Used 2013 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
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2013 Subaru Forester, flower dropping its petals.
Bill in NE Ohio, 04/15/2018
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
51 of 52 people found this review helpful
Purchased new in Fall of 2012. Was looking for a car that checked quite a few boxes, AWD, good fuel economy, mid size, roof rack, trailer hitch etc. The Forester met quite a varied list, some of them quite well, some not. This review comes after almost 6 years of heavy use (168K as of this writing). First, the good; pretty good mileage all things considered, exactly 1 mpg less that the dash readout- I keep a detailed spreadsheet of fuel and mileage costs for my business. It's glued to the road like nothing I've driven. It did everything I asked it to, hauled extension ladders and trailers etc. Now the bad: Oil consumption. How does a quart every 1K sound? Don't let anyone tell you that's normal. My car had reached 100K when the consumption test notice came. I got an $80 check for extra oil, laughable. I spare the details here, but you'd benefit yourself to google Subaru/Oil Consumption, it's a defect they're well aware of. Noisy as hell, more cabin noise than a Jeep Wrangler (top up), passengers often comment on the noise. I added Dynamat soundproofing material throughout with little success- it took away noise outside but did nothing for road/chassis noise. The materials used match the price, average at best; most easily scratched paint of any car I've ever had, carpet hard to clean, the laminated leather seating won't age gracefully like a vintage 60's car, this stuff will split and delaminate where thin but that is probably true of most contemporary cars. So, would I buy another? No. It served me well but I hung on to it a bit too long and I'm now replacing parts at an increasing alarming rate. I usually do my own work so I'm not spending as much as someone who would pay a mechanic, but I've done wheel bearings twice (very difficult due to corrosion here in the NE, garages may charge $300-$400 for one alone), just put in my second set of front transaxles and fixed numerous lesser items, but the oil consumption is the real big deal. Word is getting out about it and it will damage the Subaru brand and reputation for years to come. Be very, very wary of the oil consumption issues for the model you are buying, do your research. Another reason for my answer of no on buying another is that I never really loved this car. I'm a car guy, I've had foreign and domestic, cargo vans, vintage American steel and European sports cars, from Jeeps to Triumphs, I just never felt connected to this car, it was like a rental, getting the job done but always aware that I made a bunch of compromises to be practical. As a car guy, being practical is a jagged pill to swallow! Although they have successfully marketed the cars as long lasting, it's not all blue skies for Subaru owners.
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Trashy Tranny
Bob Carroll, 09/11/2016
updated 03/27/2017
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
42 of 44 people found this review helpful
My 2013 Subaru seemed wonderful at first. The first problem I noticed was large oil consumption. It is using approx 1 quart of oil every 1300 miles. The dealer has been doing oil checks but nothing happens. The car now has 36,000 miles and the transmission has leaked fluid all over my driveway and the neighboring roads. I have owned a 2002 forester previously and this car was rarely a problem. Someone crashed into its rear at a rather high rate of speed with my entire family in it. No one was hurt! This is why I bought the 2013 Forester. Unfortunately, I'm beginning to think my latest purchase is a lemon. I am worried that the oil consumption is going to destroy my catalytic converter ($2,000) and I fear being stranded with another transmission leak. Needless to say I am very disappointed in this purchase. I will wait to see what Subaru does about these huge problems and let everyone know how it goes. It has been two months since Subaru repaired the transmission fluid lines. Unfortunately, another leak developed. This leak occurred in the radiator. The Forester cools the fluid by running it through the radiator. This is where the leak occurred the 2nd time. I fear that the transmission may have been damaged but I will see. I'm certain that a 3rd problem would qualify this car in the Lemon Law category.
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Short people need NOT beware..
C, 12/15/2015
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I'm 4 ft 9" , yes you read that right lol. This car is awesome for someone who loves the great outdoors and also need an everyday car. The seats lift up manually on the passenger and drivers seats. The steering wheel is very nice, seats are very comfortable. The inside is spacious, and the auto headlights are very handy. My only regret is how much the dog hair shows on my black seats! Brakes work fantastic, the value is really good. The stereo is basic but still nice. The ride is decently smooth, and the interior noise could also be better, but again overall this car is awesome. I got the 2013 once my 99' forester died and I would absolutely purchase it again!
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Great Value
reddog19, 03/14/2013
updated 09/15/2016
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
This is our first Subaru. We sold our 2000 Honda CRV, which we loved, and thought the Forester provided the best value among the competition. Initially our best gas mileage was about 22 during a half hour commute, but after our first oil change it rose to 24.5 on the commuting run which is more acceptable. There are no blind spots with this vehicle and it drives great. The AWD is as good, if not better, than my Silverado truck. It scales my steep driveway covered with 4" of snow and ice with ease, something the CRV had trouble doing. It is a nice looking car that we hope will serve us as well as the CRV. The base vehicle with alloy wheel package is a great value compared to the others
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Oil Burner Fixed by Subaru
B. Addison, 02/18/2016
updated 05/06/2016
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
43 of 48 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2013 Forester new for my daughter. It consumed oil right from the start. Presently has 55,000 miles and uses one quart every 1300 miles. Will be taking it to dealer for their assessment. Assuming they give me a runaround, will probably trade it in. Wonder how many other Subarus out there have a similar problem. So watch out . Will update this if they make it right. Update: 5/4/2016 Dealer did not give me a runaround. Dealer suggested a 1200 mile oil consumption test. They measured 1.5 quarts used in 1200 miles. This qualified for new short-block which the dealer installed. No cost to me. Currently we are doing our own mileage test to see if the new short-block made any difference. She now has about 600 miles on the new block and I will update this post when we get more miles. The dealership in this case has been extremely helpful and I give Subaru credit for standing behind this problem. Hopefully the short-block solves the problem. Update: 5/5/2016 Good news. I got a chance to check the oil level on my daughter's car. Since the new short block was installed she has driven 1800 miles. The oil level on the dipstick has gone down 1/4 of an inch from where I first measured it. If this rate of consumption holds, I will consider that the problem has been solved. At this rate she should not have to add oil between oil changes at 4000 miles. And if this rate of consumption holds, my faith in Subaru will have been restored and I would consider buying another one.
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Oil Guzzling piece of junk! BUYER BEWARE!!!
Disgruntled Subaru owner, 08/26/2019
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I bought this vehicle with 72,000 miles on it from a Subaru dealership and this thing went through oil from day one! At first I thought it was because Wal-Mart didn't put enough oil in it on my 1st oil change. Half way through my 2nd oil change I noticed that I was over a quart low! The further into the oil change you get the more oil it consumes!! Beware if you get around 3,000 miles on the oil change. My wife drives 120 miles round trip to work. I topped the oil off before she left and had to add a quart the next day. I had to get the oil changed the next day at only 3,000 miles when you should be able to go 5,000 with full synthetic. Unfortunately we had 105,000 miles on it when we found out that this was a fairly common issue on this year Forester, but Subaru would only do something about the problem up to 100,000 miles. I jumped through hoops with the Subaru dealership and Subaru customer service and they won't help me at all even though they know that this is one of the oil consuming vehicles and I had nothing to do with the issue. I actually always changed my full synthetic oil on my other vehicles between 3,500 and 4,000 miles because I don't like going the whole 5,000 miles. I need to do it every 2,000 miles on this Forester because I may run out of oil otherwise. I have owned a 2003 & 2004 for my wife and I and they never went through any oil. This was actually the most I have ever spent on a vehicle and it is the worst vehicle that I have ever owned. If Subaru would have stepped up and done anything to try and help out my situation I would have given Subaru another chance. Since they left me out in the cold I am done with Subaru and will never own another one. They actually lost 2 customers because my wife and I both used to drive Subarus. BUYER BEWARE!!!
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Avoid This Year and Model
CEHULL, 09/23/2020
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I had a Honda CRV for 12 years with 230k miles and it was a great car until about 160k. Saw this great condition, very low mileage 2013 Forester with at book price and thought I had found a great find. I was wrong. The transmission is clumsy at best and it makes a horrible around town car for that reason. The lack of armrest and the interior is poorly designed with the biggest thing having the rearview mirror right in my line of sight so I have to duct down to see things. Subaru paid for a new engine after it failed the Oil Consumption Test which made me happy but so far I've replaced two struts, two ball joints, a wheel bearing, two calipers, a ball joint, a muffler, straight pipe, heating control cable, PCV valve, and all four brake disk oh and a headlamp. It still needs two struts, two calipers, and three bearings. And it's not CHEAP fixing a 2013 Forester. This is my first Subaru and I regret every mile I've driven in it. I had such high hopes.
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Seized at 140,000
VERY UNHAPPY OWNER, 02/10/2021
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
BEWARE... we've owned this car since new for 8 years. On the 1st day after the extended warranty for oil consumption all the oil leaked out on the highway and the engine seized. NO warning lights came on, just a loud knocking noise. The repair bill estimate is for plus $13,000. SUBARU dealers recorded the excess oil consumption but did nothing to follow up. The car is now worth $0 Exceedingly disappointed...
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Foresters belong in the forest!
K Redding, 07/04/2016
updated 07/26/2021
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
I needed to access unimproved property and have mostly logging roads. I own a two wheel drive truck but it uses a lot of gas and some of the roads are impassable if it is wet. I bought the Subaru Forester mainly on the reputation of their all-wheel-drive. I have not been disappointed. It is very sure-footed and has a great turning radius, important off road. It is not fancy inside, I put in seat covers to protect the cloth seats. It does have more scheduled maintenance than a normal car, mainly the two differentials that have the oil changed every 30k. Not expensive to do so, but the tires have to be the same diameter due to the AWD. That means if you blow a tire after 20-30k miles, you will more than likely have to replace the whole set. The engine pulls strongly, I pull my small boat easily. I replaced the radio head unit, the stock one is weak and a new one is not very expensive, plus I have a backup camera now. If I lived in snow country, owning a Subaru would be a no-brainer. : Now with 76k miles I still really like my Forester. Spark plugs required replacing at the recommended 60k miles. Not a DIY job, I paid $500 to have it done. Still really like the AWD system. It is for real and not pretend. UPDATE: At 75k miles the rear drivetrain started roaring. After further investigating, the drivers side wheel bearing was bad. Difficult to change, but it stopped the noise and no noise coming from the other side. This was a $450 repair.
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2013 Subaru XT Touring Review
Tom, 09/02/2017
updated 02/18/2025
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 4A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Written 2-15-2025 - Still love it. In 2024 I had my 60K service done at Subaru (at 65K). I replaced the original tires with the same tires that came with it which I thought was amazing. Still getting free oil changes. Just turned 70K. I wish I could add a picture of it with my new roof tent; everyone thinks it's pretty cool. 7 years without a car payment and it runs and looks brand new. Very happy with it but I won't let anyone but Subaru touch it with the exception of stuff like a trailer hitch (U-Haul), batteries and wiper blades Written 7-13-2018 - It's paid off and I still love my 2013 Forester XT. At 60K and 80+ MPH the MPG is almost 25. It is my favorite car in terms of speed, handling, capacity and reliability. It's functionable and fun. I highly recommend but please note it is not for sale so please don't ask. Written 9-1-2017 - At almost 48K in mileage, the only faults observed is gas mileage and two recalls. The recalls were taken care of quickly while getting my free synthetic oil changes for life from the dealer. Subaru owns up to their mistakes (recalls) which is why this is my third Subaru. Gas mileage is about 21 MPG on average which is only twice the mileage I get from my 24' Class C Winnebago. On a good note, the 2.5L XT Turbo Touring model can go from 0 - 60 MPH in about 6 seconds and can carry a 42" inch TV, half king size bed pieces, lazy-boy recliner, etc. The XT is very Subaru like in that it handles extremely well in snow. You can full throttle the XT in snow / ice and it behaves well and will accelerate faster than anything I've ever seen on the road including Jeeps, Hummers and other 4 wheel / all wheel vehicles. The XT has the same engine as the WRX but less HP which is computer controlled. I was told by a Subaru STI owner I could get another 60 HP with a computer chip replacement but it seems like the engineers at Subaru know what they are doing and I really don't need to go quicker or faster. All three of my Subaru's have been rock solid. I heard my dealer no longer offers new car buyers free oil changes for life probably because of people like me keeping their cars too long but I want to give them an "attaboy" because their service department always gets me in and out quickly for free oil changes - I highly recommend Subaru of Kings Auto mall in Cincinnati and I'm writing this on my own accord.
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Subaru Forester Oil Consumption
Andy Stewart, 04/04/2016
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
The Subaru Forester - is an oil consuming machine. The dealer and manufacturer do not stand behind their products. So much oil consumption that the catalytic converter will need to be replaced every 50000 miles to the tune of $2000 each time. Subaru has acknowledged the issue but does not stand behind their products. Anyone thinking of purchasing a Subaru should seriously consider another manufacturer.
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Great little car
sicsniper911, 02/26/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I bought the car new in September of 2012 and thus far it has been a great car. I have nearly 10,000 miles on it already and everyday i still look forward to driving it. It has the 5 speed manual tranny in it and with that it has plenty of get up in go. The cornering on road is great for how big the car is and offroad it is even better. I have plenty of clearance for mild to moderate offroading and plenty of grip as well. Also performs excellent in the snow with no slipping unless i forced the car to do it. Highly recommended to anyone looking to buy.
Great little Subie
skinnerkid3, 08/06/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I've had my 2013 Forester for about 7 months now and so far, so good. It isn't the fastest, most luxurious, or most tech savvy car on the market, but what it is, is a great all around car. In todays market there are not many CUVs you can run to the store in one minute, and then the next go out in the back country. This is what made this vehicle so impressive to me being a Wyoming native who very well may do both of those activities in the same day. This little crossover is just so well rounded and good at so many things it makes me happy everytime I drive it. The interior does have some cheap materials, and the stock mud guards are terrible, but other than that I'm happy with my foz.
A costly mistake
ranac, 02/22/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
18 of 26 people found this review helpful
I've owned other subarus and thought I'd try an SUV. Forresters were generally highly rated. I can't speak for prior year models, but I feel like Subaru really cheaped-out on this one. Pro-large cabin, good all around view, no blind spot, huge moon roof. Cons-cheaply appointed interior, leather seat wrinkled first week. the plastic is incredibly cheap, there is even just a piece of black "paper" behind the steering wheel as a dust protectant, not even vinyl. The body is thin guage steel, and you hear every "ping" from road debris. .The radio quality sounds like an old transistor.I am so disappointed, I am actually looking to trade it in, and take a loss....
Pay MORE
leebo4, 08/26/2014
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Do yourself a favor by opting for a higher trim...if you have a BACK problem. I purchse 2013 base model just because of the color. It is brown/burgundy (new for 2013) and either wait 8 weeks or take the base model. After 13,000 miles later, I regret my purchase only because of the lacking(or Non) lumbar support and a thigh support. I have a back issue since purchasing this CUV. Of course, if you are moderate sized person, this would not be an issue. Otherwise, it is a very solid vehicle. This is my 4th Subi and would not be the last.
Subaru Forester 2013: Meh...
gber, 04/14/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Subaru in Feb, 2013. The Subaru does very well in poor driving conditions - I used it through 3 snowstorms. Get the winter package - heated seats and windows. But in regular conditions, the Subaru disappoints. The engine is geared to punchy in city driving, which I like, but on the highway, the engine is all noise, and little pickup. Once up to speed it is fine. Gas mileage has yet to crack 21mpg in mixed driving. Which brings me to the handling. On city driving it is fine, but at highway speeds, the steering wheel vibration is pronounced - I gather from the forums that this is rather typical for Foresters. Overall, a boring, but competent vehicle.
Nice Car - Seats are extremely uncomfortable - Cause Back Pain!
jhobes, 01/25/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
8 of 12 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased a Subaru Forester Limited 2013 and it has been really tough on my back since I bought it. Of course, it felt great on the test drive, but now that I am driving it 84 miles per day, it is really causing aches. I try to stretch as much as possible, but this only seems to provide temporary relief. Getting back in to the car starts the cycle all over again. I splurged (out of budget btw) for the 2013 limited because Consumer reports said it was more comfortable to have power leather seats. So far, I have been disappointed. I previously owned a 2000 Lexus ES 300 and the seats were extremely comfortable.
7th Subaru, 5th Forester
subiedriver6, 02/24/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Obviously I am sold on Subaru. This is my 5th Forester and the first I have had with power heated seats and telescopic steering wheel. That makes all the difference in the world in comfort. None of my Subaru cars have given me any problems, and all of the dealerships have been excellent to work with. I appreciate the 7500 mile maintenance schedule and the self contained aspects which require no service at all. 2014 has a better transmission, but I could not pass up the 0% interest rate and great end of model year discounts. Fit and finish seem to be just average, but I have no complaints as I didn't pay a premium price for an Audi, BMW, or Lexus. Great small SUV!
Great all season vehicle
Neil, 01/31/2018
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
2 items: center vents cannot be turned off and there is some wind/road noise at highway speed.
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2013 Forester - Practical and Reliable....
sus77, 08/07/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've had my 2013 Subaru Forester since February 2013 after my 1999 Subaru Legacy quit running. I use non ethanol gasoline and I'm averaging between 27-29.2 MPG since I purchased the car. It has plenty of room and enough acceleration for normal & daily driving. I am still disappointed Subaru does not offer a limited / leather model with a 5 speed transmission. I decided to buy a 2013 over a 2014 because I do not trust the long term drive ability of the new CVT transmission yet!
At last
sweettooth, 12/25/2012
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 16 people found this review helpful
Pondered buying one of these for 2 years, watched prices and finally took the plunge. Out the door for $21,998 with all the equipment I wanted/needed and nothing extra. Love the smooth shifting 5 spd, cargo space, comfort, and the visibility out all windows. Coming from a sport wagon to means I have to learn patience as this is not a speed demon and I'm ok with that.
My 2013 Subaru Forester
willowby, 07/05/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
6 of 13 people found this review helpful
I love my 2013 Subaru Forester, so here comes the nit pickin'. I bought this SUV in November of 2012. I hate the gray plastic dyed interior trim inside, looks great until you scratch it. Too expensive to fix or replace! Don't like the silver plastic front grill, there is no touch up paint for it! The inside carpet is fraying around the floor mat, but it's not too bad so far, could use better quality carpet. The ride is not bad, but could be smoother. The Bluetooth doesn't filter out noise very well, when trying to call out! No exterior temp gauge! This vehicle could maybe be 3 inches higher. Keep in mind, these things I mentioned may be improved on the 2014 model!
You get what you pay for
vhewitt, 11/13/2012
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
11 of 33 people found this review helpful
I like a lot of things about this car but a huge problem is the very poor quality of the interior . I have had it 4 weeks and had to buy after market seat covers because the seats are so poorly sewn I thought they would not hold up to normal usage . My dog stood on the front seat console and his claws put a hole in it . The same dog rode in my Jeep for years , stood on the same thing and it never left a mark let alone made a hole . My keys scratched the plastic , the dog put his feet on the dash and it left a scratch . It's almost impossible to use the car and not damage the interior . My Chevy Truck and Jeep Cherokee have the same usage and no damage . I truly hope it is mechanically sound
Amazing on every level, just not mpg!
Mark, 03/23/2016
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my first Subaru, I am technically the second owner, the first being my mother, she love it as much as me, and in fact purchased a 2015 Non turbo touring as her replacement. As far as comfort its a great car, driven it in my cross country move from Texas to Pennsylvania. My only complaint about the car is the gas millage and having to use Premium Gas, this is the cars only down fall. I have to drive almost 100 miles a day and she sadly chugs gas like a frat boy chugs beer. No issues mechanically, only a puddle light has gone out. Oil changes lasting as long as they do is a god sent. All in all a great car!
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Oil burner, bad year for Subaru buyer BEWARE!
SpunkyMama , 02/07/2023
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This was my 3rd vehicle and my first Subaru. My sister loved her Subaru and I’ve had many friends who love their Subarus however, the 2013 Subaru Forester is a lemon. I bought the care used from a used car dealership with low miles. Discovered that my check oil light was coming on a few weeks after I purchase the car. After I took car to a local Subaru dealership for oil change. The light switched on again a week 1/2 later. I had my mechanic look into the situation and he told me this was a very common issue with this year and model of Subaru. Vehicle burns oil. For now I drive the car from work and back, making sure I have at least 2-4 oil cartons to top the car off if I’m running low on oil. When I do this the car drives perfect. I plan on paying this car off as fast as possible before something else goes wrong. Buyer beware! Only giving 3 stars cause car handles well, very spacious for my husband and our child. Perfect mom mobile, great on gas.
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Basic and awesome.
curban, 03/24/2013
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is my first Subaru, and I love it. I was looking for a comfortable and basic SUV that can handle weather, terrain, and carrying bikes, camping gear, whatever. After 8 months of ownership I'm completely satisfied with the Forester. It's great fun to drive (the base model with manual transmission, I drove the automatic at the dealership and didn't like it), it's hard not to feel happy when you're in it. Handling is solid and it doesn't feel top heavy at all (helps that the Subaru engines are mounted very low to the ground). In terms of interior comfort I love how spacious the interior is. The controls are a bit plasticky but I like them that way. The seats are quite comfortable.
Subaru love
Michele Bias, 10/01/2016
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Good all round car excellent snow driving
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short people beware
robinoherin, 05/25/2015
updated 05/31/2019
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought a used 2013 forester with about 13,000 miles on it. The car is really spacious, pretty good on gas (average 24.6 mpg, although I can get up to 30 mpg on the highway) and looks beautiful. I am about 5' tall. But, I can't reach the brake pedal, (it is too high up and I have put two pillows under the floor mat), the seat doesn't go high enough and I need two pillows for that also, the steering wheel is to wide and my hands are cramping up from holding it, I have severe lower back pain, (am now trying an attached back support for the seat), sciatica pain, and cramps and soreness in my feet (from stretching to reach the pedals). In addition, there is no shade darkening on the top of the front windshield, my legs burn up. So I am updating this a year later. I still have back pain, leg cramps and foot pain and need pillows on the floor and on the seat. I got a special car lumbar support thing and that helps a little. I would never buy another subaru. It doesn't handle well (although snow tires made a big difference), and I am unimpressed with all-wheel drive. I still miss my jeep. I went to trade it in, and was told it is only worth $12,000 now. I tried to return it to Gengras, the dealer in CT I bought it , week after I bought it, and they refused, even though they advertise that they will take back a used car if you aren't happy. So there are things I like about it, but as soon as I can afford it, I'll get something else... update. after bumping a drain pipe in my driveway that damaged the side of the car, (it's made of cheap plastic seemingly) I traded it in for a Jeep Patriot with roughly the same mileage. LOVE MY JEEP.
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excellent value and reliability
william, 04/13/2018
updated 10/23/2019
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Car has been very reliable, handles very well in inclement weather, including excellent in winter weather conditions, well made and roomy, has especially generous cargo space, very high road clearance, good traction, comfortable and feels solidly built, good resale value (dealer has tried to get it several times as a trade-in).
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Start up
Tom, 09/07/2018
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Hard starting at times
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great litle suv
Brian H, 01/31/2019
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have only owned this vehicle for a few weeks and really like it. The blue tooth system is very difficult to get operating. The manual is very poor in explanation.
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Great multi-use vehicle
Great All around vehicle, 12/02/2019
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Pros - Runs great, reliable, good off-road capability, pretty good highway comfort, fun to drive. Cons - Gas mileage not great with 4A transmission. Not much rear seat room. Not a lot of front seat leg room if you are 6 ft. or taller.
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I love subarus, but....
Scooby Poo, 06/23/2021
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've got a low mileage 2013 Forester, it lasted me well until about 65k, then everything went bad. First the front motor mounts, as my wheel shook at stop lights. Then the front suspension. Then, recently the cheap plastic radiator top cracked and spewed fluid all over the engine. Next, the compressor went bad and had to replace that. SO, I would say get ready to spend about 4k when you near the 80k mark. Also, some of the cheap plasic parts drive me nuts. Everything breaks, the sunglass holder, the knob to the gas lid and the list goes on. I bought it as a rugged, safe automobile, and got taken by Subaru's stupid marketing jaugernaut. Oh, also the rear windshield wiper has had a burned out engine since 20k.....Oh, vey..time for a new car.
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Stay away from Subaru
Vai, 08/13/2022
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Well the car was good for half year , then they recall -brake lines (corrosion ) started applying corrosion prevention stuff. I can live with that, then 1,5 years in micro dots of rust started to show. I put some wax on. Around 70000 mi alternator went put new one 75000mi front axle bearing started make Crack noise fixed. Mechanical problems -Could be easy fix, no big deal, but after 8 years 85000 car body started to show real rust!!! Subaru of America no help. So stay away from Subaru if you need a car for more than 5 years. Now 26000$+ down the drain.
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It’s Ok
Brian, 05/26/2024
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The car has been reliable, which is the most important thing. My wife selected it over my objections at the time because I wasn’t impressed by the door slam test, and the console was a bit dated for the time. It has served us reliably, and the only thing wrong after 14 years is the rear view mirror is loose, probably because garage door opener buttons are on the bottom of the mirror. It probably deserves a 5, but memories are long and first impressions linger.
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Reliability
Tom, 07/25/2017
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Drive before you buy. Did not know I had to spend lots of money to install XM unit. Needs more insulation for less noise.
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A manual in an automatic world
dg, 10/15/2019
2013 Subaru Forester 2.5X PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
It is real to find a manual these days. The Forest shifts great with out a lot of clutch pressure. The four cylinder is not what I would call major horse power, but the economy in fuel milage is great. Interior is room, even the backseat leg room is decent. Rear seat (split bench) folds flat and does not cram up against the front seats, thus still legroom upfront. Not a lot of bells and whistles on this Subaru which I consider a plus, less things that can go wrong and cost a lot to fix. Down side, I do not like the sound of the door lock with the remote, it chirps and not a pleasant chirp in my opinion.