2021 Subaru Forester Review

　　

2021 Subaru Forester Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The fifth-generation Subaru Forester debuted just a couple of years ago, so it carries on into 2021 with relatively few changes. We're pretty fond of it, even if it isn't our top-rated small SUV. The ever-popular Forester slots between the smaller Subaru Crosstrek and the larger three-row Ascent. It's loaded with tons of standard driver aids and tech, and — thanks to standard all-wheel drive and decent ground clearance — it's better than most of the competition off-road.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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) - $24,795 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $27,795 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $29,395 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $31,395 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $34,895 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　There's a plethora of great choices for a small SUV, with just about every mainstream automaker offering a similarly sized and equipped model. Our favorite remains the well-rounded Honda CR-V, though you might also want to check out the Jeep Cherokee, which has similar off-road abilities as the Forester. Is this small Subaru for you? Check out our Expert Rating to read our in-depth take on the 2021 Forester's advantages and disadvantages.

　　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 typical small crossover SUV.

　　

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 most Foresters come standard with heated seats.

　　

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. 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 gives buyers a lot of options depending on how much they want to spend and how fancy they like their cars. Interior build quality is high, and in general you'll feel like you got your money's worth. Subaru offers an average warranty for the class.

　　

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?

While the base Forester comes with a decent list of standard equipment, including a full complement of advanced driver safety aids, we suggest stepping up to the Forester Premium trim. It adds features including a panoramic sunroof and alloy wheels that aren't available on the base model.

　　

2021 Subaru Forester models

The 2021 Subaru Forester is available in five trim levels: base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. As with nearly all Subarus, all-wheel drive is standard on all trims. Feature highlights include:

　　Base

　　The base Forester is reasonably equipped with:

　　2.5-liter four-cylinder (182 horsepower, 176 lb-ft of torque) Continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic 17-inch steel wheels Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Automatic high beams Subaru's Starlink app suite, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system Automatic climate controlYou also get Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver aids:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Forester and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Lane keeping assist (steers the Forester back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)Premium

　　The Premium trim includes all of the base model's features, adding:

　　17-inch alloy wheels Raised roof rails Foglights Keyless entry with push-button start Panoramic sunroof Tinted rear windows Power-adjustable driver's seat 4G LTE Wi-Fi All-Weather package Heated front seats Heated steering wheel Windshield wiper de-icer Multiple drive modes for improved traction in certain scenariosOptions on the Premium include:

　　Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Power liftgateSport

　　As the name implies, this trim gets some sporty touches as well as:

　　18-inch alloy wheels Black and orange interior and exterior accents LED foglights Standard blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alertOptions include:

　　Harman Kardon audio system An integrated navigation system Power liftgate Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)Limited

　　The Limited trim ditches the Sport's black and orange theme but adds:

　　8-inch touchscreen display Dual-zone automatic climate control Leather upholstery Power liftgateOptions for the Limited include:

　　Harman Kardon audio system An integrated navigation system Rear automatic braking Heated steering wheelTouring

　　The top-level Touring trim includes all of the Limited's optional feature and adds:

　　More adjustment and memory settings for the driver's seat Power-adjustable passenger seat Standard driver monitoring system (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) Heated rear outboard seats Heated steering wheel

　　

2021 Forester Highlights

Trim: BasePremiumSportLimitedTouringBase

　　

Base MSRP	$24,795
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$130/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	31.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles