2017 Subaru Forester XT Touring - Redline: Review 

I picked up a 2017 Forester XT with eyesight. This review is inline with what I was thinking. CRV, RAV, Escape were just boring. This XT is on an entire different level. Xmode for offroading, great engine response. It's truly a rare SUV

Picked up white xt. It is fast and so easy to drive. Visibility with this vehicle is crazy good.

Great review. You pretty much nailed it. I've had XT Touring fully loaded for a couple thousand miles now. It's so much fun to put in S# and hit the gas. I drive pretty much all city and if I keep my foot off the floor it averages about 23mpg (only drops to 21.5ish if I drive harder). Really comfortable and the visibility is absolutely outstanding. People riding with me are always surprised how quick it is.

I am driving my 2018 XT Touring with Eyesight daily and I love it!

Great review . . . Sofyan demonstrates how much more mature Subaru is at building SUVs. It’s literally in their DNA. The Forester has been one of the best vehicles, period, for many years.

Very detailed and honest review. That smile when you hit the throttle helped with my decision!

One thing to keep in mind when comparing the Forester to the competition, is AWD. Standard on ALL models. And not part-time senses when you need it AWD, but full-time AWD.

Sofyan, that review of the 2017 Forester XT was well done indeed. I had the rare chance to buy a new 2018 Forester XT. Before that I was a Honda man for years. I test drove a 2019 CR-V. The CVT was so poorly matched to any additional horsepower, anyway the Honda salesman did not take care of me. Right next door there is a Subaru dealer. I drove the 2018 XT, I tapped the gas pedal and the Subaru just leaped ahead. Then the salesman warned me. A short drive showed how Subaru got the CVT right. For performance the CVT is there with the right gear change when the turbo kicks in at 2,000 rpm. That's when you said, "Holy shit!" For those STI fans out there, Subaru has been running the 24 hour challenge at the Nurburgring in Germany, running in the SP3T class, for maximum 2.6 liter turbocharged engines, producing no more than 350 hp. If you want some fun, watch the STI running in 2015. With two hours remaining, the STI had a 10 lap lead on the next challenger in class, which was Audi. For their pit crew, STI hand picks eight mechanics from Subaru dealerships in Japan. Here's the 24 NBR Challenge: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jz83oqt_cPE.html

I purchased a 2018 Forester XT Touring. I have had it for over a year now and it brings smiles to the driving experience. My own study of the market for this car and its competitors had me leaning toward the Forester XT. This review sealed the deal to go ahead and buy one. Even compared to the most recent Rav4 Adventure, I still prefer the Forester XT. No buyer's remorse here.

My parents are on their 7th forester xt and i just bought my first 2017 xt. if you decide on the forester, get the turbo! couldnt imagine driving any other suv. literally the suv version of the wrx.

The XT is fastest in S mode with the manual shifter set. , BUT let the car shift automatically while floored; let the Subi do the shifting. You can’t gain anything by shifting manually. Only a suggestion if your into getting max straight line performance.

I have an 2017 XT and all that I can tell is I have a lot of fun when I drive it!!! I don´t like the exterior very much but when you drive it you forget everything about design. I live in a country with a lot of mountains so I appreciate the x-mode. It has good isolation. It is soft with bumps. This car was a surprise searching SUVs. 0-100 km in 7.5 seconds!

I own a 17 Forest XT and recently just beat a new 19' BMW 530i M Sport at the traffic junction. It was satisfying as I overtook him easily from a standing sprint

i own a 2011 STI with big turbo over 400hp i daily a 2014 XT Touring Forester and love it., this guys vid is spot on great daily driver

Damn good looking car and fast with that turbo! Great review. A friend of mine got this exact model back in March and we took a long road trip and it was a fantastic ride.

Dude-awesome review! You are thorough, informative, and entertaining. Thank you.

I have the 2014 xt touring, i love it. Winter is like summer with this car, its amazing. It has a few tiny tiny faults, but not enough to make it not worth buying. I recommend it to anyone who likes speed and sporty feel, but also like to go off- road.

Bought this car is silver near 5 months ago it is great and fast. Only two complaints after about 3 road trips is the absence of vents in the back and the power liftgate is a little slow and finicky.

i have the 3rd generation turbo forester and its so fast and so beautiful. mines a bit outdated but if youre looking for something fast and versatile, this the car

I have had three Foresters... the third being a 2018 XT touring AND I love this vehicle. I had a base 2009, a premium 2014 and I just got the XT a few months ago when all the 2019’s came out.

Again, love that turbo! Auto dimming mirror comes w the garage door remote option. Great review!

For me the real deal breaker with this suv was the seats. There is absolutely no lateral support. I basically had a mild backache by the end of my 1 hour test drive. In terms of powertrain though, I'd give it 5/5.

Love It! Awesome vehicle! I have a 2017 Forester 2.5i premium and absolutely love it! Watching this makes me wish I'd sprung for the turbo but I do love the excellent gas mileage, (average 28.2), and I'd probably get a speeding ticket in the turbo anyway. Honestly the 2.5 is plenty quick enough for me.

This generation XT is a classic great, great vehicle 💪

I drove a Manual 2016, 6-speed. It drove like a Dream!

Nov 2018, my wife bought a 2018 forester xt loaded (white ext w/ brown int)... i convinced her out of a silver 2019 forester sport loaded. Been a month. I use it occasionally. Nooooooo regrets! Best description I've heard is "the awd GTI of SUVs". And... silly, but i miss the look of vent on hood... nerdy guy with a tatoo.

I still enjoy my 2014 XT whenever I drive it. I am almost always in I mode. It’s so fast there is no need for sport and sport sharp though i do sometimes use them.

i picked up an 18 version of these, dont regret it :D

Had one of these. It was very fast! Nice car!

I own one, going on 7yrs now. Great seeing this review lol

I have one. Pros: Great visibility, S# mode allows it be VERY quick, good MPG, snow handling, Moonroof. Cons: I like the way it looks but it is definitely ugly compared to most modern cars, CVT can be unpredictable taking corners fast especially in S# when using the paddle shifters, still a lot of cheap plastics that scratch very easily.

This is what I'm talking about!!!! Definitely NOT long in the tooth!!!!

Lol the door thunk sounds much more firm and solid in person .... just to make things clear

I would have never thought I would like this kinda Subaru but I rode in one and damn. it's nice.

He didn’t touch on the sound system. This trim comes standard with Harmon/Kardon, correct?

Another great review by the ultimate car reviewer, Sofyan! The Forester seems like a pretty solid entry in its class. I will have to definelty put this vehicle on my "Cars To Review" List! It seems like a pretty neat refresh. Especially with that updated interior! 👌🏽 I feel like this vehicle is beginning to show its age in some areas, but overall the Forester seems like it will suit the needs of the average buyer in this market! Also, that Boxster seems like a true joy to drive! Keep up the great work, Sofyan! -DriveAndBeDriven 🚘 "The Quest To Record The Best!" 📽

Forester over the Nissan Rogue any day

Your reviews are always top notch. To use one of your phrases, "best in the business".

My friend just got a 2017 Forrester XT touring. It's a sweet car. Very nice inside and I love the way it drives (she's let me drive it a couple of times). I also really liked the lane assistance and rest of the technology.

They need to make a 6 speed xt forester !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Failed to mention larger brakes and sport tuned suspension on the XT. Makes a world of difference and helped close the deal for me. Have had my 2014 XT for 4 years now and very happy. Waiting to see what 2019 model brings before upgrading.

Actually, there is a dimming mirror and remote start. They are added extras.

This is the best Subaru to get. Bit thirsty on fuel round town but good long term car with enough power for anything.

I love that motor in my wife's 2015 WRX. It's a lot snappier than my old 2006 2.5L WRX.

8:53, you know the Forester has that feature as optional. I have this feature on my 2016 Impreza and my mom has it on her Forester. Also I'm kinda glad Subaru isn't the feature leader. While it would be nice to have some cool techs it's less things to break. Other than that great review!

Great review as always! Subaru lost me with lack of cooled-seats, remote start, and rear lack of heating/cooling vent. At the price point that they ask for the Touring trim level those amenities should be included.

this car is great for longer trips. takes about 10 minutes for torque converter to warm up and start working in colder climates though. that's little odd

We need XT back in the future for forester.

3 years later after buying a Red 2018 Subaru Forester XT Premium I bought a White 2014 XT for a daily drive 2 months ago. Unfortunately due to us migrating I had to sell my 2018 XT with 10,000 kilometers on the cheap. On the same day I sold it I bought a Blue XT Premium. Cost me more and lot more kilometers but just love the 2018 XT Premium...

This was a great review as always. By any chance are you getting a new mazda cx5 anytime soon

Car lease ends in August, definitely picking one of these up. Test drive one, stomp on that peddle, and you'll quickly care less about the lack of Apple Car Play/Android Auto. This is a rare Subaru SUV nowadays with where the company is going with the removal of a lot of their turbo options.

250 hp...man do I miss this engine.

From what I read the initial lag was intentional, below a certain speed ECU will limit engine output to protect CVT from shock.

The 16 and 17 Forester’s were some of the worst in reliability according to Consumer Reports. The 19 and newer are extremely Reliable !

Sofyan, in your experience, who has the best experience in CVT tuning and fake-shifting? Nissan, Honda, or Subaru? I have a Sentra...pretty much terrible and inconsistent.

My 2017 XT Premium has an auto dimming rear view mirror and compass.

I am sill in love with my 2018 Forester XT Touring, same color like in the review. Too bad, this is is the last turbo Forester.... prior to Forester, I had 2015 WRX manual, had to get automatic, since my wife cannot drive stick, so we traded it in for Forester XT, honestly, this is not WRX, but you get way softer ride and more usability for family. I will keep it for another 2-3 years, maybe Subaru will change its mind and will release new Forester Turbo, or... maybe electric, or hybrid. While my car was at service, they gave me replacement car, 2020 Forester, so I had like 2 days to drive it - I will never buy non turbo Forester or any non-turbo Subaru.... :)

This was a great, informative and comprehensive review - thank you for it.

One other (good) thing: you call this a compact suv...I was able to place my leather recliner in the hatch - and closed the hatch, too - with the rear seats down, and there was still a good 6 inches between the back of the front seats and the recliner. Like I said in an earlier post, I am only 5'3'', but still, there is plenty room behind the driver/front passenger seats to haul a lot of stuff!

Great vehicle and review.

Sweet review man. I pick my up XT any day now...little bit excited!!!

"Literally" and "Honestly"... two words I wish never to hear again in a car review

Forester dropped turbo for 2019 but the Mazda CX-5 get's turbo for 2019 :)

I'm baffled by the fact that they put the manual in the regular Forester but not the XT.

I went from 17 WRX to an 18 XT. Overall, the XT is great. The transmission is a bit lackluster coming from a manual but by all means performs well for a CVT. My favorite part is being able to hoon offroad and explore most mountain roads. It's also super easy to drive and has great visibility. The sound system...not so great. It's a shame they FINALLY upgraded the technology and then dropped the turbo. I can't tell if If I like the new styling more or not.

I'd love to get one and mod it out for a winter car

Weird, my 2015 xt touring has an auto dimming mirror.

Great review dude! It made it to my top 5 compact SUVs shortlist...

Is Subaru's still having head gasket issues? I would love to buy one but not if these issues are still happening

Looks like a nice vehicle. You didnt show or mention anything about the secondary display? What is it for? What information does it contain?

Just got this exact car today! Thanks for showing me how to do stuff lol

Great Review Sofyan. I am impressed by the revised interior and the power. The rear end does nothing for me. Quick Question...From a full tank, what did the computer show as the cruising range?

What a great review, I will definitely take a long hard look at the Forester for my next car.

He is always knowledgeable I appreciate his reviews and is it just me or is he looking cuter lately lol hopefully he reviews a Subaru Outback soon

If you like a powerful SUV on a budget. This or the Ford Escape titanium. Confused which is more power handling and cruising at highway speeds

It has remote start you have to tap a lock button 3 times and then hold it

Really want to pull the trigger on one of these. To me it seems it's xt or nothing. While I like the look of the xt it's not fantastic looking. I can overlook this due to other factors, performance, utility ect. being top notch.When do you think they will do a complete redesign? I'm ok buying one but not if a redesign is coming in 2018/19 I'll just wait. It really seems like the perfect vehicle for our young active family. Also does the $1500 tech package only add the eye sight and features that it comes with it? Or does it add more? I can see me turning off a lot features, lane keep assist ect. Would definitely use the adaptive cruise tho.

It's obvious he went into the review using the WRX as a standard to compare against. He even accidentally called the forester a WRX. It's a forester. Once you realize that, and that it isnt a WRX, you can start to truly appreciate its brilliance.

The interior styling is really nice for 2014.

How's road noise in this vs crv and CX5?

you didnt seem to demonstrate the manual mode

Above & Beyond - We are all we need!

Can a non-XT Forester comfortably transport 3 adults and their luggage on a month long road trip in NW US?

I love these, though I wish the Mazda cx5 could get a turbocharged 2.5t this would be a second choice if it didn't have the cvt, I kinda wish this was a little sportier though kinda like what the Mazdas are doing

Hi, I'm shopping for a compact SUV. I know you are a car enthusiast but I'm mostly looking for good visibiliy and for the most comprehensive and complete driver assistance and security technologies. My list Is down to the 2017 Honda CRV Touring, the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium with driver assistance package and finaly the 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring with EyeSight. I live un Quebec, Canada where we have a lot of snow during the winter. The canadian models are a little different and have differents names. I used the closest americans models as I understand it. Which one would you chose and why ? Thanks.

How is the upgraded sound system on the touring model? on the build website it "sounds" like a great upgrade from the base stereo.

In some videos. I like these headlights. There heated and cooled. I like this suspension system. It’s heated and cooled

I can't decide if I want more refinement or more power! I'm stuck between XT and cx5. The cx5 is a lot more premium looking and features more BUT the forester has almost the same features but with more power which is what the cx5 is lacking. Can someone help me decide which combines luxury and performance/handling the best?

My reading teacher have this car it’s nice I had to help get something out her car and it had Blind Spot Warning, Parking Sensor and more

great review. thank you!!

In 2018 I’m going to do my hardest to find this car when I’m ready for a new vehicle.

I am considering to buy a suv like this, i have a 2012 Mazda3 skyactiv, but need more ground clearance car. I am considering to buy a 2015 Subaru 2.0XT or a 2016 Mazda CX5 AWD 2.5l... my mainly use is city but 3 or 4 times to week i must to pass throuhg a awful track of 2-3 miles where the Mazda3 is just being hit on the floor. What do you recommend? which SUV of those two has the best MPG?

I love my forester I only wish that they would offer the xt in a manual because I was forced to purchase a 2.5

Great review! I am curious to get your input on this: Would you pick the Honda CR-V Touring, or this Forester XT Touring? Take money off the table, just based on features, comfort, and performance, which would you choose?

Love my 2018 Subaru Forester XT with 2.0 litre turbo.

Does Subaru use Toyota parts In their vehicles? Cause the smart entry system is identical to Toyota’s even the beeping sound

An auto-dimming rear view mirror with Homelink *is* available.

The one CVT that Everybody Loves :D

13:25 laugh begins...!

Good review, the dash reminds me of an older Mazda. Styling is pretty dull. Did the sunroof open?