2014 Subaru Forester 2.5L from North America

Summary:

Peppy, roomy, safe, capable, little workhorse

Faults:

02/21/2020 - both rear coil springs broke/snapped. One did so while the vehicle was sitting in our garage. Subaru issues a recall for this and similar vehicles, as the suspension coil springs appear to be breaking on at least two models. The remnants of the coil spring showed a lot of rust, but manufacturing defects may have been a causal factor.

So far, the coil springs have been the only thing that has gone wrong with the vehicle.

General Comments:

So far the Forester - our first Subaru ever - has been a great little vehicle. It performs well off the line, but lacks a little passing power. It is roomy and comfortable with tons of headroom and great visibility. Once we replaced the stock light-truck tires with grand touring all seasons, the ride was much improved.

Our model (used) came with the Eyesight system, which I think is terrific, especially if you are an aging driver, or are easily distracted by the kids you are hauling around to various activities :-)

The all wheel drive system is truly awesome, but we mainly use it on roads and highways, and only notice the difference during moderate to heavy snowfalls. We really have not tested its light-duty off road capabilities yet.

Except for the somewhat surprising suspension problem mentioned above, it has been a great vehicle. It has a reputation of being a vehicle that can keep running for 200,000 miles, so we will likely aim for that goal. Our experience with Subaru has been top-notch, and they have been very easy to work with regarding the suspension recall.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th February, 2020

2014 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5L from North America

Summary:

It's fulfilled all our expectations

Faults:

Replaced rear brakes.

Replaced right rear wheel bearing.

General Comments:

The top reason we purchased this Forester was because after test driving most of the other SUVs, my wife (who is on the shorter side) felt she could see better to the sides (blind spots) and rear of the car much better than the others.

In the snow it gives me confidence that I can continue to drive. I have been comfortable driving it on 1500-2000 mile trips on several occasions and I'm 6'2".

Our only complaints are that it doesn't warm up very quickly and it seems it doesn't direct enough hot air towards your feet. And the carpet seems to hold on to the sand and dirt when you're trying to vacuum.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th October, 2019

2014 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5i from North America

Summary:

Our first Subaru, still satisfied after owning it 4 years later

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

We've been happy with our Forester. My wife is 5'4" and of all the makes and models we tested this was the one she felt the most comfortable driving. She liked the seating position and controls. What we especially like is how you can visually see so much better in your blind spots.

I'm 6'2" and I can adjust the seats to be comfortable for me on long trips. And that can be challenging because I had back surgery 15 years ago.

For an AWD I think the ride's acceptable. I can accelerate faster at half throttle than an F150 4x4 in 6" of snow. Hope it holds up.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th September, 2017

2014 Subaru Forester XS Lineartronic 2.0 petrol from Lithuania

Summary:

Simple, practical, comfortable

Faults:

None, because it's brand new, but the boot lid is a little tough to close - will go to the dealer for that one.

General Comments:

Since we have had the car for almost a few weeks only, I can't point out very much. For example I have no idea about its real AWD capabilities, reliability, etc. But in general, there are a few things to mention: (but before that, we have to understand, that we're comparing this car in its own segment - because that seems to be the most common mistake, which drives many unnecessary discussions about whether something is "good" or "bad")

1. Engine. Not powerful, but enough for everyday use. Very smooth.

2. CVT. Makes the best out of the engine - economy wise and power wise. Personally I like it. There's a manual mode with 6 virtual gears + a couple of "behaviour" modes either for comfort or sporty driving. The CVT operates smoothly and responsively.

3. Handling. Generally good. Very small turning circle, good maneuverability, easy steering. Very natural I would say.

4. Comfort. Not the Nissan Murano, but a big leap forward from earlier Foresters. Ride is quite soft. Softer than a RAV4 for sure. Seats are OK, front and back, legroom, headroom is good, ergonomics are quite natural. Boot is on the better side also. Visibility all round is great!..

Generally. Definitely feels a Japanese car. Styling, interior, onboard computer functions, etc. If you're considering buying this latest Forester, you have to understand that it's a different car from its competitors (CRV, RAV4, Kuga, Qashqai...). Not only because of its one of a kind symmetrical AWD and boxer engine, but also because of its simplicity and a bit poor options list. Even the high end trim level (XE) doesn't have anything special - the automatic rear gate probably would be its most awesome feature... Or maybe key less entry and push button start.

It's a vehicle to do the job. It's civilized, very easy to use and comfortable, but nothing fancy, nothing high tech.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th May, 2014

6th Aug 2014, 20:23

Update after 5000km from the original owner:

Nothing special, maybe a few points worth mentioning:

Real life fuel consumption is around 9.5L/100km.

It could use extra power - the engine + CVT is one of the most smoothest and refined pieces out there, but the performance is really marginal.

It feels bigger than it is and heavier than it is. That's probably because of the relatively soft ride, roomy interior and good visibility. That doesn't mean it's hard to handle - only that it feels bigger and heavier.

No major complaints - it does the job perfectly. However, if you want a trendy, refined and rich in specs midsize SUV, you should look elsewhere.

30th Dec 2014, 23:39

Comment after about 9000km:

The biggest con is probably the engine - it simply lacks torque. If the car is full, or under heavy conditions (hills, snow, etc) the engine has to work at rather high RPM. The 2.0L boxer diesel is much better, but here in Lithuania it only comes with manual, and the 2.0L turbo petrol with 240 BHP comes as premium trim - way too expensive for an average SUV. The CVT is programmed for maximum softness - if you floor it, the RPM doesn't instantly rise to the peak point like in other vehicles - they go to mid level and engine starts accelerating from there - that alone diminishes the potential of this weak engine. If in manual mode - the 6th (last) gear is worthless - it has such a huge ratio - 2000 RPM at 70mph - the car lacks torque so tremendously - it literally doesn't go. And if you're in auto (CVT) mode and going 85-95mph, the revs are kept quite high (and even higher if you encounter some incline or wind) - again due to high wind resistance, the engine lacks torque. So it's not comfortable nor economical to cruise at or over 90mph for sure.

Strong points would be the good AWD system - you're probably never going to use it to its full potential.

All in all, my wife likes it. Simply because it rides smoothly, handles easily, there's good all-round visibility and you sit quite high (seat height is adjustable), and there's plenty of room for passengers and cargo.

13th Oct 2019, 03:20

All of this is excellent well thought out commentary - thank you!!!