Used 2017 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
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Brand New 2017 Forester
Rick J, 07/09/2016
updated 07/13/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
458 of 464 people found this review helpful
I have been in the market for a small SUV for a while now. I have driven all of the major players - CR-V, CX-5 and the Forester. I am a long-time Honda person. I liked the CX-5 but it was a bit more cramped inside and the visibility was not as good. The CR-V drove well and had the best CVT behavior but just left me a bit uninspired due to its bland nature. I drove the 2016 Forester and liked it - I have two other family members with Foresters who love them. I found out the 2017 model with a mild refresh was on its way so I waited until they took the first one off the truck at my local dealership (Cannon Subaru in Lakeland is great!). I test drove the 2017 back to back with a 2016 they still had on the lot and the difference was significant as far as solidity, smooth ride and much quieter ride. The new infotainment system was intuitive and easy to use with volume and tuning KNOBS along with a touch screen - compared to the the CR-V's system (a disaster of confusing touch screen with no knob controls!) and the CX-5 which had the frustrating center toggle knob - the Subaru system is much better. The sound quality of the non-upgraded stereo is adequate - meets or exceeds the others in this category. The Forester drives very smoothly and has a solid, quality feel inside and out. The AWD system provides an extra level of stability to the handling. The only small issue is the CVT. Subaru has tweaked the CVT for the 2017 model to attempt to smooth its operation and it is better but still takes some adjustment - this is my first CVT equipped automobile - it is just a different feel and takes adjusting how you drive to a more easy application of the accelerator which gives smooth, linear acceleration (and surprisingly fast!) but driving aggressively with lots of slamming the pedal down - like I was used to doing with the normal automatic equipped small Honda engine automobiles - results in a much worse driving experience with the CVT - I am adjusting and think I'll enjoy the smoothness once I drive a while. If you have never owned a CVT vehicle, I suggest a good test drive to see if you like it - although, your choices are becoming slimmer as most of the major manufacturers are switching to the CVT for its MPG advantages as they attempt to meet the new government requirements. Overall, I would highly suggest you put the 2017 Subaru Forester on your list if you are looking for a solid, reliable, safe small SUV. ***UPDATE...been driving my Forester now for about 6 months...overall the car is good but one glaring thing has come to light....the powertrain is dismal after a while...the CVT shudders and hesitates at odd times and just is not smooth no matter what you do. I have not been able to adjust to it to drive smoothly....there is a surge when you begin acceleration and then the "fake" shift points kick in...they are not well timed. And the incredibly ANNOYING shudder that happens as if the CVT belt is slipping...it happens at different speeds and even when cruising on the highway. I've mentioned it to my dealer and they say others have complained with the 2017 but not really any explanation. My advice, take this car on a long test drive and really pay attention to the CVT behavior - especially in low speed driving conditions - it will only get worse once you buy it and drive it....other than that, the car handles well and is comfortable and practical but if you are picky about smooth driving, skip this one. ***Update 2: After much research and chats on online forums for the Forester, I finally spotted a post about the shuddering CVT issue and the fix that one owner got at his dealership - It was a recently released TSB software update from Subaru - I printed a copy with the TSB number and took it to my dealer and asked to have the update done to my Forester - they did it and the shuddering is GONE - simple fix. I test drove a 2018 out of curiosity and it did not shudder so it appears Subaru has fixed the issue but if you have a 2017 model that shudders, demand to have the software update #11-175-17
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Not your father's Forester
Ken Schory, 01/05/2017
updated 05/03/2024
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
119 of 121 people found this review helpful
I have long thought of the Forester as a rather frumpy-looking car with inferior interior materials and ergonomics (my basis for comparison is my beloved 2005 Outback 2.5 XT Limited with a manual transmission). But my 2017 2.0 XT Touring edition of the Forester blows away those perceptions. While the exterior design is more purposeful than elegant, I do not find it objectionable, and the interior is a pleasant, rewarding place to pass the miles. In fact, I opted for the Forester over the Outback 3.6R Touring because I prefer the Forester's interior design and ergonomics as well as its performance and handling, which are more responsive and lively (the Outback is nice, but it's comparatively sedate). I find the build quality of the Forester to be excellent and its aesthetics appropriate to its go-anywhere character. Ingress and egress are excellent and outward visibility is superb, in contrast to competitive vehicles that have huge blind spots in the rear quarters. The Harmon Kardon audio system sounds great, and EyeSight does what it's designed to do, very well. The front seats are comfortable, but I wish they had a little more lateral support, because the Forester handles so well, and I wish the passenger seat provided adjustability (preferably powered) of height and lumbar support -- significant shortcomings in a vehicle of such overall quality. Also, the tailgate opens and closes rather slowly automatically, but it's quick and easy to do manually, which I usually do, and it doesn't go high enough to clear my 6' frame. I initially had serious reservations about going from a manual transmission to a CVT, and those reservations were confirmed when test-driving competitive vehicles, but Subaru has implemented this technology extremely well, and I'm very happy with it, in conjunction with SI-Drive. I highly recommend this vehicle for anyone who values function and usability over style, and people of all ages (I'm a "senior") who lead active lifestyles and appreciate a vehicle that's versatile, fun to drive, well built and safe. A lot of improvements were made for 2017 (sound deadening, torque vectoring, front-fascia design, steerable LED headlights, interior materials and appointments, etc.), which easily justify the price (almost $40K, fully optioned up, in late 2016). Having owned this vehicle now for more than seven years and 70,000 miles, I can confirm in this update that the above comments remain accurate. At the same time, I would like to add a few details that might be useful to potential buyers. I live in the "flatlands," but I've taken several road trips in this car to Colorado, where Subarus seem to be the "state vehicle" -- and for good reason. The Forester handled mountain highways and rocky, steep, muddy, unpaved back roads with aplomb. It's no Jeep, so it's wise to take the rough spots gingerly, but the high ground clearance, X-Mode, S# (Sport sharp) mode, short hood (for good visibility), tight turning circle, and generous approach and departure angles worked beautifully and inspired confidence. With 8 (simulated) gear ratios in S#, the CVT provides fine control of engine braking going downhill by shifting with the paddles (I usually do that with the transmission in Manual mode). While I find S# mode a little fussy in flat country (I usually prefer S mode), I've come to be a great fan of it under more demanding driving conditions. While every previous car I've owned had a manual transmission, and it did take me a while to adjust to the CVT (it does have some idiosyncrasies, especially when warming up), I can say now that I've become a great fan of Subaru's implementation of this technology. I've read some criticisms of it, but I have not had any of those concerns with the high-torque version of the CVT that is paired with the 2.0 XT engine. I also found the 2.0 XT engine, with its twin-scroll turbo, to have plenty of power for thin-air mountain driving and very satisfying torque at all elevations. In short, of all the competitive vehicles I've tested, I consider the Touring edition of the 2017 Forester 2.0 XT to be the best blend of "sport" and "utility." It may not have the sexiest styling (I find it neither elegant nor objectionable), but I find it tasteful enough and appropriate to how I use this vehicle -- its build quality, affordability, performance, handling, ergonomics and versatility carry the day. I still keep looking for excuses to get in and drive it. While I wouldn't recommend tackling the Rubicon Trail with a Forester, this is one great car for anyone who has an active lifestyle and enjoys exploring out-of-the-way places. I plan to keep mine for at least another three or four years. By then, I hope Subaru will reintroduce the turbocharged engine to the Forester or offer a hybrid version that has similar power and handling characteristics.
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GeezerMobile!
Robert Williams, 10/14/2016
updated 10/17/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
49 of 49 people found this review helpful
After 2 years Forester still my favorite vehicle. Tires wearing good, no alignment issues, still quiet as a Mercedes. Wife remarks how quiet at 70mph and feels like only 50. Gas mileage outstanding. Staying within speed limits gives me 37-38 hwy and 25-27 city. Always feel safer in inclement weather knowing full-time AWD underneath me.
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Loving the 2017 improvements!
Susan F., 08/30/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
70 of 73 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 2016 Forester Limited 2.5i new last year, but upgraded to the 2017 with eyesight, and what a difference! The 2017 Forester is noticeably quieter, there are now lights on the vanity mirrors...it's a girl thing! The eyesight package is amazing, I just love having all that safety technology, especially with all the distracted drivers on the roads. The peace of mind of the SOS button and road side assistance is a blessing. The steering wheel tracking headlights are so cool! There is a redesigned rear view mirror that is easier to use, with a larger viewing area, love that! The upgraded stereo system is noticeably superior! The trade in process was easy and fair. Love love love it!!!
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My First Subaru!
Lori T., 10/08/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
62 of 65 people found this review helpful
Mostly my review is positive. I have one of the higher-end trim packages of the Subaru Forester, and, it is my first SUV as well as first Subaru. I'd love to see better climate control for the back seat people (they must rely on the front seat AC/heat vents to eventually reach them). There are limited amounts of cupholders, and the front two in the middle console are ok, but they are front to back with each other and the back one requires moving the armrest backward to a position where it's not really much use. I suppose the mileage is good for a car this size (I've only had it a month, and I'm averaging 25 MPG). But, coming from a Prius C prior to this, and having 50-54 MPG regularly, this is a bit hard to take. (Deep breaths, it will be ok). The safety features at this point in my life are more important than MPG. I am loving the "Eyesight Technology"! I love sitting up high and feeling a larger presence on the road. Love the steering responsive headlights, and the backup camera is awesome. It's a smooth ride, and a good looking car. It did have a complicated electrical/computer problem the 2nd day that I owned it, so back it went to the dealer for three days. All seems to be well now, after a special technician was called to make an appearance to come to the computer's rescue. It's only been a month, so I cannot speak to the repair cost issue, nor to the reliability of the car, which I will know as time goes on.
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Back to Subaru))) Very happy.
Max, 09/17/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
34 of 35 people found this review helpful
Let me start with saying that I’m a Mazda guy. I owned 8 Mazda in 15 year period. My wife drives 2016 CX-5 GT model and we love that car. I had 2011 CX-9 GT with to many miles, so it was a time to get a new car. Went to Mazda to see what I can get for cheap, like $250-$300 per month lease. Liked the new 2017 CX-9, but it was to expensive. Then my brother told me that Subaru has cheap lease specials. Same day went to see what will I like. I liked the Outback but it was to slow with 2.5i engine option. Outback is much heavier then Forester. So I end it up leasing 2017 Forester because the cheap lease special ($250 per month tax included. $400 down) and the way it drives. This is my second Subaru. The first was 2007 Impresa 2.5i. I loved that car. Drove 95K miles with zero problems, that’s why I decided to get Forester. So far I’m very satisfied. Good acceleration, good MPG for AWD, very comfortable seats. AWD is a big plus. Good handling, very nice and quiet ride. I love all the safety futures, lane assistance, blind spot monitor and break assist. New entertainment system is awesome; 7” touch screen is very easy to use. Backup camera is OK, low quality when it’s dark. The only concern I have is the towing capacity only 1500lb. I have a trailer with 3 dirt bikes on it. Total weight is 1400lb, so I should be OK I hope))) I drove both 2016 and 2017 Forester. 2017 has a better CVT transition (more responsive), less road/wind noise, better interior and looks meaner))). Over all I enjoy driving this car.
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2017 XT Touring w Eyesight - Fun to drive
Jon, 02/05/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
47 of 49 people found this review helpful
Was considering the 2.5L normally aspirated engine and but I am so glad I got the 2.0L Turbo. This SUV is quick and fun to drive with a 0 - 60 in 6.3 seconds. Those reviewers who have said it is not I doubt actually own one or neglected to read the owners manual which describes how to use the SI Drive system to choose Sport Sharp mode for maximum driving fun. I know it was a struggle for me to find one to test drive since only 10% of Foresters shipped are turbos. I have had the Forester XT for over a month and have not regretted a single day of driving - in sun, rain, snow, sleet and really bad ice. Nothing stops it. See the SubaruGlobalTV channel on YouTube for the development videos for this current generation Forester which detail how the engineering is brilliantly executed in a well thought out design (Why? Subaru Episode....). I got the Eyesight package and really appreciate all of the features. Only disappointment is the Navigation system but it is bundled with Eyesight. There are so many features in the 2.0XT Touring trim level with Eyesight that I would insist on having in any future vehicle - adaptive cruise control, lane sway warning, lane keep assist, pre-collision braking/throttle management, adaptive LED headlamps, reverse automatic braking, X-mode...the list is extensive. If you are fortunate enough to get the Touring with turbo, add optional Eyesight and are willing to wait for a custom order (in my case, 3 months), you will not be disappointed! To top it off, Subaru was offering very competitive financing (0% at 36 mos or .9% at 48 - 63 months) and deals at or below invoice are common.
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First Forester
Art Martz, 09/09/2016
updated 03/20/2024
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
108 of 115 people found this review helpful
This is the first Subaru that I have owned. I was looking for a small SUV and I had done a lot of research on them and I was impressed with the Forester. I have had the Forester for almost a month and her are of my observations: Ride: Smooth, quiet and stable; Acceleration: Quick, better than expected; Instrumentation: Excellent; Interior quality: Excellent; Visibility: Excellent with huge windshield and large windows all around; Sunroof: Largest I've ever seen; Car quality: solid as a rock; Safety: There isn't a safer car on the road; Seating comfort and space: Excellent; Cargo capacity: Copious; Gas Mileage: I averaged 33MPG for the first 1000 miles. The Forester is not as swoopy looking as some of its competition but is still a handsome well built compact wagon like utility vehicle. I've had it for over 6 yrs and have never had any problems. I've put 71,000 miles on it without any problems. A very good reliable car. I still have no problems with this car and I sometimes wonder if it would be time to trade it and get a new one. The answer is always the same "you'd be nuts to do it." I'd be gaining nothing . A car is a mode of transportation to get here and there. I already have it in this reliable car. Current mileage is 85,000 miles.
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Windshield replacement cost - have “the Eye”
Sharon, 06/06/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
I like my Subaru Forester, however ..... If your Subaru has the safety package “The Eye” and a rock hits and cracks your windshield ... replacement windshield can take up to three weeks to come to your dealership, as apparently it is considered a special order. You, the car owner, pay’s special order delivery fee. I was quoted a price of $856 total for this new windshield by two different Subaru dealerships and Safelite too. When I complained about the cost, I was told the safety package needs to be recalibrated once installed. As a Forester owner I am “extremely” disappointed with replacement time and part availability, and think Subaru’s cost of $856 is outrageous for its car owners.
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New Forester after 40k miles
BassFace, 12/29/2016
updated 07/03/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
27 of 28 people found this review helpful
Still some of the same feelings I had initially (see review below after 500 Miles). However, I can now say that 40k in, I have had no problems with the car. None. I was concerned going from lifelong Honda and Toyota owner, but I am very impressed with the reliability of the forester after 40k Miles. Overall, I think was good bang for buck (especially after just driving in snow). I test drove many used Foresters, Honda CRV, Mazda CX-5, and husband's 2013 Rav4. Ending up liking new 2017 Forester most. Ordered from factory with all weather package minus some accessories like cargo net but including upgraded Kicker stereo and remote start. Took about 1 month to get. Pros: good quality materials, entertainment system look and functionality, decent gas mileage for small SUV, tight steering, sticks to road, very quiet under 50 mph, lots of storage, some bells and whistles (love sending and receiving text messages through car stereo) but not absurd amount, minor 'pro'-color of dash when lights on (nice red hue). Cons: wind noise on highway-one reason I bought this car was for how quiet it seemed compared to others. It IS very quiet under 50mph, BUT cruising on highway, LOT of wind noise. I think this is because even though they added more sound dampening, there's so much glass, that it's still, imo, hard to lessen. This is my biggest gripe. I drive a lot, and I like a relatively quiet cabin; pretty substantial delay when shifting between drive and reverse. I've never experienced this, and it is especially annoying when in a parking lot; finally, overall, acceleration is pretty sluggish, especially 2nd 'gear'-not a total dog, but other small SUVs much quicker from starting gate. Obviously these are my impressions, and others may agree/disagree. I'm writing this because I found consumer reviews very helpful when I was deciding on what to buy. I will update this review after 5k miles.
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First Subaru
Satisfied Customer, 07/12/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
56 of 60 people found this review helpful
After much research I determined that the 2017 Forester was going to be the SUV for me. And I haven't been disappointed...granted I've only had it 2 and half days. The stories, reviews and forum posts were more than enough to help me make my choice. This is not only my first Subaru but is also my first new vehicle. I have to say that the package I picked (2.0XT Touring in Sepia Bronze Metallic w/Saddle Brown leather interior) is stunning!...inside and out. The LED headlights are beautifully done. It is gorgeous! You WILL get noticed. It took about 30 minutes for the guy at the dealership to show me all the features. Acceleration is fantastic for an SUV...and I haven't even been able to test out the turbo yet. First impressions with how it handles on the open road and curvy hills were I live were impressive...for an SUV. I read reviews on earlier models about comfort issues in the front seats. I feel that they are more than adequate in the comfort department on the 2017...remember, this not a sports car. The leather really helps with the comfort factor, IMO. One of my favorite features is the visual display you receive with the large, over-sized sun roof coupled with the large windows. Interior controls don't include anything fancy, but again are more than adequate and reasonable. The 7" touch-screen display seems easy to use and is user friendly. I have not had any problems with Bluetooth with the few calls I've made so far. I could go on with this review but the bottom line is I'm very please with my purchase. And I don't mind the looks I get when driving down the highway either.
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'17 XT Touring's a refined '14 XT Touring
kurtamaxxguy, 08/13/2016
updated 08/16/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
24 of 25 people found this review helpful
For '17, Subaru's XT Touring has better sound suppression (though road noise's high on coarse roads), nicer interior (especially trim and seats), a smoother ride (less harshness and jiggles) and a few new features (blind spot detection, heated steering wheel, LED tracking headlights). '17 engine and CVT have less quirks and steering's slightly quicker. Sadly, the HK sound system degraded to 3 band EQ rather than multiple bands with saveable presets (the manual incorrectly claims otherwise) and searching for FM/AM/XM station's more of a pain due to revised scanning procedures. You'll see a white cloud behind when accelerating hard, but the '14 XT did same with no ill effects. Engine runs roughly on inclines. Blind spot detection generates many false alerts and fails to detect cars in your blind spot during freeway driving (sensors detect motion, not proximity). Keyless entry's handy but may be subject to hacking. So far, quite reliable: has few rattles (a first among my Subies) and its trim fits well ('14 had numerous mistakes). MPG's the same as the older '14. Tires lack ice traction; were replaced with Nokians.
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Great SUV for the money.
rob1261, 12/22/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
40 of 43 people found this review helpful
Wow. I think I am glad I’m writing this after the previous review. I have only had it for one week. But felt enough time for an initial review. In response to the previous review (1 star), I have owned many cars/SUVs and I tested many before purchasing this. This SUV by far has the best visibility of any SUV I have seen. Subaru seems to be one of the few manufactures not obsessed with rounding off every car. The squareness of this SUV makes for excellent visibility in all directions and ease of entry and storage. And if you get with EyeSight package (highly recommended) you get blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alerts, auto cruise control, lane departure, lane assist and auto forward collision braking. To add this to the Premium is only around $1600 (also includes cold weather package). Really a bargain. I purchased the Premium 2.5i with EyeSight and auto mirror/compass/homelink for $26,500 with .9% for 63 months (MSRP of $29,400). I am coming from a BMW 328i xDrive so I was a little concerned how much I would like the car. So far I really like it. The handling and ride are better than expected. If has good power for this size engine and gets good gas milage and takes regular gas. I have found it very comfortable (6’, 220 lbs) and really like the great visibility and room. I also think it is a great looking SUV (Ice Silver). The EyeSight features are really impressive. The most surprising is the auto cruise control. This can be used in stop and go traffic as well as highway cruising. You set it up and choose max speed and distance from other vehicle (1-3 car lengths) and it maintains perfect speed and stops on it's own and starts back up on it’s own. When stopped for about 5-10 seconds it will go into standby mode and can be easily restarted. If the car in front of you changes lanes or you change lanes you will see the car depart on the display and the Forester locks onto the next vehicle it sees. This is all displayed on the center and dashboard display. It is very close to an auto driver with this feature and lane assist on. The lane assist will actually turn you back into your lane if it senses your departing too far out of lane. I will update review after some more time with the car.
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No SUV is perfect -- this one is closest
Pittsburgh Peneplainer, 11/02/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
22 of 23 people found this review helpful
Compared this to Mazda CX-5, VW Tiguan; my other car is a 2016 VW GTI. The Forester won me over for its well-known virtues: best driving position, visibility, ease of entry, AWD system, modern safety features, fuel economy and (hopefully) reliability. The handling is better than I expected; the ride is never totally settled on the highway, but it absorbs bad bumps with ease. It's pretty quiet -- wind whistle around the mirrors starts above 65 mph -- much quieter than the CX-5. Rear seat is comfortable and very spacious; cargo area is terrific considering the exterior dimensions. I parallel park in the city every day; the visibility, big mirrors and rear-view camera make it easy. The bad: front seats (the standard cloth) do the job but nothing more; feels like you're sitting on them not in them. The interior plastics are mostly hard, shiny, brittle and ugly -- but they fit well. The EyeSight controls are strewn randomly about the cabin; the EyeSight cameras require that the sun visors aren't wide enough to be useful. The power rear tailgate is slow, but it's easy to just use it manually. The USB ports have no ability to retain index information between starts; check out the Forester forums on this issue. Choose the first song on your USB device carefully because you'll be hearing it a lot! But still, the best compact SUV for my needs -- the redesigned 2017 Imprezas give me hope that future Foresters may overcome weaknesses in the current Forester.
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AMAZING CAR & GREAT BANG FOR BUCK!
Abi, 01/04/2017
updated 11/27/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
22 of 23 people found this review helpful
I've owned the 2017 Forester XT for about one month now. Here are some quick Pros and Cons: Pros: I test drove several cars before deciding on this vehicle. Basically, you cant touch a car with a similar size, performance, value, resale value, engine, comfort, with any car in the price range of 35K. The only other car I was excited about was the Mercedes GLC (Which was $60K). The gas mileage is roughly 24 mpg avg a tank. Car handles well. It doesn't sit as low to the ground as my 2014 WRX, but I feel good around sharp turns and I have confidence in the car and its suspension (although I would have liked the suspension to be 15-20% tighter). I like the infotainment system. The screen is big and it's easy to use. I didn't go with the Touring model instead I chose the premium and added a few things. The price point of the Touring for me wasn't worth it. I enjoy how high the car sits, I like that it has plenty of room in the back seat and especially for my German Shepherd in the Trunk area. Overall, super happy with my purchase. CONS: Subaru could have done a slightly better job with the CVT. It's nice to drive when in sport mode but in economy mode the engine/transmission gear change lags big time. My biggest pet peeve though are the seats. I feel they could have been more ergonomic and better fitting. Im not a big guy, 5'8 and 160 lbs. But i feel the seat could do a better job keeping my in place instead of moving side to side around sharp turns. Other people I ride with say it's comfortable, so maybe I'm being picky. I really hope this review helps and Gluck hunting!
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Down sized to much...
Reginald Dixson, 06/14/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
This is our third Subaru, the first was an Outback it's equity helped us get out of a Mini Cooper S lease. No problems with the wagon at all, wasn't happy about the looks but great for beach and carrying around a new born. Then we thought she since she is getting older we could get by with the sportier looking Subaru Crosstrek. Great car for beach and dependable averaged 32-33 MPG in the city, a bit slower than the Outback. But we soon realized that it was to small for the three of us, no problems with any of the vehicles( oil burning, unusual trips to dealer). We took the Crosstrek in for routine maintenance and test drove a Forester 2.5i premium excellent vehicle getting 30 MPG in the city , real quite inside, seating position is quite a bit taller and a lot more cargo space :-] . Loaded it up this past weekend and went to the beach, the all wheel drive system is better than Crosstrek, we never got stuck in it but there is an obvious difference. The text to speech function, 8" display, power drivers seat, reclining rear seat , rear center arm rest with cup holders and the panoramic sun roof are great. I replaced the interior light bulbs with leds they make the interior look better at night. A definite keeper..
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Oil Consumption 2017 Subaru Forrester MT
Rachel B., 07/18/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
I write this with the sincere hope of preventing others from experiencing the same issue and stress that I have. Please research “Subaru oil consumption problems.” You will find Subaru lost a class action lawsuit, which was settled in 2016, but they still continue to produce and sell cars with oil consumption problems. I encourage you to visit several online consumer forums, like this one, and read threads from real people with similar experiences. Subaru and Big Island Motors told me that those reviews don't count, as they can't be verified. You can verify this. I bought my 2017 MT Forrester in December of 2016 at Big Island Motors in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. My oil light first came on at 3000 miles, which began my 2+ yearlong battles with Subaru and Big Island Motors. I initially dealt with the service manager, who blamed my driving style, the weather/Hawaii, my commute, my lack of mechanical expertise, among other things, and refused to acknowledge the problem. After 6 months of fighting with the service center, in desperation, I contacted the VP of Subaru Hawaii (in the summer of 2017). He required the service center to conduct oil consumption tests. This process took about 6 months and many hours off of work for me. I failed 3 of them, which the service center said qualified me for a “new engine.” After they submitted the paperwork, this spring, I contacted them after 2 months of not hearing anything. I was informed/warned that I might have to wait for a year for the repairs as others were in front of me. Finding this unacceptable, I again contacted the VP of Subaru Hawaii (last week and a year later!). Initially he responded with concern, but then I heard from the service center that I needed to come for a compression test. Subaru generously provided me with a rental car for this test and, wait for it, the test was normal! The VP of Subaru informed me yesterday that he had forgotten that I drive from Kohala to Waimea everyday and that down shifting is likely the reason why my car is consuming oil. I asked him why so many of the Subaru commercials showed people and their dogs camping in the mountains if they could only be driven on flat roads? My Honda, also a MT, used ZERO oil on the same commute. He further shared that I needed to keep driving my car since they don’t know what’s wrong with it (hello? class action law suit). He also retracted the promise of a "new engine." In the meantime, I continue to add oil, purchased by the case from Costco. Check out “the Subaru Love Promise” on their website, “Subaru and its retailers believe in making the world a better place and the Subaru Love Promise is our vision of respecting all people. This is our promise to show love and respect to our customers and to work to make a positive impact in the world.” That is unless you have a problem with your car, then that Subaru Love Promise is not for you. If I can save just one person from experiencing the stress, additional expense and disappointment I have, this post will have been worth it. BTW, if Subaru had the customer service of Costco, there would be no other cars on the road. Costco lives the "Love Promise."
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Upgraded my ride from Honda to Subaru
Fred H., 08/29/2016
updated 08/30/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
25 of 27 people found this review helpful
After driving a Honda Element for over 12 years and 200k miles, it was time to upgrade to something nicer. A certain magazine raved about the Forester, and I whittled down my list to the Forester or a Mazda CX5. I chose the Forester because I was just more comfortable in the Forester. I'm a large fellow (horizontally challenged), and have plenty of driver seat room, with a huge amount of space in front of me to adjust the steering wheel to my liking. The back seats have a lot of room for the kids - not as much as the Element, but more than most cars, even higher end cars. The gas mileage has been great - 80% of my commute is on the highway, and I easily get over 30MPG. The weekends when I run errands nearby, no so much... often under 20. My average so far is around 28. Acceleration feels very odd to me, coming from a four speed transmission. The CVT can be jerky, especially under stress (uphill grades or with the AC turned on); it's hard to get smooth acceleration, but when you're at speed, it seems to work really well when you make minor adjustments to speed. Right now I have only two minor criticisms. One, the gas cap is on the wrong side. It will take some getting used to having the gas cap on the passenger side, especially when people are actually following the general rule to pull forward to the farthest pump you can use to make room for others.... and you're going the other way. The other thing is that I wish I could just turn off the screen for the infotainment system. You can turn off the screen under settings, but it comes right back on again every time you start the car. Look - sometimes I just don't want to listen to anything. And it always wants to restart Pandora in shuffle mode. Aside from those minor issues, I'm really enjoying the Forester; it's very comfortable, with a great ride position and great visibility. EDIT: 8/30/2017 because Edmund's asked me to. Last fall I received notice my car was part of a recall of vehicles that didn't get enough transmission fluid, which helps explain the jerky acceleration to an extent - it still happens, but is not quite so bad. In spring, two accidents in less than 24 hours, both on the same one way street, both with people turning left in front of me from a middle lane. First one dinged up the car, second one finished the job. Took three weeks to fix. The Subaru Starlink system was really on the ball... I hobbled the car to the repair shop as StarLink was telling me all the systems that were malfunctioning - it was like being on the bridge of the starship Enterprise. It asked if I needed assistance, which I thought was cool. Still, I did not renew it after my free year. Overall, on the whole, my opinion has not changed much. It was a great buy, in my opinion, and I'm still very happy with it.
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4th Subaru; 1st Forester
Brian, 02/21/2017
updated 02/25/2019
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
This is a solid package and a relatively good value for the Touring trim. The gas mileage is ok, not great - I think 26-27mpg is about as high as we will see based on the first 1000 miles of driving. We love the overall package though. It feels roomy for such a short car, and the sunroof is incredible...lets in a ton of light, even when it's rainy and dark out. I don't love the seats- I feel like I'm always sliding forward in them, and the bottom cushions feel too short (I'm 6') but are otherwise comfortable. Went to the snow last week and the car did great (as expected). This is a really great car for the money. 8 month update: Now that we have had it for 8 months and about 6,000 miles, I thought I'd update this. Our early impressions stand: gas mileage is 26mpg with mostly urban driving (easily over 30mpg on the highway), the front seats still aren't super comfortable for me (although my husband disagrees), and we are still happy with the purchase. One thing I'm not in love with is the CVT transmission - it sometimes surges at low speeds as if it can't decide what ratio it wants, and the "slipping" feeling inherent in CVTs still feels weird. In the mountains, though, the transmission is great...smoothly finding the right ratio for the grade/load. Without paddle shifters, though, it's tough to use the engine to slow the car on downgrades, and selecting Low helps but feels like a compromise. And the throttle response is waaay too sensitive for smooth takeoffs...still not used to that after 8 months. Overall we are happy with our purchase...it's a useful, practical, and nice looking little wagon! 2 year update: We’ve now had the car for two years and have 22k miles on it. Gas mileage has stayed around 26mpg overall, with 30 easily attainable on the highway. Not bad for an AWD car like this. My previous review is still accurate - the CVT is weird, the throttle sensitivity off the line is insane, and the front seats are not very comfortable for me, but that’s it for complaints. Our Forester has been amazing in snow and off road, it tows our 1500# camper just fine, and it handles really well for an SUV. Other than changing the oil and air filters, it’s needed no maintenance in its first two years.
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2500mi on my 2017 Touring
Laura K., 09/28/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
29 of 32 people found this review helpful
I've driven the wheels off this car in the last month, 2 semi-long road trips for family events. I thought about keeping it parked but it's such a nice drive on the highway, I couldn't imagine leaving it in the driveway. This is my first SUV or crossover, I'm coming from a 2011 Mazda 3 5-speed, so I was a bit nervous about the transition to CVT. The shifting is taking time to get used to, but she will get up and go when I need it. The RPMs are usually low when I look, ~2k cruising but up to 6k if pushing it extra hard. The take-off is lacking but I knew that when I weighed the cost of ownership for the turbo; that said, she'll do what you need her to do. The noise is very low this year and it's noticeably so. I listen to audio books which can sometimes be difficult when doing 70mph. The interior is relaxing overall. The visibility makes me less nervous about driving such a big thing and the controls are easy. The navigation is absolutely fantastic and the bluetooth has worked flawlessly. The headlights that turn with the steering wheel are AMAZING for country driving and has helped me see deer in the road. The automatic cruise control and break assist is equally as fantastic. I can honestly say that the break assist may have saved me from rear ending someone already! Within the first week! The car behind me pulled to the side it happened so very quickly! The ONLY con I have really is the automatic headlights. These things make no sense and basically do whatever the heck they want. If you have automatic headlights turned on, you cant override and turn on the brights without holding the stick back. Seriously, WTH!? When I'm coming down by suburban street late at night, I like to watch for my neighbors cats and such but can't turn the brights on without either turning the headlights to manual or holding the stick.
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This model is ok
Don, 11/26/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
But I should have bought the Legacy.... Disappointed on a few levels that a test drive may not reveal. Seat comfort, over an hour, they are not great. The vehicle leans, alot, in hard cornering that other vehicles I have owned did not, including Honda CR-V. Vibration of something in the rear of the vehicle is annoying. Windows are large, which has a downside. The sun is unbearable at times. I am over 6 feet tall and have to use sun visors WAY more than ever before, and with the eyesight feature, they don't block all the sun. Heater makes a lot of noise relative to the volume of heat being put out.. Cargo space is plentiful, braking is great, eyesight and safety technology is great. I have buyers remorse over the other the other things listed. The vehicle steering and lean in the corners is a big dissatisfied. The mileage is NOT as advertised. Driving the highway I am happy to get 30 mpg...... No wear near the 33 advertised.. Very sad to supply this info.
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'17 XT Touring attended finishing school
kurtamaxxguy, 10/04/2016
updated 10/08/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
After mixed results with the '14 XT (was first year model, suffered major engine wear covered by TSB), I found Subaru had refined it for '17, smoothing out ride (less jiggly/harsh), reducing interior noise (engine quieter, tires less so), and upgrading interior trim and seat colors. Engine/CVT feel more polished, there are fewer rattles in dash and interior. A saddle brown color option offsets the usual drab black interior. Gains: LED brake lights and Road following LED headlights, heated steering wheel, better shaped seats, color graphic displays, lighted vanity mirrors, memory seating. Losses: Harmon Kardon sound equalizer degrades to 3 bands rather than 10, Nav only available with Eyesight. No Apple Carplay or Android Auto (a favorite peeve of car journalists). A fair bit of chrome and shiny trim can prove distracting in sunlight. XT's nicely responsive on the road, with option to use regular fuel (at cost of 10 - 15% of power/MPG) but can stumble going up hills. Odd that torque vectoring's only available with Eyesight, and that tailpipes soot up quickly. S# mode lets engine lug at times due to "fake shifts" - not good fit for performance driving. For icy roads ditch its stock Bridgestones for ones having ice grip - Nokian WR G3 SUV's work much better.. Only minor quality issues. Summary: a very practical, pleasant vehicle.
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5k Miles and Loving It
th3F0Z, 10/22/2016
updated 04/24/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
I've had the '17 Forester XT Touring for around 5 months and averaged 1k miles for each of those months--mostly commuting to/from work, but I've also taken the Forester on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains. The twin turbo in the XT adds a lot of pep and the suspension and AWD handle corners with confidence. As far as complaints go, the thicker glass and increased insulation around the doors helps cut down on road/wind noise that many complained about in prior year models, but it's still fairly noticeable on the highway. Not a major issue for me, especially not with the radio on. All-in-all the car has been comfortable, reliable, and fun to drive. —————————- 20k mile update: I’m still enjoying the car. No mechanical or reliability issues whatsoever. It’s taken me through winter snowstorms in PA and VA and through plenty of stop-and-go traffic in the city. Sad to see there won’t be any official CarPlay/AA retrofitting options, but that’s probably my biggest gripe. Now that Subaru dropped the XT from their lineup, I’ll be holding onto this one for a long time.
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UPDATED 12/8/22 - 6 years/86k miles - Mostly Happy
Megan C, 11/30/2016
updated 12/09/2022
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
30 of 34 people found this review helpful
"Regular" Maintenance is starting to get a bit more expensive. This could probably be mitiagted somewhat if I was more proactive about preventative maintenance. I've averaged about $2500/yr worth of work into the car over the last 2ish years. Big ticket items are tires and air conditioning. The AC is my biggest complaint, it stopped working around the summer of 2021, and then I moved to Texas in the fall of 2021.. and then lived in Del Rio through the hottest summer on record of any city in the history of TX (Summer 2022) with a broken AC >:( I took it to the dealership in San Antonio 3 separate times to have them troubleshoot and "fix" the AC and after about $1200 nothing had worked so I finally caved and replaced the compressor about two months ago, and $1600 later, the AC still doesn't really work. Thankfully I don't live in the south anymore so it's not as big of a problem, but it's still annoying that after almost $3000 and replacing all of the major components of the system it still sucks. I'm wondering if it's just a design flaw at this point. Everything else has been working fine. Over 4 years and about 70k miles, still drives like a dream, I haven’t had any major mechanical issues (knock on wood) and I’m among the more lazy car owners who don’t go crazy with regular tune-ups and such. I do the state legal minimum & regular oil changes and that’s it This is my first brand new car, as well as my first Subaru. I chose Subaru after considerable research and references from friends who drive and love them. They have a great reputation as being sturdy, reliable vehicles, and as I do not want to have to buy another car for at least 7-10 years, it seemed like a great, affordable option. I live in southwestern Pennsylvania, a place known for hills and bad winters, so I wanted a solid car that handles well in the snow. I chose an SUV for the snow thing and also because I have been getting increasingly into the outdoors, so I wanted a vehicle that I could take off-roading, and that will haul bikes, kayaks, camping gear, wet dogs, and maybe someday kiddos, but one that also did not destroy my fuel budget as this has to be my commuter car too. The Forester seems to check all of these boxes. Pros: • Gas mileage is great (in my opinion, my old car got 15 city, 27 highway), I average about 27-28 on my daily commute and on the highway I was getting over 36 MPG • The upgraded models have adjustable lower lumbar support which is great for road-trips (6/4/21: this feature definitely helps, but the seats still aren’t the best for 3+ hour drives) • I love the automatic climate control, set it once and didn’t have to touch it again in 3 hours • I think it rides smooth, I did not notice the noise or roughness that other reviewers have commented on, but I test drove a base model and that particular car was a little rough and noisy, so maybe depends on the upgrade (6/4/21: I notice the noise more now, it’s definitely a louder car, but in my opinion still not enough to be a deal breaker) • In over 2 years I never learned how to park my old car, and now I’m convinced it was the car and not me because the Forester has an awesome turn radius and I can park it just fine • Two words: Heated seats Cons: • My biggest complaint is that the remote starter is a separate fob that is about the same size as the regular key fob, so you basically have to carry two key fobs or only use the remote start at home. Personally, I use it at work as well, and 2 fobs is bulky and kind of annoying. In the year 2017, you’d think these things would come standard now, and all in one fob, but I guess not. • The manufacturer’s warranty is only 3 years/36,0000 miles, I bought an additional warranty from the dealership that extends my coverage to 5 years/60,000 miles • The Limited trim option only comes in an automatic (better gas mileage than the manual though, thanks to the new CVT) with only 2 drive gears, high/normal and low/descent control. The “normal” drive gear is fine, the “low” gear, apparently designed to utilize engine breaking during a continuous descent is kind of rough if you don’t shift at the exact right time and speed (almost like driving a manual again..) • 6/4/21 Update: The seats tend to get uncomfortable on long road trips, over 3ish hours. I’m comparing to my husband’s car, which is an Altima The cons are minor annoyances, nothing that would have been a deal-breaker for me had I known before I bought it, at this point I would definitely recommend this car for someone who wants an affordable, fuel-efficient SUV. If anything changes that is out of the normal, ordinary wear-and-tear of a vehicle, I will be sure to come on here and share.//Update 12-1-17: everything I wrote is still pretty much true. I put more miles on it than expected so that shortens the length in years of the warranty but oh well. Haven’t had any major mechanical issues yet (knock on wood). It’s only been in the shop for 1. Getting rear-ended, minor damage and covered by insurance 2. Tire patch 3. Inspection 4. Warranty mileage “check-ups.” We’ve since gotten a dog and taken it on several hiking/camping trips. The leather was worth every penny, as was the “All Weather Package” which inscludes plastic liners for all of the floor surfaces including the trunk. I haven’t had a problem with cargo room yet, the biggest thing I’ve tried to haul was a full size wheel-barrow, it fit with the seats down. At this point, still no deal-breakers and I would definitely still recommend it! 12/1/2018: Still no mjor complaints. Just had it inspected and the only thing it needed was brakes, but 2-yr brake life is pretty standard in my experience (Hills and my driving). I’m noticing that it’s a bit loud at high speeds more than I used to, but nothing else has changed substantially.
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Fine Little Car for Stiff, Old, Tall Person .
RD Blakeslee, 04/16/2017
updated 03/25/2024
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Road clearance, door size and headroom are outstanding, good for deep snow driving and tall people, respectively. Car is therefore taller than most of its size and susceptible to crosswind buffeting. All designs are compromises - pick what suits you. Really zippy and nimble. Short - stroke, high winding engine moves the car well, but engine braking in hilly country isn't very good with any little short stroke engine. This is adequately compensated with powerful all wheel disc brakes. Our family has owned a total of about twenty Subarus over the years (starting in 1977) and my 5-star reliability and long-term value ratings are based on our overall experience - it's too early to tell with this nearly new 2017 car. Safety was rated three only, solely on the basis of the car's weight. All the airbags and seatbelts in the world won't defeat the laws of physics, particularly F=MA. Deceleration of your body in a crash is what kills you, if relative speeds are high enough. The lighter car will inevitably decelerate more than the heavier vehicle. Now that I've driven it for seven months, my Subaru may exhibit a flaw that has been occurring in some of Subaru's 2.5i engines for several years now; It may use too much oil: about a quart every 700 miles. Subaru was sued over this problem a few years back and settled with the plaintiffs on the basis of a quart every 4000 miles being acceptable. My vehicle is now undergoing an official testing period and the basic engine (a "short block") will be replaced if my experience is confirmed. Update: Subaru Service has looked at the car and it has not used any oil during their test. My dipstick readings were not confirmed and the technician warned me that boxer engine dipstick readings are sometimes misleading. I was advised to drive the car until the low-oil warning light comes on, or 5,000 miles, whichever came first. Indications are that the engine is OK. LATER. After 15 month's of driving it my opinion has not changed, it is a good little car. The concern about oil consumption proved unfounded. While it's easy to wish for design changes when one does not realize all the constraints and trade-offs that might be required, I and others have been troubled by the footpedal arrangement The space for them is too narrow and one has to "pre=plant" one's feet carefully before coming to a stop. Application of the brakes often results in depression of the accelerator pedal as well as the brakes. ADDENDUM: At 5,000 miles, the low oil indicator light came on, after all. The engine was replaced in an exemplary manner by Subaru (Dealership review by me, elsewhere on Edmunds), free of charge. 2019 through early 2020: The car again used too much oil. Millage is now about 11,000, The dealership again changed the oil and filter free of charge and placed the engine under test. If the test indicates excessive oil consumption, the engine will be replaced for the second time. I believe the problem is partly the result of my situation: An elderly man doing short trips in hilly country. The car's transmission (manual) is in lower gears and the engine is being driven by the car as it goes downhill. But Subarus we have owned and driven under these conditions in years past have not used excessive oil. The first replacement engine failed its oil consumption test and was replaced for the second time. Subaru and the dealership have stood behind the product in an exemplary fashion. This second new engine, which the installing Subaru technician said is a "special" version with modified interior oil supply passageways, has used no oil in the last 2,500 miles. The engines are/were in a manual transmission car, which, the technician told me were the predominant models needing new engines, perhaps because (I'm speculating) the automatic transmissions did not subject the engines to so much "overrun" - the situation where the wheels "drive" the engine as the car slows down or runs downhill with the clutch engaged. In any event (unfortunately, I think) Subaru no longer offers a manual transmission in its latest Foresters. The car remains as reviewed above. Highly satisfactory. The car is now 5 years old, has had the engine replaced twice (excessive oil consumption) but still uses too much oil. I don't think the problem can be solved with this engine design, when the car has a manual transmission and is driven about half the time on downgrades (I'm live in the Appalachian mountains in West Virginia) with the engine braking - oil is pumped past the pistons on the overrun. My workaround is to use a heavier grade of oil (10W-30) than that specified by Subaru: O-10. With that I get about three thousand miles before the low oil light comes on and I change the oil. With an automatic transmission, I suspect downhill runs would be controlled mostly by the brakes; So better oil consumption, worse brake pad wear. So, the car continues to suit me well. The car is now 6 years old and continues to furnish reliable transportation. It was recently inspected and still does not need its brake pads replaced. Of particular interest regarding those who have had their engines replaced: The second replacement in this car was said to be a "special" engine by the dealership's service manager. My observation is that the engine was set up tighter at the factory than the earlier engines - I heard much less "piston slap" from it. Nonetheless, the car continued to use excessive 0/10 weight oil as prescribed by Subaru. So relying on my user's manual statement that 15/30 oil could be used "if 0/10 is not available" as an admission that such use would not void the warranty, I used 15/30 synthetic and "voila!" the engine "broke in" and now uses no oil. EPA's influence leading automakers to use thin oils to squeeze out a tiny fraction more miles per gallon of fuel, in this case produced nothing but hardship on Subaru and this customer. Surely the excess oil consumption resultant from water-thin 0/10 oil produces smog, which the 10/30 oil does not. 9/23/2023: Car is now 6 1/2 years old - continues to run lust fine. Since switching to 10W30 Synthetic oil, the car gets10,000 miles without need for added oil, at which time the oil and filter are changed. Would buy this car again.
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Disappointed in 2017 Forester Quality
NC Stoney, 02/25/2019
updated 08/26/2019
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
We had a 2004 Forester for 13 years, and it was reliable and interior held up well so we bought a 2017. After two years and 22K miles we are extremely disappointed in the quality of the interior and the CVT/performance. We only have one 9 year old child. The light gray fabric is impossible to keep clean, which wasn’t a problem on our ‘04. The front of the rear seat is already showing wear on the fabric. The front has really cheap plastic floor mat holders that will probably break soon. The carpet between the floor of the rear seats is showing wear already. The plastic center console that houses the 2nd display rattles. We miss the auto transmission since the CVT really lags when you pull out into traffic or get in the highway. Also at MPH speeds ending in 5, the transmission slows/speeds up for some reason. This model is a lot quieter but due to the interior quality issues and CVT we are considering selling our ‘17 already and getting out while we can. Aug’19-we had the condenser go out at 27K miles, which after some research is a common issue. After all these issues in 2 yrs we sold this while we could.
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try it, you'll want to buy it
DONNA jb, 10/06/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
the climate feature is wonderful never knew how much I was fiddling with it to be comfortable, visibility very good, drives and rides really really nice,
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DECIDED ON A FORESTER
DAVID STETTLER, 09/16/2016
updated 09/21/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
26 of 30 people found this review helpful
It was an exhaustive search. It boiled down to a Forester, Jeep Cherokee, or Mazda CX-5. All wheel drive is an extra option on both the Mazda and the Jeep. The jeep was out first based on cost with options and the extremely poor reliability rating at Consumer Reports. The Mazda drove like a sports car, but the cost added up fast with options and I didn't like not being able to get heated mirrors unless you stepped up to the top of the line trim level which put you in the low 30k cost area and added options I didn't want. The Mazda had a lot of great electronics, but lets face it, in 5 years they are all going to be like like in-dash VCRs. The Mazda's reliability rating was way below the Subaru, the Mazda was harder to see out of, and since the only traction tests I saw on line were Mazda productions and the only thing they highlighted on was acceleration on a snowy hill from a dead stop and the wheels always turned to the right, I was skeptic about the drive system as well. That and in the test the Subaru driver always seem to be pushing the accelerator hard to make a slip. The only test I would believe is if they chained them both together on a snowy field and did a tug-of-war. I went with the Subaru since I wasn't in the market for a sports car and needed something that would deal well with a Minnesota winter. I got what I wanted for 26k, a time proven all wheel drive system, heated seats, heated mirrors, rear defrost and wiper, and easy to see out of when snow clouds your view and it comes standard with a nice power moonroof which was an extra option on the Mazda. I still have bluetooth, sat radio, and a bunch of entertainment features I don't even care about.
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2017 XT Touring with eyesight
FXT Fun, 06/08/2017
updated 06/29/2020
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Update: About 3 years I think. Great car, oil changes mostly some normal maintenance. I did replace the tires with some snow-rated all seasons but the OEM still had good tread. I would buy it again. Update: 1 year 6 months. No complaints, still really like the car. Haven't had to do any work other than oil changes to date. Update: 1 year (plus a little). Still loving the Forester XT. The turbo is really fun. No problems at all to this point. Oil changes and wipers are it. Update: I've owned the Forester for over 7 months now. I still love the car. The only slight negative I've noticed is that with the 23mpg and a 16 gallon gas tank. I have to fill up a few more times a year as the range with my driving history on a full tank is under 400 miles. I had a 2009 Mazda 6 Grand Touring with a 6 speed stick because it was fun to drive. The Forester XT is just as fun and I'm going to love driving in the snow. So far, all my driving has been city and I'm avg about 23mpg. Not too bad as I have a bit of a lead foot and a turbo. The sport sharp mode is great fun and quick. I really like the feel of this car on the road. It's quiet and handles well. The ride is surprisingly comfortable even compared to my wife's Legacy. Turning into a parking spot is excellent compared to most cars I've driven (I travel quite a lot so drive many different types of rental cars). I can't think of much I don't like. There a few 'it would be nice' things; a bigger console, easier way to switch between radio and USB while driving, a little stiffer-feeling brake pedal (just feels a little soft after the Mazda).... that's about it. I drove it in very heavy rain a couple times where it plowed through 6 inches of water and kept me straight, really confident. Eyesight (with adaptive cruise), lane assist, automatic braking, rear traffic detection are all really good reasons to buy the higher Subaru trims. I'm very ok with the CVT (turbo XT gets a better transmission than 2.5 trims). The CVT shifts fine, I like that I can set the cruise and it will slow me to the set speed going down fairly good hills without hitting the brakes. I like to play with the paddle shifters once in a while just for fun. I'm pretty sure if no one ever mentioned it had a CVT most people wouldn't actually notice. I looked at the 2017 Outbacks but the Forester is much easier to get into and out of than the Outback. It's got fantastic vision - you can see everything around you.
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Sorry I bought this 2017 Subaru Forester
C Gibson, 10/20/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
42 of 50 people found this review helpful
I had it 5 days & brought it back to the dealer as brakes were squealing & my husband noted the front passenger brake was hot. I was told by dealer mechanic I should have not just stopped by, but should have called to make an appt. I had the car 5 days!!! Car just didn't feel right. Told there was no problem. Then the following week, 5 or 6 days later the check engine light came on & I called for appt. Told me bring it right down. Told there is a problem with O2 sensor software & Subaru has no fix for it yet...that they're working on it. I could feel a lack of power when that engine light came on, but am told that the car is ok & that I should bring it back to have the engine light reset if it comes back on again & that they'll call me when Subaru has a software fix. Brakes still make noise & the engine still feels like it gets a slight "buck" or "bounce" in it. I feel I was sold a product by Subaru when they knew there was a problem with it. Mechanic told me they had another 2017 Forester will the O2 sensor issue as well. I told them I wanted Subaru to take this car back. I was told the dealer manager would call me & he never did. I'm afraid to take this car any long distance. I bought it brand new based on reliability reviews. I bought a new car because I didn't want problems with a used one. Should have bought something else! I will never buy another Subaru. I sure miss my 2011 Nissan Xterra Pro 4x! I gave it to my son & NEVER had a problem with it.
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5k miles into it
Vlad, 05/24/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
This is our 4th Subaru. Previously owned Impreza 2007, Forester 2011 and Outback 2013. I got to say, I'm extremely disappointed with 2017 Forester. Aesthetically it is very appealing and during the test drive everything appears to be great. Well after driving for 5 thousand miles and couple of smaller road trips, we realized that ride quality is very poor, it feels like the car wobbles side to side like a carriage and because of the wobble it you constantly have to correct the wheel for it to go straight, especially at higher speeds. My 2011 Forester went dead straight and we went 2500 road trip in our 2013 Outback and it felt perfectly safe. My guess is that Subaru is trying so hard to appeal to general public with wrong tastes for so called "softer ride" they completely ruined what used to be an amazing line of cars. I would not recommend anyone getting Forester 2017, I wish i could take an extended drive in a car before we leased it and now we are stuck!
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Terrible. Will never purchase from Subaru again.
Matt, 09/20/2018
updated 03/25/2022
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
*Everything in my review is of my own personal opinion and experiences.* I had really high hopes for this vehicle, it being the first *new* car I've owned. Sadly it was a complete disappointment. The safety features are solid however, here are the areas it fails miserably. Transmission: Incredibly sluggish for a CVT. the gearing designed to simulate actual shifting is terrible. It is so awful that at low speeds the vehicle will jerk you around rather than driving smoothly because it can't decide if you are driving in its fake 2nd or fake 3rd gears. Additionally it appears that the transmission either slips or cannot decide whether it is time to engage when you hit the gas suddenly from a stand still. This is particularly dangerous if you need to accelerate in order to avoid a collision. Interior: The ventilation system is cheap. I had my vehicle detailed professionally about a month after purchase, during this detailing the vent direction adjusters snapped off. When questioned about what happened the professional showed me on one of them how easily they came off. At first he didn't realize that they were breaking and assumed that they detached easily. Air Conditioning system is incredibly weak. When questioned about why the system performed so poorly, the dealer explained that they made it weaker so they could try and get more mpg. Seriously if it's in the upper 90's outside you're going to be sweating in this car. Within the two years of owning the vehicle I have had to get an entire seat bottom replaced because the seat belt/airbag interlock was somehow shot. Apparently the system is so sensitive to moisture that high humidity can cause it to fail. A car seat should be expected to withstand a certain amount of moisture, especially so with one geared toward the Outdoorsy types. Electronics: The Bluetooth interface is slow, unrefined, and honestly looks like a failed app developer created it. Whoever tried to make this work needs to find a different career path, my nephew has built more user friendly interfaces in Minecraft. Update for 2021: This continues to be a disappointing vehicle. Further, working with Subaru for maintenance schedules has proven to be extortive. They attempted to charge me $80 to replace a non LED bulb for the license plate lamp that had been burnt out. I replaced the bulb with an LED for less than $12 myself. The wheel bearings have failed more than once in the 5 years I have owned this vehicle which from discussion with mechanics is actually normal for their products. It's rather annoying to be constantly fleeced out of pocket for maintenance repairs on a vehicle that was purported to be incredibly reliable. In my experience this has been far from the case. I highly recommend buying from another vehicle manufacturer, this product is not worth it. Update 2022 Still a turd wagon. Do not buy.
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The Details
Kelly & Diana, 12/20/2016
updated 07/10/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
I like the car. It was between this or Honda's new HRV. The 2017 Forester won hands down. In fact, it works far better than this site (which won't let you paragraph). [PRO’s] Other than the cons, I am happy with our purchase of a 2017 Subaru Forester. I like the various features. The CVT transmission seems to get the job done just fine. I’m told it may even contribute to the decent milage we are experiencing. On mileage, we seem to be doing well over twenty-five, which is several miles to a gallon better than our 01 six cylinder Accord. One of the first things I noticed was how nice and sharp the Forester turns. I haven’t tested its limits, but it feels you could nearly turn around on an old two lane road. I like that I don’t have to grope around under the car for the oil filter. Acceleration with the four cylinder is impressive. My formerly owned, five speed, four cylinder, 98 Accord hopped right along. Even with four adults in it and running up a mountain pass. The Forester feels as if it could compete, for the most part. The car seems to do pretty well grabbing what traction it can on ice or compact snow. When my little pickup wants to take a block to get up to steam, the Subaru just squats down and goes on the same roadway, though it does it’s share of slipping too. Something other than factory provided tires, true winter tires, would go a long ways to changing that. [CON’s] The cons are the not so well thought out details, such as the spare tire and the USB access to the radio. First, the USB port. Who thinks it was a good idea to put the USB port to the radio inside and at the bottom of the six by six square, ten inch deep console? Needless to say, trying to plug a flash drive into the port and drive the car is not a good combination. Second, there is the matter of AWD, a pretend spare tire and no choice in the matter. Obviously, it’s a good practice to keep all four tires the same size. This keeps the front from turning at a different speed than the back, which can not just trash mileage, but can also trash transmissions. A good tire rotation pattern includes the spare. That way, all tires are the same diameter. If you have a blow out, you can go to the spare. As it is, you may have to consider purchasing at least two, if not four tires, when one goes. NOTE: A tire suffered road damage and to get a good match to the remaining three cost just short of three hundred dollars at Les Schwab. That spare is even more important to me now. I didn’t pay total attention to the details and didn’t catch that the radio lacks rear speakers. I WILL remedy that, because the sound quality from the current system is what it is - barely stereo. This is not to say the system is not quality for what it is. As others pointed out, the warranty could be better. [JUST FOR REFERENCE] Our previous ride, an 01 Accord, had a lot of trunk space. In fact, until we put the Forester’s seats down, we could get about three times as much in its trunk. WIND. We have a lot of it here. This car doesn't like it too much. While it holds the road, you can feel the car being tossed about. That may be due to nothing more than the higher profile, but it is something for the Subaru people to look at and address.
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Still lovMy 2017 Subaru Forester
Joy Bitzer, 09/23/2016
updated 04/08/2024
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
I am still enjoying my 2017 Subaru Forester! A few miles shy of 50t and although i do not drive a lot i love this vehicle every time I am behind the wheel! This car has its regular checkups with oil changes and tire rotation and I am happy to say NO mechanical issues . The finish on my steering wheel peeled and a wheel cover satisfied that issue. My city fuel mileage running the air conditioner averages 26.4 mpg. The car continues to prove to be a great great choice for me and within the price range is a winner hands down. Eyesight feature continues to do a great job and I feel confident the vehicle will stop as it has saved me more than a few times. Adaptive cruise control has been flawless. The cabin noise; mainly some transmission sounds, is no better or worse and I have grown accustomed over time and no longer notice. The leather seats have always been my main complaint and my butt has either gotten acclimated or the seats are breaking in over time and usage. The Anker 12v. charger handles the slow USB ports. My 2017 Forester has provided everything I thought I wanted plus more for this size vehicle and price range. I am thinking about a new Forester but have no reason to run out and get one because the one i have has been, and is, still as good as new!
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Traded the 2017 Forester for a 2019 Outback.
L, 10/02/2018
updated 12/02/2020
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 2017 Subaru Forester in the summer of 2018. First time owner of a Subaru. For the past two years, I did extensive research and reviews on the Forester and the Outback. However, I sure missed the reviews about how horrible the Subaru is on oil consumption. So far I've had to take the vehicle to the service department once for engine rattling, and then two other time times because my oil light suddenly lights up to let me know that I need oil! This happened at just under a month of purchasing the vehicle and again 5 weeks later. When I've taken the vehicle into the dealership, they check the dip stick and guess what? There is no oil in the engine! The service manager (on my 3rd trip to the service) gives me a handout about how the boxer engines burn more oil. Update: I recently traded in the 2017 Forester for a 2019 Outback 2.5i and I'm one happy Subaru owner!
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Base model 2017 Forester great buy
JS, 12/29/2016
updated 07/05/2019
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
First small SUV for me. It runs great and is an easy drive. Nice to adjust the seat higher as well for great road visibility. It is comfortable to ride and drive. Negative for me is the cruise control seems to vary the RPMs more, even on flatter highways, than just using the pedal. This has affected overall fuel economy. Drive distances with it and it is very comfortable. Combined MPG: 28.9 in winter time, had been around 35 in fall. ... July, 2018 Update: Still enjoy driving this car and feel safe in all kinds of weather. Excellent visibility. Three years later: I travel less distances now and still enjoy my Forester, feels safe and comfortable, great visibility, and valiantly endured the multiple icy storms this winter.
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Regret this purchase
Caitlin, 07/15/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
30 of 38 people found this review helpful
I purchased this vehicle because of Subaru's reputation for making high quality cars. I bought a 2017 Subaru Forester last year. I've had it less than a year and it's been in the shop more times than I can count. I had it less than a week when the eyesight started failing. The service center said they fixed it. Then it would happen again. The service center would say they fixed it again. Then it would happen again. This happened at least 4 times. And, I stopped taking it in. Then there was a recall because the engine fluid wasn't properly filled. Then the tire pressure monitoring system alarm went off. I took it in. The service center said it would take an hour. It took over two hours. When I go the car, the alarm light was still on. The service center assured me it would turn off after driving. Not true. I took it back into the service center. Left it there for 4 hours. They said the car was ready and they had fixed the problem. I went to pick it up and then they said it actually wasn't ready, but would be soon. Then after waiting longer, they said actually the problem wasn't fixed and they would have to order new parts. This is an ongoing saga. I'd strongly advise anyone not to purchase this vehicle. It's a poor quality product and Subaru provides poor service.
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SUV with near WRX performance
Brian, 01/04/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Drove all of the competition and nothing performs as well as the Forester XT. We bought a Touring XT with the 2.0 Turbocharged engine. Great acceleration and handling. 30 mpg on the highway. Luxurious interior. Great handling. Priced right.
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Effortless in every way
Larry B., 06/02/2017
updated 06/05/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
My Forester Premium with EyeSight is the most effortless vehicle to operate that I have ever owned. It is effortless for me at 6 ft., 225 lbs to get into, and my wife at 5'1" also finds it very easy to get into. The seats are very comfortable and the seating position great. Visibility is great also. I fold the second row seats down and visibility probably rivals that of the Pope Mobile. Driving it is effortless also, acceleration is more than adequate, handling is nimble, parking it is the easiest I've ever experienced, other than my old Jeep Wrangler, and the ride on the highway feels "well connected" to the road. It's quieter than my 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited and the engine is about as smooth. I have averaged 34 MPG over 35,000 miles, getting 38 MPG at posted highway speeds, and occassionally 40 - 41 MPG when keeping speed below 65 MPH. The EyeSight really helps take stress off on long trips, with the adaptive cruise control being especially helpful. I'm now considering trading my Highlander in on an Outback to get the EyeSight feature on my wife's vehicle, though, she rarely drives the Highlander anymore, opting for the Forester instead. A great vehicle at a very reasonable price. An update: the Yoko tires starting becoming very noisy at 30,000 miles , enough that it caused me to seriously consider putting new tires on it even though the originals had more than half of their tread life left.
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My First New Car
linda roots, 07/05/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I did lots and lots of research on the internet before narrowing down the market on the SUV's I wanted. I had not decided to buy a new vehicle until I actually went to the Subaru dealer. I was planning on buying a slightly used luxury SUV. However, having a friend who was a salesman at the Subaru dealer & was leaving the area soon, I started my search there. I had done research on Subaru's choices of SUV's, and didn't think I wanted any of them. But once I took the 2.0 XT Forester out for a drive, I thought oh my, I think I could actually drive a 4 cylinder again with a turbo zip like this!! And it has been very fun to drive, with my whole 208 miles on it!! I'm still not sure how comfortable I think the front seat is, and that is one of the major issues of buying a luxury SUV, the driver's seat had to be comfortable. But I had read the Subaru had really worked on their 2017 edition of Forester and had come up with a rather comfy version in the Touring package. Only my finding my perfect setting within all the different settings they have on the driver's seat only, figuring out how to work the memory setting so no one can change it, and time will tell if Subaru did make the comfort changes I need in my seating. I was disappointed to find when I got my car that the front passenger's side did not have a seat with electric settings. It must be an option I missed, and it was standard on every other SUV I researched so I am a little disappointed in Subaru's chintzy side here! PROS: Good outward visibility; nice and different design; wonderful zip (trust me I was an avowed V6 user); very responsive steering; stops on a dime; quality workmanship and materials used on interior (can't really opine about exterior); superior sound system; great storage in back with all passenger seats in use; power lift gate is awesome; lots of room for backseat passengers (almost unheard of in five-seater SUV's) CONS: No electric controls for passenger seat; no a/c for backseat passengers (both of these items usually standard in most higher end SUV's I researched); USB ports are placed in storage cube between front seats and logical place for phone is in cubby below entertainment system, long stretch to run cord; storage cube between seats is poorly designed offering no organized storage; the extra ordered seat back protector is pretty chintzy as well as the tray which comes standard on the back floor, if you have dogs or stash anything slightly piercing, this product does not look like it will hold up DON'T KNOW YET: driver seating comfort, I still haven't found "my spot" and I feel that the leather doesn't quite hold me in so I seem to be sliding around but I am going to give this a little time before rating; still getting used to all the gadgets so really can't tell you how logical some of the controls are yet and have not really used the voice system on Starlink yet; have not used the navigation system yet; reliability and value were marked with 5 stars because of the research I did on the internet; KB had this Forester selected as the top 2017 SUV of the year, this was overall, including safety, resale value, reliability, etc. I thought that was impressive. You'll have to do your own research and draw your own conclusions on these two items unless you've driven a Subaru in the past, this is my first. Have fun looking; no matter what you end up with, may it be the vehicle for you!!
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White XT Forester
Mike, 10/01/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
Only have for two weeks but car rides a lot smoother and quieter than expected. Great pickup. Fit and finish very good. Expected simple and utilitarian controls and info system and have it. Meets all my needs. Cons so far are few; wipers/lights not synchronized, doors don't lock automatically when car gets going, no glovebox light, needs room to put in 3 car seats. Very good overall SUV.
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Love my new Subie.
Beverly Eft, 09/17/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
13 of 16 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2017 Forester to replace my 2006 model. The new one is a pleasure to drive. The driver's seat and steering wheel can be adjusted in more ways, the interior is quieter, and the sound system is better. My only complaint is that the right-rear blind spot is bad. The rear-seat headrest on that side blocks the view out of that corner. Overall, I love the car.
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Windows problems
Steve, 03/05/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
Hello. My name is Steve and I recently purchased new 2018 Subaru Forester. Not long afterwards I had a very surprising discovery I would like to share with you guys. Every time you will disconnect your battery you will need to have your windows reprogrammed in order for them to function. It can be done at your Subaru dealership. I did contact Subaru of America representative to confirm everything - yes, windows need to be reprogrammed. And on top of enormous inconvenience it brings - YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT! I couldn't believe it when they said it. Don't forget - you disconnect the battery not only when you exchange it for the new one. Most of the repairs start with the words: "disconnect your battery". I know people who during really cold nights in the winter time disconnect the battery and place it in the warm of the house to insure the car will start in the morning. I just wanted to warn my fellow customers who still deciding which way to go about that fact.
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Switching from Forester 2009 to 2017
Konstantin, 07/31/2016
updated 08/01/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
28 of 37 people found this review helpful
WHAT IS WORSE: Instruments panel - terrible light and readability. Barely visible even at max setting of dimmer. No contrast at all. All controls are less comfortable. Like, position of ventilation knob is hard to read. Right button on dash board notoriously still does _nothing_, just sits there. This is just weird. All 'infotainment' stuff is just junk. Car controls must become simpler, not over-complicated. Less storage space inside: central console in 2009 has 2 compartments, now it is only one and smaller. No sliding cover for central console. The place under central 'infotainment' panel is smaller. The place for 'cups' is shallow and smaller. Rear view camera does not beep when in critical proximity. Rear view screen has poor brightness, in sunny day barely visible. Front sun visors are smaller with ugly retractable side extensions. Driver's floor mat 'retention' hooks changed from steady metal knobs to plastic stripes and they are very hard to find, they are moving from side to side. WHAT IS BETTER: rear view camera - the only really useful improvement of controls. Side visibility is better. Added light in the trunk. Added roof rails for all trims. Roof antenna does not swing (always had to adjust it after car wash). Alloy wheels look better and they are lighter. Less road noise. Thicker windshield. WHAT I HOPE WAS IMPROVED: bottom heat shields - on 2009 they start making annoying rattling sounds after 30K mi, now they removed(?) them. All internal panels have better soundproofing - old car was making all sort of sounds, esp. in a cold weather. AND MAIN ISSUE - heads gaskets, I do hope they will not start leaking at 60K.
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Subaru does not build them like they use to.
Rick, 08/16/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
Subaru has a lost a long time customer due to quality drop that seems to have gotten worse over the years. Don't be like me and think because I had such great luck with my past 3 Subaru's the new ones should be just as great. Night and day difference. Run do not walk away from Subaru until they change things up. Record sales = larger volume of cars going out the door = quality taking a big dump.
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Features and options
James D, 04/24/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I recommend that a potential buyer should compile lists of their "must haves", might like to have and "don't need" features and options. During my shopping the finalists were Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. With Honda their is very little room for building in your feature choices...the models are limited and each is "set" with its package of features- nice if you don't like making decisions. The Forester, on the other hand, has a larger selection of models to choose from so that you can customize the features AND price to your needs. Make sure to ask for the one page "breakdown" of the models and what comes with each. Furthermore you can get a more detailed listing of what is offered with each model on their website. I think in all my years of car buying this was the most informed decision I've been able to make. My experience with the sales staff was excellent. They know their cars and are straight forward in their approach- no "hocus pocus" with their answers and no pressure to buy instantly.
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First Subie Forester
RDL, 02/17/2017
updated 08/18/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Want a non luxury vehicle with lot's of features and bang for the buck ? Look no further. This is my first Subaru, and I love it ! The updates for the 2017 Forester are great and much improved from previous models. It is extremely quiet, more refined interior...I have the Saddle Brown leather...beautiful ! Exterior is Dark Gray, and looks sharp on my Touring model. The premium stereo sounds awesome, and the bluetooth is very clear. It is a fun vehicle to drive, and it offers no blind spots which is rare these days ! While it is not a fancy interior, everything is practical, and offers plenty of room for passengers and cargo. Lots of technology in the upper trim levels along with memory seats, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. The 4wd is the best out there, so get it one and go ! UPDATE : I have owned the Forester for 8 months now...zero problems, getting ready for my first oil change and 5000 check- up. This is such a fun vehicle to drive !! I have been averaging 25 -27 mpg between city and highway driving. Very pleased with this mileage. I get lots of compliments with the look ! Eyesight safety is awesome and works flawlessly, and I so enjoy the sirius radio. The sound system in the Touring is awesome ! I highly recommend this vehicle to someone looking for the perfect size SUV...not too small, not to big, easy to park ! Solid, dependable !!
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Love my new Subaru!
L Smith, 03/22/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I purchased the '17 Subaru Forester with Limited trim. I gave the overall rating four stars. The value and reliability of Subaru along with the safety features are top-notch. I enjoy driving, although the acceleration on the Limited model can be a little touchy--mainly when I begin accelerating, the car feels a bit jerky but trying to accelerate (on a freeway on-ramp, for example) doesn't feel as speedy as some other cars I've driven. The infotainment system is good, although I feel a little limited by the apps that are currently offered. The interior is very spacious and comfortable, and I like the leather on the Limited model.
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Mechanically good car with very poor electronics
Edward Epstein, 05/18/2019
updated 11/29/2021
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Don't buy with electronics - nothing but problems!!! Was very happy when traded it in 3 weeks ago. Never again I will buy Subaru. Dealer I bought it from had very poor knowledge of the vehicle and giving me wrong messages besides the poor customer service.
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LET IT SNOW!
Kansas Granny, 11/27/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've had my new car for less than two weeks and am still learning how everything works. I would advise to set your radio stations and temperature before you drive because in the daylight it is impossible to see any digital readouts on the dash (at least it is for me). One thing I don't like is that there is practically no adjustment on raising the steering wheel, which makes it much too close to my body because I am short and overweight. I believe it would be fairer to give a review after driving the car for a few months. On a positive note, after picking up my car and driving 40 miles home, the mpg showed "34". I can't give a combined mpg because I have not had to refuel. I will also say that this is not a luxury car as far as ride goes. If the road is rough, you can feel and hear the car on the road as it passes over expanders or whatever they are. I do believe that this car will do well for me as my ten year-old granddaughter has already offered either of her parent's cars in a trade deal.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Reliability
- Value
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