2018 Subaru Forester Reviews

Subaru's concept for the soft-roader was simple, brilliant even. Of the light-duty four-wheel-drives available, the Outback and Forester offer the best blend of city manners and bush brawn.Model watchThe Forester was launched here in 1997. It was based on the underpinnings of the Impreza passenger car, but didn't look much like its family-car cousin. Its four-door wagon body gave it a new look.The Forester was primarily powered by Subaru's familiar single overhead camshaft flat-four boxer engine, in this case a 2.0-litre unit developing 92kW and 184Nm.When pressed it would accelerate from rest to 100km/h in a little over 11 seconds and do a 400m dash in a respectable 17 seconds.For more zip Subaru released the GT in 1998 and that came with a turbocharged, double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine, boasting 125kW and 240Nm.  Buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a four-speed auto trans, both sending the drive to all four wheels.The Forester's system is a four-wheel-drive system, with drive going to all wheels, all the time, unlike other soft-roaders which have a part-time system, with drive primarily going through either the front or rear wheels.  And it works well on road or off.Subaru offered three main variants of the Forester — the GX Wagon, RX Limited Wagon, and GT Wagon.  The GX Wagon had steel wheels, colour-coded bumpers, roof rails, power steering, cruise, power windows, mirrors and central locking; the RX Limited Wagon had all of that plus dual front airbags, air-conditioning and self-levelling suspension.At the top of the Forester range sat the GT Wagon which had alloy wheels, velour trim, leather steering wheel and hand-brake knob, metallic paint, central locking, and, from 2000, a sunroof and heated front seats.In the shopThe Forester is not showing any serious weaknesses.  Generally, the Subaru mechanicals are solid and reliable and little goes wrong with them. The flat-four engine has stood the test of time and shows nothing that is likely to cause a headache later on.A word of caution on the GT with its turbo motor. While the Subaru turbo has few problems and survives some pretty tough punishment in the WRX, it's worth going to the trouble of having an independent check on the GT, just to be sure it hasn't been given a hard time by an enthusiastic driver.Check the engine oil and look inside the oil filler for sludge that might suggest a lack of servicing. Turbo engines, in particular, need more servicing, and more frequent oil changes than a normally aspirated engine.Although these cars tend to do little off-road work it's worth having a close look underneath for signs of bush-bashing. Look for damage to the underbody, brackets, exhaust, suspension and steering. Walk away if you suspect it has spent a lot of time off the black top.Crunch timeSubaru's all-wheel-drive system gives the Forester decent primary safety, allowing you greater ability to escape a potential crash situation so the Forester gets good marks for primary safety.  ABS wasn't available on the GX, but was standard on the RX and GT adding to their primary safety package.Likewise airbags were not available on the GX, but the RX and GT both had dual frontal airbags making them the preferred choice for secondary crash protection.Rating15/20 Good round-town manners with the ability to go places off-road make the Forester a sensible buy.Subaru Forester 97-02Look for Signs of damage from heavy off-road useGood resale valueCheck for evidence of regular servicingHandles dirt roads and bush tracks with easeReliable engine and transmission

The Subaru Forester has always been one of our favourite four-wheel-drives.And a favourite car, too.The boxy baby Suby will never take you to the top of the toughest trail, but it's a top choice for people who need a car but enjoy the fun that comes with a 4WD.The Forester has always had its shortcomings, led by the cramped back seat, but it has the edge – for us – over its rivals, mostly because it's more car-like and comfy than a Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.The Forester also picked up points when it picked up punch as the turbocharged GT, even if it didn't have the all-out go or grip of the WRX cult car. It was too gangly in the suspension and turbo lag also cut its appeal.But Subaru has done a substantial update on the latest Forester, even if it has lost the sexy GT badge and picked up an XT label instead.The newcomer has been given more go, which works well with the bigger and bolder Forester II body, as well as substantial tweaks on everything from headlamps to air-con.It's still a good deal, priced from $39,490 for a five-speed manual gearbox or $41,490 for a four-speed self-shifter. There is also a big list of extra kit – from a rear roof spoiler at $389.68 and fender flares at $363.15 to a Rola bicycle holder at $225.83 and a cargo net at $165.21. A fully-loaded automatic with the Luxury Pack will cost $44,990.To put things into focus, the Forester line-up now starts at $31,490 for the 2.5 litre X model, while a Toyota RAV4 starts from $27,600, a basic X-Trail from Nissan is $31,990, a four-cylinder Hyundai Santa Fe is $29,990 and the cheapest of the Honda CR-Vs is $31,990.The Forester XT makes the pace for the Subaru corner with a new 2.5-litre turbo motor that makes a romping 155kW of power and 320 Nm of torque.That's one-third more power and 50 per cent more torque than the basic four-cylinder engine, and awfully close to the original figures from the early days of the WRX.The driving force in the XT includes a limited-slip rear differential, anti-skid four-wheel disc brakes and self-levelling rear suspension. The safety systems include twin airbags with a two-stage inflator on the passenger's side, active front head restraints and – Subaru's signature item – the "symmetrical all-wheel drive".The equipment list is even more impressive, with 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-stack CD sound system, cruise control, electric windows and mirrors, and even automatic air-con.Our favourite items are the front-seat armrests and the outside temperature gauge.On the roadWe got a surprise when we uncorked the new Forester flagship for the first time.The turbo bites with a kick that reminds us of the slingshot start of the original WRX. It was a whoo-hoo moment.Subaru says the XT will run a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds, and we believe it.It also makes it the most spritely of the compact all-wheel-drives and helps justify a price that's higher than that of many of its rivals.It's easy to jump the $40,000 hurdle for a well-equipped Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute with the lot. But the engine is not the only attraction in the latest Forester.The suspension has also been firmed and flattened to make the XT less like a roly-poly four-wheel-drive truckster and more like a car.You still sit up high in the "command position" but the view doesn't tilt when you tackle a turn.The XT also has a better cornering balance than the earlier car, signalling its limits earlier and without hinting that it would be happier to just shuffle off the road.It now responds with more front-end grip if you lift the accelerator, and – if you want to go a bit wild at a closed course – it will slide from the rear but recover quickly with good grip and surprising traction.But that's at the limit, and few people push the Forester that hard.Even so, it's nice to know it will give you an early and obvious warning if you overcook things, particularly on the sort of slippery gravel and loose dirt roads the Forester is likely to tackle.It still doesn't have the sort of "crawler" low-range gears that would please serious 4WD explorers, but these people should be looking first at the X-Trail, or even a baby Suzuki Jimny, for rock hopping and mountain climbing.The turbo torque in the XT means it will grunt up serious slopes and it has better ground clearance before and the extra grip that comes with the limited-slip diff.The engine also makes the XT a swift overtaker and a confident and easy highway car with almost no sign of the dreaded "turbo lag".It makes boost from little more than 2000 revs and pulls really hard from 3500. And there is always that (whisper it) WRX-style hoot if you push to the redline and hammer through the gears.We also enjoyed the cabin comforts, equipment and headlamps.The latest Forester also has better visibility and more space in the tail, and is quieter than the first model.It's a pity the back seat is still upright and cramped for adults, but Subaru says most Forester buyers are singles or youngish families who can always graduate to an Outback when they need more space.We liked it before, and we like it even more now.

It takes just 6.4 seconds and you are not only doing 100km/h but side by side with the likes of the Mercedes C32 AMG or the Nissan 350Z. And, right on the bumper of V8 counterparts.No, you are not in the Porsche Boxster S but Subaru's new 2.5 XT Forester, the soft-roader with a pile of grunt and style to match.Power flows from the turbocharger with no lag and an extremely responsive right pedal.This is helped by Electronic Throttle Control which does away with the accelerator cable, replacing it with an electronic connection between pedal and throttle for more responsive control.Gear changes are made quick and easy thanks to the sporty-feel five-speed gearbox, with short throw just in case the power is not enough to make you feel like you are in a sports car.The clutch is heavy, as you would expect from a turbo, but this is offset by hillholder, the anti-roll back mechanism that one can only wish will some day be standard on every manual.The all-wheel-drive takes the Forester to the next level in terms of handling and responsiveness on and off the beaten track.The XT is just as comfortable on the road as off.And comfort is a key of the XT package. Whether it be negotiating the ever growing pot holes on the suburban street or rougher terrain the independent suspension evens out the ride.While the XT xould benefit from 17 inch wheels the standard 16inch 215 Yokohama Geolander tyres still allow responsive and accurate handling.Unusual is the positioning of the steering wheel which is tilted backwards more than usual.The seating position is upright and high making it easy to negotiate tight spaces while the wagon is not too long to make parking tedious.The Forester XT sits at the top of the Forester food chain with the 2.5 X, the 2.5 XS and XS luxury priced underneath. The interior has been widened an extra 1.45cm with more room to stretch your legs in the front and rear.The interior has more than enough features including cup holders, overhead consoles, centre console and cargo power outlets but without the clutter.There are plenty of pockets and gadgets and the boot easily handles a full load of shopping or all your gear, that would require some cars to add a trailer.The instrument panel is clear and easy to read limiting concentration loss and averted eyes.The Forester XT is priced between $39,490 (standard manual) and $44,990 (luxury automatic).The 4 cylinder DOHC intercooled turbo with AVCS produces 155kw @ 5600rpm and 320Nm @ 3600rpm which after 14.8 seconds sees you 400m from the cars still lagging behind at the lights.It is a little guzzly on the gas.It is claimed the XT is an economical 11.2km per litre but testing showed a little higher, hovering around 13km per litre. The luxury model found its way into our garage which boasted full leather trim, dual front and side airbags and a sunroof that bathes not only the front occupants but the rear as well.Yet, the standard model is nothing to sneeze at with ABS with Engine Braking System, 6 stack CD, cruise and climate control, power everything, 16 inch alloys, sporty fog lamps and roof rails as standard.The XT might be at the top end of the price bracket but as a whole package is reasonably priced.The luxury pack is especially appealing offering the style, performance and comfort of a fully imported sports car but with a tag that comes in cheaper than most top of the line family sedans.

Like cupholders. To adults, they're useful pieces of hardware. To kids, or at least, my kids, they're works of art.And the Subaru Forester has the best cupholders yet. The one which comes out of the dashboard, my 11-year-old son informs me, "spreads out like a bird's wings". Better still is the double version which springs to life from behind the centre console "like a pair of handcuffs".So my kids think the Forester is just about the best car I've brought home.They're not the only ones.Subaru is selling the Forester in record numbers and, cupholders aside, it's not hard to see why.More than 6500 have been sold this year making it close to a top-seller in the off-road market. The launch of an upgraded and updated model in June has further boosted those figures.The 2002 version gains a bigger, more powerful 2.5 litre version of the Boxer engine, producing 112kw and 223Nm.The Forester has also been refined inside and out -- nothing drastic, mind you.The car's popularity isn't hard to fathom. It's comfortable. It's capable. And it's pleasant to drive. It gives a high level of off-road capability, yet in a package which still drives like a family wagon, is easy to park and won't send you broke every time you fill it up.The Forester is an interesting mix. It's not outstanding in any particular way yet does just about everything well. It's an unobtrusive car, one that tends to sneak up on you. When I first drove it I suspected the performance was a little sluggish -- until I glanced at the speedo and realised how effortlessly the car skips up to, and beyond, the speed limit with a minimum of fuss.The more I drove it, the more I appreciated the flexibility of the engine, coupled in this case to a pleasant-enough five-speed manual gearbox. I suspect it would be even better with the four-speed auto.The understated performance is typical of what you get with the Forester. It seems to do everything just a little bit better then you realise.It's not a huge -- shorter than a full-sized family wagon and not as tall as most 4WDs -- yet it's roomy enough for two adults, three kids and lots of stuff in the cargo area.To compensate for the car's lack of overall size, Subaru has made use of every available space. There's a series of little storage bins beneath the floor of the luggage compartment; a good-sized glove-box with a special spot for the service manuals to maximise the usable space; more storage in the centre console and also in the dash, plus smaller trays and bins in doors and about the cabin. Overhead, there are even two handy flip-down spots for sunglasses.The Forester retains the driveability and road manners of a passenger car, with the added grip of constant 4WD, but still has a dual-range transfer case and enough ground clearance to make it a genuine off-roader.Its chunky, boxy body shape means the Forester is not as sleek as its stablemates, the Outback and Liberty wagon, but Subaru has done enough with the exterior trim to still make it look attractive -- it's a marked improvement on the previous model.There is excellent visibility, particularly when reversing because of a lower-than-usual window panel in the rear cargo door.There's a nice six-stack CD/stereo, although I found the volume control would never allow me to find a happy medium between too loud and too soft. The circular, soft-touch climate controls are stylish and effective.Upholstery is functional. I might even be inclined to tip in the extra $3000 to get the luxury pack with leather seats and other goodies like side airbags and sunroof.Automatic transmission is another $2000 option on the Forester, although the five-speed manual is no hardship, apart from a slightly heavy clutch.SUBARU FORESTER XS* DETAILS: Mid-size five-door 4WD wagon, 2.5 litre, 4-cylinder 112kW engine; fuel consumption 10 l/100km (city cycle).* FEATURES: Dual airbags, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, climate control airconditioning, 6-stack CD, cruise control, power windows, steering and mirrors, 12 volt power sockets.* COST: $34,490 (auto $2000 extra).* RIVALS: Toyota RAV4 Cruiser ($35,440); Nissan X-Trail Ti ($35,990).* FOR: Well-built, capable off-roader well-suited around the city.* AGAINST: Upholstery could be a little more inviting.* SUMMING UP: Not hard to see why the Forester is a favourite for Aussie families.