2016 SUBARU Forester

Love My Car - Has a Few Quirks

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating:

I've been driving my Subaru Forester for almost a year now. Pros: Safety is huge - my work responds to accident scenes and I've seen a survival in this vehicle I wouldn't expect in others. I loved the way it drove in the snow last winter, it gripped the road while others were skidding out all around me. I was able to drive through a foot of unplowed snow uphill! The back seat has enough leg room for my babies (who are each 6 feet tall). The gas mileage is great, visibility is great and I love the huge sunroof. Cons: The new touch screen has issues. Once in a while it won't work unless I turn the car off and turn it back on. Sometimes my phone isn't recognized by the bluetooth. I wish there was moor light in the rear cargo area. There's a strange pause when I shift gears. It feels questionable when I take corners faster than I should. Overall, I'm happy.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 3

The Pro's - steering is excellent in the car, it can take sharp turns very well. Safety and visibility is also a big plus for the car. Acceleration is pretty good, but the sport shifting can sometimes lag. Head space is pretty good. The Con's - very small backup camera. The center console storage is too far back. The front passenger seat is way to high up, with no ability to lower it. Paint is very thin and scratches easily. MPG is less than satisfactory, and requires premium gas. Vehicle requires maintenance much quicker than other cars. Stock tires absolutely suck!

2nd forester better than first!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 5

Be prepared to visit the dealership often!!!!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: Value Rating: 2

I have to say I want to love this car but in less than 1 month of owning it we already had problems. The interior is comfortable and the drive is very nice. We bought this car for the safety ratings. It's our 1st time venturing away from Toyota. In week 1 the engine lights started going on when you turned the car on. Multiple lights were on showing different issues. My husband took the car back to the dealership and the sensors were replaced. We were told this was a known issue and the problem was fixed. Yesterday we received a letter from Subaru saying the CTV transmission was not filled with enough fluid. Guess we are going back to the dealership. This is a total disappointment! Be forewarned.

Overall impressed

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating:

I own a Highlander ('08 & driven '13 my g/f owns) and also currently driving the '16 Forester to get my '13 WRX serviced. It's the first time I've driven a Forester and after Subaru really designed these cars including the Outback to be a crossover than the old wagon. I was pleasantly surprised at the visibility of the Forester as soon as I got in. The sunroof is HUGE! It's almost too bright (not a bad thing) without any sort of tinted window but felt both very naked but comfortable as I felt as though blind spots were almost non-existent. While it's narrower than the Highlander I was surprised the ride height felt very similar; maybe couple inches or so lower but also didn't feel like the Forester was an enormous car having to be extra careful when parking. Highlander sometimes can be tricky in that sense. I buckled my daughters' car seat & a booster and it was very easy to install. They both sit nice and flat on the seat so the adjustment was easy to do. The cargo space was also great hauling a cart of groceries without any issue. The height of the trunk was also perfect as it doesn't sit as high as most SUV's. I do feel for a family of four this would be the perfect vehicle. If packing extra load for camping I'm sure you can get a cargo carrier and strap them on top. Considering the price of the Forester I didn't expect a ton of technology built in but also was surprised. Bluetooth pairing was I hate to admit x10 easier than my WRX. The touch screen and all the bells & whistles that's built in are far better than what's in my g/f's '13 Highlander. While I don't care too much for the Nanny devices like the lane drifting alert and EyeSight, if you're looking for added safety features it's not a bad thing to have. It has the emergency SOS (Starlink) button which I do feel is a good feature in case of an emergency and need assistance. While I wasn't impressed with the overall control and design of the interior, I guess for the price you would pay it's not horrible. The dial knobs for the temp controls felt stiff and very generic. Back up camera is a very nice touch with the great display for the fuel economy. And speaking of which this car has been getting 28 mpg with mix of city & highway driving. I've yet to see the gas gauge (all digital) go down by a mark. Not a bad thing as my WRX with a turbo get a gas mileage that of a Highlander. Now onto the driving experience, I have a mixed review. It's not race car or V6 power and does have decent power band for the most part. If you have the car packed and need to get out quick, the Forest may not be the fastest car to pull out. It's not terrible either but I felt like it could use a little bit of boost. The ride overall is very comfortable. It's not too noisy and can still have normal conversation. I felt that the Highlander did better in terms of lower frequency noise like the road noise itself. Suspension isn't stiff nor too plush. Cornering and braking was predictable. The brakes are awesome in this car by the way. I almost nose dived not being used to driving this vehicle on the first day. One thing I thought it was odd is the Forester I'm renting after backing out in reverse then shifting back to Drive, there's a weird 2-3 second delay before the drive engages to move forward. And then there was this odd 'pocket' where if you don't have gas going in, the car seems to almost stall like it was a manual car. I had to sort of punch it to get the car going again. It may have been a fluke but considering this vehicle at the time of rental only has 3,400 miles total it may just be the way this car is perhaps. So there's a little bit of lag on the power/drivetrain front but the car excels at the overall ride comfort, visibility, excellent fuel economy and what it offers. Of course if you want more power, I would get either the turbo version or a different model with a 6-cylinder (which I haven't driven like the Outback 3.6R). Headlight is halogen and the high beam was very bright. I felt it was brighter than my '13 WRX. Sitting up higher may have helped also. Overall I would recommend this car; for a small family but not for a family of 5+ (Outback then?). I would love to try this car in the snow but know with Subaru's AWD you can't go wrong (as long as you're not trying to push through heavy unplowed snow.

From a Newbie Owner

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

This rating is based upon two weeks with this vehicle. I can't really respond to some of the questions, i.e. value, reliability or traction.

Take a deep breath!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

It would be nice if reviewers stated what kind of driver they are and what expectations they had going into this. For these purposes, I'm a fairly laid back driver. I drive about 5mph over the speed limit, under limit when conditions are poor, and just like to enjoy the ride. I'm short (5'6"). I'm not a road warrior, don't weave in and out and use my directional. In terms of expectations it's how I get from one place to another. No expectations about style or performance. I'm an advocate from a "keep it simple stupid" school. I do expect to be able to drive capably and safely on the highways, about 80% of the time. I need it to be my "go to" car for my passions , hiking and skiing. It must be competent on forest roads, logging roads, unmaintained roads, generally what I call "soft roading". It must be capable of handling deep snow, icy, slushy and cruddy roads in the depths of the winter. It must be capable of hauling all my trail maintenance tools (I volunteer with the US Forest Service). It must be capable of jamming my skis and gear into it. It must be comfortable to drive in the depth of the winter colds. That means heated seats and a good defroster. It must be able to navigate through heavy snow, which means fog lights. It must be able to drive through 8" of mud on dirt roads in the spring. It must have enough driver's visibility to peer over the heights of land on old forest roads. It must be "maximum man, minimum machine". It means being close to nature, with great visibility and terrific sun roof, all year. It means great fuel economy and lower maintenance costs. It means the longevity of 200K miles or 10 years. I came from an Audi Quattro with far too many gadgets and features. Very capable in the winter, with AWD and snow tires. Problem is, something is always breaking and each repair is costly. Problem is too low a ground clearance, too great fuel (and oil) consumption. My first and last Subaru was a 1981 GL with real 4WD, up/low. I've taken the Forester down the forest roads, used the Xmode and been quite pleased with how it handles the steeps. I love being able to put the seat up as high as I can and seeing great distances. This is very helpful not just on dirt roads, but in seeing wildlife and anticipating the terrain ahead. I'm no longer fearful of road construction portrudences. I'm quite fine with CVT. It's worked quite well under all conditions. I can't wait to get it in the snow in three months. It's a car I don't mind getting dirty. I'm an empty nester, usually hauling only myself around with my gear. Sometimes one other person. I would not consider this as a family car. I'd be looking at an Outback or something else. While I love Jeeps, I have no need for a larger engine or towing capacity or lower reliability. Didn't care for the RAV4, CR5 or other competitors for one reason or another. For me, the non negotiables were sun roof, heated seats. I don't understand the whining about the rubber mats is all about. I put dirt-laden picks, axes, saws and other tools in back. I'm always tracking gravel, dirt, mud and snow into the car. They are just fine. If you want a city car with lots of luxury, there are plenty of choices for you. Just go for the LandRover if that's your style. I could care less about passenger seat adjustments or a lighted vanity mirror. What don't Iike? Mostly small things like more storage compartments, a better stereo (I wil change that out some day), more trunk lighting (I can fix that myself) and a full size spare tire.) I'm glad it has the roof racks for hauling things like a canoe. I like the rear spoiler, but it makes putting a bike rack on the back near impossible. I love the ground clearance. I love that it's pretty narrow, which makes city driving and parking a breeze. BTW , I disabled all those beeps and light flashes when the car is locked and unlocked. No need to draw attention to myself. I've noticed that trying to stream music via bluetooth in the car results in poor audio fidelity. Connecting it by wire give much better sound. For the record, I get 34mpg on trips if I keep it at 60mph. At 70mph, the mileage gets down to 28, which is about my city driving average. I've got my snow tires and am ready to rock. Until then, I'll be on forest roads and highways.

2016 Forester 2.5i

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

We have had this Forester for 4 months. We have the base model with a 6 speed manual transmission. Decent acceleration. Good mileage. Comfortable and smooth ride. Good visibility and comfort. So far we are averaging 27.3 mpg with mostly city driving. We love this SUV. It is our first Subaru. Used to own a 2011 Hyundai Tucson - and this Forester is a big step up.

The perfect car for all-around competence

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

Although this car spends over 90% of the time on well-maintained roads, I got it for its ability to handle dirt roads, so-so trails, and times I need decent ground clearance (like our annual trips to the snow). What brought me to the Subaru Forester from the Nissan XTerra and other vehicles with better off-road competence were its 1) lower price, 2) better fuel economy, 3) better seating comfort, and 4) better handing on regular streets and highways. Outward visibility is excellent. I can drive through traffic without having to lean from side to side to check my blind spots. On highway trips I get around 34 mpg with a full load, and on my daily drive of 80% highway and 20% regular streets by myself I get about 30 mpg. I used at have a 2009 Subaru Outback but did not keep it because my then 11-year old daughter found the rear seat legroom insufficient, but on our recent road trip she and her now 10-year old sister had plenty of leg room in the Forester. Both are about 5'4" tall, and I'm 6'2". Cargo room is decent for the vehicle size. The biggest compromise I had to make to enjoy all these benefits is the slow acceleration. When passing slower vehicles on our recent road trip, the vehicle was less than inspiring (especially when going uphill). The engine revved loudly but the CVT didn't give me much confidence I was going to get enough oomph to pass quickly enough to avoid oncoming traffic. Needless to say, we survived. Subaru gave $250 to the National Parks Foundation when we leased our car, and that was a nice touch (as was the microfiber Subaru pullover shirt they sent us a couple months later).

ok with one major flaw

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating:

I rented this car for a week and it was ok, but it has one major flaw. When I got the car from the rental place it was sunny and then I went driving in a wooded area that had shaded areas and I looked down at the speedometer and I could not tell what speed I was at because the speedometer and tach numbers are made with a muted washed out color, I had to take off my sun glasses and still had a hard time seeing the speedometer numbers. I turned on the lights to try and get some back lighting and it did not help much, and this was on a full sunny day. The speedometer and tach are positioned down into the dash board and the numbers are a weird muted washed out light color which are hard to read, and the small lcd screen between the speedometer and tach looks like something from 1970. I took pictures of this and plan to send them to subaru because it is a safety issue. Overal the car was good, but I could never buy one because I need to be able to see what speed I am at.

Love the Forester

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

We wound up getting the special edition 2017 Subaru Forester XT turbo. We LOVE the vehicle. Its fast, reliable, looks great and my wife is in love with her new truck. I have the 2006 WRX which I love. We are happy to be a Subaru family!!

It'll do

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: Value Rating:

Smooth ride, tho sluggish acceleration. Dealership bragged about mileage- will have to rake their word for it. Handling OK, no need to switch between 2-4 wheel drive - full time "alert" through the car's computer. Interior OK - could be higher end with a touch here or there.

Always Wanted This Car

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 4

I have wanted a Subaru Forester since they first came out. But every time we went looking for a new car, a different dealer was willing to give us a better price, or different make of car came with more bells and whistles or better fuel economy. But this time we got the Forester and are very pleased that we did. We have an excellent view or the road, we feel safe, the car corners and handles quite well -- albeit not like a roadster -- the trim level has the features we wanted but not features we didn't want, and at least so far, fuel economy is better than advertised. Be warned, however, that you will find what you are looking for in the owner's manual only by accident.

Can you adapt to a Subaru

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

If you have long legs, the driver's seat will stay back a lot. An Adult might not be comfortable sitting behind you. There is a downward dip when you get into the car, so when you go to get out you have to remind yourself to lift up your leg or you'll trip when getting out. Sometimes the Bluetooth won't work like it should, the steering wheel will stick a little after making a hard turn and it has a limit to how high it will tilt up. I am still adapting to all the different controls. Only the drivers window will go all the way up at the touch of the button. You have to hold the button for the other 3 windows to make them go all the way up or down. The usb port and a second car adapter plug in site are hidden in the storage box located between the front seats. I had to downsize my cargo holder. Banks still love the resale value of a Subaru, so getting a loan was a little easier. Since I am still adapting to this Subaru, I honestly can't rate everything about it yet. I will say the Subaru service center is Great! Since I brought the Subaru from a Ford dealership, they did an inspection to look for any issues that would need to be addressed.

Love my XT!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I have purchased 2 Subaru Forester XTs now. I love most everything about them, and hope to keep the newest 2016 for years. The biggest downfalls I have found are the lack of rear air, slow AC cooling, and not very family friendly with babies. Although the car is very safe, the lack of rear air is a huge problem. My 7 month old baby is unable to get cooled off quickly due to his large rear facing car seat blocking the middle vents from reaching him. His car seat has also taken up the majority of the back seat, which has made me consider buying a larger vehicle. His stroller takes up the majority of the trunk area. Although I would love to keep the car for years, it may not be possible.

Will know more in 5 years

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 4

We've owned the car for less than a month, so we can't rate any reliability categories, but it is comfortable with nice features and an almost reasonable price compared to other new vehicles in its class... of course, they're all overpriced. Sure would like to see a warranty that matches the claims of reliability, like a 5 year 60,000 mile bumper to bumper.

Disappointed with Forester

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 2 Technology Rating: 2 Value Rating:

Stiff and awkward. poor visibility out back sides. small cargo area.

Great car except for smart phone integration!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: Technology Rating: 2 Value Rating: 28

Used to own a Honda Element but wanted to a more comfortable car with better gas mileage and up to date technology. And I should mention manual transmission. The Forester is the only choice for manual so I went with it. The 2016 Forester delivered on 3 out 4 on my wish list. I really like driving the car and have been averaging close 28 mpg overall with the manual. Love the way it momentarily breaks the car on uphill stops so it makes shifting a total breeze! Now for the major disappoint and Subaru needs to be called out on it! I was looking forward to using the Mirrorlink feature that would allow integration of cell phone apps (like a gps app on the phone) to display and be controlled by the headset displays and controls. BUT the version of Mirrorlink in the car is an old version (1.0) and is incompatible with the versions on smart phones (Mirrorlink 1.1) and you cant downgrade the phones. Subaru customer support has said it would be fixed but its been close to year and now customer support is clueless on it. In the meantime other options are becoming more accepted ... like Android Auto. So its very disappointing the Subaru has done nothing to fix a problem with there software and its looking doubtful they ever will.

After a 4,000 mile road trip.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 28.4

My wife bought this in Oct '15. She drives it 95% of the time. I have my own set of wheels. June '16, we drove this Forester on a 4,000 mile road trip, of which I drove 80% of the time. Prior to the trip, the odometer had 2,300 miles on it. Drove from Minnesota - North Dakota - Calgary, SK, CA - Jasper, AB - Lake Louise, AB - Banff, AB - Coeur d'Alene, ID - Jackson Hole, WY - Gillette, WY - Big Horns, WY - Black Hills, SD - across SD to Minnesota. I say all this to let you know I tested this in all types of terrain, from sharp mtn. curves/grades to long drawn out flat lands. My take on this vehicle: > Blue Tooth usage. Recipients of my calls complain of my voice being "tinny" & broken up. > Sky light - wind buffeting when fully opened - 2 rectangular openings in the wind deflector were way to noisy, had to put duct tape over these openings to quiet down the noise. > Looked into deflector mounted to roof. It covers too much of the opening. Sits in such a position so as to accumulate water in the 2 corners. Don’t accelerate too fast after a rain fall, else a shower you’ll get. >Skylight doesn’t shut automatically when turning off vehicle. - In it’s fully opened position, too much air hitting leading window edge, causing loud reverberation. This happened before the duct tape and after I put it on. > Rear passenger windows - no option to adj. all the way down - don't have small kids. > Driver’s window - automatic function cannot be deactivated. > Vehicle profile - can’t take cross winds well, alot of buffeting back-n-forth. Had hard southerly winds constantly as we crossed over ND/SA/AB, Canada. > Passenger air bag light - cannot shut off this indicator when no front passenger in seat. Annoying to have on. > Driver sun visor - should be able to slide on its’ shaft, extending out so as to cover driver side window better from sun. My Chevy Silverado does this quite well. > Rear hatch in open position - why is there no light on the hatch door to shine down, rather than the cheap side light mounted 12" off floor on the side panel? Cargo/Luggage covers this light. This IS THE ONLY light in the rear area! This is way too dark, especially in low/unlit areas. > All door jamb faces should have a light reflector when in the open position for safety. Most vehicles don’t have this feature, duh??? > Steering/braking/fast maneuvering in a critical situation was most impressive. At 60 mph, on a 2 lane HWY, no shoulders with deep ditch both sides, all most hit a fast moving bull moose coming outta the ditch. Rear hoofs were 12” from driver's corner of the front bumper. Luckily, no on coming vehicles. > Acceleration, braking, cold winter starts, low gear usage, sound system, use of dash board amenities, engine compartment access & maintenance, etc. were all acceptable. > Steering is very "tight", response is quick. > Braking is very good > Gas cost was $300 @ 30+ mpg. average. I kept sharp records on this road trip expense.This is a 4 banging Boxer engine. > Dash area, where electric port located below center radio, the storage area is too low profiled. It should be higher to give more storage area. > Front driver/passenger windows, in full opened position, allows way too much air into faces of driver/passenger. Suspect outside rear view mirrors to be the cause of. I had to keep the windows 3/4 way up to block this irritating wind. Conclusion: I’ll keep driving my Silverado. Ya know, for the money spent on this vehicle you’d think Subaru would spend a couple extra dimes into design/manufacturing to eliminate these piddly annoyances. They spend way to much advertising money to make you think the Subaru is a feel good car, which it is to a point. Subaru, put the extra moo la boo la into common sense design.

Love my new Forrester

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 25

Only had it a few weeks. Enjoying being in it. Love the milage.

Sold On Subaru

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating:

This is my first Subaru purchase which was encouraged by rave reviews of other Subaru owners. I love my Forester and look forward to many safe, comfortable, eco-friendly miles ahead.

Missing in Action

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 27

The Limited version I purchased omits many useful features that have been on all my previous cars at this cost and trim level. Here's a partial list: 1) ignition key does not fold so it stabs holes in pants pockets 2) there is no touch down for Passenger side window 3) there is no auto on for headlights at darkness 4) cruise control only increments in 5mph units after setting 5) there are no clothes hook hangers above back door entry 6) there is no overhead light in cargo area 7)the cargo mat is so rigid that it prevents entry to the useful underneath storage area. And I've only had the car for four weeks. The ride and comfort are as good as reported. I think the Eyesight feature, while usually good is overrated because my limited experience is that its response time is too long for cars cutting you off and thereby requiring instant braking.

Best Subi Ever!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 27

Did tons of research before buying a new car. Since cars are so expensive wanted one that would last long and was reliable. In the end it came down to Toyota, Honda and Subaru. All are very reliable. Subaru has the best resale value. Was set on a crosstrek when I decided to test drive a Forester. Three things made my choice. The incredible vision, no other car I drove came close, the added power, and the ample room to carry cargo. Also the back seats are roomy and actually recline a bit. I'm 6' and feel comfortable in the back seats. I like prefer the styling on the forester because similar cars that look sportier have roofs that slope down cutting down on storage and visibility. I down do rock crawling but I like to drive into the mountains to take photos, this car can go almost anywhere. Service roads and trails are no problem. I opted for the turbo for the added power for freeway driving, also comes with almost everything, only option is eyesight. Subarus trailer hitch is great but expensive. I didn't buy a forester to race around I bought because of practicality and reliability, that being said I love driving it. While many cars corner better, this car can handle swerves and avoidance maneuvers better than anything I have test driven or owned, the AWD is amazing.

Kids are gone, and wife wanted out of her minivan.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 25

We are recent empty nesters, and my wife wanted to downsize from her Honda Odyssey. We really liked the Odyssey, but at 170,000 miles and 14 years, my wife started to doubt its durability. I think it was more perception than reality, but if you feel nervous driving your ride and you can afford a new one, its time to upgrade. We test "sitted" many of the competitors in the small SUV/CUV segment, and my wife was attracted to the Forester for its 1) outward visibility, 2) Subaru Eyesight, 3) practicability, 4) no-nonsense styling, 5) durability, and 6) ruggedness. What is up with other brands using tiny windows? I guess Gen X and Gen Y likes to hide under hoodies and baseball caps. Maybe they should just cover their eyes with their hands. The Forester was the only vehicle that she didn't feel as though she was looking out of a cave. My wife is a blue jeans/track shoes type of gal (she doesn't buy or use makeup!), and the Subaru brand image fits her perfectly. Subaru Eyesight clinched the deal for us. It is driver assistance technology that includes lane departure, forward collision warning, emergency braking, and adaptive cruse control. Its pricing was very reasonable and did not require expensive and unwanted upgrades. Because we are entering our senior years, we felt that these driver aids will come in handy over the coming years. We wish that it also had blind spot monitoring. However, the windows on the Forester are really large, so you don't really need it. I'm a mild car enthusiast and had my doubts about the CVT transmission, but it works pretty well with the engine. There is a little lag with hard acceleration from a stop, and you may think twice about passing a car at 50 mph, but it really is not noticeable in puttering around town or shleping along the interstate. After all, you don't buy a Forester to drag race. We have only owned it for 2,000 miles, but so far so good: no discernible defects or issues. How about me? Well, being ancient, I wanted really comfortable seats, like the zero gravity seats in the Nissan Murano. They are a dream. The Forester seats are comfortable, but not stellar. I would pay more for better seats. Also, the ride could be more compliant. The suspension is a little stiff. Maybe it will soften a bit with more miles. When driving over expansion joints on the highway, there can be a bucking motion that is particularly noticeable for back seat passengers. How about technology? The infotainment screen could be better, but it is acceptable, unless you get your undies in a knot over anything less than iPod ease of use. Come on people. You have a really blessed life if your biggest complaint is hitting the correct station on your touch screen. In summary, we love our Subaru. I hope we don't become those tedious Subaru zombies who rattle on about how great their car is, but I may have gotten the virus. With a little luck, my Subaru will see me out!

Forester 2016

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

Overpriced piece of cheap plastic- lipstick on pig

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 1 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 1 Value Rating: 1

Not only was I taken on the lease, I am shocked how cheaply this car made compared to previous 2006 Forester i owned. The interior is all cheap hard plastic, the car sides bend with pressure of one finger, like a cheap car i had in 1990’s not like previous Subaru. This one already has bad scratch on back because rear has no real bumper but cheap plastic, last one had hard rubber there which showed nothing after hitting garbage can. I got it with all the expensive “safety’ features, but it lacks the most important one, blind spot monitoring. Over all paid fortune, cheated by dealer, and wound up with car that exemplifies cliche of lipstick on pig

Fun and easy to drive

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 29.3

This is a great car. I looked at all the competitors. CRV, Rav4, etc. Chose the Forester. Glad I did. Love the handling, in wet and especially snow. Did a lot of haggling and got a great deal. Mileage in town is about 26, in semi rural areas where the speed is slow but there are few stops, mileage is 34-37. Highway is 31. (I drive fairly economically)Passing is good on the highway. The mirror-link for your phone is a real pain in the ass. Love the visibility around the car. Love the cargo capacity. Roof rack is kind of noisy, but use it often. Liking the CVT trans. LOVE the pushbutton start.

Wanted one for 20 years

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

Great car for the money.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

2016 2.5i Premier SUBARU FORESTER

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I am very pleased so far with my 2016 Forester with eyesight, leather, moonroof, navigation and bluetooth. The price was great at $20500 before taxes and fees. The car is comfortable. It takes awhile to get use to lane departure and eyesight braking warnings, as well as the controlled cruise control. The overall car is great. A technological marvel. I expect it to last me 10 years or more.

Shoulda checked

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

Who can not help but love a new car. I know I do, but after a month of owning my Forester, there are some little annoyances that cant be noticed until you have owned the vehicle. I may be a little critical, but some things you take for granted that they have been tried and approved. The front seats need some added cushioning. It is a little to firm for my aching back that becomes apparent after a six hour drive The power seat is very nice, I just wish the passenger side had some of the same adjustments as the drivers, such as the lumbar support. These things don't become apparent until you have spent time in the vehicle. The climate control blows lots of whatever you want, but my kids in the back seat were complaining of being too hot, or too cool. I thought there was a vent to the back seat area under the front seats, but there are none. The entertainment? screen, AKA the radio, is a touch screen. I think it is the same software as the RAV4. Having to page up or page down to see other programmed stations is cumbersome, and without fail, I miss the touch area to advance, and end up on a different screen. I'm sure I will get used to it, but for now it is a pain. The steering wheel controls are there, and they work well, except you have to step through all the other preprogramed channels. That is just how it works. No fault there. The information screen on top of the dash, although mostly useful, has a number of screen settings that seem to be more fluff than substance. It handles very nicely, but does seem a little too much on the stiff side for the bumpy roads of Ohio, and for the expansion joints of many of our interstate highways. The CVT was a nice surprise. Being old school, I was suspicious of the design, but it is quite smooth. My only gripe is from a stop, it can be a little "grabby" as it engages. I also hope the longevity is on par with their older designs that lasted forever. The AWD system is flawless. They all are. I'm about done, but I need to mention that as I packed for a family trip, I found myself wishing it was a foot longer in the cargo area. Purely for hauling our junk around. Probably owning a mini-van spoiled me, but I still like to take my stuff with me when I head out on trips. Oh and another thing. I didn't realize this was not assembled in the U.S. That could have been a deal breaker. (My 1998 Outback was built in Indiana. Still on the road, but tired)

Too much glass not enough tint or AC

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 3

The NAV system is virtually useless. It has so many safeties that your copilot cannot operate or change the settings unless you pull over and stop the car. The audible directions are horrible. You will be getting on and off Interstates until you cut it off. Requires way too much setup. Google Maps and Nav are much more efficient and trustworthy. Your copilot can recalibrate your smartphone nav while underway. Not so this machine. High level map and GPS coordinates are the only useful items. I do not have the oil issue that others have mentioned as of yet and hopefully won't but it is obvious that this machine is a rolling greenhouse. The glass and there is lots of it for optimum visibility is more than the AC can handle. Especially if you have a moonroof. You can feel the heat coming off the overhead with the blind shut. Not sure I would buy it again, we were not happy with the local dealership either.

Pleasantly surprised with first Subaru

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 5

The acceleration and handling is excellent. When I drive it it feels very stable and sure around obstacles. It is also surprisingly roomy inside.

Burns oil

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating: 2

This 2015 Subaru Forester was my first new vehicle in 12 years. I did my research and test drove a lot of other vehicles before choosing it. Everything was fine until the oil light came on before the first scheduled service. I checked the oil and it was a quart down. I put a quart of oil in and mentioned it when I took the car in for service. The maintenance person I spoke to was completely mystified as to what could be wrong. I have had the car a little over a year and a half and have had to put oil in it three times. The dealership has had me coming back every 1200 miles to do oil consumption test "to see what could be wrong". Three weeks ago I got a settlement notice of a class action suit against Subaru for excessive oil consumption in the 2014 and 2015 Foresters. So, all along the service people must have known what was happening and I can only assume that they were told to lie about it. I like the car, it's fun to drive, but I really resent being treated like an idiot by the dealership I will never buy another Subaru. In my opinion they are completely unreliable.

Very Happy with my new Forester

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

Have had my 2016 Forester for three weeks and about 800 miles. The CVT takes some getting used to , however, the gas mileage is impressive for all wheel drive, given this motor is not broken in yet and I'm getting 27.5 mpg in mixed driving. No rattles, issues or negative impressions. Considered this vehicle because my wife has the 2012 model and loves it and no issues with her vehicle either. The Subaru dealership was great to work with and I feel I got a very good deal. Time will tell but so far this Forester is proving this was the right choice !!!

Love it

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

Great Forester Fun to Drive

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

Great car to drive, very user friendly. Simple, all wheel drive is second to none. I purchased a car from East Hills Subaru my salesman name was James Hoppe, very helpful and understanding. Took the time to show me the car.

Sharp and nimble

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

I have a lot of experience with driving cars, trucks, commercial vehicles. This is a find piece of machinery. In comparing with the competitors I liked the Mazda CX-5 and its snappy little motor. The Skyactive engine they have has a little more snap than the normally aspirated Touring, but I love the flat four and the balance and proven reliability of this set up. If you live in a climate where you have snow and bad roads and want all wheel drive they seem to have an edge on the comp too. Plus, when pricing its as if you don't pay extra for it (AWD) like you do on other vehicles. We liked the Hyundai Tuscon as its really sharp but I didn't want a turbo motor and all the ones we liked had their new 1.6 Turbo. I think Hondas are great but the front seats were lacking and did not have the wonderful seating position and view out of the windshield that the Forester does. Forester manages to have a nice back window you can see out of and still be nicely styled. My wife and I are both shorter drivers (under 5'10") and we had the best visibility out of the Forester. Now to particulars... I like the Eyesight system it works well but can be quirky occasionally and kick itself off. Its not annoying though when it mildly scolds you for getting out of your lane. Given that this is a high end model I would have thought I would have more gauges, i.e. temp / oil pressure / volts. But you get a blue light to tell you when the motor is cold, duh, and thats it. It does not have quite the ride that my 2003 Dodge Caravan does, but of course that has a longer wheelbase and it is a two wheel drive and can't handle much off the pavement. I've only had this car off the road for a short distance once on some un even ground and she was like "lets go!" My wife really likes the tight turning radius compared to our van and she can get the power seat set so she doesn't need a pillow like with most cars. She loves to sit up hight and see out. So far the gas mileage has been very very good. My worst tank early on averaged 26 and the current one is at 30 for 100 miles. It will probably level out 27 or so. If there is road construction and you are held down in speed the mileage keeps shooting up. Driving 70-75 steady will put you at about 26 which is still good. I've only got 1600 miles on it. Thats all I can think of for now. I'm the kind of person who spends hours and hours studying and reading consumers reviews which I think is one of the best measures of a car. If you are coming down in size it will take a little adjusting but its still comfy for couple of hour trips. Happy shopping

I'm a convert!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

First, please understand I was driving a 2008 KIA Sportage manual shift and was very happy with it, when my wife told me it was time to get a new vehicle. Hey, I don't have to be told twice. I did a lot of research, and a lot of looking, and the new KIA's did not suit my purposes. I do a lot of kayaking and other outdoor activities. The new KIA's roof rack design was not conducive to carrying sea kayaks, plus they haven't been highly rated. I also looked at the Toyota RAV-4's, and have experience with the Honda CRV since my wife has one- none seems to be the package I was looking for. The more I read, the more I thought the Forester was just what I needed. Not the sportiest vehicle out there, but reputed to be reliable, good gas mileage, good traction, and roomy without being overly big. The Forester turns out to be beyond my expectations. The kayaks fit easily, and I haven't noticed any decrease in the MPG with them on top. I have been averaging about 29 MPG on non-highway driving. I love the moon-roof, and the entertainment system is great. All the usual driving controls are very intuitive. I've heard complaints about acceleration, but I find it peppier than my old Kia- not a problem merging onto the interstate. The car handles nicely on our winding back country roads, and the high clearance was perfect for the dirt "roads" in the Adirondacks that I frequent. It is quieter than my Kia, and the CVT seems to work much smoother than a traditional auto transmission. There is good visibility while driving. I also read extensively about the oil burning problem reported on older models- this gave me some pause, but after grilling the sales person and service manager, I was assured the problem had been fixed. And so far I haven't used a drop of oil in over 2500 miles. I'll keep an eye on it, all the same. There are only a few things I would like to see improved. The dashboard material is very hard to keep clean- the pollen and dust stick readily to it. The instrument panel display (speedometer, etc.) are the nice red backlighting (protects your night vision) when the lights are on, but the sound system is an LED screen, which I find excessively bright at night. Unfortunately there is only one dimmer switch, and when I decrease the brightness to suitable level, I can barely see the speedometer panel. Another minor annoyance is the design of the door trim. I have long legs, and tend to sit splay legged when I drive, therefore my knee rests against this protruding trim. After an 8 hour drive across the state, I found I had pressure marks.Another adjustment I've had to make is the delay when moving from reverse to drive. Seems to lag a little. It may just be my transition to an automatic from a manual, but I do have to be aware of the change in timing for when I back out onto the road- I need more lead time to keep others from getting perturbed. The "all weather" mats that come as part of the "upgrade" package are quite cheap and ineffective. Subaru should be embarrassed. They would be better off contracting with Weather Tech to make some decent mats- particularly at the sticker price they put on these crappy things. The only other "regret" I have is the interior color. I got the blue exterior, which is really snazzy, but I didn't pay much attention to the seat color, which is a very light shade. I can see that down the road these are going to get grimed up. I guess you can argue the light color seats will be cooler in the summer- but living in the north, that is not a great benefit. I can't fault Subaru for my choice- just be aware. Overall, I am very happy with my new Forester, and I expect to be driving it for years to come.

love subarus

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

this is the third subaru in our fam (2nd forester; there was also an impreza). great gripping, reliability, resale value. we hope to keep it for the next 15 years.

My 1st sub

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 4

It's my first Subaru and it's my first brand new car. So far I have driven 1200 miles and its a joy to drive. I am loving this car as I get a better understanding of its various functions. I have not tested it yet in snow or other rough terrain so I can't speak of it. I hope my relationship with my Subaru will go on like this in coming years to come. But overall it's a nice car to drive.

My new car.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 4

Just drove 230 miles and it was a pleasure. Very tall family and we all fit very comfortably.

Best car ever owned

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

Great power. Good sound systems. Sleek look. Solid feel. Road hugging. Plenty of storage. Bright head headlights. Good looking wheels. Easy read and sophiscated cluster. I am going to sell my BMW and keep this Subaru Forester XT. But this is a well built vehicle. I drove Audi Allroad, BMW X1 and X3 and x4, Toyota Rav 4, Scion Xb, Honda CRV. This is by far, the most well balanced, value and well built vehicle. Don't blindly loyal to Honda and Toyota, imho they just make average vehicle. Anyway want to challenge me, please go to drive the cars yourself and compare, you will know what I am talking about. 2.5 NA is decent but 2.0XT is great. Please don't blindly buy Toyota and Honda, their car overrated. Period.

subbaru mystique

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 4

the forester is a basic plain good car wih a lotyt of features and a reliable foundation No matter what the ads say and how love is a Subaru mystique if you are in the market, new or used for this size SUV this must be on your list. Great entry exit, and a huge picture window they call the windshield makes you feel more a part of driving f the driving experience. The stock tires are noisy and are too harsh riding (Yokohama geolander 91 something) so in due time new treads will clear up this annoyance.

Too Many dashboard and radio features left undone

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 3

Unless you are a major programming artist do not even buy the programmables for mileage, fuel consumption and other dashboard hidden features. They use a paddle system to program all these functions. The automation fights back at every attempt to install even simple things like setting the clock. These features should come with solid pre-set features and maybe allow the user to up-grade the feature if he wants. I am so turned off over this I have given up trying to set the functions. This is my sixth purchase of a FORESTER. Because I anticipate they will do the same thing with unfinished automation when more autonomy becomes available this is my last purchase of a FORESTER. Never again!

2016 Subaru Forester Limited

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

Great gas mileage! Roomy for compact SUV. Ride is little stiff. Only complaint is that the navigation system should be located near the top of the dash rather than in middle to make it easier to read while driving. Love the large sunroof.

I've got a new Subaru

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I like everything about this car except that the drivers power seat does not have enough adjustments.

Forester XT Premium

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 2 Value Rating: 3

Great highway car. Here in CO, the altitude ranges from 5000 feet in the city to more than 10000 in the mountains, but this car handles all highways the same--80 mph. On straight-flats it gets about 26 mpg, and about 21 mpg in the city. Notice that these figures are about 2 mpg lower than EPA estimate. This is not an error, but I will get back to that in a minute. The vehicle's appearance is plain, which can be charming, but it lacks some 'standard features,' which make it feel cheap. Which it is, unless you upgrade to Touring. In that case the plain appearances and functionality mesh a little better. In my opinion, the car looks best when lowered 2.5", but then you lose "off-road" capability. Which brings me to the car's performance. As I said earlier, the car is a great for highway-driving. It's also pretty fun to drive in the city, too. It easily gets from 0-35 mph in about 4 seconds, and from 60 to 80 in about the same, If power-braking and/or flooring it, it can shave those times significantly. This accounts for the 1 to 2 seconds of turbo lag, which this car has a lot of, at lower speeds especially. The traction control is only okay. It cannot be completely turned off (doesn't really turn off at all), and is slow to react and sometimes over-reactive. The interior is decent with HQ LEATHER or leather/fabric seats, but once again lacking features: better dome lighting, electric passenger seat, push-button start, backseat charger ports, etc. The entertainment system is even COMPLETELY LACKING A FEATURE which has a grayed-out button. It's called MirrorLink, which allows you to connect your phone's display to the head unit's display. This feature works on my phone when I plug it into the car's USB (rendering my phone useless), but does not light up the ML button. Turns out that feature is disabled in the U.S. This one bums me out. Remember how I said the vehicle's mpg is lower than EPA estimates? Well, let me tell more about the car's technology. I have completely filled the tank 23 times since I purchased in Dec 15. Every time I filled up I divided miles driven by gallons filled, and every time I got a significantly lower than the EPA estimates of 23/25/28. For the 20 fill-ups that I calculated: miles since last fill-up divided by gallons filled, I got a range of deviation from -1.4 to -2.1 with an average of 23.3 mpg. This is a 7% average difference from 25 mpg, a somewhat significant value. And I know what this sounds like, but it's not the effects of altitude, because there is a twist. The vehicle calculates and displays values fairly close to EPA's from virtually the same numbers... The altitude would have no effect on the vehicle's calculation of mpg. That's right the MPG CALCULATOR in your Forester is probably incorrect. Check it out. Overall, the car is really GOOD FOR SOMEBODY WHO LIVES AT ALTITUDE, that wants a reliable sport-SUV to get them from point A to B. However, it would be a much better vehicle with: an accurate fuel economy gauge, better UI on infotainment system, a way to completely disable TC and other safety features (such as roll-over airbags that can go off even when the is just on a steep incline). I would trade my car in a second for Forester that has these features plus a six-speed transmission. Add a slightly lower stance, and other STi traits, and I would pay anything.

1st Subaru

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

Have seen the adds and after a test drive leased the vehicle. First time leasing will find out if this was a good choice in 36 months. Vehicle has crash avoidance system. I love it. With cruise control activated vehicle will automatically slow when you approach the vehicle on front of you and maintain a safe distance until the vehicle moves and then will accelerate to pre-set speed. No more tapping the brake and re-engaging. Vehicle handles well and has a great sound system. Controls and features are very intuitive.