It's a boxer FOUR cylinder not six. We bought one a couple of months ago and are extremely pleased with the vehicle. I believe that the premium is a decent buy. The touring comes with eyesight and nav both of which are not really useful nor rated high. Going up grades on highways is incredibly impressive with very little throttle required to maintain speed. Acceleration in the sport sharp mode is excellent and never fails to surprise other drivers. Cornering of course is not going to be like a sports car since this is a high profile vehicle but it's better than our 4Runner in overall handling. We got the fog lights, all weather package, moon roof, and the dark gray color and especially with the nice looking wheels it's a pretty attractive vehicle considering what Foresters used to look like. I normally detest CVTs but Subaru did a decent job of presetting the different "pseudo" gears in sport and sport sharp modes. This is an almost perfect vehicle for what we needed.....decent cargo capacity, good mpg, reliability, comfort, enough guts for mountain grades, AWD, ground clearance, all at a reasonable price. Note that premium fuel is recommended but not required. We used it during break-in and also before trips where hills are involved and where the turbo may get taxed a little. Around town regular grade gas works just fine.
Canadian version had no push button start. Also, no silver foot pedals. I was disappointed that it did not have push button start, but I am so pleased with this ride, it's hard to put in words. It is a very smooth, powerful machine.
Just picked up my 14 forester XT with eyesight. It is amazingly smoothe. Anyone who has reservations about a CVT (as I had before owning the xt), drive the 14 XT. In sport mde, it pulls very hard. New forester has a refinement that makes it feel on par with Audi Q5 or X3. It handles freakishly well for an suv. Stereo cranks! Awesome job Subaru.
In Canada, Eyesight comes with the Nav option and better stereo. So far, the eyesight has been exceptionally good on the highway with cruise control on. Set it at 120 and distance and it follows the car in front and keeps the distance. I like the lane departure warning, but if I ever use it just once to avoid or diminish collision impact it was well worth it. So far, I'd say the 2014 xt exceeded expectations. It's deceptively fast and smooth and amazing handling for an cuv.
To get the rated power Premium (91 Octane) is what they will say is required. The reality is, if you use lower octane, it most likely will only affect performance. However, their recommendation is going to be Premium for at a min and 93 Octane is what they really really want you to use.
@streetK4, it wasn't full leather as the entire inserts in the seats were fabric. The official option is called "Cloth upholstery with sport bolsters" which means the edges are in a leather or leatherette. The details are not clear on the Subaru site, but we can find out for you if you want more specifics.
I love this vehicle. I live in Winnipeg. Rotten roads and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Winter at any time of the year. Point and go. Fast and fun. Wished they had better tires. Bought winter tires. Best vehicle for harsh road driving, I think. Sport Sharp mode is so fun. Lots of speed cameras around so watch out.
We have not had the opportunity to test drive the non-2.0XT. However, the CVT seems to perform well in turbo version. We would guess it might be a bit noisier in the 2.5i and stay rev'ed up more due to the lesser power. We understand your concerns about the downshift situation too.
Thanks for your review. I was hoping for a review of the sheer performance of the car. Watching you testing the different shifting programmes, hearing the engine rev, etc. Also mentioning it requires premium fuel may be important for some people as premium fuel can be expensive in some parts compared to regular.
I love the forester i think it has great speed nice room for space and a nice family car. um the ups and downs about it is that i wish it had a third row , but overall it is a really great car .
I agree. The lack of shifting capability in the 2.5i versions will no doubt prevent me from purchasing my 7th Subaru. I consider the ability to downshift a safety feature. I have it in my 2009 Forester and it's awesome. Last thing you want to do is be hitting your breaks when going down a snowy hill.... Very disappointed
@Stere0guy, you are welcome. We hope Subaru offers the Nav and All-Weather on the Premium models in the future...the jump to Touring is about $4K base from our notes and the only option is keyless start + EyeSight for an extra $2,400.
CVT has come a long way that it can stimulate an 8 sp, though I'll always take manual being that it is cheaper/more driver engagement/overall fun/clutchcontrolonlaunches/performance and on a 5sp manual u have 7 options on the transmission, 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th,n and reverse :P or 8 if its a 6 sp :P agree/10 on the cornering I did a corner in an xt at a high speed around 70kph and the G force u could feel it so much grip on the exit.. also so good off road.. amazing traction..
Pretty thorough review, but since you were comparing the XT to the 2.5 models, it would have been nice to mention that the XT requires premium fuel, since it is turbo charged. That is something I would be concerned about.
According to my local dealer's service center which supposedly employs three master techs, it is only recommended and will not.void warranty or grenade your engine if you run regular or even 85.
Did you test drive the 2.5i and what are your impressions about the CVT? In addition to all the concerns I read about CVTs in general, I am a bit worried about the lack of manual shifting especially in circumstances where downshifting is important (ie hills, snow roads, off roads, etc).
problem is I find is if you drive a few different cars you might adapt to having those warning features and then get scared to drive a car without them, Look up bumper strips why they don't have them everywhere states that people might depend on them. though that is my slice of cake everyone has their own :) reading your comment though eyesight sounds awesome . I like the fun in turbocharged foresters, I own a gt from the year 2000 quite old, it is fun to drive nice turbo rush :)
@marinoint, the camera screen is very small and as far as we have seen it is that way in all the models equipped. We would have liked to have seen them make it so when you have the Nav it then uses the 6.1" screen. We will work on the CX-5. We have not seen that vehicle yet from Mazda in our fleet rotation, but we can make a request! Thank you for your comments!
In Subaru's favour, I'd say you could use the "X-Drive" mode going down snowy hills. I remember reading it only works up to 30 MPH, though - rather slow going down a hill, in my opinion. Not sure if this is an option or not, either.
i have this same car, but your premium looks like it has heated seat buttons next to the xmode? I wish I could've had the all weather package, but the extra cash to get it in the touring edition wasn't worth it to me.
also quoted fuel figures I never get, its all on ur driving habit lol idk who/how they do the tests for fuel economy haha awd for straight line grip/loose surfaces/wet etc u'll never get wheelspin pretty much decent sporty suspension/grippy tires for that lateral accel :) those rims r sooo dope! base model 4 me, idc about all the features they just lose their value quickly imo.
the base and premium manual foresters do not have the sliding armrest..... premium manual comes with FORCED all weather package standard. you can not opt out of it....but no moonroof. not even optional....all trim levels come with INVASIVE stability control that does NOT turn off even when you push the button to turn it off......in the USA the CVT has no manual mode on non turbo models. the rear seats do NOT FOLD FLAT as on previous models, but leave an annoying bump/ramp when down.
never mind, i kept watching and heard about the "non production" options included for the press in your case. i dont know what else to say other than, it blows.
why are you on your knees at the end of the review? Went from a decent, semi reputable reviewer to just another self proclaimed journalist once you filmed yourself closing out on your knees!!!!!!
all i kept earing is CVT,CVT,CVT,CVT ,CVT,CVT... oh wait .... CVT . trying to sell too much ... from what i know most automatic transmissions are crap . yes they make you "not switch gears" but in reallity they just make everybody drive like nut job & not pay attention. CVT is just another word for automatic ( just a difrent kind of one)
It's a boxer FOUR cylinder not six. We bought one a couple of months ago and are extremely pleased with the vehicle. I believe that the premium is a decent buy. The touring comes with eyesight and nav both of which are not really useful nor rated high. Going up grades on highways is incredibly impressive with very little throttle required to maintain speed. Acceleration in the sport sharp mode is excellent and never fails to surprise other drivers. Cornering of course is not going to be like a sports car since this is a high profile vehicle but it's better than our 4Runner in overall handling. We got the fog lights, all weather package, moon roof, and the dark gray color and especially with the nice looking wheels it's a pretty attractive vehicle considering what Foresters used to look like. I normally detest CVTs but Subaru did a decent job of presetting the different "pseudo" gears in sport and sport sharp modes. This is an almost perfect vehicle for what we needed.....decent cargo capacity, good mpg, reliability, comfort, enough guts for mountain grades, AWD, ground clearance, all at a reasonable price. Note that premium fuel is recommended but not required. We used it during break-in and also before trips where hills are involved and where the turbo may get taxed a little. Around town regular grade gas works just fine.
Thanks for clarifying to everyone about the lack of Navigation and Cold Weather package in the Premium 2,0XT.
Outstanding review. Very informative. I enjoyed both the narration and video. Thanks!!
Canadian version had no push button start. Also, no silver foot pedals. I was disappointed that it did not have push button start, but I am so pleased with this ride, it's hard to put in words. It is a very smooth, powerful machine.
Just picked up my 14 forester XT with eyesight. It is amazingly smoothe. Anyone who has reservations about a CVT (as I had before owning the xt), drive the 14 XT. In sport mde, it pulls very hard. New forester has a refinement that makes it feel on par with Audi Q5 or X3. It handles freakishly well for an suv. Stereo cranks! Awesome job Subaru.
Hello you posted this 10yr ago...how are you doing with this car
In Canada, Eyesight comes with the Nav option and better stereo. So far, the eyesight has been exceptionally good on the highway with cruise control on. Set it at 120 and distance and it follows the car in front and keeps the distance. I like the lane departure warning, but if I ever use it just once to avoid or diminish collision impact it was well worth it. So far, I'd say the 2014 xt exceeded expectations. It's deceptively fast and smooth and amazing handling for an cuv.
To get the rated power Premium (91 Octane) is what they will say is required. The reality is, if you use lower octane, it most likely will only affect performance. However, their recommendation is going to be Premium for at a min and 93 Octane is what they really really want you to use.
@streetK4, it wasn't full leather as the entire inserts in the seats were fabric. The official option is called "Cloth upholstery with sport bolsters" which means the edges are in a leather or leatherette. The details are not clear on the Subaru site, but we can find out for you if you want more specifics.
I love this vehicle. I live in Winnipeg. Rotten roads and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Winter at any time of the year. Point and go. Fast and fun. Wished they had better tires. Bought winter tires. Best vehicle for harsh road driving, I think. Sport Sharp mode is so fun. Lots of speed cameras around so watch out.
We have not had the opportunity to test drive the non-2.0XT. However, the CVT seems to perform well in turbo version. We would guess it might be a bit noisier in the 2.5i and stay rev'ed up more due to the lesser power. We understand your concerns about the downshift situation too.
excellent review. thanks
Thanks for your review.
I was hoping for a review of the sheer performance of the car. Watching you testing the different shifting programmes, hearing the engine rev, etc. Also mentioning it requires premium fuel may be important for some people as premium fuel can be expensive in some parts compared to regular.
I love the forester i think it has great speed nice room for space and a nice family car. um the ups and downs about it is that i wish it had a third row , but overall it is a really great car .
Stop looking at the camera while your driving on a public road.
I agree. The lack of shifting capability in the 2.5i versions will no doubt prevent me from purchasing my 7th Subaru. I consider the ability to downshift a safety feature. I have it in my 2009 Forester and it's awesome. Last thing you want to do is be hitting your breaks when going down a snowy hill.... Very disappointed
this guy knows the bare minimum to review cars..
@Stere0guy, you are welcome. We hope Subaru offers the Nav and All-Weather on the Premium models in the future...the jump to Touring is about $4K base from our notes and the only option is keyless start + EyeSight for an extra $2,400.
CVT has come a long way that it can stimulate an 8 sp, though I'll always take manual being that it is cheaper/more driver engagement/overall fun/clutchcontrolonlaunches/performance and on a 5sp manual u have 7 options on the transmission, 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th,n and reverse :P or 8 if its a 6 sp :P
agree/10 on the cornering I did a corner in an xt at a high speed around 70kph and the G force u could feel it so much grip on the exit..
also so good off road.. amazing traction..
The Forester 2.0XT is a turbo charged 2.0L boxer 4. It is not a boxer 6.
Pretty thorough review, but since you were comparing the XT to the 2.5 models, it would have been nice to mention that the XT requires premium fuel, since it is turbo charged. That is something I would be concerned about.
According to my local dealer's service center which supposedly employs three master techs, it is only recommended and will not.void warranty or grenade your engine if you run regular or even 85.
Mine didn’t come with a manual, so Thank you!
Hey sushi didn't expect you here haha, long time subscriber.
I just realized you are driving around the old(closed) Lowry Air Force base. The 1000 people dorms and that B-52 bomber gave it away.
Great review.
Did you test drive the 2.5i and what are your impressions about the CVT? In addition to all the concerns I read about CVTs in general, I am a bit worried about the lack of manual shifting especially in circumstances where downshifting is important (ie hills, snow roads, off roads, etc).
problem is I find is if you drive a few different cars you might adapt to having those warning features and then get scared to drive a car without them, Look up bumper strips why they don't have them everywhere states that people might depend on them.
though that is my slice of cake everyone has their own :)
reading your comment though eyesight sounds awesome .
I like the fun in turbocharged foresters, I own a gt from the year 2000 quite old, it is fun to drive nice turbo rush :)
@marinoint, the camera screen is very small and as far as we have seen it is that way in all the models equipped. We would have liked to have seen them make it so when you have the Nav it then uses the 6.1" screen.
We will work on the CX-5. We have not seen that vehicle yet from Mazda in our fleet rotation, but we can make a request! Thank you for your comments!
It has a key start, in Australia the XT are push button start and we call them 2013 not 14
In Subaru's favour, I'd say you could use the "X-Drive" mode going down snowy hills. I remember reading it only works up to 30 MPH, though - rather slow going down a hill, in my opinion. Not sure if this is an option or not, either.
i have this same car, but your premium looks like it has heated seat buttons next to the xmode? I wish I could've had the all weather package, but the extra cash to get it in the touring edition wasn't worth it to me.
Does the XT only take premium fuel or can it go without it?
Thank you for your response.
I really just wanted to see the car. But thanks.
Your description says it's a six cylinder? I thought it was a 4.
Every time you turn and talk to the camera I freak out. Dear lord keep them eyes on the road!
Hehe you're at Lowry homes in aurora Colorado! And you look familiar, I really think I met you when I lived in Denver. Nevertheless great review!
it also looks to me like your premium has leather seats as well in premium
doesn't it make the engine ping if its too low
How about keeping your eyes on the road.
Still waiting for a guy to floor a Subaru and say how fun it is.. Might convince me they're more exciting than they look.
Thank you! Be sure to post a picture of your new wheels to our Facebook page! Search "Real Auto Reports"
You should watch the road instead of the camera
also quoted fuel figures I never get, its all on ur driving habit lol
idk who/how they do the tests for fuel economy haha
awd for straight line grip/loose surfaces/wet etc u'll never get wheelspin pretty much
decent sporty suspension/grippy tires for that lateral accel :)
those rims r sooo dope!
base model 4 me, idc about all the features they just lose their value quickly imo.
the base and premium manual foresters do not have the sliding armrest..... premium manual comes with FORCED all weather package standard. you can not opt out of it....but no moonroof. not even optional....all trim levels come with INVASIVE stability control that does NOT turn off even when you push the button to turn it off......in the USA the CVT has no manual mode on non turbo models. the rear seats do NOT FOLD FLAT as on previous models, but leave an annoying bump/ramp when down.
never mind, i kept watching and heard about the "non production" options included for the press in your case. i dont know what else to say other than, it blows.
2nd gen Subaru Outback at 4:20 heh.
Yap yap yap. I have a headache now, thanks.
why are you on your knees at the end of the review? Went from a decent, semi reputable reviewer to just another self proclaimed journalist once you filmed yourself closing out on your knees!!!!!!
all i kept earing is CVT,CVT,CVT,CVT ,CVT,CVT... oh wait .... CVT . trying to sell too much ... from what i know most automatic transmissions are crap . yes they make you "not switch gears" but in reallity they just make everybody drive like nut job & not pay attention. CVT is just another word for automatic ( just a difrent kind of one)
drive it urself and find out
Talks a little too much with the hands for someone who is driving
Looks like it fell from the top of the ugly tree and didnt miss a single branch on the way down.
talk too much at the beginning
I like it
Crappy review! your 2 cylinders off.
Adrian G One mistake makes it a crappy review?
Unprofessional review. Most people will memorize the information. He just read it, unprofessional and lazy review.
talked too much, and not enough illustration.
So boring review, I keep skipping almost all the way