2019 Subaru Forester Review

Name: 2019 Subaru Forester Review
Brand: Subaru
Price: 11999 USD

Subaru Forester Limited 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Standard all-wheel drive
A full complement of driver assist features are standard
Enhanced off-road capability, thanks to better-than-average ground clearance
Generous cargo capacity

Cons

Engine is underpowered
Modest tow rating limits maximum utility

What's new

Completely redesigned for 2019
More powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine
Subaru's EyeSight safety system is standard
Increased passenger and cargo space
2.0-liter turbocharged engine has been discontinued
The first year of the fifth Forester generation introduced for 2019

Thanks to its high stance, standard all-wheel drive and available turbocharged power, the Forester has long been a hit with buyers who live in snowy climes or drive off the beaten path. Now Subaru fans who enjoyed the previous model, as well as just about any other consumer shopping for a small crossover SUV, will find even more to love with the redesigned 2019 Subaru Forester.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$150/mo

$201/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

The Forester has grown marginally since last year, giving its already inviting cabin an even greater sense of space. Subaru also reworked the dashboard, giving it a new touchscreen infotainment interface and, for the first time in a Forester, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Mostly, though, owners of the previous model will find this Forester eminently familiar. The interior design is evolutionary, not revolutionary.

Safety has long been a Subaru staple, and that association is further solidified for 2019. The EyeSight suite of driving aids — which includes lane departure warning and forward collision warning — is standard on every trim, and features such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic reverse braking are available on most versions. The DriverFocus system debuts on the Touring trim; it incorporates a head-tracking feature and sounds an alert if it senses the driver isn't paying attention to the road. It also uses facial recognition software to store memory settings for up to five drivers. Simply sit down and the seat and exterior mirrors automatically adjust to your liking.

Of course, there are some other top models to consider as well, including the roomy Honda CR-V, the sporty Mazda CX-5 and the redesigned Toyota RAV4. But considering its expanded availability of advanced safety systems and tech features, along with its roomier interior and improved all-wheel-drive system, the 2019 Subaru Forester should be an ideal choice for anyone looking at small crossover SUVs.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Subaru Forester as one of Edmunds' Best Small SUVs for this year.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.8 / 10

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our first drive of the 2019 Subaru Forester Touring (2.5L inline-4 | CVT automatic | AWD).

Scorecard

Overall	7.8 / 10
Driving	7.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.5
Utility	8.0
Technology	8.5

Driving

7.0

Because of its gutless engine, it's hard to say the Forester is a top performer in its class. The steering, handling and braking are all top-notch, however. It also scores high for its off-road abilities as well as in-town drivability.

Acceleration

6.0

The Forester's four-cylinder and its associated CVT automatic are underwhelming in almost every scenario. It's merely acceptable around town, and freeway merging and passing maneuvers take a lot of planning. In our testing, 0-60 mph took a slow 9.3 seconds.

Braking

7.0

The brakes are easy to use, but there's a bit of extra travel before you get any real braking action. Under heavy braking, the Forester is relatively stable. At our test track, our test Forester was able to stop from 60 mph in 120 feet — an average distance in the segment.

Steering

7.0

The steering is responsive and accurate with good weight from the steering wheel. But as is the case with the steering in most vehicles in this class, it's a bit vague. As a result, you can't really tell what the tires are doing from behind the wheel. Its straight-ahead sense isn't as strong as we'd like, but it's not a deal-breaker.

Handling

7.5

While the Forester isn't sporty, it does relatively well on curvy roads. There is a fair amount of body roll, but the Forester feels planted and changes direction with speed and confidence.

Drivability

7.5

The Forester excels at in-town driving, but the throttle response at low rpm can be a bit jerky, which makes heavy traffic more annoying than it ought to be. Maneuvering into parking spaces takes very little effort.

Off-road

8.5

The Forester has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which helps it avoid most dirt-road obstacles. Subaru's drive mode selector (X-Mode) has hill descent control and some trail selection capability. There's much more off-road prowess with the Forester than a standard all-wheel-drive crossover.

Comfort

8.0

Whether you've got a long highway journey on the weekend or a lengthy daily commute, the Forester can keep you comfortable. The ride is smooth, the seats are well-padded, and the standard automatic climate control will keep you cool (or warm) along the way.

Seat comfort

7.5

Both the front and rear seats in the Forester are comfortable for road trips. The front seats have more comfortable padding, but even the relatively stiff rear seats will suffice. The front-seat bolstering is significant enough to hold you in place around corners, and there's a useful amount of lumbar support.

Ride comfort

8.0

Ride comfort on the highway is impressively smooth. Even with the optional 18-inch wheels, most bumps and ruts are muted. The road imperfections that do make their way into the cabin feel minor, whether you're on the highway or on a pothole-ridden city street.

Noise & vibration

8.0

The Forester is relatively hushed on the highway, with no loud noises or significant rattles. There is some wind noise, and the engine buzzes a bit when you bury the throttle for a passing maneuver, but no sound persists enough to be offensive while you're cruising.

Climate control

8.0

A few simple dials control the cabin's temperature. They're easy to locate and use without taking your eyes off the road for very long. Automatic climate control is standard. Our test vehicle, a Touring trim, came with rear seat vents as well as heated front and rear seats.

Interior

8.5

The Forester's interior is very user-friendly. It's easy to get in, and once you're there, you'll find plenty of room to stretch out. The controls are simple, and visibility is expansive thanks to the tall windows and thin roof pillars.

Ease of use

8.0

A big, easy-to-read center screen puts all the basic commands at an arm's reach. Two large knobs and a few well-labeled buttons can also be used. The simple steering wheel controls don't distract from the driving experience either.

Getting in/getting out

8.5

Thanks to an ideal seat height and an elevated ride height, you can slide in and out of the Forester with no issues. The tall doors mean you don't have to duck down either. The cargo area has a low load-in height when you consider the Forester's significant ground clearance.

Driving position

8.0

The driving position is high, but that means a more commanding view of the road, like you'd expect from a traditional SUV. The driver's seat has lots of range adjustment, so that drivers of varying heights can get easily settled. The standard tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel helps, too.

Roominess

8.5

The Forester is spacious in both the front and the back, and there is plenty of space for adults in the front and outward rear positions (and just enough in the middle seat). Headroom and legroom are adequate for all but the tallest of passengers.

Visibility

8.5

It's easy to see out from the driver's seat thanks to the relatively thin roof pillars. The tall side windows enhance visibility as well. The rearview camera display is crisp.

Quality

8.0

The Forester's cabin is top-notch. Combine the crisp center display with soft-touch door panels and tight construction, and you get a very nice place to spend your time.

Utility

8.0

A spacious cargo area and lots of small-item storage help the Forester do well in this category. But rivals have it beat when it comes to towing capability and car-seat accommodation.

Small-item storage

8.0

The front center console has decent storage, with a deep center compartment and average-size cupholders. The front and rear doors both have generous water-bottle storage.

Cargo space

8.0

The Forester is only behind some competitors in cargo space by a few cubic feet. The Forester has 35.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row (the CR-V has 39 cubes) or 76 cubes with the seats folded. The high roof and cargo area layout help fit large items.

Child safety seat accommodation

6.5

The LATCH anchors are easy to spot, but they are harder to connect to because they are set a bit deep in the seat. Rear legroom is only average for the class, so larger rear-facing seats will be a tight fit.

Towing

6.0

Towing isn't the Forester's strong suit — maximum capacity is just 1,500 pounds. The Honda CR-V has the same capacity, but just about every other rival can tow more, with several competitors able to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Technology

8.5

In-cabin technology is one of the areas where the Forester excels. The list of standard safety features is lengthy, as is the list of optional safety features. Few rivals have such easy-to-use systems or as many available driver aids.

Audio & navigation

7.5

The Subaru's dual-screen system is easy to use, aesthetically pleasing and well laid out. Navigation is clear, and it's easy to input destinations. Topped-out audio volume could be better, but at lower levels, audio quality from the Harman Kardon system is acceptable.

Smartphone integration

9.0

Plugging in a device and indexing songs is quick and easy with the Forester. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. USB ports in the front and back seat help charge multiple devices at once. Apple Maps audio directions can be heard while listening to satellite radio.

Driver aids

9.5

Standard Subaru EyeSight and assorted optional driving aids are excellent. Adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, forward collision mitigation, and the DriverFocus system that watches your eyes to see if you're falling asleep at the wheel all operate very well with no false alerts in our test.

Voice control

8.0

Voice controls are natural, requiring no extra-special language or commands and they understood simple language in our testing. Radio stations, bluetooth, navigation and phone commands are all up for grabs. Apple CarPlay is also accessible through voice controls.

2019 Subaru Forester models

The 2019 Subaru Forester is a five-passenger compact crossover sold in five trims: base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. Each trim is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (182 horsepower, 176 pound-feet of torque), paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive.

Subaru Forester Base

The base Subaru Forester trim kicks things off with 17-inch steel wheels, automatic LED headlights, a rearview camera, automatic brake hold, automatic climate control, a driver information display, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, push-button start, selectable drive modes, a height-adjustable driver seat and 60/40-split rear seats. On the tech front, you get Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and a four-speaker audio system with satellite radio, a CD player and Subaru's Starlink app suite.

Also standard is the EyeSight bundle of safety systems, composed of adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and pre-collision warning with automatic braking. The only optional features on the base Forester are alloy wheels, which are bundled with roof rails.

Subaru Forester Premium

Next up is the Premium. It adds the alloy wheels and roof rails, along with a panoramic sunroof, rear spoiler, tinted windows, hill descent control, color driver information display, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable driver's seat, rear air vents, cargo cover, Wi-Fi hotspot, six-speaker audio system and selectable traction modes (X-Mode).

Optional for the Premium is the All-Weather package, which brings a windshield wiper de-icer, heated mirrors and heated front seats. You can order it by itself, with keyless entry plus a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert system, or with those features plus a power liftgate.

Subaru Forester Sport

The new Sport trim includes 18-inch black-painted wheels, automatic high-beam control, LED foglights, keyless entry, orange interior and exterior accents, an upgraded driver information display, steering wheel-mounted shift paddles with seven simulated gears, an additional driving mode, an additional traction setting for the X-Mode system and the All-Weather package.

A package pairs the blind-spot monitor with automatic reverse braking and an 8-inch touchscreen. This package can be ordered by itself or in conjunction with a nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system and the power liftgate.

Subaru Forester Limited

The Limited nixes the Sport's orange trim, LED foglights and paddle shifters, but keeps the rest of its goodies. On top of those features, it adds self-leveling and adaptive headlights, foglights, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped shifter, leather upholstery, and the 8-inch touchscreen, blind-spot monitoring and power liftgate. An optional package pairs the Harman Kardon audio system and automatic reverse braking with a navigation system.

Subaru Forester Touring

The top-trim Touring model includes all of the previously mentioned optional features, along with the LED foglights, a heated steering wheel with wheel-mounted shift paddles, driver-seat memory settings, an eight-way power passenger seat, heated rear seats with remote-folding levers, and the DriverFocus system.

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#22 out of 29 among Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Subaru Forester from 2008-2022.}

$525/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.07x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

15%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Subaru Forester.

5 (52%)

4 (17%)

3 (15%)

2 (9%)

1 (7%)

4.0

166 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

An outstanding crossover

Stephen E., 11/28/2018

2019 Subaru Forester Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I've driven the 2019 Forester for 1500 miles now in a variety of suburban and highway driving and in a variety of weather conditions and I think that I have enough experience with the vehicle to write a review. I find that the Forester has a great number of virtues: 1) the seating position and overall visibility are excellent from the driver's seat. 2) the AWD system greatly helps to … maintain control of the vehicle in snowy conditions (I haven’t driven the vehicle yet on any significant stretch of dirt or gravel road.) 3) the vehicle is quiet overall with only some wind noise apparent when traveling at highway speed. 4) the infotainment system is fast and easy to use. 5) the size of the cargo space is excellent; the lift hatch is both large and fast; and the cargo floor is low and easy to access. 6) in 1500 miles I’ve gotten a combined 31mpg. 7) the vehicle is very comfortable to drive on longer trips. 8) the adaptive cruise control works very well. It maintains a lock on the vehicle ahead and controls the Forester’s speed smoothly without jerkiness or surging the engine. It will also bring the Forester to a complete halt if the vehicle ahead of it stops, and it needs only a single flick of a switch on the steering wheel to start moving again. 9) the lane departure warnings and lane keep assist are accurate and do help keep the vehicle in the proper lane while being at the same time easy enough to override to quickly make lane changes if you need to. 10) I’ve only once had the automatic pre-collision brakes activate (a car turning left in front of me did not turn when I expected it to), but once again the system recognized a potential collision and activated to prevent it. 11) the blind spot detection will not only activate when there is another vehicle in the Forester’s blind spots, but will also activate if another vehicle is rapidly approaching the Forester’s blind spots. There several downsides to the Forester: 1) the engine horsepower is adequate, but this vehicle is not a speedster. I don’t find this to be a major downside. Yes, I do find myself wishing for an extra 30 or 40 horsepower at times, but honestly the opportunities to use a more powerful engine are few. Most of my driving is on suburban streets with a speed limit of 35-45 mph, or on the highway traveling at 65-75 mph. There is little use for a bigger engine in suburban or urban conditions. On the highway once the Forester is up to speed it does just fine and will generally get 32-34mpg in highway driving. The engine noise is noticeable during hard acceleration, but is quiet during normal cruising. 2) the vehicle handles well, but is clearly not a sport car. Its true that competitors like the Mazda CX-5 (which I have test driven) handle better. However, the handling is just fine for what the vehicle is and what it is meant to do. A few other notes: 1) the LED low beam headlights have a very sharp upper vertical cutoff. Meaning that the road ahead is either illuminated very well or not at all. This can be disconcerting when driving downhill as the low beams don’t illuminate the next uphill very well. The Forester has automatic high beams that cover the vertical gap in the low beam’s illumination. In my experience, you are either driving in an area at night that is lit well enough by streetlights or other cars’ headlights so that the low beams are all you need; or you are driving in an area that has no other cars present so that the auto high beams activate and provide all the illumination that is needed. 2) I really wish there was some way to edit the screens on the upper information display. There are a number of different screens that are useful, but several of them are borderline useless (I’m especially thinking of the weather screen that only shows picture-graph current, 3 hour, and 6 hour forecast). There is only one button for cycling through all the screens and it gets tiresome pushing the button repeatedly to find the screen that I want.

WONDERFUL CAR

Bruce, 01/24/2019

2019 Subaru Forester Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I researched 15 cars, drove 10, boiled it down to the Q5, the BMW X5, and the Forester, believe it or not. Went back and forth a lot, but I ALWAYS returned to the Subaru. I wanted a quiet and comfortable ride, easy entry, room & visibility. Hands down, the Forester won. Examples: Forester has a spare; X5 doesn't and, instead comes with run flats (I had a set and hated them), Q5 has …

I love my suby baby!

Tonya, 01/27/2019

2019 Subaru Forester Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I purchased the limited, I received her on October 26, 2018. I am now approaching the 6000 mile mark. (Yes I do love to drive.)The handling of this car in all weather conditions has been absolutely impeccably amazing. I upgraded from a 2015 Forester. I was never happy with my 2015. But I was extremely happy with my original 2007. The 2019 Forrester Limited has met and exceeded all of my …

Love everything but...auto start/stop feature

Kayak Chic, 02/11/2019

2019 Subaru Forester Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

This is my second Subaru. My first was the 2012 outback premium. Moving to the 2019 Forester Touring was a huge upgrade. I like the extra headroom, moving headlights, heated steering wheel, heated backseats, and the great gas mileage. I love using the phone app to remote start the car without having to worry about being in range. You can also set the temperature inside the car or turn …

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2019 Subaru Forester videos

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2019 Forester Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$24,295
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$150/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	35.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Forester models:

EyeSight Driver Assist Technology: Helps prevent accidents, with features such as lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and automatic emergency braking.
Reverse Automatic Braking: Helps reduce collisions by applying the brakes if a vehicle is detected crossing the Forester's path while in reverse.
DriverFocus: Sounds an alert when the head-tracking system detects that the driver is distracted.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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