2017 Subaru Forester review from Family Wheels
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- This week, the 2017 Subaru Forester Review. The most requested review we've ever had on Family Wheels. Lots of great new features, improved fuel efficiency and some solid standard kit make the Forester more competitive than ever.
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Just got a 2018 2 months ago used. It’s an amazing car. Great gas mileage and great for those who don’t want a big SUV. I love it.
Thank you for the review . Love your channel !
This answered some questions for me thanks. I used to have one in14-16. Man I want one again SO BAD!
just got a 2017 2.5i premium and love it
Great review! We love our 2.5... Thanks
Love that your videos are so thorough!! Your helping me out a lot on my vehicle hunt. My car was totaled by a drunk driver. So now I am looking for a safe vehicle for my toddler and I.
Glad to help... and that you guys are OK! Let me know what you decide on. I'll be curious to hear!
Great review! Many thanks!
Happy to help!
Brought my first Subaru when I graduated college in 1972!! Gonna buy my second Subaru in 2018!! Just like the product!!
Great review. The stereo cam ACC sounds good. My Outlander has the regular one and it is a bit jerky indeed.
Luggage room is an issue for us and the Forrester might be a little too small (we do use the 7 seats on the Outlander when our daughter has friends coming over). I would choose the 2.0 Turbo because I want to have fun when I'm alone in the vehicle.
2.5l Limited for us, 2016 model, purchased at the end of 2015. We love the car.
we liked our 015 so much we bought an 016 as well. Both with Eyesight and the standard engine. I don't find the CVT to be rubber bandy at all and the adaptive cruise is so worth it, works like a charm and I like that it will slow down and stop the car smoothly as well when you come up to a traffic jam or follow someone down the off ramps. It's plenty powerful enough for merging onto the freeway and passing. I've never felt that it was under powered so the bigger engine to me would be a waste and I've had cars with huge v8's over the years. And driving thru a snow squall on the 402 last year near London very confident even though I didn't have winter tires.
I’m in love with my 2018 xt - I’ve owned about 15 or so cars including sports car and whatnot. This is up there with one of my favorites. It doesn’t everything we’ll, you can’t go wrong with it.
Just picked up my 3rd Forester, second XT ❤
hi! thanks for this video. ive had issues choosing between the wrx and fxt touring. i finally decided to choose the forester xt touring. more practical with the hk sound, storage, room for dogs, mountain/snow community, 6 year old, fishing, etc.. i ordered it with the trailer hitch, roof rack, and seat protector. can't wait for it to arrive.
Hi Ernest. Definitely the more practical choice! It has a great balance between capacity and sportiness. Enjoy and let us know your thoughts once you've had it for a few weeks!
I just got my 2017 Forester 2.5i Touring with CVT at the end of November 2016. Prior to this car, I had a 2003 Forester 2.5XS with a standard transmission. Having just turned 50, I decided that I no longer wanted to shift my own gears in my new car. So far, I've been very impressed, especially with the EyeSight features (adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist, etc.) and the fuel economy (in the mid- to high-20s). I think what I notice the most is that my 2017 is so much more quiet at highway speeds than my 2003. I was deciding between a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the Forester. The EyeSight features are what sold me on the Forester.
has in been reliable? I'm looking at the forester because it's more off-road worthy then most crossovers!
It's been very reliable, but I've only had it for about 2 months. I had my previous Forester for about 12 years and 200K miles and it never had any problems. The worst problem was that it started burning oil for the last 50,000 miles.
Yeah I've heard that, my friends Impreza has that problem
and I still got my 2003 XT ;D and love it! immaculate condition, all leather and this boxter engine and sound..
A very good review.
great review!! I'll add it to the test list. can't wait for the VW AllTrack review.
Thanks for watching, Anderson. Alltrack review coming at you shortly. Stay tuned.
picking up a new 2017 limited leather package no turbo Friday .. pretty excited never had a Subaru before .. thanks for the video good stuff
Thanks, Michael. Enjoy the car and post your thoughts after you've been driving it around for a few weeks, would you?
Great job on this review. I own a 2014 Forester XT and regularly can average 26+ MPG with 93 octane fuel.
That's solid, Jeff. Good for you. How different have you found your efficiency numbers on lower octane?
The area I live in sells 93 rather than 91 octane so I have only run 93 since buying it. Never tried regular.
It is a great, objetive review! love that you made a ton of research beforehand the video. I was between a Mazda CX-5 and a Forester, at the end I took the better choice...Forester. I went with the turbo because it offers way more hp, and I'm planning on extracting more power. Also, the new powerplant (FA20) got me curious.
great job on the video!
Good on you, Gilberto. Enjoy your ride!
great review. just wondering if there is torque vectoring for the 2017 XT in Canada?
Good video. Lots of useful information. I'm going for two. A touring and a touring XT.
Now how do you feel about it?
@@bnighter - Love it. I ended up getting 2 XT's. Fantastic cars. Very versatile with lots of utility for a family of 4 or 5. If you need more? I'd say an Ascent is in order.
Bro!!.Big Sky...rememebr...awesome that I came across your page. cheers!!
Paul Kyser Ha... that's great, Paul. Of course I remember!
Thank you for the informative review. We pickup our '17 Forester 2.5i Touring this Wednesday. We are replacing our "15 model. Hopefully we'll get back to you with our impressions in a week or so. Living in the states, picking up the Forester in Portland, live on the coast. We loved the cvt in our '15 model.
Strange the towing capacity is that low in your area. Over here, the 2017 was rated for 2000kg/ ~4400lbs, which sounds quite reasonable. Great review! :-)
Just got my Diesel ASP Sport package and i love it. i would love to get XT however fuel is way too expensive in where i live.
I'd get the XT ...if it took Regular fuel...but Premium fuel in Canada is expensive! Because of the regular vs premium...I'll be buying the 2.5 - Thank-you for the review... very thorough and honest!
Excellent, practical review! We just traded our 2013 Ford Explorer FWD for a new 2017 Forester XT. I was very impressed with how big the Forester feels on the inside. The XT has every feature our Limited Explorer had except for the self parallel park, which we rarely used. I hadn't driven a Suburu since 1990 or so, a Justy, at that! I think we're going to love the AWD and ability to have the awesome turbo engine.
Thanks for watching, Jody. Yep, the Forester is a long way from the Justy. Still a fun little car in its day, though! Anything you're not liking about your new wheels?
We've been having some stiff wind lately, twenty to twenty five steady, I noticed that the roof rails are a little noisy. The sound is heard through the sunroof glass. Really only noticeable when the radio is off. The low towing capacity is my only disappointment, I have a kayak trailer & 3 kayaks. I don't think the Forester can handle all 3 kayaks at once w/ the trailer.
hey F.W. well I got my new ride on the 23rd of dec. I've been very happy with it I must say .. it drives very nice has a lot of pickup so its no problem for me there . I traded in a 2013 pilot which had move space inside but was worse on gas.... the awd realy feels like its grabbing the road cant wait to drive in the snow . easier pulling in and out of my garage and my wife will find it easier to drive too .. the visability is amazing ..the sun roof is hugh lets in tons of sunlight heated seats are great sound system excellent ... I never had a Subaru before and ill say I realy have no complaints .. I think I'm hooked ....
Thanks for the real world review, Michael. Great to hear from you.
Great video - I just sold my 2011 WRX for a 2017 XT premium about 3 weeks ago. This is the video i was looking for, but couldnt find! Love the XT; fantastic car all around
Paul Seidel Thanks for that, Paul. What are the pros and cons for you now that you've had it for a few weeks?
Well I just rolled 2060 miles today and my complaints are really minimal. The center console arm rest could have some more cushion, windshield wiper fluid comes in the driver side window if you use too much, and the interior lighting could be brighter... Cant really think of anything that impacts me more consistently. My budget was 28k~30k so we drove the competition CX-5, CRV, used Pilot, i own a fleet 2014 Escape Ecoboost AWD (awful), Equinox (awful), used RDX but this car is just a tremendous value for the dollar and Subaru really just kills it in the function and ergonomics departments not to mention safety. The car is also a blast to drive on highway or backroad with the turbo motor - instant torque with confidence! Living in PA i have to deal with the extremes of every season and road condition so the Subaru AWD and X-mode was also a big, big plus. The upgrades from the XT 14~16MY to 17MY definitely helped sell me as well. They are much deserved and appreciated
I feel like everything i had a complaint about in my 2011 WRX was addressed in some way or fixed by leaps and bounds in this new 2017 XT so good on Subaru. I am expecting my first child in Feb, so maybe ill find a few more gripes next year as it really gets put to the test. But yeah no buyers remorse here, I would buy a second if i could afford it
@@paullysofly How's the gas mileage on this now?
@@p_roduct9211 i sold the 2017 XT for a 2019 Ascent last year, but i do recall the XT always getting good MPG with low 30 on the highway. i put some 20k~ miles on the XT. The XT did need Premium gas
I also have a soft spot for subarus, ever since I knew myself we had a Subaru. Personally I would never change!
hey man, just discovered your channel and i love it. Been looking for a small cuv and I narrowed it down to 2017 crv touring and 2017 forester xt. What would you choose between the two?
joe TheBet Hi Joe... I haven't had a chance to drive the new CRV yet so don't feel it would be fair to make any recommendations til I do. If you test drive one, please leave a comment with your comparison. Good to have you watching!
Great video, super helpful. Subscribed.
We have our first bun in the oven, due out in March and we are looking for a preowned Forester's now. we like the Limited trim with Eyesight. What year and/or trim should be my first choice? Thanks !
Get the Touring Model used.
@@rrt08 Thanks, ended up going with a 2016 Limited Tech, couldn't pass up the deal.
Great review...
Firstly your son - so calm and well behaved... Then the dog who despite his size gets himself installed with pride - classic...
In Europe the Forester is rated at towing between 1700 and 2000kg ( 3750- 4400lbs) depending on the model and transmission.... Quite strange why North America has different figures for the same vehicle?
I' ve got my new brand xt 3 months ago. It s superb , everything is up to you, you want hot hatch you get it, you want cruiser you get it, you want off roader you get it, excellent visability, very roomy , stunning moon roof. In city centre this car manoeuvre well (not too big not too small. ) when is snowing or raining gave you you superb safety feeling . What can I say confidece in motion :)
Another Forester convert, Pawel! Lots of people are fiercely loyal to this car. Thanks for watching.
:) By the way , You are doing a great job :) Keep going!!!
Great review but I really don't agree with the cabin noise reduction on the 2017 Forester! I have the 2016 Forester Limited and last weekend I test drove the 2017 Subaru at the So. Bay dealership in L.A. We are really happy with our purchase and I could not tell any, I mean any better noise reduction inside the cab on the 2017 Limited! My wife and I couldn't understand this selling point when we think it doesn't exist! We still love our Subaru and look forward to many years of fun driving it! Our Limited Subaru is nice and quiet inside the cab.
I own myself a Subaru Forester 2017 2.5 litre technology pack. And love it . Driving is very smooth. And the Herman Kardon stereo which u did not mention is excellent. Like you said technology is awesome. I love this car. I never regret my decision to buy forester. One more thing is, entering and exiting to this vehicle is never a problem. My pregnant wife can also enter and exit this vehicle so easily. She love my car too.
Sarath p That's great, Sarath. Glad you're enjoying it so much.
What would you recommend for a family of 3-4? Looking at the forester. Did entertain the Ridgeline but your video talking about the limitations with the rear door caused us to stray away. Awesome videos!
Thanks for writing, Garydavid. A few questions: How old are your kids? How much "stuff" do you need room for in the back? Any brand loyalties or brands you're not interested in? What's your budget?
Family Wheels our kids are 16 months and hopefully one on the way :) stuff? the stroller is what always gets in the way, we have a Tiguan now and we wish there was a bit more room. we were entertaining the pilot but have read about all the horror stories with their transmission. Price? max would be $40k. Brand specifics? no. Thanks again!
So your Tiguan will have around 675 litres of trunk space versus the Forester's 970 litres. I would also encourage you to look at the Outback if you want the extra space because it has better second row leg room and a bit more trunk space, too. Take a look at our review of the Outback, if you haven't already. And if you really want to bump up your cargo and passenger room, the Mazda CX-9 impressed us too. What do you think of those options?
Love the lumbar heated seats prefer fabric to leather very good view all around ride was smooth and easy!
Does the 2017 Forester have rear seats that tilt back a bit? My Outback has that ability and I like that feature. Thanks.
Turbocharged for me, without a doubt. Slap all the bells and whistles on the XT Touring and I'll be a happy girl.
I had my XT since 2013 now here in South Africa.....and I still absolutely adore it! One of the only cars I've owned (and over the years I've owned almost every European and Japanese brand on the planet, except a BMW) that I'm really struggling to find an excuse to sell it on again. I do detest that terribly lethargic auto tailgate, however, and would have liked a manual version even though the CVT is not too bad. We're getting much worse fuel consumption (13L/100km in town) than you did, but both my wife and I like to exploit this machine's power and fill up with 95-octane unleaded.... And ours is the pre-facelift model. We're planning on moving to Canada (Newfoundland) in the coming months, and the only proviso that my two early teenage boys had, was that we are to make sure to own another Subaru (or three) once we're over there....!
That's the thing... if you have a turbo and you're pushing it, you will pay for your lust for the gas peddle! But this is a fun car to push so I can't blame you. Good luck with your move!
I really enjoy your channel. So for you, (price aside) Forester or Q5, Allroad or Outback??
kidluk Thanks for watching! I LOVED the new Allroad but surprise, surprise it's the most expensive of the 4.
I know its been a long time since this review but would you be able to recall how consist it takes for power to kick in when flooring it? I once owned a CLA250 which would inconsistently give me power under hard throttle which is alarming when i need to do a quick lane change manoeuvre..
I think I'd prefer the 2.5 over the turbo. I'd rather get better gas mileage. Great review as always and I hear you on the soft spot for Subarus.
Thanks, as always, for tuning in, Egan.
I watched your Subaru Forester review and I walked to the dealership to get myself one. I picked the 2.5i Touring trim though.
Awesome! Glad I could help. What do you think so far?
I will actually pick the car this week because it was being shipped from Japan. I am just excited!
Nice one! Let us know your thoughts after a couple weeks driving it.
After doing a lot of research over the last couple of years, we replaced our dead Suzuki Grand Vitara with a 2017 FXT. One of the deciding factors was the off-roading capability. I'm not a mud-nut, but where we live we have to deal with Typhoons and the roads can get impassable (water, mud, rocks).
The Suzuki did us proud for 6 years, but I was really disappointed to find that pretty much every manufacturer has given up on the "Sports" part of SUV. We choose the Subaru for the 9" ground clearance and the terrific AWD. Subaru were even kind enough to bring two different models to our house and to let me take them into the mud for a test drive (we live an hour and half away from the nearest dealership).
It also gets a thumbs up from our two medium sized dogs who no longer fight over who gets to sit on the back seat, as the boot is more than ample for both of them to lie down.
The biggest problem I have with the FXT, is staying within the speed limit. You honestly don't realize that you're going over the speed limit until you look at the speedo. This is also the first car I've owned with a Turbo and sometimes it scares the crap out of me when it kicks in and I'm not expecting it to do so. It's like, I'll just pass this guy - whoosh - I'm now 3 miles down the road. Good fun though :)
By the way, we did take a good look at the VW, Honda, Toyota and my neighbors Hyundai (which was half the price of the FXT) before we settled on the FXT.
Great to hear from you, Sam. Thanks for writing. Enjoy your Forester.
Hey, Being a father of one boy with another on the way i really appreciate you're view on these cars, could you by any chance could you do a Crosstrek? i think they are super cool and would appreciate you're opinion on it.
Thanks for watching! Yes, the new Crosstrek is in the cards for the new year. But head's up, I have a friend with a Crosstrek with one kid who regrets buying. He says it's too small for all the stuff that goes along with having a family and wishes he'd gone for the Forester. Keep your eyes peeled for that review in the coming months!
Will you be driving the 2019 redesign soon? I'm personally highly interested about whether 3-across in the back seat would work...
Yep. Within the next few weeks!
Great review! one thing I like about the Forester is the all-round visibility. I have a '09 Mitsubishi Outlander and that was the first thing I noticed when I sat into the '16 Forester. The other thing I like about the Forester (and Outlander) is the higher ground clearance compare to most of their competitors. Are you getting the Subaru Outback as well to review? If you are in the near future, then I'll be interested to hear your thoughts when you compare it to the Alltrack. Is it worth paying a base price of around $35k for only one trim level of Alltrack or a base price from around $29k and at least 5 trim levels for the Outback?
Thanks, Vinay. Funny you should mention visibility, I cut that out of my review in editing but included it in my written review on the website. Yes, it's top notch. I'm working on getting an Outback for later this month. Keep your eyes peeled.
thank
you
I recently drove a 2017 Forester Touring with the 2.5 CVT from Montreal to NYC and back. I had a snowstorm in the NJ, NYC area, as well as a major snowstorm coming back through the mountains on Interstate 87. The Forester performed flawlessly with excellent fuel consumption, comfortable heated seats, and the 20cm (8 inches) ground clearance was a plus, especially if you have a bad back for entering and exiting the CUV. In Montreal on our pot hole ridden, rippled pavement roads, the ground clearance helps. Another plus, you can park in a snowbank, and use the X mode to get out! My only comment is the CVT. I can learn to live with it, it definitely helps to reduce fuel consumption. I notice it as a detail, it did not cause any problems when passing on the (dry) highway surfaces... On the other hand, my companion thought it was a conventional automatic, not even noticing the difference. The Outback, Crosstreck, and Forester are very popular in the Northeast, and I see why!
Love your reviews. I was originally looking at a RAV4... now I'm going to go for a 2017 Forester. A question.... is there a "better" time to buy a new one this year? This will be my 1st car ever! Or... should I wait for a 2018 Forester?
Hi Adam... the best time to buy is when the previous model year needs to get moved off the lot to make room for the 18s. So do some homework and find out when that could be. That's when you'll see some good incentives. But FYI: Subaru doesn't give great discounts (at least up here in Canada) because their cars don't need the deep discounts that some others do. They sell well regardless.
Subaru Canada, is now offering, a 1,500 discount (previously 1,000). I believe that since there is the new re modeled CRV, that is getting all the attention and is priced aggressively (RAV4 is as well now discounted 1,000), the winner is the consumer:)
I have minor complaints with 2.5 automatic. It is slow reacting when I shift to gears to Drive or Reverse, and small side mirrors that does not cover sides well enough so I will add one or two mirrors next to front fenders.
Just ordered the 2.5 with manual. I know it's not as efficient for gas but I like manual and none of the others even offered it. If you live where it snows and on lots of dirt roads like I do then the Forester is...well.. the one I figure.
I love driving a stick too, Christopher. So glad that Subaru offers them throughout their model line-up still. Let us know how you like it once it arrives.
Hi, I'm shopping for a compact SUV. I'm looking for good visibiliy all around 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 Highline with driver assistance package and finaly the 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited with the EyeSight package. All 3 with prepation fees and taxes have a prince between 45--50k in Quebec. Which one would you chose ? Thanks.
Comox will be happier in the Altrax too. I had a Subaru LE 4 dr sedan in '89, LOVED that shift on the fly 4x4. Never did like the newer ones, lastly the Subaru Justy was more fun than these newer models.
Oh yes, the Justy is a Vancouver Island classic. Alltrack review coming at you next week, Stephen.
Family Wheels Perfect ALREADY feeling the wxtra headroom and better MPG...
we got a 2015 forester 2.5i premium and its great! really comfortable, went on numerous family roadtrips! will keep it til it gives out on us!
If you go for a manual transmission in Can. you lose eyesight and the top trim is touring. So I would have to drive both because I love manual and don't commute. But the extras would be nice. I still don't understand why other manufacturers don't understand that seat heaters should be an separate option on all Canadian cars. It get cold here in the winter.
At 6' 2'' do you find yourself needing to duck when you go in the rear?
You didnt mention the max opening height of the powered hatch, it 5' 10", which is annoying to me. In NZ we have fully size alloy spare, but the rear floor height is boosted as the spare has to sit on an angle and wont fit in the rear well sitting flat. Great car other wise, great handling with the boxer, the CVT is so economical compared to the old 4 stage and of course these have camchains now
I would definitely look at the 2.0 one. I just love efficiency in all its forms, and i'm not the "give it the beans' kind of driver. However, it's great that the 2.5 engine is very fun to drive: it just means Subaru was really smart with the engine options which can appeal to a lot of people.
BTW, i wonder how the materials feel on the inside. Is there cheap-feeling plastic everywhere? Also, are the Foresters considered to be reliable statistically? I know they are made in Japan, but still makes me wonder how they age.
PS. that side mirror/window really made me think that Subaru has thought about visibility. I wonder if it can rival the Mitsubishi Pajero Wagon, although being a different class of cars.
Hi Paul... in terms of interior finishes, I found things have really improved in the Forester. There are still some hard plastics in the doors but no more than on the other competitors. Visibility was top notch. And generally, Subarus have a great reliability record but when stuff does go wrong, it's often more expensive than other Japanese brands.
Do these have remote key fob start on any models? thx
Is there any way you could drive this thing down a creek bed for a mile or so and then find an area to jump the creek at around 40 mph or so? I'd like to see how this performs in that manner. Thanks in advance.
XT for sure
Forester XT is a classic 💪😉
Just bought a Forester XT to replace my Impreza. Can't wait to get it!
Let us know what you think once it arrives and you've driven around in it for a couple weeks. Have fun!
Family Wheels I really like my new vehicule. Nice power and really good handling with my Nokian winter tires. The only drawback for me is the fuel economy wich is not that good. I was used to Impreza fuel economy wich is not that good either but that XT turbo sucks some fuel!
Family Wheels Still can't see how you manage 9.5 l/100km even in mixed driving
I'm looking to buy a 2017 Touring 2.5L 6spd. Can't wait to get back to driving a manual SUV. Shame the manual is not offered in limited trim level or the XT Turbo... 2019 it disappears altogether which is sad news.
Serious bummer this car doesn't come with a stick for 2019!
Hey man pls review the new crv and compare it to forester xt .
I imagine I'll be able to get into one in the next couple of months. Thanks for watching, Joe.
big fan of your reviews but Correction. Crosstreks are built in Japan.
Have you documented any tests on pre collision breaking on the eye sight system? Perhaps maybe with a loosely held up plywood structure as you drive towards it? I just put a deposit on a Touring with Tech and while the sales consultant gave me a snipit of what it is capable of doing he obviously wasn't confident enough to just let the system take over. What do you think? Want to make a video on that?
A lot of eyesight tests already on youtube. It seems to work pretty well under 60kmh, but none the less the driver should be paying attention to the road. Just search for subaru eyesight test to see some vids.
How much does your dog weigh? Mine is 75 lbs. Want to see if he would be a good fit with a stroller in the back too.
9:06 There is an option for ventilated seats on the front, but not on the back seats.
Perhaps in other markets but that is not an option in Canada: www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebSiteID=282&WebPageID=20738&Range=Forester&ModelYear=2017
Not so. Never was an option.
I'd probably go for the Forester Sport (that's the highest trim level in Europe) with the Boxer Diesel and the CVT.
I had a Subaru Forester XT over a weekend and test drove it. It changed my mind about the CVT, it's really not as bad as I thought, I'd just like a little more get-up-and-go from a stop. Other that, when you're accelerating moderately, it's kind of cool not to have any gears changes and the car just accelerating steadily and constant.
I averaged 8 Liters /100km on the highway and roughly 9.5 with mixed driving which is quite good for a 240hp SUV with AWD.
I would probably still rather have a 6 speed automatic, and a stick in the XT, but the CVT definitely has its upsides, too.
Wow, you can get a diesel over there? That would be amazing! Agreed on the CVT - one of the best we've tested. Thanks for watching.
Yep it's a 2.0L Boxer Turbodiesel with 147 HP and 350NM of torque. Also the diesel Forester can tow two metric tons, which is not so bad either.
I am considering a Forrester for camping trips to the mountains and deserts. I have done a lot of research about it online and have Interviewed some Subaru owners in person. One issue came up that worries me: the A/C system. Two of the Subaru owners I talked two mentioned that the A/C system seemed underpowered in hot weather (85 F and up). I went back online and sure enough there were a few other reported instances of this and a few where the AC broke down altogether in hot weather. Well, I live in Southern California where we have many days in summer over 100 degrees and I do a lot of field trips to the desert ...so this worries me. Has anyone else heard about this issue with Subarus?. Please advise.
I didn't know that "One Mississippi..." was also a thing in Canada.
One Mississauga
have you reviewed the CX5 AWD?
Not yet. We have the CX-3 and CX-9 reviewed, though. That CX-9 was the surprise vehicle of the year for us.
I would go with the base 2.5 Liter engine and go with the Limited trim with the Automatic.
Out of all the vehicle you've tested, which one provided the best front passenger space in regards to rear facing car seat?
Hi Jairo... I'll give you the full range of vehicles that we've tested and found best fit a rear facing seat: Volvo XC90, Kia Sedona, Ford F-150 (with supercrew cab), Honda Pilot, Audi Q7, Mercedes GLE, Toyota Sienna, Mazda CX9 and Nissan Titan (with crew cab). Bit of a random list but there you go!
Frankly, I prefer the 2.5-liter engine.It provides sufficient performance especially coupled to CVT gearbox.Subaru for me is the best car!
Thanks, Victor. As a lover of manual gearbox, I'm partial to going with a stick. But the new tweaks in the Forester's CVT are impressive.
Good Canadian reviewer which is hard to find.
went and checked out forester when 1 drove pass by my house
Which models get heated rear seats? I see nothing about it on their website, is it just a feature in Canada?
Just Canada unfortunately.
It does suffer on off the line performance because torque at low speed (below 20 if I recall) is limited by ECU for CVT longevity.
I came from stick shifters and I actually prefer CVT to work as they should (keeping engine at a constant RPM) instead of fake shifting, better economy and performance.
Interesting to hear your take on the two transmission options. Thanks for watching and enjoy your Forester!
I think it's just a matter of people not used to how CVT works, give it a few years and the complaint will die down.
On a related note, people who craps on CVT then say they prefer a regular automatic are just hypocrites. :D. .
Hey, Paul any chance you can review a Durango? Need more room than a Subaru and less than a Taho,
Hi Stephen. Chrysler is sending a bunch of vehicles out west so I'll see if the Durango is in the pack shortly.
Family Wheels Don't show the SRT just the RT don't want to spend more than I have too. 🚔
I feel it still looks "old person-y" and I want one ... but I'm shallow like that. Liking the new Imprezas though!
Ha! It's all in the eye of the beholder, Ellysa. But keep in mind, you'll get a lot less cargo capacity and second row room in the Impreza. Liking the look of the redesign, though. Thanks for watching.
I own one and although it's not the most stylish of vehicles, I think all of the pluses outweigh the appearance issue.
Would you consider reviewing the Subaru Crosstrek? The styling is great but I've heard it's a bit gutless.
I'm going to be testing it in a couple weeks, Caleb. Keep your eyes peeled.
Sounds good! Great reviews by the way, the standardized tests for showing cargo space and room for car seats are excellent. Nice to have someone local to Calgary putting out detailed reviews.
Can you do the vw Tiguan and Touareg for 2017
You bet. I'll see if I can track these down.
Family Wheels p
Heated rear seats? I didn't find that option. Does it actually exist?
p0r0sen0k I
I would go for the 2.5. Not because it is cheaper or the fuel economy, but because 2.0xt uses only CVT. Sorry but CVT is not for me( though I heard Subaru is great at making CVT transmissions compared the competition)
It would be nice to know if the cars you test have a spare tire of any type. Subaru does not even put it on their web site.
Thanks for writing, Rob. I'll keep my eyes peeled for this in the future.
My 2017 Forester has a full diameter but narrower spare.
Subaru has a spare, and plenty of extra storage where the spare is under the back cargo area.
How this compare to 2017 CRV? Which is better for a family car?
Check-out our review of the CRV here: czcams.com/video/LAAPBWv8e-8/video.html
Can you get ventilated seats on the Forester?
Not in Canada but I'm not sure about other markets.
Sorry about the question, but is this a Seko watch?
Ha... funny how many people ask. You bet, it's a Seiko.
I've read that Subarus are notorious for burning a lot of oil in their engines, thus you would always have to top-off. In your video you mentioned that you and your wife had Subarus in the past. I'm wondering if you have had this problem with the engine oil?
Hi Kenny. Yes, I've experienced the burning oil phenomenon in Subarus but only on high mileage vehicles over 200k. This is something people have had to deal with on older models but I don't know about the current generation.
I've got that issue with my 2012 forester. The really frustrating part is that Subaru Canada considers up to 0.5L/1000km to be acceptable... meaning that within the 10,000km maintenance interval, it's ok with them if it burned all 5 L of oil...
Kenny Chan I've owned a few, maintenance is key in keeping them from burning oil.
Due to the Boxer design, oil is under much higher stress. Oils like Mobil 1 sheer and wear the rings fast.
Stick with Rotella, Amsoil, etc. and they won't burn any oil, even over 300k miles.
XT all the way. I want the Android Auto before I consider one, though.
Regardless what the dealer said, there is no way that every other Forester sale is a Turbo 2.5 . Also please stop testing fully loaded models if you can. A 35K Forester is a lot different from a 25 K forester even if it has brown leather seats and a lane change beeper..
I have a feeling he doesn't have much of a choice. The dealer supplies the car for review and of course they're going to put their best foot forward.
My pet peeve, top end reviews. 39k no way.
When Bricklin was peddling tin boxes.
Help me...Which will u Buy? Subaru Forester xt or Ford Explorer 2.3 ecoboost??? I usually drive alone...
Well, those are going to be two very different vehicles. The Explorer is larger and the 2.3-L engine won't feel as sporty just because of vehicle size. If you're mostly driving alone and you want a smaller SUV with some pep, I'd say, go for the Forester. Good luck!
thanks mate =)
11:10 the guy can almost drive with his head out the munroof.
would you say that Subaru has solved the excessive oil consumption problem in previous models?
Some say it's still an issue. I'd head to some Subaru owner's forums for long-term views on this, Tony.
I have a couple of very big issues with this car that were not brought up and should have been.
First, while the 2.5 engine process decent fuel efficiency, it is nowhere near the top of the class in fuel efficiency, but is at the bottom of the class for power and acceleration, which means you won't get the numbers advertised and most people in N. America don't. It's a known issue. With the 2.0 turbo, the power is fantastic, but it requires premium fuel, while the competitors (CRV, Escape and Hyundai/Kia) with high output or turbo engines do not. That premium fuel price reduces the already low fuel efficiency of the turbo engine, making this a gas guzzler. By the way, the 2.0 turbo is also a Boxter engine, so there's no need to put the Boxter emphasis on the 2.5.
The second issue I have is with the interiors offered in North America. The plastics continue to be cheap in feel and continue to rattle. The sunroof cover continues to break. The arm rest covers one of the cup holders when in actual use AND doesn't stay put in either setup. There are no heat/air con vents to the rear seats and there is only one USB connector and it's in the compartment under the arm rest. The rear seats aren't even offered with heating in the US in any trim and forget about ventilated seats. At the price of their top product, these "little" things are inexcusable. Their competition has them beat. Gone are the days when Subaru can claim to be the only SUV/car with a solid AWD system. Almost any CUV in the class does well in bad weather and snow now.
I think the Forester does well in the base and Premium levels as they offer good equipment for the dollar at that price, but there is just no reason to spend more on this car. You simply won't get a high end product for that extra money. On the other hand, have you tried the 2017 CRV Touring yet? It's heavenly in its upper trim.
I think even at Premium levels, the other competition offers a bit more for around the same price.
However, compared with other AWD SUVs, it's 2.5 engine fuel efficiency is top class and the only other that I researched that can outclass it is the CRV with 1.5L turbo and AWD by one MPG(CRV: 27/33, Forester: 26/32) www.edmunds.com/car-comparisons/?veh1=401696117|suv&veh2=401645889|suv&show=0|1&comparatorId=2309081
The only two things it's got over the competition overall is the AWD and best visibility tho so personally, I would only recommend the base model.
I absolutely agree on visibility levels. I'm not sure what the criteria are on the AWD system. I think for all but completely off road use, the competition does just fine. I know some people here do take their Foresters on 4x4 courses, but this car really wasn't designed for that. A stock Forester isn't a rally car. Its clearance is good at 8.5 inches, but the CRV's 8" is sufficient too. The CRV even has a slightly better departure angle than the Forester. The Forester's approach angle is 3 degrees better.
As far as MPG comparisons, the CRV with the 1.5 not only gets better MPG, it also produces 20 more horsepower and its peak torque comes at 2000rpm vs I believe Subaru's 4100, which is very significant considering the CVT doesn't like to get its RPMs that high to begin with. The result is that you almost never see the Forester's peak torque or anything close to it.
By the way, the RAV-4 Hybrid XLE comes in at just under $30k and it has much better MPG at 34 city, 31 hwy and 194 bhp vs. 170 on the Forester.
I'm usually not one to compare normally aspirated engines with turbos and hybrids, but these are similarly priced cars in the same class.
consumer reports did a test on foresters awd vs rav 4 and crv in the snow for the 2016 versions. I think subaru did the best overall with crv coming in second. this year tho I heard crv's awd system improved this year. many canadians only buy awd cars.
over here the rav4 hybrid starts at 34 500 compared to crv and foresters starting point of 26-27 000 so i did not count it in.
the Subaru has awd on the base model while crvs awd adds to 30k. which is why i would only recommend the base forester. otherwise the other trims are outclassed by the crv for the value for the buck.
With the competition not being full time AWD they will be better in full economy.. the Subaru will be safer on the road and is miles better off road...
Although not German styled interior the latest Subarus have advanced a lot on plastics and overall look... Standard equipment on comparable price ranges shows that Subaru are up there... I think the heated rear seat is just for the super cold, icy Canadian climate..
give it the beans