2019 Subaru Forester Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　

What's new

Completely redesigned for 2019More powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder engineSubaru's EyeSight safety system is standardIncreased passenger and cargo space2.0-liter turbocharged engine has been discontinuedThe first year of the fifth Forester generation introduced for 2019

　　Thanks to its high stance, standard all-wheel drive and available turbocharged power, the Forester has long been a hit with buyers who live in snowy climes or drive off the beaten path. Now Subaru fans who enjoyed the previous model, as well as just about any other consumer shopping for a small crossover SUV, will find even more to love with the redesigned 2019 Subaru Forester.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$130/mo  for Forester Base

　　Forester Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $24,295 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $26,695 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $28,795 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $30,795 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $34,295 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The Forester has grown marginally since last year, giving its already inviting cabin an even greater sense of space. Subaru also reworked the dashboard, giving it a new touchscreen infotainment interface and, for the first time in a Forester, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Mostly, though, owners of the previous model will find this Forester eminently familiar. The interior design is evolutionary, not revolutionary.

　　Safety has long been a Subaru staple, and that association is further solidified for 2019. The EyeSight suite of driving aids — which includes lane departure warning and forward collision warning — is standard on every trim, and features such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic reverse braking are available on most versions. The DriverFocus system debuts on the Touring trim; it incorporates a head-tracking feature and sounds an alert if it senses the driver isn't paying attention to the road. It also uses facial recognition software to store memory settings for up to five drivers. Simply sit down and the seat and exterior mirrors automatically adjust to your liking.

　　Of course, there are some other top models to consider as well, including the roomy Honda CR-V, the sporty Mazda CX-5 and the redesigned Toyota RAV4. But considering its expanded availability of advanced safety systems and tech features, along with its roomier interior and improved all-wheel-drive system, the 2019 Subaru Forester should be an ideal choice for anyone looking at small crossover SUVs.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Subaru Forester as one of zzdcar' Best Small SUVs for this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.8 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our first drive of the 2019 Subaru Forester Touring (2.5L inline-4 | CVT automatic | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.8 / 10
Driving	7.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.5
Utility	8.0
Technology	8.5

　　

Driving

7.0

　　Because of its gutless engine, it's hard to say the Forester is a top performer in its class. The steering, handling and braking are all top-notch, however. It also scores high for its off-road abilities as well as in-town drivability.

　　

Acceleration

6.0

　　The Forester's four-cylinder and its associated CVT automatic are underwhelming in almost every scenario. It's merely acceptable around town, and freeway merging and passing maneuvers take a lot of planning. In our testing, 0-60 mph took a slow 9.3 seconds.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　The brakes are easy to use, but there's a bit of extra travel before you get any real braking action. Under heavy braking, the Forester is relatively stable. At our test track, our test Forester was able to stop from 60 mph in 120 feet — an average distance in the segment.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The steering is responsive and accurate with good weight from the steering wheel. But as is the case with the steering in most vehicles in this class, it's a bit vague. As a result, you can't really tell what the tires are doing from behind the wheel. Its straight-ahead sense isn't as strong as we'd like, but it's not a deal-breaker.

　　

Handling

7.5

　　While the Forester isn't sporty, it does relatively well on curvy roads. There is a fair amount of body roll, but the Forester feels planted and changes direction with speed and confidence.

　　

Drivability

7.5

　　The Forester excels at in-town driving, but the throttle response at low rpm can be a bit jerky, which makes heavy traffic more annoying than it ought to be. Maneuvering into parking spaces takes very little effort.

　　

Off-road

8.5

　　The Forester has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which helps it avoid most dirt-road obstacles. Subaru's drive mode selector (X-Mode) has hill descent control and some trail selection capability. There's much more off-road prowess with the Forester than a standard all-wheel-drive crossover.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　Whether you've got a long highway journey on the weekend or a lengthy daily commute, the Forester can keep you comfortable. The ride is smooth, the seats are well-padded, and the standard automatic climate control will keep you cool (or warm) along the way.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　Both the front and rear seats in the Forester are comfortable for road trips. The front seats have more comfortable padding, but even the relatively stiff rear seats will suffice. The front-seat bolstering is significant enough to hold you in place around corners, and there's a useful amount of lumbar support.

　　

Ride comfort

8.0

　　Ride comfort on the highway is impressively smooth. Even with the optional 18-inch wheels, most bumps and ruts are muted. The road imperfections that do make their way into the cabin feel minor, whether you're on the highway or on a pothole-ridden city street.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　The Forester is relatively hushed on the highway, with no loud noises or significant rattles. There is some wind noise, and the engine buzzes a bit when you bury the throttle for a passing maneuver, but no sound persists enough to be offensive while you're cruising.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　A few simple dials control the cabin's temperature. They're easy to locate and use without taking your eyes off the road for very long. Automatic climate control is standard. Our test vehicle, a Touring trim, came with rear seat vents as well as heated front and rear seats.

　　

Interior

8.5

　　The Forester's interior is very user-friendly. It's easy to get in, and once you're there, you'll find plenty of room to stretch out. The controls are simple, and visibility is expansive thanks to the tall windows and thin roof pillars.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　A big, easy-to-read center screen puts all the basic commands at an arm's reach. Two large knobs and a few well-labeled buttons can also be used. The simple steering wheel controls don't distract from the driving experience either.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.5

　　Thanks to an ideal seat height and an elevated ride height, you can slide in and out of the Forester with no issues. The tall doors mean you don't have to duck down either. The cargo area has a low load-in height when you consider the Forester's significant ground clearance.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The driving position is high, but that means a more commanding view of the road, like you'd expect from a traditional SUV. The driver's seat has lots of range adjustment, so that drivers of varying heights can get easily settled. The standard tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel helps, too.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　The Forester is spacious in both the front and the back, and there is plenty of space for adults in the front and outward rear positions (and just enough in the middle seat). Headroom and legroom are adequate for all but the tallest of passengers.

　　

Visibility

8.5

　　It's easy to see out from the driver's seat thanks to the relatively thin roof pillars. The tall side windows enhance visibility as well. The rearview camera display is crisp.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　The Forester's cabin is top-notch. Combine the crisp center display with soft-touch door panels and tight construction, and you get a very nice place to spend your time.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　A spacious cargo area and lots of small-item storage help the Forester do well in this category. But rivals have it beat when it comes to towing capability and car-seat accommodation.

　　

Small-item storage

8.0

　　The front center console has decent storage, with a deep center compartment and average-size cupholders. The front and rear doors both have generous water-bottle storage.

　　

Cargo space

8.0

　　The Forester is only behind some competitors in cargo space by a few cubic feet. The Forester has 35.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row (the CR-V has 39 cubes) or 76 cubes with the seats folded. The high roof and cargo area layout help fit large items.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

6.5

　　The LATCH anchors are easy to spot, but they are harder to connect to because they are set a bit deep in the seat. Rear legroom is only average for the class, so larger rear-facing seats will be a tight fit.

　　

Towing

6.0

　　Towing isn't the Forester's strong suit — maximum capacity is just 1,500 pounds. The Honda CR-V has the same capacity, but just about every other rival can tow more, with several competitors able to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

　　

Technology

8.5

　　In-cabin technology is one of the areas where the Forester excels. The list of standard safety features is lengthy, as is the list of optional safety features. Few rivals have such easy-to-use systems or as many available driver aids.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.5

　　The Subaru's dual-screen system is easy to use, aesthetically pleasing and well laid out. Navigation is clear, and it's easy to input destinations. Topped-out audio volume could be better, but at lower levels, audio quality from the Harman Kardon system is acceptable.

　　

Smartphone integration

9.0

　　Plugging in a device and indexing songs is quick and easy with the Forester. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. USB ports in the front and back seat help charge multiple devices at once. Apple Maps audio directions can be heard while listening to satellite radio.

　　

Driver aids

9.5

　　Standard Subaru EyeSight and assorted optional driving aids are excellent. Adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, forward collision mitigation, and the DriverFocus system that watches your eyes to see if you're falling asleep at the wheel all operate very well with no false alerts in our test.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　Voice controls are natural, requiring no extra-special language or commands and they understood simple language in our testing. Radio stations, bluetooth, navigation and phone commands are all up for grabs. Apple CarPlay is also accessible through voice controls.

　　

Which Forester does zzdcar recommend?

　　While the base Forester is well-equipped and affordably priced, it doesn't have features that Subaru owners might expect from such a capable small crossover. As such, we think the Sport model is the sweet spot in terms of value for the money. It comes standard with the All-Weather package, which will undoubtedly come in handy during the winter, and additional drive modes that slightly enhance the Forester's capabilities. It is also the least expensive trim available with a blind-spot monitor.

　　

2019 Subaru Forester models

　　The 2019 Subaru Forester is a five-passenger compact crossover sold in five trims: base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. Each trim is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (182 horsepower, 176 pound-feet of torque), paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive.

　　

Subaru Forester Base

The base Subaru Forester trim kicks things off with 17-inch steel wheels, automatic LED headlights, a rearview camera, automatic brake hold, automatic climate control, a driver information display, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, push-button start, selectable drive modes, a height-adjustable driver seat and 60/40-split rear seats. On the tech front, you get Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and a four-speaker audio system with satellite radio, a CD player and Subaru's Best Small SUVs.

　　Also standard is the EyeSight bundle of safety systems, composed of adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and pre-collision warning with automatic braking. The only optional features on the base Forester are alloy wheels, which are bundled with roof rails.

　　

Subaru Forester Premium

Next up is the Premium. It adds the alloy wheels and roof rails, along with a panoramic sunroof, rear spoiler, tinted windows, hill descent control, color driver information display, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable driver's seat, rear air vents, cargo cover, Wi-Fi hotspot, six-speaker audio system and selectable traction modes (X-Mode).

　　Optional for the Premium is the All-Weather package, which brings a windshield wiper de-icer, heated mirrors and heated front seats. You can order it by itself, with keyless entry plus a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert system, or with those features plus a power liftgate.

　　

Subaru Forester Sport

The new Sport trim includes 18-inch black-painted wheels, automatic high-beam control, LED foglights, keyless entry, orange interior and exterior accents, an upgraded driver information display, steering wheel-mounted shift paddles with seven simulated gears, an additional driving mode, an additional traction setting for the X-Mode system and the All-Weather package.

　　A package pairs the blind-spot monitor with automatic reverse braking and an 8-inch touchscreen. This package can be ordered by itself or in conjunction with a nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system and the power liftgate.

　　

Subaru Forester Limited

The Limited nixes the Sport's orange trim, LED foglights and paddle shifters, but keeps the rest of its goodies. On top of those features, it adds self-leveling and adaptive headlights, foglights, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped shifter, leather upholstery, and the 8-inch touchscreen, blind-spot monitoring and power liftgate. An optional package pairs the Harman Kardon audio system and automatic reverse braking with a navigation system.

　　

Subaru Forester Touring

The top-trim Touring model includes all of the previously mentioned optional features, along with the LED foglights, a heated steering wheel with wheel-mounted shift paddles, driver-seat memory settings, an eight-way power passenger seat, heated rear seats with remote-folding levers, and the DriverFocus system.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 Forester articles

　　

2019 Forester Highlights

Trim: BasePremiumSportLimitedTouringBase

　　

Base MSRP	$24,295
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$130/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	35.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles