2022 Subaru Forester

　　

2022 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.

　　The Subaru Forester is your outdoorsy choice for a small SUV. It can go places most rivals can't thanks to its higher-than-average ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. It's also packed with standard safety features and offers a generous amount of cargo space. Now, for 2022, Subaru is enhancing the Forester's strengths even further with the new Wilderness trim.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$131/mo  for Forester Base

　　Forester Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $25,895 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $28,895 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $30,465 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $32,575 MSRPWilderness 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $33,520 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $35,995 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Similar to the Outback Wilderness that Subaru introduced last year, the Subaru Forester Wilderness has a slight suspension lift, giving it a total clearance of 9.2 inches. That's almost as much as a Toyota Tacoma's clearance and helps give the Forester's vital mechanical components underneath a little more breathing room when driving on off-road trails or through heavy snow. You also get chunky all-terrain tires and a few styling enhancements that set the Wilderness apart from other Foresters.

　　Overall, we give the Forester high marks but it does have a couple of weaknesses that might make a Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 or Nissan Rogue a better choice for you. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our test team's full review of the Forester's performance, utility and more.

　　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

　　7.9

　　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 does shine on dirt roads or easy to moderate off-road trails. It has 8.7 inches of ground clearance plus an available X-Mode drive setting that tailors the Forester's powertrain and traction control to driving on dirt. The Wilderness model is especially suited for getting out into nature thanks to its slightly higher ground clearance, upgraded suspension and all-terrain tires. In general, the Forester offers more off-road prowess than 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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below