Used 2015 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
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Exactly what I need
bbq4, 06/24/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
126 of 130 people found this review helpful
I keep seeing reviews of this car, saying that it is too spartan. To be honest, I only need that and nothing more. There are things that regardless of money, you simply can't find anywhere else aside from the Forester and those things are: easily the best visibility of any vehicule I've ever driven; best AWD system, best fuel economy for an AWD compact SUV, best safety rating in its class, among the most spacious compact SUV, having among the biggest panoramic sunroof. For those reasons alone, I'm extremely happy with my purchase! Honestly, I don't want to pay more for a name or for gadgets that would not make a difference if there's a snowstorm outside and that I needed to go somwhere.
Our second XT , just as good as the first! UPDATE
subewannabe, 06/18/2014
updated 07/12/2021
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
115 of 119 people found this review helpful
We've had this car for 8 weeks, bought to replace our 2004 XT. It's astounding how far technology and design has improved. The car is so much more comfortable than the 2004 , especially for 4 passengers. The Forester greenhouse has been preserved, which makes it one of the easiest cars to drive. The Eyesight system , with adaptive cruise control, object detection and automatic speed reduction works extremely well and very smoothly. The ride is a bit hard, not unexpected in a AWD small SUV with lots of ground clearance and sport rims and tires. The touchscreen MMI is simply awful...I cant believe Subaru fell short on this while doing so well on everything else. UPDATE: After 2 years plus of ownership, we are still very happy with this car. Great for city, road trips, hauling dogs and kayaks, kids to college. So far no mechanical or electric issues or repairs. MMI is still frustrating. UPDATE II: After 4+ years, still going strong, only one major repair issue. The passenger side front axle started making a clicking noise when turning, diagnostic of a common problem in this model but they said it was only that side and replaced it under warranty. The same problem has returned after less than 5K miles. Back to the shop. Otherwise, Eyesight system is industry's best for a reason, MMI is still awful. Passenger side electric seat would be a nice improvement. Our 2 yellow labs agree: DOG -APPROVED! Update III - 6 years and 90K miles later, still going strong ! The clicking front transaxle issue persisted, and it turned out the local dealership changed out the wrong side! They corrected this at no charge, Otherwise, no repairs, no issues. We moved into a new home in a mountain community with some steep roads and drives and our gravel driveway is 300 ' of slope. The Forester never spins a tire.
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2015 Subaru Forester for sale near you
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5000 mile update
mcm0455, 05/28/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
48 of 49 people found this review helpful
Not much has changed in my overall opinion over that past 5000 miles. Still a hoot to drive, lots of pull with the turbo engine. I installed an aftermarket tow hitch to carry my mountain bike, still have plenty of ground clearance. Gas mileage has been fine at around 22mpg, with mostly city driving. Have seen over 30mpg on slower highways(65mph). Will be installing snow tires next winter, had it up in the mountains in some pretty deep snow and slick roads, it made it up no problem with the OEM tires, but I do like the extra grip of snow tires on slick roads.
My 4th Subaru- Much Improved
pktsizecub, 05/30/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
45 of 46 people found this review helpful
This is my 4th Subaru. I also had a 2009 Forester and it was a great car. The 2015 is quite a step-up. The CVT is an excellent transmission and I regulary get 34 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg around town. The Subaru Forester is unstoppable in the mountains of western Washington. The 8.7" of ground clearance allows the car to be driven almost anywhere. The Premium package is simply amazing for comfort and quality. The Forester is quiet and easy to drive. Passengers in rear find ample leg room. The storage is quite good for hauling things. The trailer towing capabilities are limited but that's why I have Toyota Tundra. Long road trips are easy on the back with adjustable lum
Best New Car Purchase Decision I've Ever Made
jjmdr, 10/14/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
38 of 39 people found this review helpful
This is the fifth new car I have bought for my family or myself, and I am very happy with my decision. I am consistently getter better than predicted gas mileage for my daily commute. My kids love the back seat room (I have 3 so all the seats are full when the family travels). They always want to take "Daddy's Car" instead of the minivan! The features for the money paid are an excellent value (I have the 2.5i Premium with MT, which comes standard with the All Weather Package). Although I am currently leasing the car, I am very seriously considering converting to a purchase, since I don't think I'll want to give the car up when my lease is over.
2015 Subaru Forester Overview
tjpillar, 02/05/2016
updated 08/14/2017
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
72 of 76 people found this review helpful
My wife and I test drove the; Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav4, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. In honesty the smoothness of the ride is probably tied for second with the Rogue losing to the Rav4. Does that mean its a bad ride? No! The Forester has a stiffer "sporty" suspension system but it was much better than the Escape and CR-V. The interior of the Forester is really great with materials and comfort of the seats front and rear. The outside noise isn't too bad to be honest, but I would say it could be a little quieter. There is plenty of space for all individuals. The sound system really is pretty nice especially since it wasn't upgraded or anything. The Forester has a lot of pep for a four cylinder engine with decent power to accelerate when you need and takes hills really well. When it comes to space within the Forester there is plenty for cargo and seems like tons with the back seats folded down. Whats super great is the minimal blind spots! You have such a wide back window and side windows with almost no obstruction to your vision and the side mirrors are located on the door to enhance viability of your surrounding. Subaru did a really good job on the Forester with safety (Look up the crash tests on YouTube if you don't believe me) compared to all other CUV's. Standard AWD is a great feature especially for those with crazy winters. My biggest "gripe" If we want to even call it that is the infotainment system. Talk about a pain having to put each contact from your phone in one at a time, yeesh. Most cars sync with your phone once your in the vehicle. Overall, the Subaru Forester is comfortable especially on long drives. Has great get up when its needed. Gas mileage is good! HWY from Southern California to Phoenix got me 32.9 mpg and back was 33.4 mpg (don't hear me complaining about that. Also we love how in the Forester there isn't an "ECO" button that chokes and compromises the car like the Nissan Rogue, Subaru just made a fuel efficient vehicle with decent power. If you haven't at least test drivin' it to expand your options, you should as my recommendation. Yes we're at 22k mileage with a ways to go, but hey reliability right? EVERY company has a lemon once in a while, but I have talked to a LOT of longtime Subaru owners and they have all stayed Loyal and loved their cars, so far we do too.
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Happy with my 2015 XT
wnydriver, 09/12/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
32 of 33 people found this review helpful
1 month in, 2600 miles so far no regrets with my 2015 Subaru Forester XT Premium. My overall fuel economy since purchase says 26.8 mpg. I've had full tank reports of as high as 33. I mostly run mid-grade (89) and throw in a tank of premium every third fill up or so. In short you can get really good mileage if you drive conservatively. It does drop off pretty fast if you like to get into the turbo frequently. But even on tanks where I've "played" more, I still was in the 24+ mpg overall. I love the turbo power when I need it. Car is very comfortable for a CUV. Visibility is the best of an CUV in my opinion.
Fun to drive SUV
gramper, 05/21/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
I've had my Forester xt for 7 Mos. now and have enjoyed driving it a lot. It has a roomy interior and comfortable seats. Excellent visibility and driving position. Acceleration is brisk and smooth. Handling is adequate based on how I drive and what I expect from a mid-sized SUV. Haven't driven it on dirt forest/logging roads yet, but I am confident it will do well over the rougher sections with the sophisticated x-mode AWD system and good ground clearance. Gas mileage is 25-28mpg, which I consider good considering it's size and performance level.
Well Just Turn Me Over and Look at my Blue Teeth
Sioux Rogers, 09/09/2016
updated 03/13/2017
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
159 of 172 people found this review helpful
The car, Subaru Forester 2015 has a 'strange' habit of the engine not turning over but not flooding or grinding. This is an irregular happening, but often enough to be a scary pain. It is not related to time of day or weather. The dealership could find no problem. Well I said it was irregular. It can happen after I have been driving for awhile or first thing in the morning. The Blue Tooth will accept incoming calls but I can not give verbal commands to make a call. I must pull over to the side of the road and dial via my cell, then listen through the ' radio.' Another annoyance I have now own this car for two years and would NOT recommend it to anyone. The price, low end for me, is too high considering how the blue tooth works only 1/2 way, the rear view camera and screen is so inaccurate it is dangerous, the large "how to" manual does not even know how to change the time on the car's clock, small pieces of the interior continue to fall off, the material for the interior is of very low quality, the car's MPG for gas is way to low at 28. Not what was advertised.
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Eats oil.
Len Russo, 07/09/2015
updated 07/22/2024
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
60 of 65 people found this review helpful
After reaching 182, 000 miles on my 2007 Outback, I purchased this 2015 Forester 4-cylinder 6 speed. I had to wait three and one-half months for it to arrive and took delivery in January. At around 4000 miles I started to notice excessive oil consumption. Checked with Subaru National, was given a case number, and was instructed have the local dealer in Bedford, Ohio do an oil consumption test. The service managers statement,"One-third of a quart in 1200 miles is acceptable." If that answer sounds scripted, it was. Plus he talked down to me like I was a third grader. So that means that by the time your first scheduled synthetic oil change is due, you have blown through two quarts. That is not acceptable, that is frightening. There are lots of negative comments on line about excessive oil consumption with these engines. Had I read about this major Subaru engine problem, I would have bought something else. At 78,000 miles it is still using oil. So I have gone to 5W-30 which is slightly thicker oil than 0W-30. It helps a little with consumption but the problem is still there. Otherwise the car is fine but a bit under-powered with the base flat-four engine. At 90,000 miles (7/2018) the oil consumption is down but still there. No other problems with the car. Now at 120,000 miles (7/2019) oil consumption has decreased but still requires an occasional top off. Replaced the right rear wheel bearing at 110,000 miles. Everything else works ok. 1/16/2020. At 130,000 miles in 5 years, nothing new to report except fan belt needs replacing. 1/16/2021. About 5000 miles have been put on the Forester since last reporting with most of that being before the onset of Covid19. The car still starts with the original battery, still runs and stops. Except for adding oil from time to time between oil changes all else is fine. 1/19/2023. Presently at 152,000 miles. At 144,000 new spark plugs and 148,000 a new clutch as this is a 6-speed stick shift transmission. Still getting between 25-27 miles per gallon in mixed driving.
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Great car except for the transmission
mtski, 01/20/2015
updated 01/22/2018
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I did a lot of research before purchasing a new car and liked the performance, safety, and value the Forester offered. My prior car was a 1997 Jeep Cherokee (6 cylinder) that I loved. In terms of modern amenities, any new car would be a change, but I worried about missing the power and off-road ability of the Jeep. The Forester is great on ice, slush, snow, blowing snow, etc. It feels stable and peppy. Although I can tell it is working hard when going uphill, it doesn't feel sluggish. I wasn't sure how much I'd use the X-Mode and Hill Descent Control, but they were handy when we got 14 inches of snow over a layer of ice. It's comfortable and I enjoy driving it. After several years of ownership I still like the car a lot and really appreciate how well it handles rough roads and winter weather. It's very comfortable and I love the seat warmers. Putting the seats up and down in the back is also very easy (except for the rubber seat-back covers, which get in the way often, so I've had to figure out a trick to hold them out of the way while I put the seats back up). The car is a great size for transporting all kids of things, and I can fit 8 foot long 2x4s and other similar items inside. The climate control system works well; it's a little lacking on vents in the middle and back, but I've found that you can adjust the temp in the back pretty quickly by shifting the trajectory for the front vents. There are a few things that bother me about the car. First, the transmission is frustrating. It is sluggish when changing between reverse and drive and jerky at low speeds. I test drove 3 Foresters before purchasing this one and didn't notice the transmission's balkiness then, but it is definitely noticeable when you drive it regularly. I moved to an urban area with more traffic and found that the delay from reverse to drive or park to drive is long enough to make me nervous when pulling out into traffic or backing out of parking spots or areas where you have to move quickly. It also does not have much speed or oomph when you start driving, unless the engine has been running for awhile. This initial sluggishness has also been a bigger concern in the city where I have to pull out on a fast road soon after leaving my house. I'm not expecting performance like my Jeep, but I've had the Forester's accelerator to the floor trying to get it to go a reasonable speed. Eventually it will speed up in a surge and afterwards it starts being more responsive, but that initial delay is too long. I've asked three dealerships about whether anything can be done about the transmission issues and they've all said that it's a characteristic of this transmission. I planned to keep the car for the long term, but the transmission alone has made me rethink that. The second item is also a safety issue. The headlight indicator light on the dashboard is exactly the same for two different settings: 1) when the headlights, parking lights, and some of the other exterior lights are on and 2) when only the parking lights and some of the other exterior lights (i.e. not the headlights) are on (I read the manual and verified this by testing the lights myself). I'm not sure why the indicator light isn't different for these two settings, but this should absolutely be changed. The difference between headlights and parking lights can make a big difference in your visibility to others, but if you are driving in and out of streetlights it can be hard to tell initially that your headlights aren't on. I keep my headlights in the on position so they are always on when the car is, and I've caught the switch a couple of times on the way in or out of the car and shifted it to the parking lights without realizing it right away. The car locks are also a little frustrating. It seems strange that at least the driver's side door doesn't open from the inside when the doors are locked. You have to hit the unlock button - which unlocks all the doors - or flip the lock button for the door you are trying to get out of. Seems a minor inconvenience, but I don't know any other newish cars that do this except some base models, which this isn't. The Bluetooth and connection with my phone worked well at first, but within a few months something had changed and my phone and the car were no longer getting along. I have to re-pair the phone every time I get in the car if I want it to use the sound system. I've asked the dealership about it, they re-set the phone-car connection, but it doesn't last. I've ended up just connecting my phone with a cable to a USB port whenever I'm in the car. This doesn't bug me too much, but it is an area where the car doesn't live up to basic expectations. Overall, I really like the car and find it comfortable with good handling. If Subaru could address the transmission issue I'd plan on being a Forester owner for a long time. However, with the transmission as it is, I'm not sure I'll stick with Subaru.
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3 months / 5000 miles - Great Car!
Pearly White, 08/13/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
Purchased car in Auburn, Washington, and had the best customer experience ever in over 40 years of car buying. Took a road trip to Yellowstone and was very satisfied with performance, handling, standard radio system. Averaged over 32 mpg on a trip that was mostly highway driving, but, included mountains and a few days of backroad touring on paved roads. Around town mileage is somewhat lower, but, averaging better than 24 mpg in suburban driving. Only disappointment so far is air conditioning effectiveness - cooling is marginal in direct sun when over 90 degrees (perhaps due to untinted windows on base model). Not a single mechanical problem has surfaced so far. Very satisfied with the car and ownership experience to date.
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2014 Subaru Forester - Failed Transmission
Amanda, 01/06/2016
updated 01/07/2018
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
68 of 74 people found this review helpful
My problem started in May 2015 with approximately 30000 on the car. The car didn't want to accelerate when first starting. When stepping on the gas the vehicle lurched forward. I took it in to Subaru three times and they told me this was normal with their CVT transmissions. Finally at about 40000 I took it in a fourth time and I'm told I have a failed transmission. this was based on anise they heard coming from the engine. Subarus exact words and what is written on my diagnosis. I'm no mechanic but that makes no sense to me. They gave me an estimate of approximately $9,000 to repair. The vehicle has a 60k power train warranty. You would think Subaru would replace it under warranty. Nope. They are trying to not honor my warranty and stick me with the bill. I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle and with Subaru customer service. I told Subaru I didn't feel safe driving this vehicle with my three year old child. Subaru offered to reimburse my $30 per day for 5 days of s rental vehicle. My five days are up and I have yet to receive any response from Subaru Corp. Unacceptable Subaru!
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Heater problems
Harris Gurowitz, 04/14/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
58 of 63 people found this review helpful
Just purchase a 2015 Forrester based on high reviews in CR Magazine. I love the car. The only problem is with the heater. It is very slow to heat up the car compared to my experiences with Toyota Rav 4 and Toyota Matrix. Also the heat, when it does get warm does not heat the driver and passenger's feet area. I brought it to the dealer and they said nothing is wrong with the heater and no one every complained about it. That was not true, because going on line I found in Subaru chat areas that many people complained about the poor heat. I guess I will love the care for three quarters of the year when it is warm. I hope the air conditioner works well. Not hot enough to fine out.
2 year/23k update.
mcm0455, 02/12/2015
updated 02/13/2017
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
29 of 31 people found this review helpful
The Forester XT has been a solid and reliable vehicle for the past two years. It has performed its duty well as a outdoor activity vehicle that has included almost daily trips in the winter to ski, carrying my mountain bike on the tow hitch carrier, and several 500+ mile trips with my family. The turbo power is greatly appreciated for merging into traffic and passing on two lane highways. The handling is much better with the addition of a 19mm rear sway bar, and v rated summer tires. I run winter tires and wheels during the winter months and consider those mandatory for the snow and ice conditions. Overall gas mileage is good, averaging 22mpg lifetime, mostly in mixed driving. I have seen as high as 30mpg on extended highway trips with the speed in the 65-75mph range. Here with the 80mph highway limits, 25-27mpg can be expected. I changed out the turbo clamps shortly after purchase because the OEM clamps were notorious for loosening up and causing power loss and drivability issues. I check the clamps during the 6000 mile oil change intervals. No unscheduled maintenance issues over the past two years, just oil and filter changes. The OEM tires lasted 16k miles with 6000 miles rotation and correct tire pressure, but I do drive on curvy and steep roads so that may have shortened tire life. I just purchased some V rated performance tires and have really come to appreciate the big improvement in steering feel and overall grip. Overall, I am very pleased with the Forester XT.
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Great all round family SUV
Amarin, 10/17/2015
updated 10/19/2016
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
We have owned ours for 2.5 years and have put 17,000 miles on the clock. Its reliable - no problems at all so far, everything still works. We average about 300 plus miles on a tank - city/highway combined. The features that truly stand out - amazing visibility from the driver seat, lots of headroom, love the standard rear view camera. Comfortable ride but with a fair amount of road noise but not terrible. Rear seat room adequate for car seats however front seats cannot be pushed all the way back if you are tall and have a rear facing car seat behind you. Adequate rear storage space although cheap plastic used over wheel arches - broke when I pushed in a stroller. Overall we are very happy with this purchase and plan to keep for at least 5-7 years.
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A Few Issues, But Overall Content
cali83, 06/23/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
49 of 54 people found this review helpful
Almost 9,000 miles. Overall, I am pleased with my Forester. Biggest complaints are the tiny back-up camera display that is almost unviewable in sunlight and the less-than-advertised gas mileage. Other small SUVs appeared better in certain areas, but the Forester looked best overall. Freeze your credit ahead of time if youre not financing through the dealership. I was presented with a credit application as part of the dealerships routine stack of paperwork even though I had already made it clear that I did not desire or need Subaru financing. A frozen credit report means one less unnecessary inquiry by a business that doesn't seem to place much value on customer financial privacy.
Has Subaru become the new Nissan? It's a lemon!
Forkster, 07/16/2021
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
This car is a lemon. I purchased it new in April of 2015 (2.0 XT model) and have owned it for the past 6 years. While the drive of the vehicle still feels crisp and fun to drive, owning it is not. I've had to take it in 4 times for recalls, some related to 'simple' system faults that disable anti-collision, ABS, and the traction control. Now, the entire A/C system has failed - a $2000 fix at the dealership. I still have another recall outstanding to fix - and I'm now wondering what else is going to go wrong? So far, recalls on really simple systems. Brake sensor - caused the anti-collision system to fail, ABS, and traction control. And also, if you had push-button start, to not be able to start your car. Rear coils - they broke. Passenger seat pressure sensor - would not enable the front passenger airbag (not good), and the rear hatch is waiting to be fixed under recall. I purchased this car thinking it was almost as reliable as a Honda or Toyota (not as, but almost), but a lot of small issues that add up to a big headache of ownership. And now major systems are failing - and I'm worried that this car is nothing but another lemon. I had much better reliability with my older Ford truck.
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Amazed by the technology!
srkeegan, 12/15/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
Living in Reno, I do a lot of driving in the Sierra and snow. You couldn't spin this car out if you tried. The AWD has always been amazing in Subarus. It blows away my 2010 Rav4, which I have since gotten rid of. Beyond that, I couldn't believe how much technology they have put into the lower end models like mine. The cruise control automatically slows down to a safe distance if a car turns into your lane in front of you. Warns if you are leaving the lane. Knee airbags. Plenty of clearance for deep snow. Elongated moonroof. Spacious. MPG computers a lot like my Prius. Excellent Bluetooth features. No blind spots. Easily the safest car I've ever driven.
Love my Subaru!
scottimus1, 07/17/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
This is my first Subaru vehicle, and I am very satisfied with the car! It has surpassed my expectations (not an easy thing to do.) It is very comfortable, quiet, and handles better than I expected for a small SUV. The CVT transmission is quick to respond. Performance for the 2.5 litre engine is better than expected. Fuel economy is better than stated by EPA, averaging 27-30 MPG in mostly city driving.
Oil free oil changes!
Cindy, 06/06/2016
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
24 of 26 people found this review helpful
My car runs out of oil between oil changes. The dealer did an oil consumption test and told me I should be checking oil like they did in the old days, when pumping gas at each fill up. I run synthetic oil so I go between 6,000-7,000 miles between changes. Twice I have run out of oil after 5,000 miles. The first time I thought it was an error during the oil change. The next time I knew it was the car. The good news is I don't have to dispose of used oil... there isn't any. My husband drives a Chevy truck with over 100,000 miles and has never had to add oil. My boss bought two Kia's and they both have over 100,000 miles, no issues. My car has had break issues at 60,000 miles, front and back washer pumps replaced. Front axle replaced. Seat belt recall. Timing belt cover had a hole in it, had to pull engine. Now it drinks oil ... a lot. All of this before 100,000 miles. I have owned Subaru's for over 30 years. This will be my last.
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Very nice car
sandyrich1, 03/02/2015
updated 03/05/2018
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
I live in the mountains of Colorado and I am very pleased with my new Forester. It currently has roughly 5500 miles and I purchased it in July, 2014. I think it handles great and I feel very confident when driving it up and down the interstate in the mountains. It has also has plenty of power when heading up over the continental divide. I average 29.1 mpg combined driving. I have not noticed any unusual oil consumption (in fact, the dip stick showed the same level as when it was purchased). Although not necessarily intuitive, once we learned how to use it, the radio/navigation system works fine. We have not had a single problem with it. I have noticed, it will rev a little high under load. Updating my review, we have not had anything go wrong in a little over 3.5 years of ownership. My only critique would be with the acceleration not being quite as fast as I would prefer when put under a load. For example, if I misjudge how fast an approaching car is coming when I pull out to merge onto it's lane and I want to go faster, it's a little slow on the uptake. Otherwise, it's been fine for climbing hills in the mountains and otherwise getting around.
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2015 Forester 2.5i Premium
soysauce, 08/26/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
We have had our new Forester since late April and have almost 6,000 miles on it. We narrowed our choices down to this Forester and a 2014 Toyota RAV4. The selection boiled down to the dealer giving us a good straight up price as compared to the Toyota dealer wanting to play the negotiation game (e.g., pay cash, it will cost you more). This is our third Subaru. The build quality seems a little less than previous years, but still good.
I expected more.
Mike Noble, 01/09/2017
updated 07/10/2017
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
After 2 years of ownership, this car is too much of a compromise for me. On the plus side the engine / trans seem to work well. Visibility is very good. The car is built very solid. On the negative side, it rides like a truck, poor seating comfort, totally unsatisfactory heating / cooling system, and gets very poor gas mileage in the Winter, and in highway driving situations.
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Safety Design Saved My Wife's Life
Allen Wier, 01/20/2019
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
We bought this as a previously owned Forester, but it had only 5000 miles on it and seemed just like a new car. The Limited trim has several nice features we might not have bought, but we got spoiled by them--I was surprised by how much I appreciated the little approach light in each outside mirror that lights up the door area when you press the key. The spacious cargo area was very useful, as was the roof rack with crossbars. The sound system was excellent, controls were logical and easy to use. The back seat was roomy and comfortable. The Forester did not have the torque and acceleration of our Infiniti G 35, but the Forester got much better mileage on regular gasoline. My wife especially liked the little SUV's higher ground clearance and tight turning circle, and we enjoyed the ease of entering and exiting via wide, solid doors. Within a few months, this Forester had become one of our favorites of all the cars we have owned. But we never anticipated an accident my wife had recently (about 2.5 years after we bought the Subaru). A truck entered her lane, and the collision rolled the Forester three times before it landed upside down. No one who has seen photos of the totaled Forester can believe anyone got out of that vehicle alive, but, after being taken to the hospital for numerous tests, my wife was discharged the same day of the accident. Upon impact, the engine went down and forward as it is designed to do, and--surrounded by the steel-cage frame and an array of air bags--my wife had only a small cut on one hand and bruises and soreness from the seat belt and air bags that contributed to her walking away relatively unharmed. Within days, we purchased another Subaru Forester, again with the Limited trim. We did not plan this, but the 2018 model we bought to replace the wrecked 2015 is the same color, so we feel a kind of deja vu driving the newer one. More importantly, we feel an extra measure of safety. The tow-truck driver said he had never seen a car so well-built. Subaru's reputation for safety is well-deserved; the car has great visibility, and the All-Wheel drive handles well in all kinds of weather. After this experience, we will always drive a Subaru.
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Poor Heating
John Meyer, 12/30/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
This car reminds me of cars I owned in the 50's when I had to put cardboard in front of the radiator to get heat in the winter. When it is cold out,10 degrees or cooler never can get warm, and never have to turn down the heat in the car. Wish I could turn it up. Lots of good features, but if you are not warm in the car, the other features aren't worth it.
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Brakes over heat on long down hills
Bob, 08/11/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
28 of 31 people found this review helpful
No engine braking in L unsafe on long hills , very unsafe if car is loaded. Brake rotor temps read around 350 -500 degres Shifting from M to L is like sticking your hand out the window . Word is that this transmission is not sold in Europe because of the mountains . Subaru must think that their customers now live with no hills !
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terrific value for this class
feralcat, 01/29/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
We bought an XT premium a few weeks ago and have taken a couple road trips that included highway grades and dirt roads. This vehicle absolutely wants to move and fast. I had to keep using the cruise as to not risk getting nabbed for going over 85mph and my foot was barely on the gas. I dislike CVTs but admit that this one is pretty decent probably because of the horsepower and torque so that the drone is nonexistent. Love the appearance ( we got foglights, fender guards, and some other accessories.) So far this appears to be a good value for the price. I would not pay extra for eyesight or nav both of which get negative reviews and in the vehicle we test drove (touring) were annoying
Buyer Beware--Terrible, Unreliable Cars
Jason, 07/20/2018
updated 08/29/2018
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
These are not the Subarus of the late 1990s. Quality has gone straight down the tubes. I can say without hesitation that these are the most unreliable, poorly built cars I have ever driven. This is my second Subaru (first was a 2012 Impreza) and both have been total disasters. I bought this car only because the Impreza was such a lemon, Subaru chipped in $1500 towards a replacement--a Forester. Boy, do I regret taking them up on their offer. These cars are constantly being repaired. I have experienced in barely 20,000 miles: 1. Multiple radio/bluetooth systems that have been replaced due to faulty design. Finally the dealer admitted they are defective and that there is no solution. Does not pair properly, and the controls on the radio/steering wheel don't work. 2. Defective battery. Left me needing a tow on the coldest day of winter. 3. A.C. compressor failure--going to be on my third AC compressor in less than a month. Would been $2000+ out of warranty. 3. Excessive oil consumption. Car had to be towed to the nearest dealer. 4. Excessive rattles/squeaks and undercarriage rust. I won't even get into all the problems the Impreza had. Never again will I even consider a Subaru. They absolutely suck!!!
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Sadly Disappointed
msilva1214, 06/04/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
29 of 33 people found this review helpful
I was so excited about a new, super safe, fun to drive forester. My forester is all of those things, except I have had it in the shop 7 times in the year and a half I've owned it. Problems with the Hill Start Assist System, and even worse the Eye Sight. Dealer replaced the camera and computer to fix the eye sight, after too many attempt to repair. But as of tonight the 'Check Hill Start Assist' warning displayed for no reason. So disappointed, car is fun and safe, but I don't feel it is reliable. Worst of all Subaru of America has been sympathetic but has made not real attempt to maintain good customer service or step and and do the right thing and replace the vehicle.
Peppy ride and easy on fuel, excellent value
Lorne Muir, 09/24/2015
updated 03/25/2016
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
29 of 33 people found this review helpful
I previously had a Ford pickup which I really loved except the gas mileage and my son needed a vehicle. So, as I just went over 200k miles on that - I passed it off to him. For me, I wanted something that got at least 30 mpg overall, and preferably had a higher ride profile. So, the smaller SUVs or a Crosstrek. I don't really care about fancy and I don't need navigation, 12 speakers, or a sunroof (not in Florida). I really didn't want anything with a turbo in it - a potential future maintenance issue (which knocked off the Escape from my list). So, I was looking for basic. I test drove several vehicles; last one being a Toyota Rav 4 - which was a nice vehicle but had too many blind spots. Plus, it had lots of bells and whistles I did not need (3 day weather forecast button and 32 station programming . . . what and why?). So, I went to my local Subaru dealer and jumped in the base model Forester and within the first mile test driving knew this was it for me. So, pulling out various papers; TrueCar pricing, Edmunds and others, we settled on a price. Unfortunately, they did not have one in the color I wanted and I had to order it - no worries though, 2 weeks later and I had it - my first Subaru. After 14 months of driving, what I really like about the vehicle are the following; the visibility is very good and that was important to me, The handling on very wet roads is excellent (the AWD was not something I was looking for in a vehicle - it is a pleasant bonus), the acceleration is plenty good, the room/storage inside is very good (my dog enjoys it), the maintenance is covered by the dealer for 2 years . . . nice !, the gas mileage is great !! I have actually averaged 35.5 mpg on a trip (all highway). So, lots of good things ! I am a very happy owner. I am averaging 31.2 mpg and my driving is approx. 40% highway, 30% city and the other 30% is country driving (not highway and not city, steady 45 mph stuff, not many lights/stop signs). I have 15k miles on it after 14 months. The only negative thing I can say about the vehicle is that the paint is too thin! We have many dump trucks in Florida and they are suppose to be tarped/covered but many tarps are nothing but rags and if you get stuck behind one . . . . and I have, and I now have several little chips on the hood and fenders where the small stones have chipped the paint to the metal . . . yikes. I have waxed it several times and hoping that will keep rust at bay. But the paint is thin. The only other minor issue, living here in the heat, is the overhead storage for the sunglasses gets pretty hot and I now have a ritual to hold the sunglasses in front of the AC vent to cool before putting on (very minor thing as I could put them in a case before putting in storage hold). Overall, I think the Forester is an excellent vehicle. Gas mileage, visibility, peppy engine, handling is all very good. And it has a very high safety rating. I definitely would buy again and recommend to others. Paint issue, while I think it should be improved by Subaru, is not that big a deal. But, given that it is advertised as a adventurous-type vehicle; camping, nature, pet-friendly, etc. You would think the paint could handle roughing it some.
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Better than expected
oldfield1, 09/08/2014
updated 03/12/2018
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
This is a very good car. Easy to drive, comfortable, roomy, and feels solid and well made. Mileage has been 29mpg combined road, mountain, and town driving. The CVT responds quickly and works very well (the engine is a little too peaky for a manual). The car turns in and transitions well on curvy mountain roads. It is actually fun to drive being taunt and predictable. Long highway trips are no problem, and neither are washed out, muddy, and rutted farm and mountain roads with the high ground clearance and real 4wd. I would buy a Forester again in a heartbeat as it has been a better all around car than I thought possible, certainly in its price range. It has been over a year and 30,000 miles since I wrote the above and I would not change a thing in my review. I have owned a lot of different cars in my life, but have never been loyal to a brand. My Forester may change that. It has done everything I have asked it to do, and done it well. This is a very good car. I have owned the car a little more than two years now, but it was totaled last week when a deer ran in front of me at night. No hitting the brake, no chance to do anything, as fast as you can say [non-permissible content removed], it was over with. Hit it at a full 60mph. I was uninjured and no passengers were with me. Damage to the car was itself was relatively minor, but all the air bags deployed, which totaled it out. The air bags and the safety systems worked like they were supposed to, but let me tell you, it was as traumatic as hitting the deer! After it happened, it took about 20 seconds for me to regain my orientation and figure out that I was at a stop in the road. Luckily, no car was around to hit me, because I could not see out of the car well enough to get it to the side of the road (still running). All the interior lights had come on and with the smoke from the air bags, I could not see beyond the wind shield. The disagreeable odor discharged by the air bags was also distracting. The seat belt had pulled me tightly into the seat so I was not hit with the steering wheel bag when it went off, but the bag under the steering wheel smacked my shins pretty good. The side air bags, running the length of the car, were the last to deflate and hung down so far that I could not see out of the sides of the car anyway. I guess the point of all this is just to say that air bags going off are no small thing, but, boy, I am GLAD they are there. This Forester has been so satisfactory, I am going to get another one. Got another one, 2017 model, after driving just about everything in this class of car. Best all round car out there for the money. I have about 25k on the new one and have not regretted my choice. Really good car!
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Never Considered Subaru
Adam, 08/21/2015
updated 08/25/2016
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
18 of 20 people found this review helpful
I've had my 2015 Forester for almost an entire year now and I'm at 17,000 miles. When I was shopping for a new vehicle, I didn't even consider Subaru. The day I went test driving all of the vehicles that were on my list, I was highly unsatisfied with everything that had happened at other dealerships, and on a whim, my parents were like "WELL LETS CHECK OUT SUBARU!!!" The knowledgeable sales people, warm environment, and the "quality you could feel" with the Forester is what sold me. The giant glass sunroof is also an extra perk. During the winter months, I made it EVERYWHERE with complete confidence. And I even tested out X-Mode on my friends extremely snow-covered driveway.....it works flawlessly. Highway MPG is also fantastic. I average 32-35. I highly recommend this vehicle or any Subaru. They have a feeling like non other. So far, no complaints. Updated Review: I ended up trading my Forester for a 2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R. Nothing against the Forester....They fulfill their intented purpose flawlessly. However, I wanted a vehicle with a better ride, handling, and more powerful engine.
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Solid and fun to drive
NYS Driver, 09/12/2015
updated 03/15/2016
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
I've had this SUV for 9 months and 12000 miles. So far, no maintenance problems except for a slight vibration noise coming from somewhere behind the steering wheel/dash that you can hear at low speeds (under 30 mph). My mechanic thought it was a loose spring in the steering column, where the tilt assembly is, and a mechanic at Subaru thought it was a "loose latch" under the hood. She and I thought she had fixed it, but after a few days of silence the noise came back. It is a minor annoyance. Otherwise: body is stiff and ride is bumpy at first, but it smooths out considerably after about 5000 miles, and at this point I would rate it as smooth and enjoyable. Handling is a bit jittery at very low speeds (maneuvering through parking lots), which takes some getting used to. I find the steering to be excellent (at least compared to my former car, a 2000 Toyota Camry), making it fun to drive. Acceleration is very adequate: you don't get a sense of power to spare but you don't struggle to get from 40 to 60 or 60 to 80, either. It is crisp and swift. Traction was good through last winter (2014-15) in the Northeast (which was bad) although I drove slowly on icy roads. The wheels may have slipped here and there but the vehicle did not lunge or swerve. Gas mileage is excellent for an SUV, about 32 mph combined. Radio and CD player are very average. Visibility is excellent and general cabin atmosphere is nice with the extra light. Air conditioning seems about average, not icy but comfortable at temperatures over 90 at the second to lowest fan setting. Engine power while AC is running is surprisingly good; you don't really notice a difference. Storage capacity is fine; limited horizontally but compensated for with extra height. <br><br> UPDATE: At 20,000 miles and about 15 months, I have still had no mechanic problems and find the ride to be smooth and enjoyable, with adequate power and acceleration. Heating, ac, windshield wipers, etc. all work as they should. I've also had no problems with excess oil consumption. I've been changing the oil at 5,000-mile intervals, and checking it at 2,000 miles, and have only seen slight consumption at the point it is ready to be changed.
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Lousy trailer hitch
sunflowersue, 03/06/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
63 of 75 people found this review helpful
Bought a new Forester Limited in December 2014. Really like some features of the car compared to the 2003 Forester it replaced. Not crazy about the way the engine picks up speed or not. Like little things--leather seats, dimming mirror, back-up camera. Like the added room for rear seat passengers.
Annoying rattle and Awful tires
bvf925, 02/07/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
1,500 mile review: Traded-in my 10 year old CR-V with no complaints or rattles other than fishtailing in the snow without beefy tires. I had a 1998 Forester that was fantastic in the snow. My 2015 is 100% scary to drive in the snow with the factory Geolanders. Been thru a blizzard and several storms all white knuckled, sliding, stuck going up driveway. Tires will be replaced asap. I also have an annoying rattle coming from the moonroof since 24 hours of ownership. Dealer can't figure it out. The heater is weak and is impossible to regulate. Otherwise, the ride is smooth, beautiful exterior, roomy interior, comfy seats, no blind spots, and MPG's are great even in the frigid northeast.
Great Car
guitarsmth, 10/09/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased a 2015 Forester Limited and I'm very happy with it so far. Gas mileage has been around the 27 mpg they advertise. You won't win any street races but it's more than fast enough for highway driving and lane merges. The ride height is excellent as is the visibility. Build quality feels very good. The Limited trim is a great value. You get a ton of features and a very reliable vehicle for a fairly low price. I can't wait to see how it performs this winter.
Falls far short on MPG, but otherwise a versatile car
rickallen, 05/06/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
28 of 33 people found this review helpful
This is our 2nd Subaru. We bought another because the value of our 1st was so good when you consider a foolproof AWD system, tons of space, decent features, and near flawless reliability. My only complaint is that we have never hit the advertised MPG when driving interstate speed limits. To meet the EPA highway, you have to be going 60 or less. Not possible on most highways without becoming a nuisance and an obstacle.
Good car, lousy accessories - yes, the hitch sucks
Kumar S, 08/11/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
19 of 22 people found this review helpful
I wish I had read the review above before I installed the Forester OEM hitch. I like the Subaru Forester. I like it enough that I have driven it 20,000 miles in the nearly 18 months (bought it early May 2014). I am not too crazy about the (lack of) pickup speed, but I knew that getting in. I bought the limited edition with EyeSight. I love EyeSight. It has saved my wife and myself enough number of times. Adaptive cruise control is such a nice feature on Hwy 5. The car is spacious, the moon roof is very nice and it feels and handles like a very safe car. The automatic lift gate has a mind of it's own. It is very slow to open and often would just emit out an annoying beep sign without opening. The less said about the touch screen, the better. The 2016 Forester has a much better touch screen is what I hear. I wish I had read the review about regarding the trailer hitch. I was stupid enough to ask my local Subaru dealer to install the OEM hitch. The $400 price for the hitch and $280 to install must have been a warning, but I wanted to get this installed before summer was out and being too lazy to find out who else can install a hitch and what to read about, I installed it. The OEM trailer hitch is worth its weight in human manure. It's class 1, comes with a 1.25" hitch. To make this worse, the pinhole is too far close to the front opening that only ONE Yakima bike rack is blessed to work with it. I needed a bike rack that will take 4 bikes. There are a few bike racks that will work with a 1.25" hitch, but all of them need a class 2 hitch, which this "pile of human dung" isn't. I wish my local service adviser was good enough to point that out to me - but I won't blame him if I walked in with a big loser sign in my forehead. Unlike the reviewer above me, I couldn't get this hitch to work, even with the crappy blessed Yakima bike rack. I begged my local dealer to take the hitch back, I will eat the $280 installation charges. I am getting a class 3, 2" trailer hitch installed by U-Haul for $215 (total, including labor) and will install an appropriate bike rack that will support 4 bikes on it. I will return the bike rack and pray that the dealer refunds me the $399 at least. Like the reviewer above, I am so pissed with Subaru. I trusted Subaru and I trusted that the $700 hitch would be the best in it's class and work magically with all accessories. The fact that it's the worst piece of crap out there and seriously crippled by Subaru has left me very very very unhappy. I refuse to part any more money to Subaru going forward. I have pre-paid my services up to 48,000 miles (did I mention the loser sign before?), once that's done, I will avoid Subaru and it's over-priced dealerships for the rest of my life. I have recommended and my family & friends have bought 3 different Subarus based on my recommendation, but no more. Subaru - you have lost a potential life long customer because of your stupid crippled accessory.
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Dont get the hype
zaclette, 12/02/2014
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
27 of 32 people found this review helpful
I have owned a lot of cars. I moved to the Subaru after some German car woes. Overall the car is decent, but it feels very cheap for the pricing. Secondly the gas mileage is not what it is cracked up to be. Around town the Sub has great manners, 24 MPG in suburbia. The visibility and access are great. Errands are done with ease, great for getting the kids in and out. On flat highways it does well too; however in a recent jaunt through the mountains the car struggled to keep pace with traffic with significantly diminished gas mileage (17 MPG)....worse than my wife's full size luxury SUV.
Run, don't walk away from the 2015 Forester!
tcwilkinson, 10/14/2015
updated 04/20/2020
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
34 of 41 people found this review helpful
I have put about 14,000 miles on the car and it drives great and handles well. The mileage is quite good with about 27 mpg average but on the highway it can get nearly 40 mpg if you keep your speed down. Engine power could be described as adequate but not really sufficient for mountain driving with most grades requiring down shifting into 4th gear. Interior room is good and the sunroof is nice but noisy over 55 mph. I am 6'1" and the drivers seat does not fit me all that well but my wife loves it. The rear seat room is much improved over older models and head room is quite good as well. I would rate the fit and finish as very good, the doors close with precision and a light touch and wind and road noise are low. The sheet metal is very thin and acorns will put dents in the hood so be careful where you park. The 6 speed manual transmission is nice as long as you don't try fast shifts as it will balk or go into the wrong gear. One thing some drivers may not like is the lurid red instrument lighting. Red is good as it does not impact your night vision like blue does but it is jarring. Now the bad and it is really bad. Major oil consumption issues from new ending up with a quart every 900 miles or so after 5,000 miles. Subaru did put a new short block in it but the new engine already has been removed to replace a bad rear main oil seal which was leaking all over my garage floor. Once that was done it still leaks oil and now the engine pings badly. The dealer has been unable to find and correct the oil leak. Update - The dealer in Fresno destroyed my second engine by putting way too much gasket sealant on gaskets which blocked oil flow and DESTROYED the engine. Subaru of America finally had another dealer install a new engine which has been good so far (about 10k on this engine). After THREE engines in 9 months we seem to finally have an engine that runs properly and does not use too much oil. The latest engine does use a quart or so between changes but I guess I will have to live with it. Be forewarned about the oil consumption issue and be wary of certain Subaru dealers in Fresno, Ca! Update - Complete AC system failure! The compressor, hoses, evaporator and all the O-rings in the system were leaking. Fortunately the extended warranty paid for it all but it meant two trips to the dealer to find all the problems. One other small thing - the cargo light in the rear is a joke. So dim it is useless and it is low down where cargo blocks it anyway. Update - Can't wait to unload this car. Nothing new has gone wrong since the AC system crapped out. Update - Throw out bearing went out, probably due to the engine being changed several times. The clutch had little wear but the throw out bearing has been noisy for a long time. The fuel economy is now up to 28.5 mpg average but the engine pings like crazy and needs mid grade or premium now. One thing I can recommend is the Subaru backed zero dollar deductible extended warranty. We have used it a lot and the coverage is terrific. Out of pocket repair expenses have been very low. Too bad it runs out at 100,000 miles. Update. 110,000 miles. No further problems but it uses 2 quarts of expensive synthetic in between oil changes. In mountain driving it eats tires in 25,000 miles like our 2003 Forester did. This is probably due to the AWD.
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Perfect combination between performance and price
Martin Nunez, 01/06/2016
updated 07/09/2018
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
22 of 26 people found this review helpful
I have been leasing 8 cars in the last 11 years. I like sportiness and performance. Since my doctor and my business pushed me to have an SUV, I could not find any great balance among performance, price and utility until I found the 2015 Subaru XT touring. I do not like turbo lag. I had a 2013 BMW X1, an 2015 Acura RDX and a 2012 Sorento EX V6. All three are very good vehicles but in terms of design and utility. But, on performance they have their cons. BMWs suffer from turbo lag, engine thinks 2 seconds before the turbo kicks in, cargo space is minimal. The RDX engine is great but the transmission is hesitant when you need to pass a car. Sorento V6 is good but power decreases on high RPMS and is consumes more gas among all (17mpg) . I was hesitant on the CVT when I tried the XT. Previoulsly I had an 2008 Impreza WRX and a 2011 Legacy GT Turbo that were great on power but both had manual trasnmissions. Acceleration on XT is excellent specially on S1 and Sport Sharp mode. There is no turbo lag. I've got 6.4 seconds from 0 to 60. Same as the X1!! 0-60 Times were 7.3 for the RDX and 7.1 for the Sorento. Forester XT acceleration is linear and no hesitation at all. I am very happy, visibility is excellent, have double cargo space than the X1 and same as the RDX. Premium sound is great ( Harman and Kardon 400 watts), Power tailgate and navigation are efficient. Nothing is perfect: Seats are hard and not supportive enough. Bluetooth sync with phone is delayed sometimes. Backup camera screen is too small and no blind spot system. In summary if you need great performance on an SUV and good space you do not need to spend 40k or more on a small BMW such as X1 o X3, Audi Q5, RDX or Sorento V6 (smaller, pricier and less powerful). I wish in the future we can have more colors available such as ferrari red or neon blue for the XT.
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Never again!
D Stallings, 06/14/2018
updated 12/16/2019
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
18 of 21 people found this review helpful
AC will only work effectively while car is in motion. The fan is very noisy when on 3 or 4. Bluetooth is total garbage. It has been intermittent from the start and now it won't even go into pair mode. The dealership techs have no clue how to fix it. USB port and auxiliary jack are in very difficult locations to see. CVT transmission is very similar to a go cart belt drive train. It also takes several seconds to engage when shifting from reverse to drive. When you back out onto a street you better make sure there isn't another car in sight. The engine is underpowered and it over revs when accelerating. Rear cargo light is useless. It's too low and too dim. Front console arm rest is too short and too far back. Interior materials feel and look cheap. Video screen is too small making it marginally usefull for backing. A light wind blows the car around more than my full size cargo van which is like a sail in the wind. Stock battery is very light duty. It will go dead very easily. Dashboard has several annoying rattles. The list goes on. I bought this car new based on Subaru's reputation and many reviews. It has been my worst new car purchase by far. I dislike the car more every day and will never buy another Subaru. They may have been good cars at some point but now they are riding on their past reputation. I can not, in good conscience, recommend Subaru Foresters to anyone. It has been a huge disappointment. UPDATE: I finally got to the point where every time I got in the car to drive somewhere, I got irritated. So I traded it in on a 2019 Chevy Silverado and couldn't be happier. Life's too short to drive junk.
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Get The Turbo
mdjames, 02/24/2015
updated 02/26/2018
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
Just purchased the 2015 Forester XT Turbo. Great speed as this Forester likes to run! I bought the XT Touring loaded. Mfg. Sugg price was $36,640 and payed $33,000 with .9% financing with money down. Love the Forester! Very well built with the reliability it's a real value, and sharp looking. The only complaints I have are the original tires (which I traded in for Michelin Premier's that were a bit wider which helped the steering response and improved the ride and noise level. The Forester has a stiffer ride so you'll feel the road, but that's fine with me as I love everything else about the vehicle. Subaru really came through with this one. It's my 1st and I can see why they sell!!
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need leg warmers =)
Tom Hayer, 01/23/2016
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
our first subaru was a 2010 forester and we were quite happy with it so we bought a new 2015 forester and almost every thing is fine except 2problems.. 1. kinda minor,, the clock, blue tooth for phone and other tech stuff is complicated for non-tech person of age =( 2. when riding in the ohio winter weather and the heater is on , from the knees down to my feet,, both sides passenger and drivers side it feels like there are holes in the "fire wall" as our legs are COLD..... I am very disappointed with our dealer service department because they tell us there is nothing wrong.. well I assume they have it in a service garage and not out on the road moving,, so of course the mechanic (in the heated garage) can not feel a problem.. I will call and have to drop it off again for them to look at,, very inconvenient for us as we both work,, this is our 2nd forester and our son is on his 3rd subaru sedan in 5 years... I just wish there service department and the subaru company them selves would take these things serious before we get our next one.... Any one else having these problems ??????? our first
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Practical suv
Pete, 09/14/2016
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
2+ years and about 42k miles later, and no real problems. Great on gas for SUV, best visibility I've ever had in an automobile, and phenomenal AWD. Can't tell from outside but it has a ton of cargo space. I've used every inch of it multiple times. Fit my daughters dresser in it! Plain entertainment and comfort but I don't care for the bells and whistles. I want practical, safe, and fuel efficient. This car has it. Only ding on it would be that it burns oil. Fuel changes are every 6k with full synthetic, but I usually need to add about a quart around 4k.
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Overall love it
Timothy, 08/18/2015
updated 08/22/2017
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've had my 2015 Forester for three years now and overall it's a great car for the price. I got the base model in Manual transmission for a couple of reasons: 1) the price was very good, 2) I live in New Hampshire and wanted an SUV with AWD through the seasons that gets good gas mileage, 3) I wanted a reliable car with plenty of storage space. So far, this car has met all of my expectations. The Bluetooth system, despite a lot of negative reviews, I find very simple and very handy. It connects to my smart phone as soon as I turn the car on, the voice activation works with decent pronunciation, and being able to play music off of my phone is awesome. Took it on a roadtrip last fall from New Hampshire to California and back putting 10,000 miles on it in 30 days and it preformed great throughout. One of my favorite things about the car is the visibility from the drivers seat. The windows are massive all around and the driver's seating position (I'm about 5'10'') gives you the best vantage point and visibility of the road out of any car I've driven. It's hard for me to drive any other car for the visibility factor alone. The two other cars I drive frequently are my girlfriend's Honda Civic and my dad's Honda CR-V and I feel much more comfortable on the road in my Forester because I can see better. The last thing that I would like to praise because I think it is very underrated in Subaru is the functionality of the dashboard. My Forester is a base model so it doesn't have a screen for the dashboard which I love. Every button is where it should be in my opinion, and it is very easy to use while driving especially in comparison to Hondas dashboard, which I find very irritating to use while driving. By far the worst thing about it is that I have to add or change my oil roughly every 3,000 miles. I have had the oil consumption test done twice and both times the results were negative but the oil light comes on right around 3,000 miles every time after I change it. Overall, I am very pleased with my car. It does great in the winter (even without winter tires), I get an average of 28 MPG most of the time (over 30 on highways), the cabin is very spacious which is a huge plus, the handling is great and the engine does well at high speeds, the interior is smartly designed and comfortable, the exterior is very attractive, and it fulfills all of my needs especially for the price.
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2015 Forester
Real Deal, 12/09/2017
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Started using oil at around 50000:( Has anyone had issues with rear tires wearing prematurely?? 75000 mile tires only last 30000 miles. The alignment is fine. Owned a 92 Legacy, best car I ever owned. Thought Subaru was the best, guess I was wrong!!
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Northeast driver
alan Jackman, 10/16/2015
2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
Overall, positive experience. no problems with the engine oil. 11,000 miles in 7 months and two oil changes. agree the sunroof noisy over 40 mph and usb cord location inconvenient. sunroof and usb cord location not one of my key car purchase criteria. for day to day activities, forester easily excels. mpg over 31 in mixed driving. Purchased forestor knowing the 4 cylinder acceleration, storage, seating for 6'2" comfortably, awd capability, other competitors in the price range and general safety record. also own 2014 forester with 19,000 miles. All the above applies for the 2014 version except the mileage less (29). Wife loves her forester. happy wife happy life.
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GET THE XT BABY!!!!!
William Haddad, 07/11/2015
updated 01/20/2017
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
20 of 24 people found this review helpful
First off, I read every single review on every single website I could find about this car, spent hours doing research and watching videos before deciding, the best source is cars101.com! all about subarus!! I am coming from an '04 Nissan Frontier pick up truck, so this is an entirely new feeling/ride for me, both of my parents have Mercedes, so I have comparison on both ends of the spectrum. I test drove the forester 2.5i & 2.0L, cherokee, patriot, cx-5, rogue, rav4. And then I also peaked at the honda cr-v and the kia sportage. The top priorities for me were cargo space, reliability and gas mileage, then I wanted something a little different, with some flare for under 28-30K. The XT package is so rad man, my car came with the gunmetal grill too, its so clean, the rims rock, the front of the car is aggressive, sporty! I don't know why people hate on the styling of this forester, I think its the best looking CUV on the market, I love the boxy look too. All my friends dig it and say it looks like a BMW - but thats the XT. I am a hand drummer and percussionist and I sometimes need to load over 30 drums and percussive items in my car for events, I fit more instruments in this car with the back seats down than I could fit in my entire truck with a tunnel cover on, I was also able to fit my 19" frame road bike in the back with ease (get the cargo cover and rear seat protectors!). Gas mileage so far is lower than I expected in the city driving (14 - 21 mpg), but higher than expected on freeway drives (27 - 35 mpg). I don't commute to work over the summer, so I'm mostly driving city, I calculated the MPG on my own and I'm avg. 20 MPG... not stoked about it, but man... I got that turbo engine and it rocks my world, so much pull in the S# mode, its such a hoot to drive, makes be care less about filling up the tank as often as I did in my 2004 pick up. Addressing some of the issues that most unhappy buyers complain about... #1 Seats: im 5'11" 165 lbs. I fit in the seat nicely. yeah the bottom of the seat is a little short, but honestly I wouldn't have noticed if i didn't read all the damn reviews about how uncomfortable the seats were. They are definitely firm and they are lacking some major lateral support, especially for how well the car corners. I don't think the lumbar is obtrusive. Anyways my experience is funky... I hated the ride after I took it on a drive longer than a 10 minute tester drive. I constantly had kinks and tension in my neck and shoulders. I have long legs so i would pull the seat back for leg room but then feel like i couldn't grab the steering wheel without leaning forward. So i read into the reviews, I was so upset, the new car feeling was gone, I tried different seat additions and was looking into custom covers with built in cushion support (I might still do it to get more lateral support) - I think its the cleanest and cheapest way to make the seat comfortable without cutting it open and messing with the warranty and OEM parts. Long story short... I woke up one morning and the pain just stopped. it was so weird, at least thats what it seemed like. the pain when driving just went away... I think I got used to it, take it on a long test drive if you're worried - ill report back after my upcoming road trip!! #2 Stereo: I worked the kicker speaker set and the tweeter kit into the deal for my vehicle. So they put it in for free. I got to drive around for about a week with the stock system, I am a musician so I feel like I am a little picky about my audio. Stock isn't bad, it distorts a little at high volumes and the sound isn't very clear, the kicker speaker kit does help with the distortion, but the lower end coming from the stereo isn't very clear at all, its very boomy. I would love to change out the head unit, but I am not going to mess with the warranty yet. Have them put the kicker system in, Im sure you will love it. I am just not crazy about the sound coming from the OEM stereo unit. I LOVE the layout though, don't need a nav with the iPhone and don't need the bright lights, the deck and whole interior for that matter is so simple and functional - I'm all for simplicity. #3 Bluetooth: I have had ZERO issues at all pairing with my iPhone 6. you don't get your contacts to merge, but so what? hold you siri button and ask her whoever you want to contact. I haven't experience i single dropped connection and the phone connects automatically every time i get in the car and turn it on. [excess text truncated] Get the xt touring, you'll love it!!! Update: Had the car now for a year and half.... Great ride, stable, safe, don't use turbo as much, but it's nice to have. I wish it was a little bit heavier of a ride. For 30k I could have gotten a Mercedes C class or a Jeep Wrangler. It would serve be better now. Nonetheless this Subaru is sweet man. Such a convenient ride, easy to drive and easy to park throughout LA. Quick and nimble and fun. No issues so far.
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