Subaru Forester Video Reviews

My time with the Forester Hybrid AWD Touring has come to an end, and I have some thoughts for you on what is Subaru’s most important model, should you be considering putting one on your driveway.And I do mean important. Subaru sold a total 39,005 vehicles in Australia last year and a whopping 15,179 of those were the Forester. Only the Crosstrek (10,842 sales) got close, with none of the brand's other models cracking the 10K barrier.Important that this model stays popular, then. To try to ensure it, Subaru has finally taken aim at the Toyota RAV4, introducing a proper hybrid system (it calls it a 'strong hybrid', by the way) so it can go head-to-head with the country's best-selling SUV.The system pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine that produces 121kW and 212Nm all on its own with an electric motor that kicks in another 90kW and 276Nm. Total system power is 145kW, and the brand reckons you’ll sip 6.2L/100km on the combined cycle, and get around 1000km from every 63-litre tank of fuel.Intrestingly, Toyota owns around 20 per cent of Subaru, and the two companies have collaborated on models like the 86/BRZ and bZ4X/Solterra, but there's no crossover between the RAV4 and the Forester. This one is all Subaru.There are two cheaper hybrid models sitting below my flagship model — the Hybrid Sport and the Forester Hybrid — but my Touring is the most expensive, listing at just under $56K, before on road costs. That’s quite the investment. Mind you, the RAV4 Hybrid tops out above $58K, so it’s all relative, right?Having now spent a little over three months behind the wheel – tackling everything from freeway jaunts to city running, and ferrying my 13-month-old boy and the Ikea's worth of stuff he needs every time we leave the house – I found some things I really liked, and some things I really didn't.Let's start with the good stuff, shall we?It’s boringI know, I know, that doesn’t sound like a compliment. But in this case it really is. I drive a lot of cars, newcomer and legacy brands alike, and the thing I have appreciated most about the Forester is that is has offered up zero surprises.It drives nicely, if a bit firmly in places, it steers well, its safety systems don’t appear tuned to drive people insane, the tech is pretty flawless and it has done exactly what we’ve asked of it with very little fuss. And in the world of new cars, sometimes no surprises is the best surprise of all.The ride can feel a bit harsh at times (weirdly it's more noticeable from the passenger seat) and the driver monitor is easily fooled by sunglasses, but both are liveable quirks.You don’t want for much in terms of equipmentThe Touring tops the Forester tree, and while it’s not cheap, you also don’t want for much. Our car rides on silver 19-inch alloys, gets standard roof rails and there are leather and suede seats that are heated and cooled up front. Elsewhere, there’s a 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, a sunroof, an 11.6-inch central touchscreen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and a 12.3-inch digital dash. There’s also on-board navigation, though most will surely be running Google or Apple Maps instead.It can fit a family (or my family, at least)Not all mid-size SUVs are built equally, especially when it comes to fitting child seats in the back. In some, the seats take up so much room that the front passenger finds themselves sitting too far forward. That’s not the case here. Plus the privacy glass, easy-access ISOFIX anchors and the fact the rear doors open super wide make family life easy. Even the boot, which swallows 484L with the rear seats upright, was big enough for all the gear we had to carry, including prams and the like.But every silver lining has a cloud. And with that, it's onto the negatives.The priceI know we said there are more expensive Toyotas. But in a world where you can drive away in a mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV for less than $40K, putting this on the road for around $60K is a bit of an ask, right? I dedicated the last long-term dispatch to trying to figure out what price tag you can apply to legacy. But I guess the ongoing success of models like this and the RAV4 goes some way to answering that question.The fuel useSubaru reckons you should see about 6.2L per hundred kilometres on the combined cycle, but I have covered A LOT of kilometres, and done a lot of long-distance freeway driving, and I can’t get the number to drop below 7.0 litres. Toyota claims an impressive 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres for its AWD hybrid, and real-world testing suggests a number with a five in front of it is pretty achievable.Some hybrid sacrificesIt’s not all good news on the Hybrid front. You pay more for the car, obviously, but you also get a heavier vehicle with marginally less boot space, and while petrol-powered cars get a full-size spare, hybrid owners will be left fiddling with those horrible repair kits should they ever get a flat tyre.Acquired: September 2025Distance travelled this month: 1184kmOdometer: 4460kmAverage fuel consumption this month: 6.9L/100km

Who would win in a fight between the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Subaru Forester? We brought them all together and now we know.

There is about to be an influx of hybrid models hitting the market, with a big difference between an 'electric motor' and varying degrees of what constitutes a hybrid. Does Subaru's first Forester 'e-Boxer' offering meet market expectations?

The first thing you notice when you look at a Suburu Forester is that it's a solid looking car.

Subarus and I have an interesting relationship. I was the proud owner of a MY00 Impreza WRX, back when I didn't care about the cost of insurance and what other people thought I did for a living.

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the 2016 Subaru Forester tS with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Subaru's Forester has just entered its fourth generation and finally has cast off the last vestiges of the distinctly agricultural original. The new Forester has a big job to do - keep the Subaru faithful happy as well as take on some serious competition.With a fresh face, a new interior and an intriguing gearbox and engine combination, does the Forester XT not only keep its countrymen at bay, but can it stave off the Europeans too?The Forester XT Premium sits at the top of the Forester range. Equipped with a down-sized 2.0 litre turbocharged engine, it gains more power and torque over the outgoing model as well as improved fuel economy, a claimed 8.7l/100km.The Forester range starts with the manual, steel-wheeled 2.0i priced at a sharp $30,990. Various other 2.0 and 2.5 litre petrol models and a 2.0 litre diesel fill a busy range before arriving at the $43,990 XT. The Premium package adds $6500 to bring us to the $50,490 sticker price of the car we tested.All XTs come with the Lineartronic continuously variable transmission, which pretends to be an eight-speed automatic when the driver presses the Sport # button or shifts the stick to manual mode. Sadly for some, no manual transmission is available.Premium adds Subaru's EyeSight driver aid package over and above the standard airbags and ABS brakes. EyeSight system covers lane sway and departure, forward collision warning and obstacle warning. It also teams up with the cruise control to brake the car to a stop if the car in front is stopped.The tailgate gains power operation and the stereo is upgraded to a Harmon Kardon with a 4.3-inch touch screen that displays stereo and phone functions and doubles as the screen for the reversing camera.The seats are leather with classy silver stitching, while steering wheel and shifter are also leather wrapped. The huge sunroof slides back almost over the rear passenger's heads.Dual zone climate control does a great job of cooling the huge cabin, saddled with the extra hard work brought about by the massive glass sunroof, although the dark glass on the rear windows does balance that out a little.The XT Premium takes the price well past the Honda and Mazda competition and into premium European territory. While the spec may not be as comprehensive, badge appeal will be enough to tempt buyers at this level.A BMW X1 diesel automatic starts out at $47,590. It's a 1.8 turbodiesel with an excellent (and traditional) 8 speed automatic. The engine puts out just 105kW but rivals the Subaru's torque figure, coming in just 30Nm short and with a far better fuel economy figure.Even with the addition of a few options, the X1 runs the Subaru close for pricing if you're willing to go without the EyeSight beep fest. The X1 will handle better on the road, less so off it and is not as big as the spacious Subaru.Audi's Q3 is also a contender, the 2.0 TFSI petrol starting at $47,000. Like the BMW, you'll need to tick a few boxes and some features just aren't available. It does have suburban brand cachet and is obviously a better-looking and better-built car. If off-road matters, however, the Subaru is again the winner.The S4 Forester might have a similar silhouette to its predecessor but has a rather more, shall we say, characterful front end. Opinion is divided over the front end but there's no doubting it's a Forester.This new one, however, comes with random slashes in the plastic bumper and bonnet's sheetmetal, a stark contrast to pinched lips of the old one. Front on, it looks like that guy who goes from person to person at a party asking if there's something in his teeth.It all calms down at the windscreen and continues with an upright but well-proportioned theme. The XT is blighted with some unfortunate chrome bits and pieces making the Forester look a little like a grandad express but the striking 18-inch alloys make up for the brightwork.The high roof makes for a lot of glass which gives the occupants a terrific view out. The driver also benefits from repositioned mirrors and a little quarter window at the base of the side window improves the vision to the side of the car.The interior is a huge leap forward, the Forester finally getting a design to call its own. It's still a classic Subaru cabin - home to some flimsy plastic fittings and hard plastic panels, but the soft stuff has found its way in and covers the dash top.Unfortunately, the seats are terrible which is something of a surprise for Subaru. The front seats are hard and unsupportive in almost every direction and the back seats are only marginally better. Slippery leather compounds the discomfort, leaving you sliding around.All Foresters have a five-star ANCAP safety rating. On top of the seven airbags (including a driver's knee bag), ABS with brake assist, traction and stability control, the Premium pack adds Subaru EyeSight driver assist.EyeSight adds lane departure and wandering alerts, forward collision warning and active cruise control. The reversing camera is a welcome addition but a lack of front and rear sensors is a curious omission.The 2.0 litre turbocharged flat four is smaller than the old XT's but with direct injection produces an impressive 177kW and 350Nm of torque. The engine is paired with Subaru's Lineartronic continuously variable transmission that can also behave as an eight speed automatic.The transmission drives what Subaru calls symmetrical all wheel drive which is heavy but more able to cope with demands of off-roading. The system is supported by X-Mode, a driver selectable mode (separate to SI Drive) that changes the torque distribution and activates ascent and descent assist.The XT is never going to be mistaken for a sporty drive. While the body roll of the previous generation has been reined in with an anti-roll bar and stiffer springing, it still rolls a lot more than any of its compact SUV competition.It probably feels worse than it is because you sit quite high in the cabin on terrible seats and have a lot of glass around you, so the feeling of the world moving around you is magnified.The engine is very strong, with the torque arriving pretty quickly once you prod the accelerator. Unlike the old turbo unit, this one is much more refined, but at the cost of the trademark Subaru warble.Under a heavy foot, the engine responds with a pleasing woofle from the turbo, which is the only real aural indicator things are happening. The CVT takes a little while to spool up but when engine and gearbox are working together, the Forester really does shift.The steering wheel has two buttons on it to control the SI-Drive. There are three modes - Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp. There isn't a great deal of difference between Sport and Intelligent.Intelligent is supposedly a more relaxed drive but it makes the transmission too lazy when you're rolling and doesn't banish the hesitation on the uptake from standstill. Sport is the better mode to be in and doesn't seem to affect the fuel economy, which is way off the claimed 8.7l/100km - we got 12l/100km in mixed driving.Sport Sharp is where things get a little more interesting. The CVT switches into a stepped auto, mimicking a normal automatic transmission.It feels more natural and gets rid of the lawnmower effect of the engine revving at a constant speed while the transmission opens and closes. It also introduces a bit of engine braking which brings some needed security to the handling, but is easily confused, often forgetting to shift up.Whichever mode you're in, though, it won't fix the steering and the handling. For most people who buy the Forester, the handling is safe and competent, so you can skip to the end. But if you're expecting something like a sporty SUV, more like the earlier turbocharged Foresters, this is not the car you're looking for.The tyres have no bite on tarmac and you can hear it understeering around roundabouts. The ride is also quite firm, which feels at odds with the rolling in corners. Slip-sliding around on the driver's seat with the EyeSight warnings bonging at you, you'll eventually give up having fun and go and do something more suited to the car, like ripping off slower cars at the lights.Off-road is where the Forester pulls clear of its competition - it's much more accomplished off the road than on it. High clearance, serious all-wheel drive gear and X-Mode all combine to make the Subaru a car for the weekend warrior who wants something a bit more challenging than most compact SUVs can manage.X-Mode is pitched at novice off-roaders to assist with the different techniques required for steep ascents and descents when off-road. Like a Land Rover, you press the button and let the car take care of the braking downhill while shuffling the power around on the uphill stuff. We had a limited go at it and it was effortless compared to, say, a CR-V.While the ride is still firm off-road, the wheels clearly have a lot of movement available - the on-road trade-off has certainly delivered for those wanting a bit more ability saved for the muddy stuff. And being a Subaru, it'll take some pretty severe punishment while you're there.You'll probably trip lightly past serious four-wheel-drives in the sand, too, while their owners are digging them out. On top of all that, the XT can tow a reasonably mighty 1800kg, way above what most of its competition can manage.There is a bit of a problem, however - the EyeSight system. While the ideas are all solid and work on many other cars we've tested, this one seems a bit half-baked. The lane-departure warning is hyperactive, beeping at anything resembling a white line, such as one of those paint streaks left by a lazy tradie.The obstacle detection stuff goes mental when you're driving through a tight-ish bend and a car is coming the other way. In traffic it never shuts-up, leaving you jabbing at the ceiling-mounted button to switch it off. Problem is, next time you start the car, it's back on and beeping at you.It's more successful when used in conjunction with the cruise control, but again it does weird things. Let the car brake to a stop and all seems well. The cruise control then switches itself off and releases the brake. It's all really annoying and combined with the uncomfortable seats is extremely tiresome.Unless you think the XT is a high-riding WRX, the Forester is all the things that have made it a very important car to Subaru. As a torquey, quicker-than-average SUV with all the benefits of a big interior, five star safety and excellent off-road performance, the Subaru stands alone.And that's what Subaru does - invents a niche and refines it, creating a fan base and then taking care of it. This one is a bit more grown-up, more refined, less characterful to drive but ultimately, it takes the fight to its competition without compromising on what has made the Forester successful.It will struggle to convert those who aren't already fans, especially with the wacky CVT and boat-like on-road handling. And at $50,490, it has to see off some premium badges, too.

Subaru has been in the ‘compact SUV’ market since before that term even existed. The engineering-oriented Japanese marque pioneered all-wheel-drive passenger cars and station wagons over 40 years ago and remains a major player today.This early work by Subaru is paying big dividends today, because compact SUVs compete in one of the fastest growing of all market segments. Interestingly, this doesn’t just apply to Australia; buyers in many other countries are discovering how much sense it makes to own affordable, driver friendly compact SUVs.Which brings us to Subaru’s Forester, the midsize model in the extensive Subaru all-wheel-drive wagon range. So important is the Forester that Subaru Australia imported several pre-production generation-four Foresters to Australia to permit a select group of journalists to drive them on- and off-road this week. The new model won’t reach us downunder till February 2013.In an interesting move, all models in the Subaru Forester range have satellite navigation as standard. However, it’s a rather basic system with maps that look more like kid’s drawings than the real thing.New Forester can be specified with a 2.0 or 2.5-litre flat-four petrol engine, and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. However, only the 2.5 petrol can be specified with an automatic transmission, the others have a six-speed manual gearbox. The automatic is a CVT unit and Subaru’s engineers have done an excellent job of minimising the sometimes irritating ‘slipping-clutch’ sound and feel. Once that transmission is designed to sit behind all engines in the Forester range we are sure it will be a big winner.The fourth-generation Subaru Forester is marginally smaller on the outside but clever design means the interior is slightly larger in most dimensions. Rear seat passengers are the biggest beneficiaries and I found my six-foot frame could sit easily behind itself, if you know what I mean.As is the way with most latest generation cars the Subaru Forester is quieter and smoother than ever before, with cabin noise levels diminished to the sort of levels that used to require an expensive sedan to achieve. Luggage space is lost due to the installation of a full-size spare wheel in an area obviously designed for a space-saver. But given the number of Australian drivers who may take their Forester off road this is probably an acceptable sacrifice.We road tested the EyeSight system fitted to the topline Forester. Unlike other crash avoidance and mitigation systems, Subaru's uses cameras, rather than radar, in its operation. Anything that can be seen by the human eye will create an image behind the cameras’ lenses, whereas radar only works when its beams are reflected back from metallic or similar surfaces, so may not ‘see’ pedestrians, cyclists or animals.Though we never needed Eyesight for crash prevention we did witness the warnings it gave when we deliberately let our Forester wander out of its traffic lane. It was even able to see very vague lines at the edge of country roads, lines that had been all but worn away by age, harsh sunshine and vehicle tyres. Impressive, and a potential life saver in situations that may result in crashes typically classified as ‘unexplained single vehicle accidents’.We did some reasonably serious driving in hills near Canberra as part of the press launch of the Forester. Its ground clearance of 220 mm is greater than that of all its competitors, even of some dedicated 4WDs. So deep ruts and large rocks will seldom cause hassles. The electronic traction controls, tagged X-Mode by Subaru, are arguably the best we have yet experienced; sophisticated, non-intrusive and simple to use. However, X-Mode is only fitted to Foresters with automatic transmission, not on manuals.Downhill and uphill assist are controlled by the throttle and brake pedals, making them significantly more intuitive than the hand controls generally fitted. Even first time off-road users of a gen-four Forester will feel they are experts in the way the wagon responds. Having said that, it may be best that these people have some professional instruction before they become too brave and get themselves stuck.On sealed roads, the added ground clearance of the Forester isn’t a problem unless pushed far harder than is ever likely to be attempted by the typical owner. Even then the electronics will do their best to keep you safe.To say we are impressed by the latest Forester is an understatement. While competing vehicles in this class are becoming softer by the day, Subaru has stuck to its guns and produced a genuine off-road wagon. Even better, Forester’s on-road behaviour has been further refined despite the upgrading of its allroad abilities.Though the new gen-four Forester won’t reach us downunder till February 2013 it may be an idea to contact your Subaru dealer well before then as there is likely to be an initial rush by existing owners wishing to update. However, they won’t have prices at this time.

Living in a consumer-driven nation is Nirvana for those who are stress-free enough to dream and actually have the money to afford the dream.It has created an industry of dream makers - manufacturers who will, at a price, make you anything you want. And if you've ever yearned for more power for Subaru's perpetual Forester, you can stop dreaming.The S-Edition is the offspring that resulted after a one-night stand between a Forester and Subaru's performance arm, STI. It gets a massaged turbocharged engine and STI-inspired extras inside and out but retains the practicality and spacious cabin that have fortified Forester through a barrage of attacks by newcomers.VALUESleeping with STI isn't cheap. The Forester S-Edition is based on the XT Premium model but costs $5500 more because of the more highly-tuned engine, the five-speed automatic transmission (why don't all Subaru Imprezas get this?), a leather and Alcantara mix for the upholstery and a few other bits and bobs.Pretty much everything else is from the XT Premium's goody list, such as the huge sunroof, leather trim and top-notch radio/sat-nav system. But while it's comparative in price to similarly equipped rivals, the Forester doesn't look as stylish and the $50,990 doesn't translate into metal.DESIGNThis is where it all goes a bit wonky. The Forester is a very practical wagon that isn't made in Germany only because Subaru created the shape first. It's based on the time-old line drawing of two boxes - one big, one small - backed into each other and while some of us admire the pragmatic sketch, it's not stylish.It's also been around for a while. Against the Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage and Hyundai ix35 for example, it's dated. Effective, but dated. That aside, it has a lot of clever family-friendly features.I love the flexibility of the cabin - there's flip-up cupholders in the rear seat cushion, remote levers for lowering the back seat, and the back seats are higher than the front so kids have a clear view out the side windows.TECHNOLOGYSTI has either breathed more mumbo into the 2.5-litre turbo-petrol from the XT Premium or detuned the WRX engine. Regardless, it's the hottest box on the Subaru block with 193kW/347Nm, a jump from the XT's 169kW/320Nm. Yet fuel consumption is identical at 10.5 litres/100km average.Best news is the five-speed automatic from the Liberty. This is the only Forester with this box and Subaru goes the extra distance by equipping the S-Edition with paddle shifters on the steering wheel column. Cool.The rest is constant all-wheel drive, MacPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the back. The S-Edition tightens up the screws in the suspension for flatter cornering and this means it misses out on the self-levelling rear end that's a feature of its sisters.SAFETYFive-star crash rating, electronic stability control, six airbags and lots more little nanny aids in the electronics all make this one safe little truck. The high seat height is arguably a potential safety feature, as is the full-size spare tyre.DRIVINGThis was driven back to back with the normally-aspirated 2.5-litre XS model with the four-speed auto. Pointless me talking about which I prefer. The S-Edition has a delightful linear bottom end that gets a kick about 3200rpm as the turbo becomes fully awake. It is, in fact, two engines.Drive it smooth and you'll get decent economy and no ugly photographs in the mail of you in the car. Give it a boot and it raises its head and really gets going. The bonus here is for overtaking, as in the country when passing a truck, for example. Not on the freeway.It's a nice drive but it's no WRX. Part of the problem is it feels like it's on stilts - which it is in comparison to the WRX - and there's some nervous jiggling and hints of some vagueness in the suspension and steering when the power is up.Personally, I'm not confident about pushing this anywhere near as fast into a corner as a WRX. That's not the aim. It's just a quick wagon in the same mold as the Mazda CX-7 turbo and some much more expensive Euro-wagons.VERDICTNo doubting this is a lot of fun. The auto is superb and really makes it an easy drive in the city. It's roomy, comfortable and well equipped but you have to ask yourself if there's value here particularly when there's the less powerful and (only) four-cog auto version in the XT Premium.Perhaps the S-Edition is for the WRX owners who just wants a bit of comfort. Or room for the kids.SUBARU FORESTER S-EDITION Price: $50,990Engine: 193kW/347Nm 2.5-litre turbo-petrolTransmission: Five-speed automatic, AWD Warranty: 3 years, unlimited kmResale: 54%Service Interval: 10,000km or 6 monthsEconomy: 10.5 l/100km; 248g/km CO2Safety: six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TCCrash rating: 5 starBody: 5-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 4560 (L); 1795mm (W); 1700mm (H); 2615mm (WB)Weight: 1585kgTyre size: 225/55R17Spare tyre: Full-size alloyRivalsSKODA OCTAVIA RS 147TSI-compare this carPrice: $39,490Engine: 2-litre, 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 147kW/280NmTransmission: 6-spd DSG automatic, front-driveBody: 5-door wagonThirst: 7.7L/100km, 95 RON, CO2 179g/km MAZDA CX-7 LUXURY SPORTS Price: $45,990Engine: 2.3-litre, 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 175kW/350NmTransmission: 6-spd automatic, AWDBody: 5-door hatchThirst: 11.5L/100km, 95 RON, CO2 273g/km VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 147TSI - compare this carPrice: $42,990Engine: 2-litre, 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 147kW/280NmTransmission: 7-spd DSG automatic, AWDBody: 5-door wagonThirst: 8.8L/100km, 95 RON, CO2 205g/km