Subaru Forester road tests and consumer car reviews

Subaru Forester XS NAVPLUS D 2010

Great 5 star car, coupled with appalling dealer customer service. I’d had no problem with the vehicle until I returned from meeting my new granddaughter in Australia. I was away for the month of October 2011 and on return the battery was completely flat, without a glimmer from the lights or sound from the starter. My car was stored in my locked garage throughout, with the alarm set. I rang the supplying dealer and Jim, their service manager told me to phone Subaru assistance, which I did. Within 30 minutes an AA man using a booster battery had my car running and waited for another 30 minutes monitoring the charging rate with a diagnostic machine. He advised the battery was not accepting the charge as it should, and recommended a new battery be fitted as it was probable that this one would not return to full power. He then tried to restart, but although the lights now lit, the engine would not turn over. He restarted once more this time with success and said to keep the engine running and return the car to the dealer to have the battery changed under warranty. I rang Jim again, who couldn’t take the call and I spoke with the stores manager to explain what had transpired and ask if they had the appropriate battery in stock. They did not have one, but he said he would get one in for 4pm (now about 2.30 pm) and they could fit it then. Within 10 minutes Jim the service manager rang back and said they could not fit batteries just like that, dismissed the AA report as incompetent and said it was to be expected my battery would be flat after such an absence. Furthermore he advised that batteries should be disconnected if cars were not run for over two weeks! This rather rocked me, but it was agreed that I would present at the service bay at 4pm as arranged, for Jim to examine. On arrival I was seated in the showroom while Jim examined the car. Within minutes he came to collect me and took me through to the service bay to show my car with a diagnostic machine attached to a battery lead and showing the message "good battery". As the car had now been charging the battery for two hours plus, I thought this was probably so, but it did not explain to me why it had gone flat in the first place, and indeed how long would it hold the charge for? I reasoned with Jim that it could not be right that it was unreasonable to expect my Subaru to start after standing for a month, for my wifes 6 year old Mini had started first time, as had on a previous longer trip away, a Ford Focus (outside the garage for 6 weeks) and a MG ZT190! All argument was dismissed by Jim and he was supported by the salesman (batteries are not as good as they were as they don’t have any lead in them now) and also the dealer principal of Bay Horse Garage. I left without further checks or suggestions and now feel I have wasted £30,000 on this Subaru. 

Responses to this review

Paul, I am considering buying the same model as yours - has your battery problem persisted? - Richard Morbey from Oxfordshire

Subaru Forester 2006

Bought this vehicle, my second Subaru. Two real shortcomings are fuel mileage (around 22mpg) and suspension front requires a new part every few years, but with regular maintenance as suggested by Subaru this vehicle will take you just about anywhere you want to go in a safe reliable manner.

Subaru Forester 2.5 XT 2004

I have been driving the Forester 2.5 XT racking up around 100,000 miles in around five years. I can only say one thing about it, and that is that the 2.5 XT is without any doubt the best around car in the world. I can only mention one little thing that some people maybe would see as a minus and that is the gas consumption, the 2.5 XT is a little thirsty.

Subaru Forester GX Manual 2 Ltr 1998

Yes, I have done gigs with it, and all the stuff fits easily. Yes, I have had it off-road in steep rocky hills with a side-dish of mud. And I bogged it, through not crossing the ruts with enough vim. The family has both camped with it, and been away for a week of non-camping comfort. What don’t I like about it? The radio is some kind of mess. At some point in the last 160,000 miles some previous owner has installed this non-standard not-quite-working radio, about which I have done nothing. There is a vague glunking noise from the front end. especially when pounding over rocks. The old road tests complain about the cheap carpet, and the carpet under the driver’s feet shows signs of wear. And there is mud on the upholstery, for some unknown reason. There could probably be a bit more room in the back and a little more rear seat legroom. The gear shift is a bit loose and rubbery. At 1.447:1, low ratio is more like a sort of mid ratio, but it is useful for slower, less-pounding travel in the rough stuff, and handy in the steep stuff. It is also good for difficult reversing. I haven’t yet had the car on sand. Good points? Everything else. My 160,000 mile 12-year-old near-mint-condition Foz is a delight. Robust, reliable, comfortable, economical, fun, amazingly versatile. I can chuck it about on the road like our little front-wheel-drive. I can whizz about like the high-speed old fart that I am. (I must remember to tie my rusty old winch down to the tie-down points). And off-road, I can crawl or otherwise progress, wheels spinning occasionally in the air. To conclude, it is an excellent car. And car it is, car with off-road capability, not one of those vague and clumsy and unstable off-road things. Buy one and enjoy - but you probably already have one.

Subaru Forester S turbo 1999

I bought a 1999 S turbo forester 6 years ago, it has been all over Europe and east Europe where the roads are very bad. The car has never failed me at all I am very impressed with this car, and would never part with it. It cost a little on insurance, but you can’t have speed and cheap insurance. Well done Subaru.

Subaru Forester S Turbo 1999

My 1999 S Turbo Forester is very reliable, mine has 220k on clock. Faster than a Range Rover and has more space. Really delighted with this car, now 11 years old and very strong. If I drive going easy on the pedal I can get a return of 34mpg even around town, its all in how you drive. The 1999 Forester S Turbo is renowned as being one of the most reliable vehicles ever built.

Subaru Forester 2.0 S Turbo 1999

I bought this car as a 2 year old with 25K miles on the clock. It now has 155K miles and all of them enjoyable. Yes, it’s thirsty, rarely better than 24mpg regardless of driving style, but it’s comfortable, safe, handles well, accelerates hard and will cope with most places you take it. Reliability is reputed to be one of Subaru’s qualities and it’s true. Apart from regular services, other maintenance has been few and far between - suspension linkages every 2 years, cv joint at 152K miles. Mechanics don’t like changing the spark plugs so spend the bit extra and buy the long life ones. Overall, the most enjoyable, reliable, fun car I’ve ever owned.

Subaru Forester X 2009

There can be no doubt about what the Subaru name stands for. In the world of international rallying it is a byword for dependability and success in the most gruelling conditions imaginable - and the marques heritage is supported by numerous victories over the years. It’s no wonder then that the new Forester is a car which makes real driving adventure accessible as well as offering the sound practicality that your better judgement tells you to go for. Presenting the styling blend of a purposeful off-roader and the smooth lines of a modern estate, it’s as ’at home’ in the most elegant settings as well as the ’great outdoors’. As we’ve come to expect from niche market manufacturer Subaru, quality is as good as it gets. Subaru's are built to last and you only have to look to the ’still living’ Subaru's of yesteryear, suffering and surviving thrashings by farmers - who give them no quarter and treat them with the same heavy handedness as they afford their tractor! Tough though the new Forester certainly is, it's' marshmallow’ on the inside and packed with thoughtful touches... Warm, spacious and inviting, there’s all the ambience and quality of a luxury car, but there’s no unnecessary adornment or excess. With lots of room for five strapping adults and their luggage, intelligent use is made of every bit of space - and the flexibility offered by permutations of ’seats up/down/half up or down’, means that you can change from luxury cruise liner to cargo ship in an instant. You’ll always be safe, of course, because six airbags are there just in case - and the rigid structure of this Subaru is not so far off Challenger Tank strength. There are three specification levels, with the basic X, which I tested, costing £20,295. Top of the range XS costs £25,495. Even the ’basic model has heated seats, electric windows, automatic air conditioning and even cruise control. No one is going to be able to steal it either because it comes with Fort Knox security levels. - Unless they steal your keys, of course. But how does the new Forester feel behind the wheel? You sit tall and enjoy good visibility - and the range of seat adjustment even let my pal ’Tubby Dougie’ gets comfy. Cars like this are often bloaty when the roads turn twisty - but not the Forrester. It handles in a surprisingly nimble way - with the added security offered by that four wheel drive letting you cut along at a jolly brisk pace when ’needs must’. And if you load it to the gunwales - as is the wont of busy country folk - the self levelling rear suspension is a boon... Power for this Forester comes from the worlds first commercially produced 4 cylinder horizontally opposed diesel engine. (2.0 litres, 147 bhp and 350 Nm of torque are the figures). It really ’does the business’, with lots of features that, quite frankly, you don’t need to know about. Here is a simple list of what is so great about this engine: it delivers solid response from right down in the doldrums of the rev range; it is uncannily smooth; it has a seamless power delivery; it is able to take this heavy four wheel drive car up to 115mph while at the same time sipping fuel to give remarkable economy of 40 mpg in urban use (Try as I might I couldn’t get the consumption to increase over this!) - And it backs up all these virtues by being so quiet... With this extraordinary combination of vitality, vigour and tractability, it’s a true diesel engineering revolution. You don’t need to know about the gearshift quality of the six speed manual box (light, accurate, easy) because that’s a given thing with Subaru. You do need to know about the four wheel drive; however, because it is efficient and effective and lets you take the Forester where others fear to venture. Towing your horsebox across rutted fields or your caravan down to Cannes should be no problem. Not only does the new Forester pack a heavyweight punch that’s light on the pocket - it has style to go with stamina and class to go with capability too. And finally, for those who not only drive estate cars but LIVE on estates too, I’m pleased to tell you that with the Foresters top notch four-wheel-drive ’go anywhere’ ability to patrol your forest tracks and trails - you’ll be first past the poacher every time. Who wouldn’t like to see one of these splendid cars gift wrapped under the greenwood tree. As hardy as Old Thomas himself, this superb Subaru leaves all the rivals on the shelf.

Subaru Forester Forester 2litre petrol auto 2007

We have used this Forester for a month now. It’s a courtesy car with 12,000 miles on the clock. It is an exceptionally good vehicle. It’s comfortable and quiet with really good road manners. It is much the best soft-roader I have ever driven. My next car will be a Subaru.

Subaru Forester 2.0 X Plus 5dr 2006

Fantastic 4x4. Nothing frilly or pretentious about this car. Looks like a 4x4 should and gives an incredible drive. Very hardworking and has never needed anything doing to it, unlike previous 4x4’s I’ve owned (sorry Landrover). Not the cheapest 4x4 to run but you’ll save a packet on garage bills and resale value is healthy. Top marks.