2017 SUBARU Forester

Subaru, terribly good!

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: 4 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

I'm 6'6", more room than my Cadillac! Easy to get in and out of, love the adaptive cruise control, and visibility.

Subaru should start making wagons again

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: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

Too bad Subaru doesn't make wagons anymore. I had a 2004 Forester XT that was so much fun to drive. Subaru got bitten by the SUV bug in a big way, quite the shame. I now drive a BMW 328 sport wagon, and the Forester dwarfs my car in the parking lot. Even the Outback seems fat and ungainly. Subaru should get back to what made them attractive in the first place- 4WD and wagons.

No SUV is perfect -- this one is closest

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: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

Compared this to Mazda CX-5, VW Tiguan; my other car is a 2016 VW GTI. The Forester won me over for its well-known virtues: best driving position, visibility, ease of entry, AWD system, modern safety features, fuel economy and (hopefully) reliability. The handling is better than I expected; the ride is never totally settled on the highway, but it absorbs bad bumps with ease. It's pretty quiet -- wind whistle around the mirrors starts above 65 mph -- much quieter than the CX-5. Rear seat is comfortable and very spacious; cargo area is terrific considering the exterior dimensions. I parallel park in the city every day; the visibility, big mirrors and rear-view camera make it easy. The bad: front seats (the standard cloth) do the job but nothing more; feels like you're sitting on them not in them. The interior plastics are mostly hard, shiny, brittle and ugly -- but they fit well. The EyeSight controls are strewn randomly about the cabin; the EyeSight cameras require that the sun visors aren't wide enough to be useful. The power rear tailgate is slow, but it's easy to just use it manually. The USB ports have no ability to retain index information between starts; check out the Forester forums on this issue. Choose the first song on your USB device carefully because you'll be hearing it a lot! But still, the best compact SUV for my needs -- the redesigned 2017 Imprezas give me hope that future Foresters may overcome weaknesses in the current Forester.

Water Water Everywhere

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:

2017 and the first month was great..then came the rain. A puddle of water on passenger side floor. Of course we brought it back to the dealer and wanted it fixed and get things replaced and wanted to know what's going on. Well to our surprise they tell us the air conditioner is blocked and that is causing it. Well I don't know how that can cause a puddle that goes above the floor mat. What the heck how can that be it's bran new. We have owned multiple cars and none have had issue like this. Not sure about Subaru's quality anymore...

I want my VW back

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: Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 2 Value Rating: 4

I purchased a 2017 Forrester after owning 2 VW Tiguans over 8 years, I needed more space and better fuel economy and that's what I got. The vehicle has great space and much better MPH than either of my VW's. l love the headlights ( except the brights only will turn on when the car allows it). I really like the self dimming mirrors. I cant figure out how to remote start the vehicle and my salesman finally gave up because he didn't know either. Interior trim is not durable I am a hockey player and it's definitely not going to hold up. The drivers seat and controls are not ergonomically set up, after 2500 miles i still cant get the seat right. The car is suppose to have better handling and corning than the VW, I disagree it feels clumsy int he corners and almost feels top heavy. In high winds the car gets pushed off the road. Visibility is awesome in this car no doubt. The technology is overwhelming between satellite radio, all the drivers training tools and eyesight you will spend hours in the owners manual. I am sorry I bought this car.

Headaches from toxic fumes from 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: 2 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 1

Dear 2017 Forester owners. I desperately need a feedback. I bought this brand new Forester with all the bells and whistles. Like any new car it had an upholstery smell which generally goes away with time but not in this car. I have been driving this car now for almost 2 months. My whole body would smell like old leather or shoe polish including from my breath. I always owned a new car but never a Subaru. This smell turned into headaches and lightheadedness and watery eyes when I turned my Heater on few days back. To experiment whether it is me only I told my wife to test drive with my son. Just 30 minutes into driving she started getting headaches and watery eyes. She had to stop the car and tell my son to go on the back seat to avoid a/c due to he getting nauseated. I took the car to dealer who found nothing wrong and referred me to Subaru tech team and I am still waiting to hear from them. I have kept my windows open but no improvements. I am so scared to drive because of headaches and drowsiness kicking in. Can someone please let me know if they are going through the same. One article I read showed in 2007 study that Forester was one of the 10 worst car for toxic fume in the cabin. I don't think since 2007 they have done any improvement in the quality of material they are using. Surprisingly only Forester was mentioned and no other Subaru models were mentioned. I felt so bad that I leased this vehicle. If they don't take back I don't know what my options are. Please any advice is highly appreciated. Jay

Leaks water

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: 1 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 2

We bought the car based on all the hype of being one of the best for quality ... loved it ... then one month later and week of light rain and pool of water higher than floor mat on the passenger side. Of course now the worry is what other issues down the road will this cause..smell, rusting who knows..

5k Miles and Loving 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: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

I've had the '17 Forester XT Touring for around 5 months and averaged 1k miles for each of those months--mostly commuting to/from work, but I've also taken the Forester on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains. The twin turbo in the XT adds a lot of pep and the suspension and AWD handle corners with confidence. As far as complaints go, the thicker glass and increased insulation around the doors helps cut down on road/wind noise that many complained about in prior year models, but it's still somewhat noticeable on the highway. Not a major issue for me, especially not with the radio on. All-in-all the car has been comfortable, reliable, and fun to drive.

Sorry I bought this 2017 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: Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating: 1

I had it 5 days & brought it back to the dealer as brakes were squealing & my husband noted the front passenger brake was hot. I was told by dealer mechanic I should have not just stopped by, but should have called to make an appt. I had the car 5 days!!! Car just didn't feel right. Told there was no problem. Then the following week, 5 or 6 days later the check engine light came on & I called for appt. Told me bring it right down. Told there is a problem with O2 sensor software & Subaru has no fix for it yet...that they're working on it. I could feel a lack of power when that engine light came on, but am told that the car is ok & that I should bring it back to have the engine light reset if it comes back on again & that they'll call me when Subaru has a software fix. Brakes still make noise & the engine still feels like it gets a slight "buck" or "bounce" in it. I feel I was sold a product by Subaru when they knew there was a problem with it. Mechanic told me they had another 2017 Forester will the O2 sensor issue as well. I told them I wanted Subaru to take this car back. I was told the dealer manager would call me & he never did. I'm afraid to take this car any long distance. I bought it brand new based on reliability reviews. I bought a new car because I didn't want problems with a used one. Should have bought something else! I will never buy another Subaru. I sure miss my 2011 Nissan Xterra Pro 4x! I gave it to my son & NEVER had a problem with it.

cle's new wheels

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: 4 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

had car 3 weeks - car appears very good - how can anybody give honest evaluation is this period of time

Sleeper Hot Rod Forester 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: 4 Value Rating: 5

This car has lots of power, and handling, and once you get used to it, is superb. However, this car is extremely twitchy, with no slack or weighted steering right in the middle. The '02 Outback Eddie Bauer edition we had, was way better in the steering. This is a serious problem that Subaru should address: Please subaru, drive a German Car, a Mercedes, BMW, or VW, even an old one. You can see how cars should steer. You have to pay attention constantly when driving, good for the Zen meditation expert who wants to use the art of driving as a tool for addressing Life, but poor for the average person that has to text, pay attention to the phone, figure out the climate controls and the radio and has a passing interest in the art of driving. I do love this car, but wish it had more storage, a voltmeter (how come we don't get to know how the battery is doing?), and a little more luggage area in the back, although you can fold down the back seat. (Don't make it any larger!) The styling is sort of "me, too"; but I'm getting used to it, and learning to love it because it is so average. A sleeper Hot Rod, the XT! The headlights are way good, and really shine down our deer laden roads in Wisconsin. I will write a more thorough review once I've had it longer. Oh Subaru! You must address the twitchy steering!

GeezerMobile!

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

It may be an ideal SUV for a small family, but it also fits well for us senior citizens. Easy to park; great visibility; easy to enter and exit - just the right height for that. Very quiet and smooth riding for a small vehicle. Engine and CVT transmission seem perfectly mated for this vehicle. Oh, the best part is amazing gas mileage for an AWD - got 30 mpg out of my first tank for city/hwy combined! What' s not to love!

Get one!

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:

Do your due diligence. You can save much. Shop very carefully.. Not a review, just a practical observation. By the way, the Forester is just great! Totally useful, fun and well designed. Does everything well.

My 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: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 4

Mostly my review is positive. I have one of the higher-end trim packages of the Subaru Forester, and, it is my first SUV as well as first Subaru. I'd love to see better climate control for the back seat people (they must rely on the front seat AC/heat vents to eventually reach them). There are limited amounts of cupholders, and the front two in the middle console are ok, but they are front to back with each other and the back one requires moving the armrest backward to a position where it's not really much use. I suppose the mileage is good for a car this size (I've only had it a month, and I'm averaging 25 MPG). But, coming from a Prius C prior to this, and having 50-54 MPG regularly, this is a bit hard to take. (Deep breaths, it will be ok). The safety features at this point in my life are more important than MPG. I am loving the "Eyesight Technology"! I love sitting up high and feeling a larger presence on the road. Love the steering responsive headlights, and the backup camera is awesome. It's a smooth ride, and a good looking car. It did have a complicated electrical/computer problem the 2nd day that I owned it, so back it went to the dealer for three days. All seems to be well now, after a special technician was called to make an appearance to come to the computer's rescue. It's only been a month, so I cannot speak to the repair cost issue, nor to the reliability of the car, which I will know as time goes on.

try it, you'll want to buy 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: Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

the climate feature is wonderful never knew how much I was fiddling with it to be comfortable, visibility very good, drives and rides really really nice,

Better than I thought

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:

the only down sides, passenger side gas cap and those head rests.

'17 XT Touring attended finishing school

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: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 3

After mixed results with the '14 XT (was first year model, suffered major engine wear covered by TSB), I found Subaru had refined it for '17, smoothing out ride (less jiggly/harsh), reducing interior noise (engine quieter, tires less so), and upgrading interior trim and seat colors. Engine/CVT feel more polished, there are fewer rattles in dash and interior. Gains: LED headlights and brake lights, heated steering wheel, better shaped seats, color graphic displays, lighted vanity mirrors, memory seating. Losses: Harmon Kardon sound equalizer degrades to 3 bands rather than 10, Nav only available with Eyesight. A fair bit of chrome and shiny trim can prove distracting in sunlight. XT's nicely responsive on the road, with option to use regular fuel (at cost of 10 - 15% of power/MPG). Odd that torque vectoring's only available with Eyesight, and that tailpipes soot up quickly. If you drive icy roads ditch the stock Bridgestones for ones having ice grip. Summary: a very practical, pleasant vehicle.

White XT 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: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

Only have for two weeks but car rides a lot smoother and quieter than expected. Great pickup. Fit and finish very good. Expected simple and utilitarian controls and info system and have it. Meets all my needs. Cons so far are few; wipers/lights not synchronized, doors don't lock automatically when car gets going, no glovebox light, needs room to put in 3 car seats. Very good overall SUV.

2500mi on my 2017 Touring

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: 5 Value Rating: 5

I've driven the wheels off this car in the last month, 2 semi-long road trips for family events. I thought about keeping it parked but it's such a nice drive on the highway, I couldn't imagine leaving it in the driveway. This is my first SUV or crossover, I'm coming from a 2011 Mazda 3 5-speed, so I was a bit nervous about the transition to CVT. The shifting is taking time to get used to, but she will get up and go when I need it. The RPMs are usually low when I look, ~2k cruising but up to 6k if pushing it extra hard. The take-off is lacking but I knew that when I weighed the cost of ownership for the turbo; that said, she'll do what you need her to do. The noise is very low this year and it's noticeably so. I listen to audio books which can sometimes be difficult when doing 70mph. The interior is relaxing overall. The visibility makes me less nervous about driving such a big thing and the controls are easy. The navigation is absolutely fantastic and the bluetooth has worked flawlessly. The headlights that turn with the steering wheel are AMAZING for country driving and has helped me see deer in the road. The automatic cruise control and break assist is equally as fantastic. I can honestly say that the break assist may have saved me from rear ending someone already! Within the first week! The car behind me pulled to the side it happened so very quickly! The ONLY con I have really is the automatic headlights. These things make no sense and basically do whatever the heck they want. If you have automatic headlights turned on, you cant override and turn on the brights without holding the stick back. Seriously, WTH!? When I'm coming down by suburban street late at night, I like to watch for my neighbors cats and such but can't turn the brights on without either turning the headlights to manual or holding the stick.

Not So Boring 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: Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating:

This is the best car for the money, safety, features, fuel economy, and price.

Got my first Suburu and love it love it 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: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I have had this car about a month and have loved it since the first drive. So far the car has hit a high mark on every expectation. I had concern about making the change from a BMW sport sedan to a conservative SUV and took months of research, study and comparison to make a decision. I chose Suburu because of safety ratings and the excellent performance of the 'eyesight' option. Changed to a SUV for comfort and a higher ride with better visibility, the Forester because it was the size I wanted, the 2.5 for fuel economy and regular gas, and got the 2017 after reading that this model had a quieter ride... and it does! Steering is smooth, handling is smooth and the turn radius is awesome. Controls are easy to comprehend. The eyesight option is worth whatever the cost although I paid invoice price of $1395. Overall, I got a perfect vehicle for me at a great price.

Solid and reliable but quircky

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: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

Transmission shifts are odd with AC on. Needs more interior storage cabbies. Trunk light is a joke. Passenger side and rear window/lock controls don't light up at night. Seats could be a bit more comfy. Radio controls could be more intuitive. Wish it had speed sensitive door locks and a light in the glove box. On the positive side it is solid,smooth,free of squeaks or rattles and has great build quality and ratings. Wish front passenger seat would fold flat.

Impression at 2 weeks after owning the 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: 5

Overall, l love the car. The handling, the active driving safety features, the gas mileage, the ride, ... Would be nice if there are more pocket/compartment for storage. And the car come with so many control/info features, it would take sometime to get to know and use.

Get out of the van!

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: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

If gas, safety, and all wheel drive are concerns for you then Subaru has vehicles to consider. The 2017 Forester is great on gas, has an awesome safety rating and is all-wheel drive so when it came time to get out of that old mini van, the choice was easy!

2017 Subaru Forester is Great

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:

Back to Subaru))) Very happy.

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: 5 Value Rating: 5

Let me start with saying that I’m a Mazda guy. I owned 8 Mazda in 15 year period. My wife drives 2016 CX-5 GT model and we love that car. I had 2011 CX-9 GT with to many miles, so it was a time to get a new car. Went to Mazda to see what I can get for cheap, like $250-$300 per month lease. Liked the new 2017 CX-9, but it was to expensive. Then my brother told me that Subaru has cheap lease specials. Same day went to see what will I like. I liked the Outback but it was to slow with 2.5i engine option. Outback is much heavier then Forester. So I end it up leasing 2017 Forester because the cheap lease special ($250 per month tax included. $400 down) and the way it drives. This is my second Subaru. The first was 2007 Impresa 2.5i. I loved that car. Drove 95K miles with zero problems, that’s why I decided to get Forester. So far I’m very satisfied. Good acceleration, good MPG for AWD, very comfortable seats. AWD is a big plus. Good handling, very nice and quiet ride. I love all the safety futures, lane assistance, blind spot monitor and break assist. New entertainment system is awesome; 7” touch screen is very easy to use. Backup camera is OK, low quality when it’s dark. The only concern I have is the towing capacity only 1500lb. I have a trailer with 3 dirt bikes on it. Total weight is 1400lb, so I should be OK I hope))) I drove both 2016 and 2017 Forester. 2017 has a better CVT transition (more responsive), less road/wind noise, better interior and looks meaner))). Over all I enjoy driving this car.

Love my new Subie.

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

I bought a 2017 Forester to replace my 2006 model. The new one is a pleasure to drive. The driver's seat and steering wheel can be adjusted in more ways, the interior is quieter, and the sound system is better. My only complaint is that the right-rear blind spot is bad. The rear-seat headrest on that side blocks the view out of that corner. Overall, I love the car.

DECIDED ON A 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

It was an exhaustive search. It boiled down to a Forester, Jeep Cherokee, or Mazda CX-5. All wheel drive is an extra option on both the Mazda and the Jeep. The jeep was out first based on cost with options and the extremely poor reliability rating at Consumer Reports. The Mazda drove like a sports car, but the cost added up fast with options and I didn't like not being able to get heated mirrors unless you stepped up to the top of the line trim level which put you in the low 30k cost area and added options I didn't want. The Mazda had a lot of great electronics, but lets face it, in 5 years they are all going to be like like in-dash VCRs. The Mazda's reliability rating was way below the Subaru, the Mazda was harder to see out of, and since the only traction tests I saw on line were Mazda productions and the only thing they highlighted on was acceleration on a snowy hill from a dead stop and the wheels always turned to the right, I was skeptic about the drive system as well. That and in the test the Subaru driver always seem to be pushing the accelerator hard to make a slip. The only test I would believe is if they chained them both together on a snowy field and did a tug-of-war. I went with the Subaru since I wasn't in the market for a sports car and needed something that would deal well with a Minnesota winter. I got what I wanted for 26k, a time proven all wheel drive system, heated seats, heated mirrors, rear defrost and wiper, and easy to see out of when snow clouds your view and it comes standard with a nice power moonroof which was an extra option on the Mazda. I still have bluetooth, sat radio, and a bunch of entertainment features I don't even care about.

Great 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: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

First 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: Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating:

This is the first Subaru that I have owned. I was looking for a small SUV and I had done a lot of research on them and I was impressed with the Forester. I have had the Forester for almost a month and her are of my observations: Ride: Smooth, quiet and stable; Acceleration: Quick, better than expected; Instrumentation: Excellent; Interior quality: Excellent; Visibility: Excellent with huge windshield and large windows all around; Sunroof: Largest I've ever seen; Car quality: solid as a rock; Safety: There isn't a safer car on the road; Seating comfort and space: Excellent; Cargo capacity: Copious; Gas Mileage: I averaged 33MPG for the first 1000 miles. The Forester is not as swoopy looking as some of its competition but is still a handsome well built compact wagon like utility vehicle.

Loving the 2017 improvements!

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: 5 Value Rating: 5

I purchased a 2016 Forester Limited 2.5i new last year, but upgraded to the 2017 with eyesight, and what a difference! The 2017 Forester is noticeably quieter, there are now lights on the vanity mirrors...it's a girl thing! The eyesight package is amazing, I just love having all that safety technology, especially with all the distracted drivers on the roads. The peace of mind of the SOS button and road side assistance is a blessing. The steering wheel tracking headlights are so cool! There is a redesigned rear view mirror that is easier to use, with a larger viewing area, love that! The upgraded stereo system is noticeably superior! The trade in process was easy and fair. Love love love it!!!

Subaru Forester - Solid AWD vehicle, right price.

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: 5

Great driver 360 visibility, but it is improved when removing rear headrests when not in use.

Upgraded my ride from Honda to 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: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 4

After driving a Honda Element for over 12 years and 200k miles, it was time to upgrade to something nicer. A certain magazine raved about the Forester, and I whittled down my list to the Forester or a Mazda CX5. I chose the Forester because I was just more comfortable in the Forester. I'm a large fellow (horizontally challenged), and have plenty of driver seat room, with a huge amount of space in front of me to adjust the steering wheel to my liking. The back seats have a lot of room for the kids - not as much as the Element, but more than most cars, even higher end cars. The gas mileage has been great - 80% of my commute is on the highway, and I easily get over 30MPG. The weekends when I run errands nearby, no so much... often under 20. My average so far is around 28. Acceleration feels very odd to me, coming from a four speed transmission. The CVT can be jerky, especially under stress (uphill grades or with the AC turned on); it's hard to get smooth acceleration, but when you're at speed, it seems to work really well when you make minor adjustments to speed. Right now I have only two minor criticisms. One, the gas cap is on the wrong side. It will take some getting used to having the gas cap on the passenger side, especially when people are actually following the general rule to pull forward to the farthest pump you can use to make room for others.... and you're going the other way. The other thing is that I wish I could just turn off the screen for the infotainment system. You can turn off the screen under settings, but it comes right back on again every time you start the car. Look - sometimes I just don't want to listen to anything. And it always wants to restart Pandora in shuffle mode. Aside from those minor issues, I'm really enjoying the Forester; it's very comfortable, with a great ride position and great visibility.

Great value for the price

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: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating:

It's a SUV so expect a little more wobbly ride than a sedan.

Controls

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: 4

Everything within easy reach from drivers seat, very logically designed, intuitive,

'17 XT Touring's a refined '14 XT Touring

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:

For '17, Subaru's XT Touring has better sound suppression (though road noise's high on coarse roads), nicer interior (especially trim and seats), a smoother ride (less harshness and jiggles) and a few new features (blind spot detection, heated steering wheel, LED tracking headlights). You'll see a white cloud behind when accelerating hard, but the '14 XT did same with no ill effects. '17 engine and CVT have less quirks and steering's slightly quicker. Sadly, the HK sound system degraded to 3 band EQ rather than multiple bands with saveable presets (the manual incorrectly claims otherwise) and searching for FM/AM/XM station's more of a pain due to revised scanning procedures. Keyless entry's handy but may be subject to hacking. Too new to know reliability but has few rattles (a first among my Subies) and its trim fits well ('14 had numerous mistakes). MPG's the same as the older '14. Tires remain Bridgstone Duelers which are only so so overall and have lousy ice traction (Get Nokian or Michelin instead!) Definitely a better trip car.

2017 Forester Head Gasket failure at 12 Miles!!!!!

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

Went and bought my wife a brand new 2017 Forester Touring the other day. Picked up the car to bring it home and got 12 miles down the road only to see white smoke pouring out the tailpipe! Pulled it over and called the dealer. They sent a tow truck that took over an hour to get to us. It was close to 100 degrees outside and we had our 10 month old baby in the backseat. It got so hot I had no other choice but to start the car to keep my daughter cool. Dealer said they would fix the car. NO WAY, I want a new car! Subaru is trying to just fix the car......lol. Luckily my wife's cousin is a consumer lawyer. Has already received word that Subaru will write me a check for the car I paid cash for and cover his expenses. Unfortunately, after how we were treated by the dealer and Subaru, we will never buy a vehicle from them again!

Great all around

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: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating:

Need improvement on the headlight. But overall, it's a great family car.

Switching from Forester 2009 to 2017

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: 3 Value Rating: 23

WHAT IS WORSE: Instruments panel - terrible light and readability. Barely visible even at max setting of dimmer. No contrast at all. All controls are less comfortable. Like, position of ventilation knob is hard to read. Right button on dash board notoriously still does _nothing_, just sits there. This is just weird. All 'infotainment' stuff is just junk. Car controls must become simpler, not over-complicated. Less storage space inside: central console in 2009 has 2 compartments, now it is only one and smaller. No sliding cover for central console. The place under central 'infotainment' panel is smaller. The place for 'cups' is shallow and smaller. Rear view camera does not beep when in critical proximity. Rear view screen has poor brightness, in sunny day barely visible. Front sun visors are smaller with ugly retractable side extensions. Driver's floor mat 'retention' hooks changed from steady metal knobs to plastic stripes and they are very hard to find, they are moving from side to side. WHAT IS BETTER: rear view camera - the only really useful improvement of controls. Side visibility is better. Added light in the trunk. Added roof rails for all trims. Roof antenna does not swing (always had to adjust it after car wash). Alloy wheels look better and they are lighter. Less road noise. Thicker windshield. WHAT I HOPE WAS IMPROVED: bottom heat shields - on 2009 they start making annoying rattling sounds after 30K mi, now they removed(?) them. All internal panels have better soundproofing - old car was making all sort of sounds, esp. in a cold weather. AND MAIN ISSUE - heads gaskets, I do hope they will not start leaking at 60K.

2017 forester xt touring

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: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

have not had the forester that long,2 big disappiontments would be seats are very uncomfortable(not enough support and could have more padding) 2nd thing is it does not have wipers on/headlights on feature. most states now require this,it would be a nice feature to have. other than that,i am happy with it so far.

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: 4 Value Rating:

After much research I determined that the 2017 Forester was going to be the SUV for me. And I haven't been disappointed...granted I've only had it 2 and half days. The stories, reviews and forum posts were more than enough to help me make my choice. This is not only my first Subaru but is also my first new vehicle. I have to say that the package I picked (2.0XT Touring in Sepia Bronze Metallic w/Saddle Brown leather interior) is stunning!...inside and out. The LED headlights are beautifully done. It is gorgeous! You WILL get noticed. It took about 30 minutes for the guy at the dealership to show me all the features. Acceleration is fantastic for an SUV...and I haven't even been able to test out the turbo yet. First impressions with how it handles on the open road and curvy hills were I live were impressive...for an SUV. I read reviews on earlier models about comfort issues in the front seats. I feel that they are more than adequate in the comfort department on the 2017...remember, this not a sports car. The leather really helps with the comfort factor, IMO. One of my favorite features is the visual display you receive with the large, over-sized sun roof coupled with the large windows. Interior controls don't include anything fancy, but again are more than adequate and reasonable. The 7" touch-screen display seems easy to use and is user friendly. I have not had any problems with Bluetooth with the few calls I've made so far. I could go on with this review but the bottom line is I'm very please with my purchase. And I don't mind the looks I get when driving down the highway either.

Brand New 2017 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: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 4

I have been in the market for a small SUV for a while now. I have driven all of the major players - CR-V, CX-5 and the Forester. I am a long-time Honda person. I liked the CX-5 but it was a bit more cramped inside and the visibility was not as good. The CR-V drove well and had the best CVT behavior but just left me a bit uninspired due to its bland nature. I drove the 2016 Forester and liked it - I have two other family members with Foresters who love them. I found out the 2017 model with a mild refresh was on its way so I waited until they took the first one off the truck at my local dealership (Cannon Subaru in Lakeland is great!). I test drove the 2017 back to back with a 2016 they still had on the lot and the difference was significant as far as solidity, smooth ride and much quieter ride. The new infotainment system was intuitive and easy to use with volume and tuning KNOBS along with a touch screen - compared to the the CR-V's system (a disaster of confusing touch screen with no knob controls!) and the CX-5 which had the frustrating center toggle knob - the Subaru system is much better. The sound quality of the non-upgraded stereo is adequate - meets or exceeds the others in this category. The Forester drives very smoothly and has a solid, quality feel inside and out. The AWD system provides an extra level of stability to the handling. The only small issue is the CVT. Subaru has tweaked the CVT for the 2017 model to attempt to smooth its operation and it is better but still takes some adjustment - this is my first CVT equipped automobile - it is just a different feel and takes adjusting how you drive to a more easy application of the accelerator which gives smooth, linear acceleration (and surprisingly fast!) but driving aggressively with lots of slamming the pedal down - like I was used to doing with the normal automatic equipped small Honda engine automobiles - results in a much worse driving experience with the CVT - I am adjusting and think I'll enjoy the smoothness once I drive a while. If you have never owned a CVT vehicle, I suggest a good test drive to see if you like it - although, your choices are becoming slimmer as most of the major manufacturers are switching to the CVT for its MPG advantages as they attempt to meet the new government requirements. Overall, I would highly suggest you put the 2017 Subaru Forester on your list if you are looking for a solid, reliable, safe small SUV.