Used 2016 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
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2016 forester 70,000 mile review from Apex MT
FreeDeep, 10/26/2018
2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
The good No mechanical or electrical problems so far. Doors open extra wide, helps at times. Fuel economy 22-28 mpg at highway speeds, 300 miles for sure on a tank of gas. 4wd snow traction is good with Altimax or Hankook tires. Wet road traction is excellent with either of these tires. OEM tire traction was terrible on rain or snow, outright dangerous at times. Switched to 16” steel wheels, 16x6.5, these are spare tire wheels for year 2012 or older. Put regular valve stems on them and just run with the dashboard tire light always on. Engine good low speed acceleration, mostly ok highway passing. Good brakes. Good outside visibility in all directions. Steering wheel adjusts up/down and in/out. Air filter lasted for 60k miles. Sounds like a lot of folks don’t know how to properly check an air filter or dealer is selling parts not needed. I am an ASE certified mechanic so I know air filters, etc. Split rear seat is nice, room for skis, bags of mulch, etc. Nice heavy duty floor mats, much better than after-market. Hood release is out of the way of snow boots, so lifting foot does not release hood. Previous Toyota was real bad. The bad Engine oil consumption: immediately switched to 5w-30 conventional oil for 11,000 miles with oil changes every 3k miles. Should have done this for 20,000 miles. Then switched back to 0w-20 full synthetic oil. Current oil consumption is less than 1 quart between 6000+ mile oil changes. Fine print in manual said 5w-30 was ok. Slight vibration seems like from CVT transmission during mild acceleration. They say no need to change trany fluid, so will sell car if it makes it to 120k miles. Interior heater only good down to freezing, below that best to let the car warm up for at least 10-15 minutes so windshield can defrost. Wife says it is a COLD car. So much for the PZEV. The seats are real firm, takes getting used to, we added a towel since there is too much lumbar, no adjustment. Original Subaru seat covers catch everything, stain easy, clean-up water stains them too. These are the worst seat covers for stains, that I have ever owned. No windshield tint, lots of sun glare around rear view mirror. Made cardboard insert to stop glare. Key buttons are too small for large hands, too easy to set off panic mode or wrong button. No place for left foot if wearing snow boots. Don’t run over snow chunks, they break the entire mud flap off. Delay of vehicle movement shifting from forward to reverse or back is bad/dangerous, have to plan for this lag time. High beam headlights do not add much distance or brightness. Really poor lighting when animals are on the move. Too much blinding glare from radio entertainment screen when sun shines in at the right angle. Resetting the clock is for the young generation that feels rewarded when they push lots of buttons.
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Love My Car - Has a Few Quirks
Donna P, 11/15/2016
2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I've been driving my Subaru Forester for almost a year now. Pros: Safety is huge - my work responds to accident scenes and I've seen a survival in this vehicle I wouldn't expect in others. I loved the way it drove in the snow last winter, it gripped the road while others were skidding out all around me. I was able to drive through a foot of unplowed snow uphill! The back seat has enough leg room for my babies (who are each 6 feet tall). The gas mileage is great, visibility is great and I love the huge sunroof. Cons: The new touch screen has issues. Once in a while it won't work unless I turn the car off and turn it back on. Sometimes my phone isn't recognized by the bluetooth. I wish there was moor light in the rear cargo area. There's a strange pause when I shift gears. It feels questionable when I take corners faster than I should. Overall, I'm happy.
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My Second Subaru Forester
Jess, 11/24/2015
2016 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
This is my second Subaru Forester. My first one was a 2005 fully equipped 2.5xt. I LOVED the way my car handled in all weather conditions and the pick-up of the turbo engine was a big selling factor for me. When it came time to trade in my 2005 I test drove a Honda CRV, Toyota Rav, Nissan Rouge, Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, Subaru Forester touring and premium, Subaru Crosstrex and a Subaru Outback. After spending hours looking at reviews and test driving vehicles I ended up right back at the Subaru Forester, but I wanted the turbo charged engine. I found the Forester 2.5i did not have enough kick for me, so I special ordered a 2.0 XT premium. I’ve had my car for a couple of weeks now and LOVE IT. I have found the cabin noise I hated in my 2005 has been resolved with a new body style. It’s great to hit the highway and be able to talk to someone without shouting. I love where the new intakes are in the front of the car. We had an ice storm last week and it handled beautifully on the ice. There were people sliding all over the road and mine stuck to the road like glue. It has far more room with the new body style then my 2005. The performance has greatly improved along with my gas mileage. I used to average 18 miles/gallon in town and now I’m getting 21 miles/gallon. (Would get even better if I didn’t have a lead foot.) My only complaint is I have found the seats to be a bit uncomfortable, but I will get used to that. It’s more like sitting on a log now then a nice soft bed. I had a 148,000 miles on my 2005 before trading it in and hopefully I will be able to get this in my new Forester.
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Too much glass not enough tint or AC
Cheryl, 06/28/2016
2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
The NAV system is virtually useless. It has so many safeties that your copilot cannot operate or change the settings unless you pull over and stop the car. The audible directions are horrible. You will be getting on and off Interstates until you cut it off. Requires way too much setup. Google Maps and Nav are much more efficient and trustworthy. Your copilot can recalibrate your smartphone nav while underway. Not so this machine. High level map and GPS coordinates are the only useful items. I do not have the oil issue that others have mentioned as of yet and hopefully won't but it is obvious that this machine is a rolling greenhouse. The glass and there is lots of it for optimum visibility is more than the AC can handle. Especially if you have a moonroof. You can feel the heat coming off the overhead with the blind shut. Not sure I would buy it again, we were not happy with the local dealership either.
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Three Star Overall
Lillianna, 03/07/2016
updated 03/13/2017
2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
The safety features are outstanding compared to all other models in it's category. Safety is number one for me, because I have a new driver to share this new auto with me. So, as you know Mom is always concerned about the children's well being, and safety comes first. The Subaru Forester is equipped with all the latest technology and up to date gadgets anyone can possibly think of. Yes, including a USB Port in the middle compartment. Oh, and several outlets for charging all the external stuff, like games, cell phones, and anything else that might need to be charged. The interior leather seats are very comfortable, both up front and in the back. The cargo area is large enough for suitcases and a good size ice chest, plenty of room. I am enjoying my new forester... However, after just one year into a new Forester ownership, there are many rattles occurring. First, the front dash board is making noises on windy days, I don't know if it is the front window fit or placement of the dashboard itself. Second, the passenger seat rattles from the underside of the seat. There is a rattling noise of metal coming from the seat adjustment apparatus. Third, there are squeaky noises coming from the back seats. I keep the seats down, for loading larger than normal items into the cargo area. I have not stayed in the back seat while someone else is driving to check out the location of the squeaking yet. I believe these are little things that may have been over looked during their quality check before leaving the manufacturing plant, but I find it very annoying at times. The car is proving to be extremely reliable, no problems with the car in general so far.
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