Used 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X SUV.
Most helpful consumer reviews
My trusty, dependable steed
C Norty, Round Rock, TX, 03/14/2016
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
I've owned a jeep and a Nissan pathfinder. both vehicles i loved for their own reasons, but wanted something that was more economical and still afforded me the ability to go off-road and take some abuse. When I saw the 2011, i fell in love with the lines. In my opinion, the exterior is perfect, with the interior being well done, too. I am a designer and basically made my purchase because … i loved the design of the vehicle. the newer design is awful. the 2011 is the sweet spot for me. Anyway, I took delivery of the vehicle in November 2011 and immediately put it to work. There has been NOTHING this car has not been able to handle, aside from perhaps rock crawling. I lived in the southwest and spent a lot of time in the desert. the AWD keeps the car on the dirt like glue. In the rain, the same. In the snow, it's nearly unstoppable.
46,000 miles later....
The exterior I have found does not do well against branches and scratched easily. the interior, is well thought out but the paneling is cheap and scratched easily. I've had to have a few of the plastic bits replaced and had to re-install a few others multiple times. Audio system is excellent for a factory radio, but the bluetooth will not stay synced to my iPhone. iPod controls are good, but doesn't remember folder placement if turned on/off. AC is decent and was often put to good use when it was 115 in the desert.
I am 6-2 and find leftroom and getting in/out to be quite easy. this was another important purchase reason for me.
When the transmission is in regular D, performance is awful. I always use the 'sport' mode or the clutchless manual shift which allows me to actually pass cars on the road. THIS IS NOT A PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. the real power is above 4000 rpm in 2nd and 3rd.
I have had zero maintenance issues with the vehicle. Just oil changes and rotation of the tires.
In the SW i was averaging 24.6 mpg, but now in Texas with more stop/go, i am getting 21 overall if i am lucky. The AWD is a fuel hog, that's for sure. I've taken the car on multiple cross country trips and it will cruise @ 70 MPH all day long. There is road noise, and is getting worse now that the tires are reaching the end of their life, but it's not as bad as some other cars.
I bought this car to be a work horse, and it shows. the exterior, while still shiny has all the marks of off-roading and the interior show's it's been occupied to people who spend time outdoors.
I hate this car.
Tom B., Monson, MA, 07/20/2016
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
I owned a 1999 Subaru Forester and it was the greatest car I ever had. This is the worst. The automatic transmission can't keep up with the engine when accelerating out of a turn. It burns off the required watery oil like nobody's business. The cabin smells like oil when stopped at lights. The back hatch has to be SLAMMED to get it to close. It evidently requires a software upgrade … now because it doesn't like to start on the first or second attempt. Subaru really lost my trust with this vehicle.....
I like the roomy Forester, handles any situation
NWdoc, Vancouver, WA, 03/29/2016
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
I have had 3 Subarus now and always bought used. I bought this one 4 years old and it looked almost brand new. The interior room and back seat room is much better than previous Subarus, passengers have plenty of seat and leg room and head room. The car sits taller so the seats are higher and you can sit in from standing very easily.The older Foresters you had lower yourself into, meaning … you have to get up out of the car. This was difficult for my elderly parents. I can take my parents easily in this car front seat or back. However carseats do not fit well due to curved back seat at the sides. There is plenty of cargo room, overall, the car looks nice. The exterior feels like there are more plastic parts than my older Forester. The interior of the 2011 (and i think it goes back to 2009 as well) has silver plastic which scratches easily. The dashboard part that is softer plastic and not shiny is sturdy. They should use the better softer plastic in the whole thing. The best part is that the wind noise is gone! my 2003 was almost unbearable on long trips due to the well known Subaru wind noise. They fixed that with the 2011. You still get road noise though through the tires, but not as bad as some cheaper cars. Accelerates well--i can get up to speed easily on freeways and pass people, but not uphill. That is the biggest drawback of the 4cyl--uphill is slow. The windows do not clear when you roll them down and up. The glass and side mirrors don't clear well as if there is still a film. I like the overall higher height of the car and putting things on top the car rack has not been a big issue. Mine did not have a hitch, so I had one put on for a hitch bike rack. This engine is soooooo noisy when you start it, but the sounds goes away after about 30 seconds. It uses a lot of oil, about 1to 2 quarts per month with the amount of driving i do. This is typical for Subarus. I have driven it in the snow in sport gear and it drove very well with snow tires on. I have had it on pothole dirt and gravel roads and it performed well. It has not broken down on me since i have owned it 4 years. started at 70,000 and now am at 135,000. I would say that the only reason i would consider getting a different car in the future would be to get one with an integrated smart phone connection and screen and nicer, quieter interior. I thought about getting a newer Forester recently but the newer ones only haul 1500 lbs. This 2011 can pull 2300 lbs. i bought a trailer, so i will stick with my 2011.
Good Value for AWD
Chris, 11/17/2010
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
Weve had a 2011 Forester 2.5X for about a month and are very pleased. The only fault weve found is that there is more road noise than were used to. Ride is smooth and feels solid. It has plenty of power while getting slightly better than 30 mpg on the highway. The 5 speed manual shifts smoothly, although it feels like it could use a sixth gear. The rear seats fold flat, giving tons … of cargo space with built-in hooks galore. Love the audio jack in the center console for the iPod, although the console itself is too far back. Under the hood, all fluids you need to be concerned with are clearly marked and the oil filter is right up front on the topside. Cant wait to try it in the snow!
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X SUV
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Standard all-wheel drive
- Pro:roomy cabin with ample cargo space
- Pro:comfortable ride
- Pro:strong turbocharged engine on XT trims.
- Con:Outdated four-speed automatic transmission
- Con:unimpressive fit and finish.
Full Edmunds Review: 2011 Subaru Forester SUV
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2011 Subaru Forester in Maryland is:
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