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Subaru Product Line Manager Todd Hill sits shotgun as we barrel down a barren wash road somewhere within the Sonoran desert. Our field of view is expansive, thanks to a few of the many changes implemented in the design of the all-new 2014 Subaru Forester.
Pushing the narrower A-pillars forward while pulling the side mirrors back on the doors creates a solariumlike cockpit, from which our chaperone-turned-co-driver, Todd, can attentively scan the dusty road ahead. It doesn't feel very treacherous, as this new Forester features a revised all-wheel-drive system and reprogrammed Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) setup that keeps our slip angles in check and our wheels on the road.
This makes Todd happy, and more importantly, will likely make Forester buyers even happier. Long known for its all-weather capability, the 2014 Subaru Forester is a further refinement of a smart package that's well tailored to the average crossover buyer.
Handles the Dirt as Well as the Road
As our next stopover peers into view, we learn that we could've navigated here entirely on pavement. Subaru instead saw it opportune to drive over miles of roughly maintained, washboard-sectioned dirt road. In most cases, this is exactly the type of road most crossovers in this segment would avoid, but not this Forester.
With a new body shell that's 50 percent stiffer than before, this new Forester maintains the 8.7 inches of ground clearance found in the outgoing model. That's still more than a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The rest of the suspension is similar to the previous model, so there are MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones in back. Together, the setup allows the Forester to not only survive this road, it actually makes it fun.
Our all-season tires soon transition from dirt to driveway as we arrive unscathed at a private racetrack facility to further test the Forester's new chops. A Subaru Forester at a racetrack? It's not an obvious combination, but Subaru thinks the Forester is nimble enough these days to impress us even on a twisty piece of tarmac.
Two New Transmissions, One New Engine
The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine carries over from last year's model. It generates 170 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque while the vehicle itself weighs an extra 50 pounds or so depending on the model.
Last year's transmissions, however, get chucked in favor of a new six-speed manual in lieu of the five-speed and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) instead of the four-speed automatic, both of which provide a most welcome gain in fuel efficiency. The six-speed (22 city/29 highway) finds an extra 2 mpg in both EPA-estimated city and highway tests, while the CVT (24 city/32 highway) trounces the old slushbox with gains of 3 and 5 mpg respectively.
In more exciting news, the Forester XT model now sports an all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that develops 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This is the same basic engine used in the Subaru BRZ sports car, where it makes 200 hp. Subaru redesigned the fuel injection (it's solely direct, rather than a combination of direct and port injection), lowered the compression ratio a notch (10.6:1) and added a twin-scroll turbocharger, good for 17.1 psi of boost when maximum power is summoned.
This results in Subaru's highest specific engine output for the U.S. market (125.1 hp/liter) and it's channeled through an internally reinforced, high-torque CVT (23 city/28 highway), and a CVT only. The power figures are achieved on the recommended 93-octane fuel, though Subaru notes that 87 octane will work fine if you're OK with a 10 percent reduction in power.
Ready To Handle Any Kind of Road
As we blow past our bright orange STI pace car following the sighting lap, speed builds quickly and quietly, with light acceleration oscillations from the CVT riding the turbo engine's torque curve. Bury the throttle to pass and the CVT kick-down will come in a half second at best. Do this in Manual mode and it won't come at all.
The base Forester's six-speed manual still makes business sense from a cost standpoint, but for the majority of future Forester buyers, the CVT is most efficient and best suited to overall functionality. Highest mpg figures aside, the quick, flexible nature of the CVT allows engineers to capitalize on Subaru's electronically controlled, continuously variable transfer clutch, supplanting the six-speed's passive, viscous-locking center coupling.
With the mild road feedback transmitted through an energy-saving electronic power steering rack, we know in our hearts that the production run of Foresters will probably never see a racetrack. However, the decent cornering balance, combined with the way the brakes endured 40-something turns tells us that this Forester isn't likely to disappoint on a highway on-ramp.
Cabin Updates
The Touring model we're in features a 6.1-inch touchscreen navigation screen with an additional color LCD above it. Though resolution on the main screen isn't stellar, the system features the latest suite of smartphone-integrating apps, even one called Aha that will text-to-speech the news feeds of any forsaken Facebook junkies.
The smaller LCD is used to display information for the climate controls, fuel mileage and a fun-over-function AWD animation. Lastly, it also doubles as a rearview camera feed, a feature that is now standard on all but base models of the Forester. The rest of the interior remains delightfully simple considering how much technology is buried with the controls.
The Forester's exterior footprint expands marginally in every direction, which proves more noticeable inside than out. Rear legroom is up 3.7 inches over the last model, a substantial increase that makes it far more livable in back than before. With the rear seats folded, there are now 74.7 cubic feet of cargo space, an increase of 6.4 cubic feet over its predecessor.
Value Priced
With a base price of $22,820, the new 2014 Subaru Forester costs slightly less than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but still more than the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. Factor in the Forester's standard all-wheel drive and the equation tilts further in favor of the Subaru.
Look beyond the Forester's obvious all-weather credentials and it still stacks up well in the segment. Whether it's passenger space, cargo room or the latest features, this Forester has all the bases covered. And that includes performance if you opt for the XT, an option that not all of its competitors offer.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
Used 2014 Subaru Forester listings and inventory:
Shop Edmunds' used car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million pre-owned vehicles to find a cheap used and certified pre-owned (CPO) 2014 Subaru Foresters for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 622 used and CPO 2014 Foresters listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 12,250 and mileage as low as 21,101. Simply research the type of used car, SUV, or truck you're interested in and then select a vehicle from our massive database to find cheap pre-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the used 2014 Subaru Forester. Then select Edmunds' special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 300 on a used or CPO 2014 Forester available from one of 2,630 dealerships in your area.
What's a good price on a used 2014 Subaru Forester ?
Save up to $300 on one of 47 used 2014 Subaru Foresters for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, Virginia with prices as low as $12250 as of Apr 26, 2018, based on data from 18 dealers and 61 consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from 1.7 to 5 out of 5 stars.
Price comparisons for used 2014 Subaru Forester trim styles:
The used 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV is priced around $17674 with average odometer reading of 47953 miles.
The used 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring is priced around $18442 with average odometer reading of 77824 miles.
The used 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV is priced around $17941 with average odometer reading of 72582 miles.
The used 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV is priced around $16195 with average odometer reading of 52929 miles.
The used 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV is priced around $15125 with average odometer reading of 78492 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, Virginia. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
What options are available on the 2014 Subaru Forester?
Available Subaru Forester 2014 Submodel Types: Wagon, SUV
Available Subaru Forester 2014 Trims: 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Touring, 2.5i Limited, 2.5i, 2.5X Premium, 2.5X, 2.5X Limited, X, 2.5i Premium PZEV, 2.5 X, XS, 2.5X Premium PZEV, 2.5i Limited PZEV, 2.5 X Premium Package, 2.0XT Premium, L, 2.5X PZEV, 2.5i PZEV, 2.5i Touring PZEV, S, 2.5 X L.L.Bean Edition, 2.0XT Touring, 2.5X Limited PZEV, 2.5 XT Limited, 2.5X L.L. Bean Edition, 2.5X Touring, 2.5X Touring PZEV, 2.5XT, 2.5XT Limited, 2.5XT Premium, 2.5XT Touring, Sports 2.5 X, XT
Exterior Colors: Crystal White Pearl, Quartz Blue Pearl, Obsidian Black Pearl, Sage Green Metallic, Sepia Bronze Metallic, Camellia Red Pearl, Spark Silver Metallic, Crystal Gray Metallic, Dark Gray Metallic, Satin White Pearl, Steel Silver Metallic, Newport Blue Pearl, Champagne Gold Opal, Crystal Black Silica, Marine Blue Pearl, Aspen White, Cayenne Red Pearl, Paprika Red Pearl, Burnished Bronze Metallic, Ice Silver Metallic, Jasmine Green Metallic, Platinum Silver Metallic, Venetian Red Pearl, Cayenne Red Pearl/Textured Gray, Urban Gray Metallic, Acadia Green, Blue Ridge Pearl, Canyon Red Pearl, Crystal Gray Metallic/Textrured Gray, Pacifica Blue Pearl, Platinum Silver Metallic/Steel Gray Metallic, Sierra Gold Metallic, Sky Blue Metallic, Canyon Red Pearl/Slate, Crystal Gray Metallic/Steel Gray Metallic, Evergreen Metallic/Steel Gray Metallic, Garnet Red Pearl, Java Black Pearl, Pacifica Blue Pearl/Textured Gray, Platinum Silver Metallic/Textured Gray, Regal Blue Pearl, Regal Blue Pearl/Steel Gray Metallic, Sierra Gold Metallic/Gray, Sierra Gold Metallic/Textured Gray, Steel Gray Metallic, Topaz Gold Metallic
Interior Colors: Gray cloth, Black cloth, Gray leather, Brown leather, Platinum cloth, Gray, Graphite Gray cloth, Beige, Desert Beige cloth, Grey, Off Black cloth, Black, Black leather, Gray Leather, Off Black
Popular Features: Blind Spot Monitoring, Adaptive Cruise Control, Keyless Entry/Start, 2500lb Towing Capacity, AWD/4WD, Alarm, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Aux Audio Inputs, Bluetooth, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Post-collision safety system, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Warning, Trip Computer, USB Inputs, Back-up camera, Power Driver Seat, Sunroof/Moonroof, Upgraded Stereo, Heated seats, Auto Climate Control, Leather Seats, Power Liftgate/Trunk, Remote Start, Navigation, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Lane Departure Warning, Parking sensors, Pre-collision safety system, Towing Hitch, Upgraded Headlights
Engine/Mechanics: 4 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC, MANUAL
Fuel Types: premium unleaded (recommended), regular unleaded, premium unleaded (required)
Drivetrains: all wheel drive
Used 2014 Subaru Forester Overview
The used 2014 Subaru Forester is offered in the following submodels: SUV. Available styles include 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT), 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT), and 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT). Pre-owned Forester models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The used 2014 Forester comes with all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: continuously variable-speed automatic.
