2004 Subaru Forester XT review from UK and Ireland
"If you want one car that does everything, this should be on your shortlist"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
It had three minor defects when I got it at one year old. I suspect they were manufacturing defects not spotted by the first owner:
Front passenger seat belt height adjustment jammed.
Front passenger door didn't turn on interior light.
Nearside headlamp height adjuster didn't work.
General comments?
A big change from a top-heavy SUV. Performance, handling and economy are all somewhere in between an SUV and a fast estate. And so is off-road ability which is, realistically, limited to occasional rough tracks by the lowish ride height and long overhangs and lack of underside protection. The automatic gearbox is a mixture of good and indifferent; overtaking performance on kick-down is impressive, but it can be hesitant in its decision making.
Rear seat room is a bit marginal, but to improve that would either lose boot space or increase the overall length of the car, which is handily compact.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2004 |
| Year of manufacture | 2004 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 10000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 13000 miles |
| Previous car | Vauxhall Frontera |
| Date of Entry | 2nd April, 2006 |