he is at the dealer getting robbed and the other that hates his BMW once a month. With my subaru I hope to do neither. Only time will tell.
In a recent compact SUV pedestrian detection test BMW x1 failed miserably. It was the only car that didn't slow down at all. Rav4 and Forester stopped completely in the same test.
My 2015 is a tank . Awesome in Canadian winters . No problem with snow & lousy winter conditions . WAY superior to any other SUV I have owned . Took it to Newfoundland last summer & went a few places we probably shouldn't have ..... it did not miss a beat or even breath hard !! A great car ...maybe not the prettiest but very impressive . The car is two years old & still has not a rattle ... Some of my past cars rattles right off the lot .... garbage.
People generally look at Subaru's for their AWD first, and then shop the models that fit their needs second. I couldn't believe you casually tossed AWD to the side like that, it's the major feature of the brand. It's like no one drives in the rain or snow? Also, you never mention the X-Drive feature on the Subaru. It makes offroading amazing and lets you climb hills, rocks, blizzards, and through mud pits with ease. Go check out the Fozzie forums of people literally pulling other lesser SUVs with half baked AWD systems out of ditches and snow drifts. I know you guys tried to make this a bit fair because of the price points, and the Fozzie won out in the end, but you left out some pretty important bits! It was nice you took them on a dirt road. How about that same dirt road in two feet of snow like a lot of us have to drive for half the year? That Fozzie would be towing that X1 down the road.. Just noticed you are in Aus, so while you rarely get snow, I guess you have a few hills and sometimes lots of rain I guess. And scorpions.
The X-Mode is crazy good for off road driving - a little TOO good in my opinion. You just turn it on and only have to steer; it takes some of the fun out of off road driving.
Two misconceptions in the video: the Forester never was a hardcore offroader, it was made for dirt roads and snow covered roads. The other misconception is that you need one or two days per year the AWD in the car. That's also not true, you need 1 time in a year or two the subaru AWD system to make the difference between a wrecked car and a totally fine car. So yes, I gladly put a bit more gas in my Forester, and it keeps me safe in change.
It's so strange to see Aussie's wearing winter coats and hats while it's sweltering heat here in New England, USA. Obviously it's winter in the southern hemisphere, but it's messing with my head. When I think of Australia I think of warmth year round, regardless of season. I've always wanted to live in New Zealand or Australia in December, January, February and March. I hate winter.
I enjoyed this video, however I feel that a BMW X1 is closer to a Subaru Crosstrek, and a BMW X3 would be similar to a Subaru Forester. I am in the USA so I am not sure if the Crosstrek is available where you are.
Lol this video is comparing a small, sDrive BMW SUV with a mid-size, 4x4 Subaru and still the BMW sits on par with the Subaru. The presenters had to mention that lack of heated seats in the bmw (which actually come standard on most trims and are a 300$ option on the lowest trim), three times just so the Subaru can win lol. Why don't you put the Subaru against the X3 xDrive?
From what i saw in the video, they are not sitting on par, but Forester completely destroys the BMW. You are correct that it should be compared to BMW x3, but then it will be comparison of 1.5x price difference, and i highly suspect that forester will maybe lose by a really small margin, if at all.
Test drove both bought the X1. Subaru unfortunately was tested last and no comparison could be made, the BMW is in a different class of refinement.The approach angle is better on Subaru so if your doing more off road then maybe would be a choice.
Just drove an x1 for 4 days, and I was very disappointed. I was expecting the price to reflect the driving feel and honestly it didn’t. My Outback is much more comfortable, and the tech works like it should and is intuitive.
They said people don't do hardcore offroading with the Forester. Maybe they should visit Russia or the U.S. People ABSOLUTELY take their Foresters offroading, mudding, forging streams/rivers, etc. I've seen lots of Foresters even doing rock crawling with Jeeps and the like.
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Let's see, Subaru is cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain and repairs, awd for better grip, it has great ratings in the IIHS crash test, it's roomier, has a smoother ride and Subaru has the best resale of any car manufacturer. Unless you want to impress people and throw money away, Subaru is the right choice. I love my 09 Forester!
A gm id love a forester, but bit out my league at mo.
A gm I have the 10 Forester and long trips sucks. The seats are terrible. Only complaint.
Subaru impresses plenty of people where I'm from ;) My whole family owns Subarus and the trend has caught on in the States here in the past few years. Outbacks are much more popular though.
A Subaru is still relatively expensive to maintain. Cost a lot more then a Honda. Using ur logic, u might as well get a Honda cr-v
The CR-V is a great option, especially since the new generation came out in 2017. We have a 2001 Forester we've been driving since 2004, and since we've loved that car so much, we'll probably stick with the same model when we replace it. The Forester is still considered a great option by reviewers, especially those who share our priorities (safe; reliable; great visibility; pleasant in the city and on the interstate; good in the snow; intuitive to operate; holds a lot of stuff). But the CR-V is the one contender we can't seem to rule out. It ticks those boxes, too, and pleases the same reviewers, as well as some of those who aren't wild about the Forester.
I own an XT, the visibility is the BEST. Huge glass area up front, low side window, and large quarter glass on c-pillar is really good. 15.000 km ongoing and not a single problem on my car. Turbocharged Boxer, AWD, perfect SUV :)
tokekkk . .
I have an XT too! 250hp, double roll bars, reinforced steel in the doors, panoramic roof! I could go on n on!
Yeah and how many Head gaskets have blown up ? 🤣
@@Nun6566 nah man, it's a big problem in other years and models. I researched it before I made the purchase and found out how big and absurd that problem was and is.. How can their engineering be so good and pathetic at the same time and allow it to go on.
@@Nun6566 FA20 engines are considered a newer generation of Subaru engines, the head gasket problems are in the past EJ engine.
Forrester is the one for me! Anyone who has ever owned a subaru will not drive anything which is not AWD! I love my Subary Liberty....
the Xdrive is better than the sDrive and all Subaru drive trains
agree 100% if you drive subaru once... you will not swap this car to anything else.
i own Forester. i would never swap it with an ugly bmw
Subaru is a bigger car so of course it weighs more. and if the BMW had AWD it wouldn't struggle with torque steer so much, and you'd be surprised where you can go with a Subaru, the only thing you need is a good quality sump guard and a good set of all terrains.
japan is waaaay ahead, bmw make good sport cars, but japanese built legacy cars, cars that are meant to last bazillions of kilometers without failures
In New Jersey we recently bought a new '16 XT Touring for $35k. The best car purchase we've made as a family. The X1 is $45 in our neck of the woods and after visiting a few BMW dealerships we vowed not to return - experience wasn't very pleasant.
I vote for X1 though
definitely the subaru is the mature choice. it is also more reliable according to statistics.
+Mr. Pugsalot Every car has its problems and that includes Subarus. However, and based on many statistics and reports that you can find online, Subarus are one of the most reliable cars.
+Mr. Pugsalot you're just plain stupid, reliability subaru outstand your bmw, they're only good when they're new give a 4-5 yrs & you're screwed European parts are just expensive than the value of the car in 5yrs time, plus resale value with bmw has a lot of depreciation, comparrs on subaru has still a high resal value even tho its 5 or 10yrs old, plus parts are pretty affordable than a bmw.
+Alexander aguirre I will rather buy a Japanese car instead of a Continental car
+Mr. Pugsalot you're not thinking again, bmw doesn't have a long wait for order, subaru itll take you 3months but its worth the wait, plus subaru has the highest resale value amongst its competitor, you can check it yourself.you see alot of bmw is because bmw didn't change their design at all, a 2001 bmw just look the same as the new ones today.
+Alexander aguirre actually today's video from youtube channel TFLNow (USA) just stated that Subaru has the highest resale value and there is high demand on them. You can check this yourself on that channel Mr. Pugsalot.
"Lugging around an AWD system that you don't need day to day." Overly subjective and wrong. The symmetrical AWD System [according to the owners I know - including myself] provides a value on a day by day/drive by drive basis.
I usually see FWD cars spin their wheels when they accelerate at a green light. That never happens in awd cars. I use my awd system every day!
On a wet and windy road/highway - symmetrical AWD system is miracle. It's always put a smile on my face each time my Fozy passed those front wheel/rear wheel drive system.
It's just because those front/rear system could not keep up to the limit under those wet and windy condition.
Missing air vents from the back seat , it's not a big deal, as I find the air circulation inside the cabin is working quite well, sufficient and comfort on those hot and humidity days in Australia.
So what, you think you'll die if your tires give out a chirp?
Symmetrical AWD feels good to drive. I think Subaru nailed it with confidence in motion.
And I live in Norway so I see plenty of WET, ICY, SNOWY, MUDDY, SLOSHY AND SHIT BROKEN POT HOLE ROADS and hills.
Studded tires + AWD = magic.
No way In hell Ill trade confidence, traction and magic for a bit of economy. lol. :)
+Boris Mihaylov Likely not, certainly won't help if the lawmen hear it. FWD/RWD has a lot of disadvantages. Cornering, braking, accelerating, all are hampered from the drivetrain bias.
That all wheel drive saved my life a few weeks ago. I nodded out while driving on a back road from Las Vegas and two wheel went off the road. I would have rolled the car if it had not been all wheel drive.
+Larry Richelli You know that all-wheel drive vehicles are identical to two-wheel drive vehicles without a torque load?
The idea that AWD makes cars safer is a total dillusion
Your are full of you know what. Try to tell the engineers at Audi this. They would laugh in your face!
They would agree with me I'm sure. AWD only improves grip from a standstill and not much more.
+Boris Mihaylov dude you have not the slightest idea.
Anyone who buys an SUV that isn't AWD or 4x4 shouldn't buy an SUV. They should buy a hatchback or wagon. The entire point of SUV's is the ability to take snow and dirt better than their car counterparts.
Or how about you shut the fuck up and understand some people want just more room for people and cargo space?
Or how about you shut the fuck up and understand that many wagons offers the same space a pathetic FWD small SUV can offer... Just look for most Europeans wagon models and you'll see it... Buying a SUV with no 4WD system is simply a waste of money...
nobody asked you bitch
WtrDogg20 totally agree
Buying an SUV is a waste of time period, get a wagon or hatchback with AWD or buy a pickup.
Subarus are the best!
Agree. I'll take the XT (Hell, I'll even take the Outback) over the X1 any day.
+Diwa Galvez 😄😄
In that comparison,although some would say i am biased,judging from my avatar,i would not even think twice before taking the BMW. Let me explain why. The X1 is one of the ugliest SUV"s on the market. Also one of the least off road capable of. Subaru"s off road skills,practicality and durability have become legendary,and there is a good reason why. However,in the city,home-work-picking kids from school-supermarket-picnic trips,you will most likely not notice Subaru"s off road edge. Now,if someone havent experienced yet the interior quality and materials in Subaru,i strongly suggest go to your nearest dealer and do so. Hands down,it has the most disgusting interior,which i am sure if i tight up my dog inside,it will rip off the chain to run away! Cheap plastics and fabrics,big gaps..,everything is hard to touch and feels miserably cheap. Just to open the door and the smell of chemicals and plastics talks..CHEAP. Now,you wont find leather stitched dashboard in X1 either,but it feels rock solid,it has that nice BMW smell inside,and feels premium and expensive. Everywhere you touch is small extasy for your senses. I will never consider buying Subaru,until these people in Fujita Heavy Industries understand,that in 2016 good 4WD system is not enough!! Just like Nokia understood in the hard way,that in 21 century cant survive with naked good reception and solidly build device. People want to spend their trips in a nice atmosphere,nice to touch and feel materials,quality fabrics and plastics. Once Subaru gets to learn that,it might turn the game.
+S.T T. read my comment. What BMW brings to the market falls way way behind their reputation. The new grand tourer 2 feels cheap and horrible, the X1 feels cheap and horrible. And they make you pay for everything that the subaru or others have as stock. A fwd four cylinder barge is not a BMW. Not in my books.
waclosh Now,lets stay away from arguing about what car manufacturers reputation was 20 years ago,and what is it now. We all agree,that overall the quality of cars has decreased a lot in the last 20-30 years. Not only with BMW,but Honda,Lexus,Mercedes,and even Toyota to name few. Car manufacturers invest in upgrading the software ( touch screens,sensors for self parking,self driving,etc,multi media),while downgrading on build quality,engines,gearboxes and therefore the reliability is not what it used to be. Since i drove F30 for a week,i was disappointed from the quality of the interior,compared to Mercedes and even KIA. But,as much as its downgraded compared to lets say E39/E38,it still is arms and shoulders above the one found in Subaru! I can absolutely guarantee you that! Again,i dont want to argue about the looks of GT2 and X1,since they are not and will never be my cup of coffee. We talking about attention to detail and premium feel. Lets not argue any more,go to your nearest car dealer,get inside the X1 cabin,and soon after that try the Subaru. Then,please come back here to chat again:)
71k miles on my '14 Forester XT...zero regrets...enjoyed every mile and looking forward to much more!
That's a lot of miles....
I know this a 9 month old comment but how is it still holding up, specially the CVT? That's my only reservation about the Forester is the CVT is the only option on the XT 2.0 models.
I'm at 110k miles now. My car has been bone stock no modifications. I replaced rear wheel bearings at 94k miles (no biggie). I did have a hiccup with the CVT at 89k miles: a solenoid in the valve body began intermittently failing [but I had the dealership change the high torque transmission fluid at 65k for no reason other than I wanted it done - the service schedule says transmission is lifetime fluid unless I tow which I never do] Anyway, I called SOA about it back then and they actually had a TSB out about the CVT issue and I had the repair done for free...at 89k miles! It would've been a $2k repair. It's still warrantied also until July 2018 with unlimited mileage .. amazing customer service from Subaru. And the car is still a joy, no regrets!
i love the awd from subaru. and its very useful to me everyday. I travel from different islands and when getting on to the ferry, usually theres and inclined ramp. most fwd or rwd cars skid from the steel ramp. my forester just climbs like its nothing
personally when I see an x1 on the road all is see is someone buying a bmw for the badge its quite sad really.
Thats what I think when I see a Mercedes CLA.
ur mentality is actually so sad lmao
You're not sad you're just jealous lmao
So true! why buy a shit bmw when you can something so much better
Vaetist H jealous about an x1? hahahhahaha
That all wheel drive saved my life a few weeks ago. I nodded out while driving on a back road from Las Vegas and two wheel went off the road. I would have rolled the car if it had not been all wheel drive. Also in the USA the BMW is almost 10K more than the XT.
Recently I did purchase my 2nd Subaru Forester XT. I exchanged my 2013 & 150M km for 2017 & 44M km mileage model. Having driven so many different models of cars, I find Subaru Forester XT to be real gem of a car. Having watched the movie I was sure of the outcome. Subaru rules..
Hi I bought last month a 2013 Xt with 100 k on the clock. Is there much difference with 2017 one ?? Also have you taken yours off road??
@@bineeshmathew07 , hi, there are only a few: slightly stiffer/sporty suspension; better glass thus more quiet inside. In comparison with my old XT I have now sunroof and keyless ignition. Otherwise it is my good, old, reliable Forester XT..
Just ask any BMW owner what those letters mean: "Break-My-Wallet" when it comes to maintenance costs (over 5 years). Yes, if you only flip your car every 3 to 4 years then go for a BMW, but have you ever noticed that there are no 'OLD' BMW cars on the roads? That's because after year 5 a huge repair can easily cost well over $10,000 and after year 5 'huge repairs' become fairly common. Meanwhile with Japanese vehicles 'huge repairs' don't happen until around year 12. I'm driving a 2006 Toyota with 330,000 miles on it, and so far the only thing I've had to get replaced on it (other than fluids, tires, wipers, and brake pads/rotors) is the front stabilizer links for $500 (they started to 'clunk') and the battery (twice) $100 each time. That's it, everything else is all-original from the factory. You just cannot do that in a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes, Guaranteed ! My neighbor has 2 Audi's, and one needs a new water pump, and that is gong to cost him $4,200 just for the water pump replacement procedure. In addition to that it needs another $3,000 worth of work done also, so over $7,000 of work every 3 or 4 years of Audi ownership. In the years he's own the Audi he will have sunk $11,000 into it in repairs, while I've sunk less than $1,000 into my Toyota. That is the difference in ownership costs you will experience between buying the BMW and the SUBARU.
I'm not saying that an Audi or BMW or Mercedes is a bad vehicle, its just that getting one is going to quickly turn into a MONEY PIT for you so you better have a lot of money, a big income from your career, because you are going to need it. Don't just take my word for it, watch these two videos and learn from the experts why ALL German luxury brands are expensive to own if you keep your cars for the long term:
( Why Mercedes Are Money Pit Machines ) th-cam.com/video/ZPJ64sTa7KI/w-d-xo.html
( Why Not To Buy A Mercedes ) th-cam.com/video/XV9rJwEOCus/w-d-xo.html
Ust
I own a subaru and bmw (Subaru XV & 2017 BMW 330i) all I can say is, they are both reliable but I don’t work much on my XV compared to my BMW. As long as you take care of your BMW, it will be reliable, but expect the maintenance to be higher than the Subaru.
I swear I’m the only one who actually likes the new look of the forester
I changed my 06 plate for a 16 plate. I love it...
So, more money for a lesser vehicle. BMW never seizes to disappoint.
But...the badge...the badge!...
Taylor Hayden
The word you wanted was "cease" not "seize".
Second gen (2.5XT or 2.5STI) still the best ever performing Forester. Lightest & most powerful plus manual gearbox.
I cache another word for no resale value? If you are in it to get the most vehicle and least anything else its impossible to top the Forester. Check back in ten years. It will be on the road.
I love that you actually committed to a choice in the end!! Bravo, so many reviews end up sitting on the fence.
Glad to see the review doesn't bias on brand name. I'm sure that if you include reliability + resale value, there won't be competition between the two.
lol, the most interesting part of this for me was later in the review when they started talking about the road test. The Subie is quieter, rides more nicely, and is MORE refined than the BMW? What a damning assessment for a car which its badge would have you believe is something like the standard of the world.
Excellent review. Knocks my bmw out of my head. And probably saved me lots of maintenance headache.
You guys really did a very good job (for me) in doing a brief but very informative review on different cars. 👍👍
Japan all the way. Dependability dependability dependability.
Oh the head gasket just blew.
So you mean you would rather have a car "Made in China" then a car "Made in Germany"?
You are thinking of Toyota. Subaru's CVT and automatic transmission are some of the worst around. If you are getting a subaru, get a manual! Subaru's reliability have gone to hell in the past few years. X1 is actually surprisingly reliable according to data.
My horse cart never broke down. 100% reliable.
ekim andersom so you live in China? You got a bmw brilliance? blog.leithbmw.com/where-are-bmw-models-built/
For a similar price, there's no comparison. The X1 may be the cheapest BMW (in some markets) but it's still much much nicer inside than any Subaru. The Subaru interior is the very definition of utilitarian. It's dull and not interesting in the least. In addition, the X1 is more fun to drive. It may have a rougher suspension, but that's what makes it fun to chuck around corners while the Subaru is about as fun as driving a refrigerator. I know Aussies love their subies though...
You havent driven a subaru, have you? Because If you had you'd know that they are pretty fun to dtive - All of them...
And yet BMW's small screen(not even a touchscreen) can make you blind by the time you recognize what's on it... The interior isn't better too...
Personally I couldn't find any sense in your comment, sorry...
How is a front wheel 2wd considered an SUV??
Nearly every compact and small SUV in this class has a FWD offering. And besides, BMW has never called the X1 an SUV.
PS - Heated seats are mandatory in snow country. My wife has a lot to say about that!
I got heated seats in my Forester as well along with a six speed manual transmission for 26k.
In Australia? Sounds good though - manual Forester is a good thing!
Snow country, northeast USA.
subaru highly recomended overall is excellent
no CAR can beat the subaru b9 tribeca with that 6 cylinders on the motor and that 300 HP and flat engine
That’s correct. I have driven one since 2007 with 2006 model year. Over 123, 000 miles, now. Only change the oils (by myself and easy to do.) A few people to realize B9 Subaru Tribeca is a look of Alfa Romeo (Subaru hired Alfa’s chief designer to do the exterior for these models years, according to my research online.) It had been recalled for the hook’s hud cap and passenger’ airbag. Subaru notified me and fixed them very quickly. Now, I only need to change spark plugs, belt (only one outside and not timing belt ‘cause it is a timing chain and might not be change at all), axles boots, and the oils. That’s it. Solid vehicle. My car is 2006 model year and I bought it in January of 2007. I got a discount of $5000. MSRP $32,000, paid $26,000. A lot of drive by people looked @ my car for the first a couple of years. One gentleman even stopped @ gas station and asked how do I like the car. Cool ;) Not an expensive car but God bless a lot.
Too ugly
I'm so glad I just watched this video. That was my dilemma last year when I decided to save some money and go with the Subaru Forester XT. After couple of months I started thinking if I did the right choice and I think I also started a little bit to regret that I did not go with a little bit more luxurious BMW... But after watching this video I am absolutely happy with my choice so THANK YOU CarAdvice for making me feel better. I love my car even more now :D
+Vibhu Srivatsa Iyer but the X1 in off road is a shame and Subaru is a great vehicle in off road conditions , the best of the AWD vehicle in bad roads
x1 luxurious?
Paweł Misiak
The Forester climbs hills that Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Suzuki will not climb. Many videos here to prove it. You made a wise purchase. Look at this old Subaru climb like a champ!
th-cam.com/video/TmBibFdMIRU/w-d-xo.html
Need for AWD is 100% subjective and based on where you live. I live in Wisconsin and my first 3 vehicles were FWD. first time I drove and AWD Subaru I was blown away at how much grip and confidence it gave me. Just bought a ‘17 Forester xt premium and I rly enjoy it. My version of star link is kinda junk if you want to use maps and some of the fancier apps, but connects to Bluetooth easily. Safety, reliability, resale value, “offroad” capability, and visibility are what I look for, not bells and whistles
I'll take the Subaru Forester XT any day.
Your review nailed the differences between the two cars (I tried the BMW X1 with AWD and found its dynamics inferior to the Forester, despite costing nearly $10K more.). FYI the Forester trim you tested is similar to the USA's "XT Limited" (top of the line Forester).
The trim level naming conventions for many automakers don't flow through globally like many name badges do. Their "Premium" is the US "Touring" while the US "Premium" is their flat out Forester XT base model. You'll notice that with Canada for instance that it goes base, touring, (sport for legacy), limited. It's an annoying worldly quirk.
There's a video on this site that shows Foresters keeping up with and in some cases out performing full bore Land Rovers off road and in deep mud. Subaru is my choice every day.
This is a good review from a price perspective, but given that the XT Premium is the highest spec model, and the X1 sDrive 20i is the base petrol, this isn't the most accurate comparison in terms of the same grade of car. Whilst the xDrive 25i is around $12,000 more, it would have been the more suitable car for grade by grade comparison, given its 170kW engine, and all-wheel drive, very similar to the XT (as well as more standard features, incl, heated seats). This price premium is nearly understandable in comparison, given that there haven't been any major recalls for BMW recently (see the recent recall of Impreza, XV and Forester for steering failure), as well as that element of german engineering/quality involved (see difference in score on the JD power dependability). Although that price premium would still incorporate that brand prestige and heritage that the BMW has over the forester.
?????????????
www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/952885
and JD power - are you joking?
oh well didn't see those, I'd only heard of the 318 from '96. No, not joking about the JD
I agree, it shouldn't be a comparison based on value, it should be a comparison based on performance and driving dynamics once u put X1 25i against the forester. I'd tested the base model 20i and the 25i, there is a world of difference in terms of features, comfort and performance.
If the reviewers compared the BMW X1 with a Porsche SUV,, you might twist your words to say that it should be based on value not performance.
+SK L no I wouldn't, that would make me a hypocrite
i like the subby moar
more
MOAR
+justin bouche more
MOAR
MOAR
MOAR
MOAR
+justin bouche more more more more more more more more mate
I have owned 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5 touring, I love it
this is weird in usa the bmw is 11,000 dollars more to start with
Forester range starts at $30k and the BMW $49,500 - but the two in the clip are the same price.
So we are comparing a loaded Forester vs. almost base X1 ? Well in that case of course the Forester would win . ( don't get me wrong , I am all for that , I drive a fully loaded KIA that costs pretty much as much as base price C-class and I would never switch to a base german just because of the badge. )
I disagree. Both models are of the same class (compact SUV), and the reason they are being compared was to show that for the same cost the Forester slaps the shit out of the X1. Remember the price point was used because that's the ENTRY cost for the X1 while at the TOP of the Forester. The Forester obviously is a better vehicle unless you just have to have a "BMW" (yay?). Do I think upper level BMW's are great (ie X5)? Well yah! However there is a hefty price tag for "luxury" and well cars don't appreciate in value, just depreciate much higher in luxury versions actually.
and if u add 4x4 to that X1 gezzz.. the forester already beaten it by price and 4x4 quality. now that would be bigger let down
where the comparison should be done is in the used vs new part like right now I'm considering a new XT and a used X1 but the X1 is the xDrive 35 model and they are about 2K apart... one being new the other has about 10,000 miles
And so....subaru forester is the winner
The X1 is much more akin to the older gen Forester of the 2003-2008 era. This is when both vehicles looked and felt about identical in size and even cabin layout. When the X1 first arrived, I owned this generation Forester and the BMW almost felt like a knock off copy. The size was very similar, the proportions, dimensions, when you opened the door and got in, the door area, door sill, and seat placement and height all felt very similar. Driving position felt very similar as did position of controls like steering wheel and shifter. They were just too eerily similar to be a coincidence. It felt like they used the Forester as the base concept. In a lot of ways, the X1 appeared to be fancy looking Forester. Now future generation Foresters deviated moderately and look and feel quite different. For one, the Forester got a lot bigger externally but oddly not a lot bigger internally, at least not close to what the external growth would lead you to believe. There really isn't much more people or cargo room at all, and what you can shove in a new gen Forester will also fit into an old gen Forester of much smaller external proportions. Realistically, the Crosstrek is the modern version of the first two generations of Forester which were at the time based on the Impreza chassis. The Forester was a glorified Impreza wagon...effectively...with a more squared off body and longer struts. It was essentially 90% Impreza with nearly everything directly swappable inside and out. The Crosstrek is the modern equivalent whereas the Forester transitioned now to more of a glorified Outback wagon...effectively... with more squared off body and longer struts. It's not quite this as they're actually more unique designs than similar for the modern vehicles. The short of all of this is new Forester isn't like the old Forester, and the X1 is much more like the old Forester. well at least the first gen X1. 2016 is the new generation X1 and has changed but positively hasn't grown greatly in proportions like the Forester.
You said there is no air vents for the back seats. what is that at 4:57? I see air vents.
nice catch
That's actually the X1's rear seat even though they're talking about the Forrester. Missed that one in the editing caradvice!
They mixed up the videos. That is the BMW's rear seat in that one shot.
Me parece que soy el único en abla español o latino, yo tengo un forester XT Y NO LO CAMBIO POR NINGUNO. El BMW me parece muy elegante como coche europeo pero poco eficaz a la hora de meterlo por terreno accidentado
Love my 2013 (2014 spec) XT . Best all round vehicle and it tows pretty well too. Very nice get up and go especially if you floor it or engage Sport or Sport Sharp modes!
good job guys - enjoyed the short! All good talking points.
Thanks Tito - cheers for watching!
+CarAdvice.com You did a really good job to perform select one of the worlds most boring most car at the cost of some pizza and cheesburgere . You must be Americans !
From S Africa, I recently traded X3 and X5 (wife and I )for latest Forrester and Outback, saved a ton of money(equivalent to another outback) feature for feature ...works 100% for our situation and I expect a longer life than the BMW's
why do you guys keep saying 4WD when it's clearly an AWD!! damn!!
Geoff Longford no it's not
That's because the spare wheel is working full time!
Bad comparisson... The Subaru is an AWD and the version of the BMW is the Sdrive, front wheel drive... They had to compare the Forester with the X1 Xdrive, AWD technology of BMW.
Subarus are more like an appliance. Also the screen washes out in bright light.
subaru has a much higher resale value, for now. who knows what will happen 4-5 years from now.
whatever the buyer chooses they should be happy with it.
i own a '15 xt.... 28.5k was an acceptable price on maui.
All the people who disliked are bmw x1 owners.
ya. ur right i disliked it and iam an x1 owner,
fuck subis
Liveshmun Mohindee fuck you. Congrats, you wasted your money
75k is not a lot for me.... i wanted a 2016 bmw m4 but my parents gave me a 2016 bmw x1.... uhhhhh
Liveshmun Mohindee lol your an idiot, you could of bought a e92 m3 instead of an SUV made for boring middled aged parents.
rich kids.. my first car was a 92 prelude, now I've bought a wrx sti with my own money and leave German cars in the rear view
Great video. Very fun to watch and informative. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Forester.. if you drive subaru once... you will not swap this car for anything else. Proud owner of 2003 XT 2.0 petrol subaru supercharged. Such an excellent car!
One thing i absolutely love is driving behind a Subaru Forester with a COEXIST bumper sticker and a "i love my Korgi" bumper sticker going 10mph under the speed limit. LOVE!
AWD is good in bad heavy wet roads. Reg gas/petrol vs premium fuel... You can also tune the Xt...
Too bad they didn't talk about angles of accent and descent, the Subaru would show just how much more off road worthy it is over the BMW. Also, more ground clearance and a much better drive system for mud, snow, gravel, sand and trails.
dont waste subaru s timie,, its way better then b m w ,,
Very honest and good review. Forester does indeed badly need rear vents, considering its heating system is at best deficient. One thing you missed is the front seats of the Forester; they are too short and on long travels (2h+) your legs do get soar quickly.
Sabes, eso lo note desde que compre mi auto y si estado buscando la forma de resolver esto. Por lo demás todo bien
The X1 looks Sleek!
They are comparing apples with bananas.
Subaru Forester is serious AWD SUV with good road clearance. Reliable, comfortable and hardworking workhorse.
X1 is pseudo SUV for city use.
Such a pointless video : SUV vs MINI SUV, they got higher spec Subaru vs a poorer spec X1, they got an AWD vs a FWD. Through the video they keep saying that the BMW does not handle as good as the Subaru, well guess what there is the xDrive BMW X1
You said it yourself, it's not a fair comparison, EVEN though the BMW in this very comparison is more expensive, haha.
If you want to make a "fair" comparison (car wise) you'd need a BMW X3 plus AWD, and higher trim added. Guess what, you'd be paying 20k more than the Forester.
Just bought a 08 Forester added to my fleet n man this thing move first Subaru I ever owned but I actually like it more than my other 🚘
Great video!!
Here in Italy I see one petrol BMW on 100 BMW.
The X1 has only one petrol choice: 1.5 turbocharged 85 kw 3 cylinder sDrive.
Instead there are more than 10 choices of diesel engines (power/transmission/gearbox), so nobody takes a petrol X1 and in general a BMW (for ex. 3 series petrol isn't available with 4 cyl., only with 3 cyl. or 6 cyl. !!! instead you can take 316d/318d/320d eff. dyn./320d/325d/330d/335d !!!)
Thanks
1 or 2 days AWD is usefull? Never driven in the rain? He even mentioned himself the BMW was losing grip accelerating.. If you're losing grip - an AWD is an advantage
The 2017 Subaru xt exploads on the highway I love it, as a Canadian I also take great pride in the fact that the steering wheel is heated and the passengers in the rear are comforted by heated seats as well. The Forster has really evolved over the years and it's truly wonderful. Sorry BMW ❤️
What's annoying is that almost nothing is available with manual transmission these days.
Let's not forget the x1 is a mini platform it the mini countryman as is the x2 and the 2 series.
Have you noticed the smaller seats from the mini.
At 4:57, discussing lack of seat vents in the Subaru and noting the seat bench style, then splicing in X1 video footage which actually depicts vents making it seem like they're still in the Subaru. That was a little trippy. Nice comparison though!
Why would you compare a AWD Subaru to an FWD X1 when there is an AWD X1 available? And the AWD X1 is the more preferred and more often sold variant of the X1?
cause its far more expensive and that is not an aspect they want you to focus on.
I have a 2016 Forester XT and it is a pretty serious off-roader. It can do a lot in the stock configuration, much more than I imagine the BMW will.
Not a fair comparison. Base sdrive vs fully loaded XT pfft. Anyways the XT is a great vehicle, the X1 is as well. Ended up getting the X1...couldn't get over the very dated exterior and sub par dash of the XT and the CVT is a kill joy. BTW the Xdrive accelerates better than the sdrive..forester numbers. Both can last if maintained...but if aren't..the x1 will be the first to complain. Fair trade off.
Gimme a break. I bought an X1 x drive 25i with M sport brand new for 65k, all bells & whistles included. The comparison is the Subaru Forester XT Premium which is 60k. It's 6.5 sec 0-100 vs 7.5 and 6.6 L/100 vs 8.5....add in adaptive suspension, design, refinement, free servicing for 5 years etc etc. it's a no brainer. The Subaru is plain fugly, especially the interior. No contest imo, but we all have one....cheers
50K? The Forester cost half that in the US.
And it costs Rp. 568,000,000 in Indonesia.
All pricing by CarAdvice is noted in Australian dollaridoos. Besides, $50k AUD is $37,500 USD (direct conversion) and consideing the range-topping XT Forester costs US$34,295, we'd say its about right.
+CarAdvice.com yup, european cars in Indonesia are so expensive, despite the taxes and stuff...
The BM is just extremely silky and sexy exterior. THAT is all that matters in this particular class.
BMW for me, thanks.
Mid 40's now , decision making has changed over time. After my research the smart buy was the Subaru Outback for me. I did have other options, but there are 2 types of BMW owner that I know personally. One who complains how much he is at the dealer getting robbed and the other that hates his BMW once a month. With my subaru I hope to do neither. Only time will tell.
why not compare the AWD Subaru with a (AWD) BMW the xdrive and not the (2WD) sdrive???
In a recent compact SUV pedestrian detection test BMW x1 failed miserably. It was the only car that didn't slow down at all. Rav4 and Forester stopped completely in the same test.
A really nice review, guys! Thank you!
My 2015 is a tank . Awesome in Canadian winters . No problem with snow & lousy winter conditions . WAY superior to any other SUV I have owned . Took it to Newfoundland last summer & went a few places we probably shouldn't have ..... it did not miss a beat or even breath hard !! A great car ...maybe not the prettiest but very impressive . The car is two years old & still has not a rattle ... Some of my past cars rattles right off the lot .... garbage.
"SUV" with 2wd is a minivan without sliding door;-)
People generally look at Subaru's for their AWD first, and then shop the models that fit their needs second. I couldn't believe you casually tossed AWD to the side like that, it's the major feature of the brand. It's like no one drives in the rain or snow? Also, you never mention the X-Drive feature on the Subaru. It makes offroading amazing and lets you climb hills, rocks, blizzards, and through mud pits with ease. Go check out the Fozzie forums of people literally pulling other lesser SUVs with half baked AWD systems out of ditches and snow drifts. I know you guys tried to make this a bit fair because of the price points, and the Fozzie won out in the end, but you left out some pretty important bits!
It was nice you took them on a dirt road. How about that same dirt road in two feet of snow like a lot of us have to drive for half the year? That Fozzie would be towing that X1 down the road.. Just noticed you are in Aus, so while you rarely get snow, I guess you have a few hills and sometimes lots of rain I guess. And scorpions.
The X-Mode is crazy good for off road driving - a little TOO good in my opinion. You just turn it on and only have to steer; it takes some of the fun out of off road driving.
Two misconceptions in the video: the Forester never was a hardcore offroader, it was made for dirt roads and snow covered roads. The other misconception is that you need one or two days per year the AWD in the car. That's also not true, you need 1 time in a year or two the subaru AWD system to make the difference between a wrecked car and a totally fine car. So yes, I gladly put a bit more gas in my Forester, and it keeps me safe in change.
It's so strange to see Aussie's wearing winter coats and hats while it's sweltering heat here in New England, USA. Obviously it's winter in the southern hemisphere, but it's messing with my head. When I think of Australia I think of warmth year round, regardless of season. I've always wanted to live in New Zealand or Australia in December, January, February and March. I hate winter.
Canberra (where this was shot) is always cold ;)
Heated seats "for days like today". Come on! I barely even use my Subie's heated seats when it's -30 degrees Celsius here in Canada!
We have a very low tolerance for cold in Australia :)
Apparently, yeah! To be fair though, I have very low tolerance to heat!
Why don't you use it?
Frosty the snowman is that you?
Man subaru messed up the updated tail lights on the Forester and the XV
I enjoyed this video, however I feel that a BMW X1 is closer to a Subaru Crosstrek, and a BMW X3 would be similar to a Subaru Forester. I am in the USA so I am not sure if the Crosstrek is available where you are.
the bmw comes with awd also xdrive. you should compare awd to awd . to be fair
Lol this video is comparing a small, sDrive BMW SUV with a mid-size, 4x4 Subaru and still the BMW sits on par with the Subaru. The presenters had to mention that lack of heated seats in the bmw (which actually come standard on most trims and are a 300$ option on the lowest trim), three times just so the Subaru can win lol. Why don't you put the Subaru against the X3 xDrive?
From what i saw in the video, they are not sitting on par, but Forester completely destroys the BMW. You are correct that it should be compared to BMW x3, but then it will be comparison of 1.5x price difference, and i highly suspect that forester will maybe lose by a really small margin, if at all.
While the BMW has more cache and better MPG, the subaru rides much nicer and and has plenty of guts--and plenty of premium feel...
Test drove both bought the X1. Subaru unfortunately was tested last and no comparison could be made, the BMW is in a different class of refinement.The approach angle is better on Subaru so if your doing more off road then maybe would be a choice.
Just drove an x1 for 4 days, and I was very disappointed. I was expecting the price to reflect the driving feel and honestly it didn’t. My Outback is much more comfortable, and the tech works like it should and is intuitive.
Forester is a true SUV with full time awd and lsd !!! It is much better on offroad
"hardly anybody takes these off the beaten track"? lol I always get the best camping spot because I have subaru's!
They said people don't do hardcore offroading with the Forester. Maybe they should visit Russia or the U.S. People ABSOLUTELY take their Foresters offroading, mudding, forging streams/rivers, etc. I've seen lots of Foresters even doing rock crawling with Jeeps and the like.
Is there no All-wheel-drive X1 in the US available? And you cannot get the bigger screen an seatheating? strange....
You guys pasted my house at 9:13 😂. I didnt know your headquarters were in canberra
Nice house - I actually thought that when I watched the video lol.
SURE LOL
Subaru all the way.