Updated March 27, 2022

Why is this important?

This page will tell you everything that you need to know about this vehicle. Buying a vehicle is a huge accomplishment and a huge financial outlay. We want you to have as much information as possible, so that you can make the best decision for you. At SUV Power Rankings we analyze reviews, videos, etc. to come up with a Metacritic type of score for each vehicle. Unlike a score from a single site which is bound to be biased our score is an amalgamation of every score that we can find making it as unbiased as possible.

The Subaru Forester (Japanese: スバル•フォレスター Subaru Foresutā) is a compact crossover SUV (sport utility vehicle)^[1] that’s been manufactured since 1997 by Subaru. Available in Japan from 1997, the Forester shares its platform with the Impreza. The current Forester has 5 trims, standard, premium, sport, limited, and touring. The touring has features like brown leather seats, heated seats, navigation, and panoramic sunroof. All wheel drive is standard on every model.

— Source Wikipedia

Official Page – Subaru Forester
Price: Starts at $25,195 CAD
Comparable to: Volvo XC40, BMW X1
Maintenance costs: Approximately $7,931 over 10 years.

REVIEWS AND IMPRESSIONS

We have put together as many reviews and impressions as we could find. Each finds a way to touch upon something that the others missed. If you are serious about this vehicle then these videos are worth the time.

OUR SCORE

You can view the overall Compact SUV Rankings here and the Luxury Compact SUV Rankings here.

SCORES BY PUBLICATION:

Kelley Blue Book: 4.4 / 5

USNews: 8.4 / 10

Edmunds: 7.8 / 10

J.D. Power: 82 / 100

Car and Driver: 8 / 10

Motortrend: 8.6 / 10

What the critics have to say…

The fifth-generation Subaru Forester debuted just a couple of years ago, so it carries on into 2021 with relatively few changes. We’re pretty fond of it, even if it isn’t our top-rated small SUV. The ever-popular Forester slots between the smaller Subaru Crosstrek and the larger three-row Ascent. It’s loaded with tons of standard driver aids and tech, and — thanks to standard all-wheel drive and decent ground clearance — it’s better than most of the competition off-road.
Edmunds

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

A largely gutless engine holds the Forester back. The four-cylinder engine and CVT automatic take their time getting up to speed. The Forester accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a slow 9.3 seconds during Edmunds testing. Its steering, handling and braking, on the other hand, are more respectable. While the Forester isn’t sporty, especially not compared to top rivals, it feels planted and changes direction with speed and confidence.
Edmunds

IS IT RELIABLE AND HIGH QUALITY?

Is the Subaru Forester Reliable?

The 2021 Forester has a predicted reliability score of 83 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

Subaru Forester Warranty

Subaru covers the Forester with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

HOW COMFORTABLE IS IT?

Whether you’ve got a long daily commute or a refreshing retreat on the horizon, the Forester will keep you riding in comfort. The front seats are well padded and have good bolstering and lumbar support, and the suspension easily smooths out bumps and ruts in the road.
Edmunds

WHAT IS THE INTERIOR LIKE?

The Forester’s cabin is a straight-forward, frill-free affair with a good driving position and great outward visibility. Our Touring model’s interior was nicely finished with caramel-colored leather on the seats, door panels, and dash; textured plastic trim layered on the rest of the cabin looked and felt of high quality, too, while glossy-black plastic on the center stack and the chromed and matte-metallic plastic trims spruced things up quite well.
Car and Driver

WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY LIKE?

Subaru provides infotainment features that any owner, tech-savvy or not, can appreciate. The dual-screen center layout is attractive and easy to use. The navigation system is clear and even takes voice commands well. If Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are more your flavor, Subaru has you covered by making them standard equipment. Multiple USB ports are in both the front and rear.
Edmunds

WHAT IS THE CARGO SPACE LIKE?

The back seat is plenty spacious (there is no third-row option), and even adults should find the bench seat a comfortable perch for road trips. We fit 11 of our carry-on suitcases behind the back seat and a whopping 23 with the back seats folded. That’s more than either the CX-5 or the RAV4 could muster, but the CR-V maxed out at 25 carry-ons with its rear seats stowed.
Car and Driver

IS THIS VEHICLE A GOOD VALUE?

The Forester gives buyers a lot of options depending on how much they want to spend and how fancy they like their cars. Interior build quality is high, and in general you’ll feel like you got your money’s worth. Subaru offers an average warranty for the class.
Edmunds

IS THE Sportage A GOOD SUV?

Yes, the Subaru Forester is a good SUV. It gets good gas mileage, has a smooth ride, and can handle some light off-roading. Inside, the Forester is well-built, and it has plenty of room for passengers and cargo. It also has intuitive tech features. That said, the Forester’s four-cylinder engine, while not weak, is uninspiring.
USNews

SHOULD I BUY THE Sportage?

If you don’t mind the uninspiring engine, then the Forester is a solid choice in the compact SUV class, as it offers just about anything else you could want in a small crossover.
USNews

THE FINAL WORD

The Forester isn’t afraid of a little snow or mud and does just about everything well. It is held back by a under-powered engine and that may be the one piece that makes your buying decision for you.

Motormouth