2020 Subaru Forester Review

　　

2020 Subaru Forester Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　Subaru introduced the latest generation of its Forester in 2019, and this small crossover SUV returns almost unchanged for 2020. That's good news for adventurous buyers. The Forester delivers on nearly every area that you're likely interested in, including rugged capability along with comfort and technology at a good value. Critically for some shoppers, all-wheel drive is standard.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 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) - $24,495 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $27,395 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $28,995 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $31,095 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $34,595 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　There's really only one significant downside here: The Forester isn't all that thrilling to drive. The main culprit is the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that's connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It delivers impressive fuel economy but lacks power. Acceleration is sluggish, whether from a stop or pulling ahead of slower cars on the freeway. And unlike a lot of other rival crossovers, a more powerful engine option isn't available.

　　Still, the Forester has personality. Its styling suggests the Forester will be at home in the mountains, and its features back up that sentiment. It has a higher ground clearance than many competitors, and several driving modes ensure the crossover is ready for different road conditions. Inside the comfortable cabin, there is enough technology, storage space, and driving assistance to keep everyone happy taking the long way home. Overall, we think the Forester is a smart pick for a small SUV.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Forester drive? A largely gutless engine holds the Forester back. The four-cylinder engine and CVT automatic take their time getting up to speed. The Forester accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a slow 9.3 seconds during zzdcar testing. Its steering, handling and braking, on the other hand, are more respectable. While the Forester isn't sporty, especially not compared to top rivals, it feels planted and changes direction with speed and confidence.

　　The Forester shines off-road thanks to 8.7 inches of ground clearance and an X-Mode drive setting that includes trail capability and hill descent control. There's much more off-road prowess here than you get in a standard all-wheel-drive crossover.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Forester? Whether you've got a long daily commute or a refreshing retreat on the horizon, the Forester will keep you riding in comfort. The front seats are well-padded and have good bolstering and lumbar support, and the suspension easily smooths out bumps and ruts in the road.

　　Road noise is kept to a minimum. The Forester's tall profile does produce some wind noise, but it's a small price to pay for the commanding seat position and great visibility. Climate control knobs are right where they should be and easy to find without taking your eyes off the road. The available automatic climate control works well, and the Forester's higher trims offer heated seats front and rear.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? All controls inside the Forester are clearly labeled and easy to reach. There's no fussing around or overdoing things. The available 8-inch center touchscreen is crisp and simple to navigate. It also supports a crisp display from the rearview camera.

　　Everything about the Forester seems to have been designed right. Getting in and out is aided by tall doors and an SUV-style ride height. There's enough room for four, and possibly five, seated adults. The driver's seat offers a wide range of adjustments, and the steering wheel has plenty of telescoping range.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Subaru provides infotainment features that any owner, tech-savvy or not, can appreciate. The dual-screen center layout is attractive and easy to use. The navigation system is clear and even takes voice commands well. If Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are more your flavor, Subaru has you covered by making them standard equipment. Multiple USB ports are in both the front and rear.

　　We're especially fans of the driving aids included with Subaru Eyesight. The adaptive cruise control system works well and lane keeping assist, now with lane centering, prevents the Forester from drifting out of its lane. Forward collision mitigation is also included and never activated when it wasn't needed in our test.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Forester is slightly lower in total storage capacity compared with competitors such as the Honda CR-V, but a high roof and clever cargo layout make the space usable for large items. Parents will find the Forester a little disappointing when it comes to installing child safety seats, however. The car seat anchors are buried deep in the rear seats, and fitting large rear-facing seats will be a squeeze.

　　With just 1,500 pounds of maximum towing capacity, towing is not the Forester's strong suit. It's better to look elsewhere if you're pulling anything substantial.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the Forester at 29 mpg combined (26 city/33 highway), which is near the top of the class. In testing, however, we found that the weak engine had us pinning the throttle more, which can make real-world fuel economy suffer a bit.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Forester a good value? The Forester comes in five trim levels, giving buyers a lot of options depending on how much they want to spend and how fancy they like their cars. Subaru offers an average warranty for the class, while buyer satisfaction and residual values are historically outstanding for the brand.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　Acceleration is the Forester's only notable weak point. While it's a big one, it's certainly not enough to detract from all of the vehicle's standout areas. Everything else, from comfort to technology to driver aids to storage capacity to outdoor adventure credentials, is top-notch. Its upright style and rugged components lend the Forester a unique personality, and standard all-wheel drive with a strong ride height backs it up.

　　

Which Forester does zzdcar recommend?

If you're looking for an affordable crossover that can head for the outdoors in style while keeping your monthly payments reasonable, try the Forester Premium. Standard equipment includes a few useful extras that you don't get on the base model such as a panoramic sunroof, alloy wheels and raised roof rails, heated front seats, and a windshield wiper de-icer.

　　

2020 Subaru Forester models

Five trim levels are available on the 2020 Subaru Forester: base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. All models come standard with all-wheel drive, and the only engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (182 horsepower, 176 lb-ft of torque) mated to a CVT automatic.

　　The base Subaru Forester is nicely equipped. It offers seating for five and comes with features such as a rearview camera, push-button start, and 17-inch steel wheels on all-season tires. Inside, Subaru's Starlink app suite and EyeSight driver assistance system are standard. So is a 6.5-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

　　In the Forester Premium, buyers will find an appealing set of upgrades. These include a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, raised roof rails, a power-adjustable driver's seat and hill descent control. The All-Weather package is also standard, and it includes heated seats, heated side mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer. Out on the trail? The Premium offers a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and the X-Mode traction system. The number of speakers for the audio system also increases from four to six.

　　Upgrading to the Sport trim nets a series of minor changes such as 18-inch black wheels, LED foglights, and orange interior and exterior accents. The Forester Sport also gains an additional driving mode, an extra setting for the X-Mode traction system and paddle shifters to simulate seven gears. An optional upgrade package adds an 8-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and reverse automatic braking.

　　The Limited tones down the styling a bit but adds adaptive headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control and leather upholstery. The 8-inch touchscreen becomes standard, as do blind-spot monitoring and a power liftgate. Finally, the top-trim Touring model adds just about all of the Forester's features. It also comes with a power-adjustable passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, premium leather upholstery, and a driver distraction monitoring system (DriverFocus).

　　

2020 Forester Highlights

Trim: BasePremiumSportLimitedTouringBase

　　

Base MSRP	$24,495
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