Our most recent review of the 2026 Subaru Forester resulted in a score of 7.6 out of 10 for that particular example.
You can read the full review here.
This is what Chris Thompson liked most about this particular version of the Subaru Forester: Interior practicality almost perfect, Much improved road manners, More capable than owners would need
Buyers can choose from a versatile palette including Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Magnetite Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Crimson Red Pearl, Daybreak Blue Pearl, Sapphire Blue Pearl, and Brilliant Bronze Metallic.
Premium and Sport grades offer exclusive colour combinations with black or bronze exterior accents to stand out from the pack.
Standard equipment in the 2026 Forester is generous, with every variant scoring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control and Subaru’s latest EyeSight driver-assist suite.
Stepping up the range adds niceties like a Harman Kardon sound system, electric front seat adjustment with memory function, leather trim and a surround-view camera.
The new top-spec Forester Sport introduces exclusive exterior and interior styling tweaks and a hands-free powered tailgate.
The noise could be from the electric motors themselves or in the gears and cogs that physically move the mirrors to their new positions. Pulling the mirror apart and lubricating these mechanisms might help reduce the noise and may even fix the one mirror’s reluctance to move through its full range of positions.
As far as warranty goes, the situation is a bit complicated in that the dealer may examine the noise and decide that it’s not abnormal. But what you should do before the warranty runs out is have the car examined and the problem logged at dealership level. That way, if anything goes wrong as a result of the problem, even if it’s beyond the warranty period, you have what’s called a pre-existing condition whereby the problems is Subaru’s to fix because it existed while the warranty was still current, even if it wasn’t fixed at that time. The point being that the dealer can’t delay a fix reported during the warranty period and then claim that the vehicle is out of warranty and refuse to fix the problem.
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A car can stop in its tracks for hundreds of reasons, but in a car like yours, first suspicions would be either the fuel pump or something like the crank-angle sensor. If the problem had been a clogged fuel filter or a dud spark plug, the problem would probably have made the engine run poorly, but not stopped it dead in an instant.
Electric fuel pumps don’t last forever and, when they die, they die quickly and without notice. Same goes for crank-angle sensors, without which, the computer doesn’t know where the individual pistons are in each cylinder and, therefore, can’t inject fuel or create spark at the precise time it needs to.
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Any time the brakes (or any other system of a car) start to feel different than they have done since you bought the car, there’s probably something wrong. If it was an older car, I’d suggest a brake fluid change as the first step, but that’s unlikely to be the reason in an almost-new car. The problem sounds like there’s air in the braking system (there should only be brake fluid, and no air) but, again, that’s a wild card in such a new vehicle.
In any case, you’re doing the right thing by having the car independently tested. If the results come back suggesting a problem, you have good ammunition to get the dealership to fix this as a warranty matter. Make sure you get a written report from the mechanic detailing the braking system’s performance, and don’t be afraid to go over the dealer’s head to Subaru Australia’s customer service department.
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The 2026 Forester continues to impress with its practical cargo area.
It offers 496 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1719 litres when folded flat.
A low load lip and wide tailgate opening make loading bulky items easy, while hybrid variants sacrifice only minimal space (484L/1162L) thanks to clever battery placement beneath the boot floor.
Two powertrains are available in Australia.
The 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine produces 136kW and 247Nm, while the new 2.5-litre petrol-electric e-Boxer hybrid system combines for 145kW and 276Nm.
Both use a CVT and Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system as standard.
Subaru has stepped up the Forester’s cabin game for 2026 with a modernised layout featuring a new portrait-oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen on all grades, enhanced soft-touch surfaces and a tidier centre console.
The overall aesthetic is clean and robust, with intuitive controls and improved cabin insulation.
High-grade variants introduce a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and ambient lighting for a more premium feel, along with a panoramic sunroof and powered tailgate.
The 2026 Subaru Forester remains a five-seat mid-size SUV, offering a comfortable and practical seating layout across the range.
Wide-opening rear doors and a high hip point make entry and exit a breeze for passengers of all ages.
Supportive front seats and a sliding, reclining rear bench with generous legroom cater to long road trips, while the top-spec variants add leather-accented upholstery and heated front and rear seats.
While not designed as a performance SUV, the 2026 Forester delivers adequate everyday performance.
The carry-over 2.5-litre petrol engine should manage the 0-100km/h sprint in around 10 seconds, while the new 2.5-litre e-Boxer hybrid would be slightly quicker.
Both engines are paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and symmetrical all-wheel drive, though Subaru hasn't confirmed top-speeds for either. The petrol version should be able to hit 200km/h, while the hybrid could be more limited.
Official combined-cycle fuel economy for the petrol-only Forester is rated at 7.9L/100km, while the new hybrid trims that to 6.2L/100km.
Both Foresters have a 63-litre fuel tank, so could theoretically travel either a maximum 797km or 1016km in petrol or hybrid respectively depending on driving style and road conditions.