2020 Subaru Forester Review

Name: 2020 Subaru Forester Review
Brand: Subaru
Price: 15300 USD

Subaru Forester Limited 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+262

Aside from lackluster acceleration, there isn't much to dislike about the Subaru Forester. This crossover SUV delivers the feel and rugged attitude that buyers want, along with a comfortable cabin and plenty of features for the price.

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2020 Subaru Forester Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

Pros

Standard all-wheel drive
A full complement of driver assist features is 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

New lane centering function added to list of standard driving aids
All-Weather package now standard on Premium models
Part of the fifth Forester generation introduced for 2019

Overview

Subaru introduced the latest generation of its Forester in 2019, and this small crossover SUV returns almost unchanged for 2020. That's good news for adventurous buyers. The Forester delivers on nearly every area that you're likely interested in, including rugged capability along with comfort and technology at a good value. Critically for some shoppers, all-wheel drive is standard.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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

There's really only one significant downside here: The Forester isn't all that thrilling to drive. The main culprit is the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that's connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It delivers impressive fuel economy but lacks power. Acceleration is sluggish, whether from a stop or pulling ahead of slower cars on the freeway. And unlike a lot of other rival crossovers, a more powerful engine option isn't available.

Still, the Forester has personality. Its styling suggests the Forester will be at home in the mountains, and its features back up that sentiment. It has a higher ground clearance than many competitors, and several driving modes ensure the crossover is ready for different road conditions. Inside the comfortable cabin, there is enough technology, storage space, and driving assistance to keep everyone happy taking the long way home. Overall, we think the Forester is a smart pick for a small SUV.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.8

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Forester drive? A largely gutless engine holds the Forester back. The four-cylinder engine and CVT automatic take their time getting up to speed. The Forester accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a slow 9.3 seconds during Edmunds testing. Its steering, handling and braking, on the other hand, are more respectable. While the Forester isn't sporty, especially not compared to top rivals, it feels planted and changes direction with speed and confidence.

The Forester shines off-road thanks to 8.7 inches of ground clearance and an X-Mode drive setting that includes trail capability and hill descent control. There's much more off-road prowess here than you get in a standard all-wheel-drive crossover.

Comfort

8.0/10

How comfortable is the Forester? Whether you've got a long daily commute or a refreshing retreat on the horizon, the Forester will keep you riding in comfort. The front seats are well-padded and have good bolstering and lumbar support, and the suspension easily smooths out bumps and ruts in the road.

Road noise is kept to a minimum. The Forester's tall profile does produce some wind noise, but it's a small price to pay for the commanding seat position and great visibility. Climate control knobs are right where they should be and easy to find without taking your eyes off the road. The available automatic climate control works well, and the Forester's higher trims offer heated seats front and rear.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? All controls inside the Forester are clearly labeled and easy to reach. There's no fussing around or overdoing things. The available 8-inch center touchscreen is crisp and simple to navigate. It also supports a crisp display from the rearview camera.

Everything about the Forester seems to have been designed right. Getting in and out is aided by tall doors and an SUV-style ride height. There's enough room for four, and possibly five, seated adults. The driver's seat offers a wide range of adjustments, and the steering wheel has plenty of telescoping range.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? Subaru provides infotainment features that any owner, tech-savvy or not, can appreciate. The dual-screen center layout is attractive and easy to use. The navigation system is clear and even takes voice commands well. If Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are more your flavor, Subaru has you covered by making them standard equipment. Multiple USB ports are in both the front and rear.

We're especially fans of the driving aids included with Subaru Eyesight. The adaptive cruise control system works well and lane keeping assist, now with lane centering, prevents the Forester from drifting out of its lane. Forward collision mitigation is also included and never activated when it wasn't needed in our test.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The Forester is slightly lower in total storage capacity compared with competitors such as the Honda CR-V, but a high roof and clever cargo layout make the space usable for large items. Parents will find the Forester a little disappointing when it comes to installing child safety seats, however. The car seat anchors are buried deep in the rear seats, and fitting large rear-facing seats will be a squeeze.

With just 1,500 pounds of maximum towing capacity, towing is not the Forester's strong suit. It's better to look elsewhere if you're pulling anything substantial.

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the Forester at 29 mpg combined (26 city/33 highway), which is near the top of the class. In testing, however, we found that the weak engine had us pinning the throttle more, which can make real-world fuel economy suffer a bit.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Forester a good value? The Forester comes in five trim levels, giving buyers a lot of options depending on how much they want to spend and how fancy they like their cars. Subaru offers an average warranty for the class, while buyer satisfaction and residual values are historically outstanding for the brand.

Wildcard

7.5/10

Acceleration is the Forester's only notable weak point. While it's a big one, it's certainly not enough to detract from all of the vehicle's standout areas. Everything else, from comfort to technology to driver aids to storage capacity to outdoor adventure credentials, is top-notch. Its upright style and rugged components lend the Forester a unique personality, and standard all-wheel drive with a strong ride height backs it up.

Which Forester does Edmunds recommend?

If you're looking for an affordable crossover that can head for the outdoors in style while keeping your monthly payments reasonable, try the Forester Premium. Standard equipment includes a few useful extras that you don't get on the base model such as a panoramic sunroof, alloy wheels and raised roof rails, heated front seats, and a windshield wiper de-icer.

2020 Subaru Forester models

Five trim levels are available on the 2020 Subaru Forester: base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. All models come standard with all-wheel drive, and the only engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (182 horsepower, 176 lb-ft of torque) mated to a CVT automatic.

The base Subaru Forester is nicely equipped. It offers seating for five and comes with features such as a rearview camera, push-button start, and 17-inch steel wheels on all-season tires. Inside, Subaru's Starlink app suite and EyeSight driver assistance system are standard. So is a 6.5-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

In the Forester Premium, buyers will find an appealing set of upgrades. These include a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, raised roof rails, a power-adjustable driver's seat and hill descent control. The All-Weather package is also standard, and it includes heated seats, heated side mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer. Out on the trail? The Premium offers a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and the X-Mode traction system. The number of speakers for the audio system also increases from four to six.

Upgrading to the Sport trim nets a series of minor changes such as 18-inch black wheels, LED foglights, and orange interior and exterior accents. The Forester Sport also gains an additional driving mode, an extra setting for the X-Mode traction system and paddle shifters to simulate seven gears. An optional upgrade package adds an 8-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and reverse automatic braking.

The Limited tones down the styling a bit but adds adaptive headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control and leather upholstery. The 8-inch touchscreen becomes standard, as do blind-spot monitoring and a power liftgate. Finally, the top-trim Touring model adds just about all of the Forester's features. It also comes with a power-adjustable passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, premium leather upholstery, and a driver distraction monitoring system (DriverFocus).

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 2020 Subaru Forester.

5 (78%)

4 (12%)

3 (5%)

2 (3%)

1 (2%)

4.6

129 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

A First Class SUV

C. L. Maley, 03/17/2020

2020 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I bought my 1st Subaru Forester Limited 19 years ago. In late January I purchased a Forester Premium with two upgrade packages. I went with the Premium because I didn't want leather seats in the hot mid-west. At first glance the interior cabin resembled a mini cockpit! The 2020 Forester has a CD player and plenty of USB ports! Love the keyless entry as well. What attracted me to …

Perfect SUV for me

Subie Fan, 01/12/2020

2020 Subaru Forester Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I love my 2020 Forester Limited. This is my 5th Subaru and replaced my 2010 Forester Premium. I decided to upgrade to Limited and added on the upgraded Harmon Kardon audio package, heated steering wheel, and other upgrades so it's almost a Touring level vehicle. I appreciate the luxury inside -- heated leather seats, dual zone climate controls, heated steering wheel, navigation, …

Best In Class

John R., 02/16/2020

2020 Subaru Forester Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

The vehicle is quiet, the ride and handling are very refined, steering feel is very good, the all around visibility is magnificent, and the horsepower and torque of the engine are more than adequate for day to day driving and merging on to an expressway. I drove a six-cylinder automatic transmission sports car for the last 13 years, and have no issue with the CVT transmission or the 4 …

The Forester Grows Up

RSJ, 04/19/2020

2020 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I have owned the previous generation of the Forester and now drive a 2020 Premium. Subaru has incrementally improved the Forester to the point that it now has few drawbacks. The car is well built, the interior is well done and keeps controls fairly simple although the smallish touch screen does pick up fingerprints way too easily and is not the most intuitive. The basic 6-speaker …

See all 129 reviews of the Subaru Forester

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2020 Forester Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$24,495
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 an automobile is detected crossing the Forester's path while it's 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
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
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
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 Subaru Forester Review

2020 Subaru Forester Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 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.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Forester does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Subaru Forester models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

A First Class SUV

Perfect SUV for me

Best In Class

The Forester Grows Up

2020 Forester Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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.}