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.

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.

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.

Faults:

Nothing. Too new at only 3100 miles.

General Comments:

Very comfortable compared to the 2006 I traded in. Seats are great with an adjustment on the driver's seat to raise or lower it! This is the fourth generation Forester, and it was designed to compete against the CR-V Honda, RAV 4 Toyota, and Ford Escape. The Forester may not be as refined as the Honda, but the full time AWD and nine inch ground clearance will serve you well if you travel the back roads.

The CVT transmission is similar to the one used in the Outback for the past several years. It is smooth and accelerates smoothly. If you are a performance driver, it is not for you. But then you do not buy a Forester for racing and rapid acceleration!

Interior is much roomier with great headroom. The rear seats have double the floorspace of my 2006. Also, with the rear seats folded down, there is another 22 cubic feet of cargo space over previous models! Wow!

Faults:

No major problems yet. The rear hatch doesn't always close and some interior trim fell off, but I was able to reattach it.

General Comments:

A big improvement over the previous model. Very quiet interior, good visibility.

Driver's seat is very uncomfortable and ride is too harsh/firm. The car bounces too much and doesn't feel like it is easy to control at higher speeds, as the steering is too light and is without much feedback.

The CVT transmission has no manual override, and when driving down long hills, you have to rely on the brakes only.

I'll try to update this in few weeks.