Just bought a 2015 Forester Premium XT. Absolutely love it! Test drove pretty much every vehicle in the small-medium SUV market in Aus and it was close between the CX5 Touring Diesel, Hyundai Tuscon 1.6T but the Forster came away in my opinion as the best package overall. Awesome vehicle. Only negative is 6 month service intervals .
@@Michael-xi1ej no reason at all to be nervous. I had 2 Toyotas before the Subaru and the scion sucked in the snow!!! But now I’m not scared of the snow anymore . With the Subaru it’s like theres nothing there. You will have so much confidence in the snow .
never had any issues with my forester. I have an 08 xt and it's the best vehicle I have ever owned. I put 150,000 miles on it so far. A close second was a toyota. Subaru has proven to be reliable.
rpaul247 So you would recommend one? I'm planning on trading in my Bmw 3 series. I 'm looking for a more spacious cross over vehicle and it really needs to be reliable. I'm thinking of the 2014 XT. I've heard bad things about CVT's though. Do you know how the CVT behaves in the XT? Do you recommend the Forester?
+Mr Kruger I brought a 09 plate last October with 51,000 miles on the clock , since then I've driven another 8,000 miles and can say from now on id never buy anything other than another Forester if I ever change the one I have now, excellent vehicle and on some journeys getting 46.8 miles to the gallon
21jg130 Awesome! Thanks. I cant wait to go test drive one. I'm hearing only good testimonies from Forester owners. It will be the first Subaru I drive.
Brent Miller, I agree with you on the road noise and rattling, especially in cold climate such as Colorado. The frame less windows on the older models is where the wind noises comes. The newer models have framed windows, I test drove the 2014 models,they are very quiet and comfortable. Mechanically, I have a mildly modified Subaru wrx impreza wagon (turbo back and tune over over 50k miles now), that has zero issues other then regular maintenance, It has over 107k now. You have to Remember you are driving a mid 20ks to low 30ks vehicle here. Not a 40k+ Lexus or BMW.
Driving the Forester is extremely stress-free from what I feel as compared to most other cars I've driven. I think its just the overall feel from its good visibility, confident handling and power to execute what you want to do. It is easy to forget the reliability of Subaru which is quite comparable to Toyota.... Reliable cars are easy to forget as you don't really need to care much.....Can consider this or its Outback brother if you want your SUV to be a reliable partner and workhorse to serve you and your family...
For the guy in the vid trying to recline the rear seatbacks.....the release is a strap at the base of the seatback, not the release at the top to fold the seatback. Two different releases.
I am going to put Yokohama GEOLANDAR on mine just for this reason! I almost went off a whole mountain side due to highway tires and snow! but I've had mine in 2 and a half ft deep snow cruisin along like nothin many a time! love my Subaru!
I have the 2015 2.5L non-turbo version. My only complaint is for winter-related items. The heater is inadequate, particularly at the floor level but the heated seats deliver a good punch . The windows also seem to freeze shut a lot when outdoor temperatures cross back and forth over the freezing mark. In order to minimize the problem I have to constantly remember to clear the floor mats of any snow or ice buildup. Snow always has a habit of landing on the seat when I open the doors unless I have diligently cleared it all away from the door/roofline. I have nothing but praise for the excellent AWD. Coupled with good snow tires and a block heater, I feel nothing winter can throw my way can stop me.
The Honda Element is discontinued.......this may be the next best thing but I'll never let go of my Element. 2003 AWD with MT and 105k on the clock, 0 issues and I push it hard off road and camp regularly in it. CAVERNOUS interior, yet oh-so simple. If the bulk of consumers were true outdoorsmen, it wouldn't have been discontinued. It's a shame the Modern Forrester or 4runner are nearly our only true options outside of a van, yet they are so city-softened (less-so with the 4runner, but I understand it is a different class of vehicle). People care more about touch screen navigation systems (which we all have on our phones, surely) than the ability to store gear long enough to truly escape from the city or sleep in the back of a vehicle, which is a natural air and water-tight shelter. This looks like a great car, don't get me wrong. But it still seems to be for the businessman who likes to ride a road bike on the weekends rather than for a man who enjoys truly spending time in the backcountry.
Did you feel that the front seats did not give enough thigh support? I test drove one yesterday. It was awesome overall, but the bottom of the seat feels a bit short. I'm 6 ft.
Great review! Couldn't agree more. The XT is a bargain compared to similarly equiped competitors & the power is great. I appreciate that the interior is simple & low key. Others in the segment have interiors that are way too busy & feel claustrophobic/small inside (Ford Escape comes to mind). Also, IMO, the XT looks very aggressive & masculine with the front fascia & sport wheels. Gets looks & compliments everywhere we go, especially in Satin Pearl White paint.
Hate to disappoint but the XT (turbo) is not available with a manual. Manual is only available on the naturally aspirated 2.5i model. I wouldn't listen to a dealer as they always give misinformation. A manual is not even available in Japan & their XT has more HP & other features not available in the US. So don't hold your breath. That said, the Sport modes & paddle shifters work great with the CVT. Trust me, the XT is an absolute blast to drive on twisty mountain roads using the paddle shifters.
We have a 2001 forester with automatic transmission, it has a external canister filter on the transmission, which I think was a great idea. We also have a 2009 forester automatic transmission without a filter. I asked a subaru dealership about it, and all they knew was subaru thought a filter was unnecessary. I would bet all else being equal the 2009 transmission fails first.
I just bought a 2015 that is a little used but it has the most durable interiors compared to must cars...ive had a lexus and ive had a cheap hatch back and would say it's right in the middle. Ive test drove loads of cars and this was the most fun to drive! Even more fun than the new 2018 jeep compass. :) You really feel the bumps (not cracks) when your driving and love it!
I bought a 2015 Foster Premium and so far I love the thing except the a/c. While it can get cold, it doesn't provide a constant level of cold air. Many times, even during short drives, the air temperature will seem to vary by 20 degrees and tends to happen most while the car is either slowing or stopped in traffic.
Thomas Risley Because the car isn't getting any airflow because you're not moving in traffic. Check and see if the fans for the condenser comes on it should if you have the A/C fan on full blast if not then try to take it to the dealer.
That's how air conditioning works. When going slow, less air goes through the condensor to cool it. If stopped long enough, the fans will kick on. Putting the car in neutral will help a bit. The engine will idle higher to help make up for it.
Nobody is trolling you dude. I did my research before getting the 2014 XT! My research included all the online reviews, Subaru website, 2014 Forester brochure, Subaru Japan website, RU-vid, Subaru Forester Forum, etc. Do you think that after just a few months, Subaru is suddenly going to introduce a 2014.5 Forester XT w/ manual? Maybe your dealer has a special deal with Subaru? Maybe you need to do research. I encourage you to try & find any article indicating availability of a 2014 FXT manual.
Can anyone offer up an opinion on how good the 6-spd manual is on the forester? Does it have short throws, is the clutch good? I hate the CVT on my Impreza but I definitely want a more livable manual transmission.
I have never owned a Subaru to date but I have been doing lots of reading on the forester and I'm thinking it may be my next car. Because of this I was wondering if there are any owners of a 2014 or 2015 Forester in this group. Here in Canada they are claiming to get 33 mpg city and 45 mpg highway with the 2.5 and a cvt. If anyone in the group owns one please give me some over all feed back on the car. If I am to spend that much for a car I would like to think I am getting one that is good. I now drive a Toyota Matrix awd and very much like the car but all my research on the Forester is making me think real hard about switching to the Subaru. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated either here or inbox my facebook profile. Thanks in advance.
I can confirm that I've reached 5,6L/100km during a trip from Montreal to Ottawa. This translates to about 42mpg. My cousin couldn't believe his eyes when he was looking at the numbers on the screen. I remember that it was during the break-in period and I was pampering the engine and never going above the speed limit (but not much below either). Usually, I get about 6,6L/100km on the highway, which is about 35 mpg. In the city, it's much lower: I get anything from 10-12L/100KM, which is about 22-24 mpg. Note: I have the 2015 Forester 2.5i and those numbers are from summer driving with stock tires...
qtvo That is interesting qtvo. I have the same model and probably average closer to 7.5 L/100km in summer and far less in the winter (about 9L/100 km) on mixed city/hwy driving. I have never seen mileage that low on the highway but have noticed a huge difference between driving 80kph vs 100kph.
qtvo you should be very carrefull about Subaru, I bought one and it is some times act as a stupid engine. for example it suddenly stops and no one knows why it does it like that!
***** Just purchased a 2.5i from Chihuahua Subaru (Mexico) and on my 320 km ride home it averaged about 40 mpg driving at 70 mph that's 64 km/4lt at about 112 km/hr.
Great car... It can do what all others in the segment cannot do... It is a car with practical features for active life, not filled with "luxury" interiors and fragile details, only good to go shopping or to visit Walmart.
great car but the CVT makes it feel like you're crawling and isn't very responsive at all when you really need it. Other than that it's the PERFECT suv i've ever been in
I noticed at the back seats that you were sitting on you were trying to recline the seats tilting the back seats back you are able to do it cuz you were pulling the top button if you were able to look at the very bottom part of the seat there's a little chord pulling that cord reclines back seats for Tyvek I'm just saying
My family recently signed a 36-month lease on a 2016 Forester. It has everything, including premium cloth seats, but no heated seats. Can anyone suggest where my family can seek out an aftermarket heated seat kit that they can install in their new Forester?
They got a 2016 Forester (in June of 2016) for $292/month for 36 months, 36,000-mile lease. It has just about everything they could ask for, but no heated seats. They got used to having them when they leased a new-for-2013 Impreza.
you dont need heated seats unless you have leather. Cloth seats are warm in the winter time and cool in the summer. One of the reasons why I prefer cloth over leather
I only like the forester front, back not so much. Forester is more steer towards elderly folks. I like crosstrek more aggressive definitely looks good on younger generation.
This review was well thought out. To bad that Hitch Hiker had to get in the shot. I would of ram him down to see how the car handled bodily roll overs. LOL.
Jeff Bigsley Huh maybe they fixed it for the 2015 models. I just got a 2015 Forester XT, everything seems ok for now. It has 300 miles on it as of today. When did yours start having oil issues?
Are you trolling?! Watch the video again. KBB clearly states the "base" Forester motor has optional manual & FXT is CVT only! I'll say it again, don't trust the dealers.When they don't know, they make stuff up so they don't look like idiots. When I went to the dealer, I ended up explaining X-mode to the salesman because he didn't understand how it worked. That has been my experience at every dealership! I always know more than them & they try to BS me when they don't know. Pay more attention.
The engine is the same as the WRX. FA20 engine without the enhancements only. Even the engineer says the forester has a built to resemble the performance of a wrx. It doesn't drive like one but it can mimic some characteristics.
well i am currently on the market and i am between, Ford edge, Kia sorrento, Subaru outback/forester and the Hyundai Santa Fe and i still can not decide!!!
Hi Nenita! Good question. One of the biggest differences is the Forester has almost twice the horsepower, but you can see an in-depth comparison of the two here: www.kbb.com/compare-cars/features/2017-subaru-forester-419637-vs-2017-subaru-outback-420002/?psid=csyt1
For 2015 year: Forester is 4" taller (taller windows and cabin) and I think 8" shorter. Running gear is identical. Suspension similar (outback is softer)
with all the great things about this car why does this video seem to focus so much on the things that are not perfect. this car is so low in price. And it rates higher than that those at $60000.00
I bought forester in Aug 2013. it is 2013 model. it is piece of junk. in less than 2 years, have 9 technical problems, the dealer has fixed 2 of them because it is under warranty. the rest the refused to repair. such 3 wheel hubs failed prematurely, air condtion evaporator leaked at 100,000 KM. air condition compressor noise. engine high oil consumption low level light comes on after 3000 KM it took me over one year to convince their workshop manager that this is not normal and insisted that my case to be taken up to Fuji Heavy Industry engineers for their comments. finally agreed to replace engine block. both front shock struts are weak and need to be replace. this list is long. I wrote directly to FHI but did not get any feedback from them. I think they don't believe in something called " customer satisfaction" my suggestion not to buy any Subaru. I will never by another Subaru.
What's up with the name calling? Look in the mirror to see the troll! I was merely trying to provide some useful info & help you avoid disappointment. And, actually, went to the dealer twice before purchase & confirmed no manual XT. I guess, the '14 Forester brochure, Subaru websites, SubaruForester Forum, KBB, Car&Driver, MotorTrend, Autoweek, Motorweek, Edmunds, MotorAuthority, etc are all wrong & you are right. LOL. BTW, reputable Internet sources know what's up way before the dealers.
The 2014/2015 Forester has the worst seats of any vehicle I have driven in my life. Even a $12,000 Nissan Versa base model has seats that are better than these. They are short, narrow, and you don't sit in the seat...you feel like you are sitting ON the seat because the bolsters are stubs. If you aren't like the genderless modern age hipster emo photography manginas with skinny jeans like in the video, you will not fit in these seats and they will cause great discomfort over the long term. Get the Outback instead