Used 2017 Subaru Forester SUV Consumer Reviews

Great eyesight

For the cost, all safety features, all wheel drive, saddle interior, great visibly. Whole package is tough to beat

Our 6th Subaru best one yet

This is our 6th Subaru, and so far best one yet, powerful, good looking, EyeSight is really great better then anybody else so far, stock tires not so good, took them of at the dealer and put Michelin Premier AS just to be safe, stock one sold on craigslist, we've got all possible options on it, and we really love it, brown interior looks great, really fun to drive, definatly recommend to any one who is looking for Subaru, visibility are tremendous too.

Dash crash!

In 5'11". The gauge are is tilted downward and the dash cover area is such I can't see the guages. Only with Sun at my back are they readable. They in a shadow in day and angled for night. My 5 foot wife has no problem could there be am adjustment?

Forrester is my favorite

I love the Subaru Forrester! Just a few things I would change. There's some hesitation sometimes while driving and/or starting which we have had checked but they can't fine anything. Also the dash lights are not the best, the red is kind of hard to see and the little middle window with the mileage looks like it's from 1980 but everything else is fine. The back seat backs are fixed at an angle that is somewhat uncomfortable but since we don't have riders that much it is fine, however if I did have passengers back there I might choose another vehicle. Back up camera isn't the greatest at night but I suppose it's as good as most. Overall this car/suv gets great mileage is easy to drive and very roomy.

It's a great car but not the gas milage.

It's a great car! There are a few things ... It never ever gets 32 mpg. It gets 24 in town and on the interstate. 24 mpg on the interstate even when the car is not loaded down. I feel like I was lied to. I had a 1999 camery. I miss not having the few seconds after the car has been shut off to roll up the windows. I miss the heat/ cool air blowing direct on my feet. The battery went bad 6 months after getting the car. This was disappointing. It was replaced for free but still took time of having to get the battery jumped twice and taking it to Subaru. The subaru shop is wonderful!

Subaru Forester Love

Our 2017 Forester has been outstanding and we live in an area of steep roads often covered with ice and snow. Symmetrical all-wheel drive coupled with the boxer engine is the safest way to engineer a vehicle and no other manufacturer except Porsche can match it. That said, we were recently very disappointed to learn about the oppressive labor practices that go into building the Forester in Subaru's Japanese plants. Migrant labor, sub-standard wages, 12-hour days...not pretty. Do your own research but don't get too carried away with their "Subaru Love" ad campaign because the company sounds pretty ruthless in how they treat some factory workers.

Good but

I really enjoy this car. It is easy to maneuver and park. The Eyesight safety system works well and is a great feature for us mature drivers who maybe don’t drive as well as we used to. The AWD system prevents snow and ice; at least in North Texas where I live. Since I bought my first Forester in 2015 we have had negligible winter precipitation. It does very well on soft sand though, and that is why I bought it. I fish the Texas gulf coast and so far it has taken me where I want to go. Thats the good. The bad is very hard seats and no soft place to put my knee on long trips. There is a dead pedal, however. The mandatory moon roof in all but the base model takes up interior space. The CVT is a pain. It bogs down on a normal start and will sometimes shift hard in the higher gears. There is a lot of noise in the cabin. That being said I’m going to get a new 2019.

4th Subaru and still in love

We currently own 2 Subaru’s and love them both! We useVictory Subaru for all service needs. The staff is so accommodating and helpful.

Great car

Subaru is a very reliable car. It is easier to get into if you have a disability than most Suv's

Solid as a rock

Drives easily, plenty of power, and very comfortable. As with all gas vehicles in this class the gas mileage is a negative.

Just like in my mind's eye

Fell in love with this 2017 Forester when I saw it on line. It didnt disappoint after driving 7 hours to see it, so I bought it !

when the car fits the personality

phenomal vehicle for the semi adventurous 30 some male professional

42 Thousand In and Lower Control Arms Gone

We have 42 k on our Forester. I'm 70 years old and I don't off road or do other stupid crap with a mere family car. I'm even cautious on snow and ice. I, damn sure, have not put this thing in a ditch or otherwise abused it. Even if I did beat the car, damage WOULD NOT be limited to some lower rubber bushings. HOWEVER, today, we were told the lower control arms are loose, because they are failing. The rubber is cracked and shrinking, so loose. IN THE FIFTY YEARS I'VE DRIVEN, AND AMONG THE CARS I HAVE DRIVEN, I'VE NEVER had critical parts die at a mere forty thousand miles. Even cars from decades ago were more dependable than that. Back in the day, I had shocks that needed replacement. Miles down the road, I replace ball joints, some myself, but it, damn sure, was not in a mere forty thousand miles. NEXT TIME, it's back to Hondas

31,000+ miles and no problems.

Bought 2017 Forester Touring new. Changed engine oil and filter at 400 (yes - four hundred) miles and put in Amsoil 0W-30 Signature series (not 0W-20) and standard Wix oil filter. Changed oil and filter once a year thereafter - same products. Changed front and rear differentials at ~30,000 miles using Amsoil 75W-110 (yes, 110 and not 90.) Also changed CVT fluid using 13 quarts of Amsoil CVT fluid. CVT works just fine. Car performs beautifully and mileage on a 25 mile rt, for example, is at 33+ mpg. I like that it is PZEV. No leaks, no noises, no problems. Don't use it off-road and it rarely snows here (Wilmington NC) so can't comment on that. Cons: cheap materials and poor fitment of body parts. Automatic tail gate VERY slow to open and close. PCV valve could be more accessible. AC is barely adequate. Seems Subaru's accountants overrule their engineers - putting larger profit over quality. Closing: I believe (hope) I will be able to keep this car for at least 150,000 miles, with no major problems. A good car for the price.

Great SUV with little flaws

Had this SUV for 5 years now. Purchased it brand new. Great SUV overall, unbelievable off-road capability with superior performance at winter time. I remember driving it with all-season tires during winter storm. Lots of trucks and SUV ended up in the ditches. Except my Subaru! Love it! However, there are couple of flows: if you turn off your engine, it shuts everything and you can't roll up the windows; wipers' speed is either too slow or too fast. Also no de-icing for front wipers. Otherwise all is great! One suggestion - instal from radar similar to Toyota, as Subaru's Eyesight does not work in heavy rain.

Ac unit

The forester is a very reliable car , the only issue I have is that the air conditioner unit is not strong enough in High humidity temperature over 90 plus degrees.

First Subaru

I like everything and there is nothing I don't. This the first Subaru I've had. Great fuel mileage.

MY Forester / Forest is his name

Overall been a very good car. not great on acceleration. should have gotten the turbo version since they no longer have will look for a different vehicle soon

Still love our 2017 Forester

I am now 81 years old and have been driving since I was 16. My health is excellent and my dad lived to 98 years of age; I could live another 10-15 years. I take good care of our Forester so it will be the last car I own.

Pretty “Shifty”

Our 2017 Subaru Forester has exceeded expectations. It now has surpassed 90,000 miles + another 80,000 miles towed behind a motorhome. Because of that towing we had to purchase it with a 6-speed manual transmission since Subaru CVT automatics cannot be flat-towed. New Foresters no longer offer a manual transmission. As someone who’s had many manuals over my lifetime I’ve enjoyed this one. While Foresters are not barn burners in the power department the manual made it zippier and fun to drive. Its cornering capabilities were surprisingly fun for this former SCCA road racer guy. Under more mundane subjects it’s been remarkably reliable and offers good room for 4 people plus many items in the back storage area. This was our first Subaru, but it’s now accompanied by a 2024 Outback Onyx XT Turbo that is also delightful and surprisingly quick with the turbo. Our Subaru dealer has also been great !

Best Vehicle ever owned

The best purchased that we ever made. We wished we had bought sooner. All our future vehicles will be Subarus. You will not be disappointed if you buy one.

Great Car!

love my forester

very low mileage

A very big little car.

The car does not lock itself when parked or when driving, otherwise it is very practical, with excellent visibility and plenty of passenger and cargo room. It is very comfortable to ride in and is nicely appointed.

Forester in the city

This is a great car so far, I wish I would have bought one much sooner

Purchased a 2018 Forrester

Past tests have rated this vehicle very favorable.

Little things mean a lot!

First of all, this Forester is a solid and trustworthy rugged vehicle with a fairly stiff ride, but I love it. It has a great reputation and that's why I bought it even though it lacked a few design features that I had wanted like the blind spot alarm. It has a lot of things to love about it...I love the size of it; the ease of getting it into a parking space; the way it can monitor the distance you are from the car in front of you and keep you at a certain speed so you don't go over the speed limit! I love all those things about it. Plus, the visibility, after I removed all the passenger head rests so I could see better!!! I LOVE the back up camera and large screen for the controls. I love the keyless entry so I don't have to dig for the key at the bottom of my handbag; that the driver seat is at the level of my behind so I can slide into it easily! I love the brown leather. I am a "senior" in Florida (no snow) and do not need the all wheel drive so much, but wanted a trouble free car. It is just for me and doing errands, although an adjustable passenger seat would be nice. I go about 6 miles in every direction and a bit disappointed in the mpg at 24.6. It stays on this number no matter what. It is not the 26- 32 they said it would be. It took me awhile to get acquainted with all the gadgets and high tech details including the gps, radio, Sirius, monitoring, etc. The first day, I was grocery shopping and getting back to the car to open the back trunk door. Nothing worked. Touch the button, get in the drivers seat and hit the lift button. Turn the engine on, hit the button. Nothing. Finally it opened 1/2 way. OMG. I thought it was broken. Bottom line is that the trunk button is under the dash and I had hit the door level button.....Never heard of a trunk lid opening 1/2 way!! I think the trunk open button should be where you can reach it from the drivers seat....Then, the blind spot detection that lacks any sound warning is to me the main disadvantage, but I bought this car anyway, knowing that it didn't have the sound alarm for cars in your blind spot when you are moving to the right in traffic. The little red lights in the side mirrors are almost useless. It is a big negative on an otherwise great car which keeps on irking me. I think it is a big safety feature and hope the newer cars will have a sound alarm. The other aggravation is that when you unlock the driver side door without the key, the other doors remain locked. Very impractical, but I think the dealer will be able to change that for me. The center armrest is a little short for your elbow and the usb plug is in an impossible location inside the armrest...One more thing is that the interior lights will not turn off after a few minutes if a door is ajar. The salesman said, just keep the center light switch off and you won't have a problem!!! These are small things that add up to frustration on an otherwise wonderful car. Please fix them!!

I love my Forester!

I have just completed a 36 month lease & I plan to lease a new Forester!