2017 Subaru Forester vs 2019
What's the difference?

Subaru Forester

$7,950 - $26,990

2017 price

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Subaru Forester

$11,990 - $32,990

2019 price

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Summary

2017 Subaru Forester

2019 Subaru Forester

By Peter Anderson

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.0L

Inline 4, 2.5L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

7.2L/100km (combined)

7.4L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Off-road ability
Huge cabin
Good ownership proposition

Dislikes

Iffy media system
Tyre roar on tarmac
EyeSight system a bit frantic

2017 Subaru Forester Summary

The Subaru Forester has been a dependable, popular best-seller for the Japanese brand for over two decades. A boxy, practical machine, it's far less interested in the fashion for sleek-looking lifestyle SUVs and rather more keen on function.

Along with the Nissan X-Trail, it is by far the most capable off-roader in its class, but has proven itself comfortable and capable on road as well. It might be getting on a bit in years, but with a new Impreza and XV the priority for Subaru, the Forester continues to be a popular machine on Australian roads.

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2019 Subaru Forester Summary

Subaru is synonymous with bringing effective – and popular – all-wheel drive wagons to market. And its Forester has done pretty well in the past as a comfortable and capable dirt-road tourer, more than appropriately equipped to tackle low-intensity off-roading.

But has the company now tipped too far in the direction of style over substance? Has the Forester lost its way as a bona fide campsite conveyance?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2017 Subaru Forester 2019 Subaru Forester

Verdict

The Forester is a very solid, uncomplicated car. It does a lot of things very well and nothing badly. The range is wide and varied with petrol, diesel and turbocharged boxer fours, but the pick has to be the 2.5i-S. Equipped with the EyeSight safety system, the engine best-suited to the transmission and an unstressed demeanour, it's got the goods as an excellent family SUV.

Verdict

The Forester is nice to drive, rather easy to live with and it’s not hard on the eyes. Subarus are reliably sound, which is why you see a lot of them around, on city streets, in suburbia and on plenty of gravel tracks on the way to campsites. Bonus: there are plenty of outdoors-friendly accessories available, such as kayak or bike carriers, cargo barriers and luggage pods.

While not the most exciting SUV around, the comfortable and capable Forester is supremely well-built for purpose, if your purpose is to tackle light-duty off-roading, mostly on well-maintained gravel and dirt roads.

2017 Subaru Forester vs 2019 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

2017 Subaru Forester vs 2019
What's the difference?