Used 2018 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
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Better than Expected
Mark in the North Georgia Mountains, 05/01/2018
updated 05/08/2024
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
112 of 112 people found this review helpful
We purchased a base model 2018 Forester as an economical everyday/trip vehicle to replace our 16 year old Mazda hatchback. We needed something with a little more room, but was still economical to own and operate. Another requisite was a manual transmission which is getting harder to find outside of sport models, but was still available in the Forester. This is our first Subaru, and we hope their reputation for durability and reliability are warranted. The vehicle has so far (1600 miles and about a month of use), proven to be better than expected. The interior comfort, quietness of the cabin at speed, ride quality, ease of entry and exit, storage space, and fuel economy have all been excellent. The fuel economy has been a surprise (over 29 mpg combined), in that we exceed the EPA estimates for the model without really trying. The manual 6 speed shifts well and the engine has plenty of power and torque for everyday driving. It has a roomy and comfortable back seat capable of long trips with little trouble. The only criticism so far is that some of the interior materials seem to have hard plastic finishes. The base infotainment stereo unit has an excellent sound and easy Bluetooth connectability, as well as great radio reception, and shockingly, a CD player for us old folks that like such things. The standard backup camera comes in handy for parking in tight places. It handles well on our mountain roads with some expected body lean (for the class of vehicle), and tracks well through the curves. The turning radius is excellent for a vehicle of it's size, for great maneuverability in tight spaces. The all wheel drive and ground clearance will come in handy for exploring the Forest Service roads around here, and when the snow is an issue. Overall, we are very pleased so far with the purchase. Update 11/1/2018 - We have now owned the Forester for 7 months and 9800 miles and are still very pleased with it. One thing I neglected to mention in the earlier review was how fantastic the brakes are in this thing. They have great pedal feel and stop the vehicle very quickly, which has come in handy on a number of occasions. The visibility from the cabin is much better than on any of our other vehicles which helps with confidence on the road. Plus we are still getting over 29 mpg combined mileage. I was disappointed to hear that Subaru has dropped the manual transmission option from the 2019 Forester, and hope they reconsider it in later years for those of us who prefer them. Update 11/1/2019 - We have had the Forester for a year and a half with over 21,000 miles on the odometer, and are still pleased with the purchase. We have had no issues at all and are still getting 29 mpg combined. If I had to nitpick, I would wish for the original equipment tires on the base model to have a little more aggressive AT style tread and a higher treadwear warranty, as the current tires are showing significant wear at this point. Given that we live in the mountains and have pretty much continuous curves and hills to traverse, I'm not surprised with the tire wear, but one can wish. Update 5/1/2020 - We have had the Forester for a little over 2 years now and the vehicle is still running great with no issues at all. Still comfortable, quiet, over 29 mpg combined, and holds contents like Hermione's purse. Still very happy with the purchase with no regrets. Update:5/4/2021 - Forester still running well, but I have 2 improvements to suggest to Subaru. First, at 32k miles, the OEM Yokohama tires are mostly shot, and have been getting more and more squirrelly in the rain for quite a while. Better, deeper grooved more AT type tires would be an improvement. Second, the rear brake pads are about in need of replacement with normal driving, which is way sooner than any other vehicle I have owned. Larger pads and/or calipers from the factory would be a great improvement, so that all four wheel's brakes could be replaced at the same time. Still comfortable and dependable, however. Update - 5/2022 - A little over 4 years and 40k miles and still happy with it. We replaced the OE tires at 38k miles, as they were shot and really bad in the rain. The Cooper CS5 Grand Tourings we put on are a huge improvement in wet and dry handling, although they are a tad less fuel efficient. Still averaging 29 MPG overall, comfortable, and reliable. Update 11/2023 - Over 50K miles now, with no issues and just basic maintenance costs. Still reliable, comfortable, and 29 mpg over the life of the car. Happy wth the car, and hoping it lasts a long, long time with the current vehicle pricing up to what it is now thanks to inflation and regulatory pressures. 5/2024 - Still going strong with no issues.
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High Tech Safety Features
Jim W, 05/22/2018
updated 05/27/2025
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
76 of 76 people found this review helpful
I've had the car for nearly a year, and I have over 8,000 miles on it. I am 6'4" tall, and I have sufficient leg room up front. There's also plenty of room to sleep in the back. I don't like the hesitation and stutter of the transmission when starting from a stop, however. The CVT is quirky, but this can be overcome with a delicate touch on the gas pedal and a lot of practice. I turned off the lane departure feature because the pulling and tugging at the steering wheel just drove me crazy. I pulled a 1,600 lbs. utility trailer behind the car for over 3,000 miles, traveling between San Diego, CA and Eugene, OR. It handled wonderfully on flat-and-level as well as mountainous roads. The backup and rear cross-traffic sensors will alert you to approaching traffic even if you can't see it, and will stop the vehicle in a hurry should you fail to respond appropriately. If you want to get the maximum freeway gas mileage (33 mpg highway), you'll have to set the Adaptive Cruise Control to 65 mph. That seems to be the sweet spot on my Forester. The shorter wheelbase makes the Forester very responsive to steering input. That's great when it comes to the turning radius, but not so great when you're traveling at highway speeds. I found that driving on the freeway for more than an hour at a time meant that my shoulders got a little workout. The headlight beam is designed in such a way that it doesn't rise above waist height. So the traffic ahead of you isn’t exposed to a lot of glare. The high beam is appropriately bright, but it too is flat on top so as to avoid shining where it doesn't have to shine. UPDATE November, 2018 I’ve owned the Forester for about 18 months with over 12,000 miles on it. I love this vehicle as much as I did when it was brand new. I got used to the CVT, but it’s still a little annoying when shifting from reverse to drive because of the delay. Oh well! My best mileage was 36.4 mpg highway. Pulling my 1600 lb. utility trailer drops that down to just over 15 mpg. This vehicle is rated to pull 1500, but I cheat sometimes when I’m fully loaded. I don’t do this often, and haven’t had any problems. I’m 6’4", and I can nearly stretch out fully in the back while sleeping. The Forester’s high clearance makes climbing over serious ruts and relatively rough terrain quite easy. The street tires it came with suffice for the kind of driving I do, but if I were doing a lot of off-the-highway driving, I’d get a more aggressive tire. I also put a roof basket on top to carry additional gear; it cuts about 3 mpg off of the fuel consumption. I have no problems making u-turns on most streets. The 2.5 liter engine is perfect for this vehicle’s weight. Lots of rear-passenger leg room. I got the sunroof, and I like how it has two different open positions: normal open and "big-mouth-bass open." UPDATE May 22, 2019 The only thing I want to add is that I still love driving this SUV. Even though it only has the four cylinder engine, it’s fine for my usual type of driving. I’ve taken the Forester off-road several more times, on some pretty washed-out trails as well. It takes them all in stride. UPDATE November 22, 2019 You’re probably tired of reading about my experiences with the Forester, but I’m telling you, this is my favorite vehicle of all time. I’ve now owned it for about two years and three months. I don’t get anymore free services, but I still love this vehicle. UPDATE November 22, 2020 The AC failed (leak) in August this year. It’s only three years old! The Forester was out of warranty, so I took it to an auto AC specialist. Within a week or so, I received a letter from Subaru of America stating the warranty covering the AC would be extended. I took my Forester to the dealership where they replaced the condenser and refrigerant; SOA reimbursed me for the earlier AC service. UPDATE: November 23, 2022. The Forester continues to be my favorite car; no issues since my last update. I have 26,000 miles on it now. I'm expecting the original battery to give out soon due to the fact that I bought this Forester in August of 2017. But it continues to crank right up, so I'll just bide my time. UPDATE: May 23, 2023. I have just under 30,000 miles on my Forester. I installed a new vehicle battery, four new tires, and new batteries for my key fobs. The GPS map gets me where I want to go when I use it, but I can tell it needs a software update. Subaru of America charges a ridiculous fee to download updates. Oh well, I'll just start using my cell phone. Still drives like it did the day I bought it. I think the brake pads will be the next item I'll need to replace. UPDATE: May 23, 2024. I replaced the brake pads. The windshield wiper fluid reservoir stopped pumping fluid suddenly, and I discovered that the pump filter had gotten clogged with sediment from the hard water that comes to my house. Unfortunately, Subaru designed their reservoirs so that they can't be taken apart to replace individual components; you have to buy the entire (exorbitantly pricey) reservoir unit. Cheap solution: pour a cup of vinegar into the reservoir to dissolve the mineral buildup. I used a concentrated formulation rather than the kind you put on your salad. I let the vinegar sit in the reservoir over night. By the next day the wiper fluid reservoir worked just fine again. Yes, you'll smell vinegar until the reservoir is empty, but hey! I bought a new Garmin GPS for far less than Subaru charges to update their factory GPS. Garmin lets you update their GPS units for free. The car is 7 years old now and still runs great. I have less than 33,000 miles on it. UPDATE May 24, 2025. Paint job on the rear hatch is wearing badly, but the Forester continues to drive like a champ. I just went over 36,000 miles.
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2018 Subaru Forester for sale near you
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- 2.5i Premium 4dr SUVMSRP: $18,94821 mi away
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For my money, best in class
MN, 08/20/2017
2018 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
136 of 141 people found this review helpful
Review at 1000 miles: We spent the last six months researching and test driving for our first new purchase. We had a budget of $35k and the final three contenders were the BMW X1, Honda CR-V Touring and the Subaru Forester XT Touring. We live at altitude in the Pacific Northwest and are "outdoorsy" without needing extreme off road capability. We also take the highway up to fairly high altitudes for hiking and ski excursions. Coming from a fun & spirited but extremely noisy and uncomfortable Impreza, we were looking for a good blend of comfort and utility. Forester XT Touring satisfied these criteria with the added FUN factor that the CRV just didn't bring to the table. The Forester XT has *almost* all of the get-up-and-go of a WRX with off road capability and a far, far quieter ride. I find the CVT to be quite responsive, particularly in the Sport mode. Interior comfort is impressive; I'm 6'4" and 220 lbs, and have so far taken three 2+ hour trips behind the wheel, on highway and Forest Service roads. The cabin is quiet, with excellent visibility on all sides. While not quite the same in terms of luxury, at this price point, to get the AWD on the X1, we'd have been dropping closer to $40k. I just couldn't justify paying the premium for mostly a badge. Only qualms so far is the entertainment suite: Starlink is basically useless aside from Pandora. Navigation combined with Sirius XM traffic is quite useful. Eyesight suite is powerful, useful and intuitive and is what ultimately swayed our purchase. Considering our Impreza lasted reliable 275k miles with strict maintenance, I am confident that the Forester XT will be reliable for years to come and serve our needs well.
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Very Impressive!
DM, 10/15/2017
updated 04/19/2023
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
124 of 129 people found this review helpful
I spent the better part of a year researching SUV's as I'm also the owner of a 2004 Tacoma TRD Off-Road. Having spent 13 years in that truck, I was getting a little tired of the stiff ride and poor gas mileage, but I need something that can handle some off-road as well as poor driving conditions in the winter. I was thinking of trading my truck for either a new Tacoma or a 4Runner, but really didn't feel like I'd get anything very different, especially from an MPG standpoint. Enter the Forester. My biggest concern was the available "get up and go" since I live at about 6100 ft in Colorado and frequently drive into the mountains where 10,000+ ft is common. The XT was an obvious consideration but the MPG of the Limited 2.5i was very enticing. After test driving the 2.5i up the local pass, I decided it would suffice. I've got 2000 miles on the car and many of them are mountain driving. No power issues whatsoever! I'll admit I'm not racer, but I usually go about 5mph over the speed limit and have really had no problem with acceleration or keeping the speed up at all with the 2.5i. If I could have gotten blind spot and RCTA on the XT without going all the way to a Touring model, I'd have probably gone that route (although I much prefer regular gas to premium). Anyway, the Limited 2.5i has a very comfortable ride and I'm averaging about 28mpg in town and 35mpg on the interstate...again, at real altitude! Also, I got to keep my truck! I couldn't be happier with my decision. So I've had the car for a little over a year now and thought I'd provide an update. Bottom line, still love it! My gas mileage is not quite as good because I'm passed the break-in period and drive it a little harder than when I first got it. I'm still getting about 26mpg in town and 33mpg or so on the interstate, which I consider to be excellent. My only complaint is the automatic rear hatch is slow as heck, but that's a pretty minor thing that I can certainly live with. Overall, I'm still extremely pleased with this car. Well I've owned the Forester for three years now and couldn't be more pleased. Absolutely no mechanical issues at about 34k miles and the mpg is around 26/33 city to highway driving between 6100 and 9000 ft in elevation here in Colorado. The car has been through two winters and is rock solid in the snow. No rattles or other noises as this vehicle still drives like it was brand new. I'm regularly getting offers from the dealer to trade it in, but it's paid for and my guess is we'll put a lot more miles on it before changing it out. Great car!! It's now been about 5 1/2 years since we purchased the Forester and the car has about 60k miles. I'm going to sound like a broken record but this car has simply been great. Absolutely zero issues mechanically and continued great MPG's at about 26/33. We will probably trade it in a year or so from now as the resale seems excellent as well. Most likely, another Forester will be in our future. We'll see.
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My 2nd Forester
RSJ, 06/13/2018
updated 05/13/2024
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
46 of 47 people found this review helpful
I owned a 2017 Forester Premium 2.5i that I bought in the Summer of 2016 right after the '17 updated model came out. I had a few bugs over the two years I owned it but nothing debilitating. I decided, when some great incentives and 0% interest came along at my local Subaru dealer, I would upgrade to a 2018 model with Eyesight - I did not opt for this on my first one due to my lack of knowledge about it. After researching the last couple of years, the Eyesight became a safety priority for me so I purchased a 2018 Premium model with Eyesight, cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring and also the all-weather package which came with fog lights and a power tailgate. I looked at a touring model with the brown saddle leather - nice look but here in Florida it was like an oven in the car with the dark leather so opted to stick with the premium trim - and saved over $4,000! I am pleased so far with my upgrade to the '18 model, seems as if the minor "bugs" have been worked out and it has a very solid, quality feel to the entire vehicle - the Eyesight is amazing technology and am so glad to now have it on my vehicle...the last model I owned was my first vehicle with a CVT transmission and it took a lot of getting used to but I have become accustomed to it and find that many aspects of it I like - yes, it has a strange "feel" sometimes compared to old style transmissions but it accelerates nicely and doesn't "hunt" for gears on inclines or in slow driving like old style ones do and in the '18 model, they seemed to have gotten the programming right since it feels very smooth so far....for kicks, I went and test drove a new Accord with the 2.0 Turbo and 10 speed automatic transmission...what a disaster that transmission is! The thing stumbled and skipped the entire drive...not a pleasant experience and I compared the new CR-V while I was at it and it pales in comparison to the Subaru with slow acceleration, lower visibility and a less-connected feel to the handling in my opinion...bottom line is, to me, there is no comparison to the solid feel, amazing visibility, handling and the award-winning Eyesight safety system of the Subaru compared to the other major players -- the amount of equity I had when trading mine recently, shows the strong resale and residual values of the Subaru. Keep the Forester on your list if you are in the market for a compact SUV. UPDATE: I have now owned my 2018 Forester for over 2 years. I am still very happy with it and have had no reliability issues with it at all. It remains a simple, reliable, easy-going vehicle to drive every day. UPDATE: I have now owned my 2018 Forester for 5 years. I have had no major issue with it at all and still enjoy driving it very much. In fact, I am headed out on a road trip this summer so counting on my Subaru to be a great companion on the road! Next year, I am considering trading for a newer model Forester - we'll see what the 2024 re-design is like. UPDATE 5/11/24 - well I parted ways with my Forester. After about 5 years of a good relationship, things started to fail on my Forester. Very expensive failures. The A/C system had a very expensive failure not under warranty (almost $2,000!!) then started having suspension issues with an expensive CV axle failure (almost $1,000!!). Wheel bearings were beginning to show failure also. The CVT started making a loud whine when at highway speeds which was not there before. I am heading into retirement soon and decided I need to get out of this one before more things failed. I traded on a 2024 Toyota RAV4. I went with the 4 cylinder gas XLE model with normal transmission. I figured a simpler powertrain would be better for me as I go into retirement. I am hoping the Toyota will last longer without expensive repairs and service. It was sad to see my Forester go as I enjoyed it over the 5 years I had it but it seems (from many other reviews and forums I follow) that they get expensive as they age and that certainly was true with mine even thought I took meticulous care of it and followed all service recommendations. Check out my initial impressions of my new RAV4 in Edmunds reviews under that vehicle.
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Pleasantly Surprised
Eddy Chestnut , 03/31/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
28 of 29 people found this review helpful
I can’t speak to the long term reliability but the 2018 Forester is in the last year of its current generation, so theoretically most of the bugs have been worked out and a lot of the little imperfections have been smoothed out. These facts made my decision easier, any knowledgeable mechanic will tell you not to buy a vehicle in the first couple years of its current generation. I’ve drove automatic V6 vehicles for the last 10 plus years and was apprehensive about a 4 cylinder CVT drivetrain. I was instantly shocked how smooth and powerful the combo transfed thd power. The 4 cylinder boxer/Cvt feels soo much more refined than my V6/autos up hill, highway merging, passing on highway, absolutely no compromise or concerns! I can’t say enough how happy I am with the mechanical performance. I also got to drive it around in 3 inches if snow it was as surefooted in the snow as any 4wd vehicle I’ve ever driven. With last years added sound deadening I found the cabin to very quiet and comfortable. Also the suspension feels composed on rough roads. It would of been nice if the 2018’s came with Apple Car Play but it wasn’t a deal breaker, as the factory Starlink 7 in. unit is pretty slick, and has performed perfectly. Gas mileage has been really good so far, and I would expect it to get even better after the 1000 mile break in period us done. I wanted a Jeep Wrangler my entire life but once I started researching Wranglers I quickly saw the Jeeps lacks value, and safety features. To me the Forester seemed like the perfect substitute for a Wrangler. The Forester has an panoramic moonroof, way more safety features, gets way better mpg, and most likely way better reliability. Not to mention Subaru gas better financing and are considerably cheaper msrp than a comparable Wrangler. Not to turn this into a dump on a Wrangler review, nothing else totally compares to one but for my situation this is what made sense.
We tried them all.. now for a Subaru
Jack B., 03/01/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
30 of 32 people found this review helpful
A good deal of research and positive reviews in favor of Subaru is what moved us down the path to purchase the Forester. We're newbie's with less than 200 miles on the unit however really enjoying all the features. Navigation, the Starlink system, and Mirrorlink are poorly developed. Although the local dealership and salesperson seemed quite knowledgeable they could not get the Mirrorlink system to work even though all the software on both my phone and the vehicles's display unit (Heads-up) are compatible. I suspect using Google Maps for navigation will continue however I will also continue to work with Subaru on the Mirrorlink system. The Forester was purchased primarily for the gas mileage and other features (beyond navigation) so we're pleased so far.
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NOISY and with dangerous steering wheel jerking
FiberArtist, 03/21/2018
updated 04/01/2019
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
52 of 57 people found this review helpful
This is the noisiest car I have ever owned. Terrible wind noise through the windows and the sun roof. I consider the steering to be dangerous, as it almost pulled me off the road on a curve and constantly jerks to the right even when I am directly in the middle of the lane. I've read complaints from others that this appears to be connected to the lane sway feature of the electronics (not the lane departure feature). The dealer says it's all in my head, although the loaner car they gave me was like a normal car that had smooth steering and the steering wheel didn't jerk once. I consider my car a lemon and I regret buying it -- especially when the men who sold me this car keep ignoring my complaints. UPDATE: Subaru Corporate says the terrible wind noise is "just the way it's designed". According to several test drivers of the 2019 Forester, this problem has been fixed. Regarding the steering wheel jerking, I was told to turn off a "safety" feature to get it to stop jerking in high winds and on bumpy back roads because it reads as "driver drowsiness" and slightly jerks the wheel. If car is buffeted again soon after the first one, it will strongly jerk the wheel to "wake up the driver". It almost put me in a ditch when it did this on a bumpy back road on a curve. I have to deliberately turn off the "safety" feature every time I get into the car.
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So far so good
M Mosely, 12/25/2017
updated 01/04/2021
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
36 of 39 people found this review helpful
Shift slips from drive into other gear too easily. Otherwise, works well. Visibility is FANTASTIC. I am short and the car seat raises me up high so I can see over front bumpers, and the blind spots are almost eliminated. Safety devices are GREAT. All work well and easily. Quality of inside looks a little cheap. Driving seat is not well padded and brings my knee into contact with car overhang which drops below steering wheel. When back seats are collapsed forward, the cargo floor is not flat. The heater and fan controls are poorly designed. The placement of the inside control of the car which opens a and closes is in a position difficult to reach. The computer features requires long time of tries to learn. The books are useless Even car dealers don’t know how to make everything work. On the plus side, besides the amazing field of vision is the great handling, tight turn radius and smooth breaking. Acceleration is better than adequate. The safety features work extremely well.is All I all, a wonderful car
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2018 Forester Much Improved Over 2015 Forester
jbbluej, 01/08/2019
updated 03/28/2024
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
We liked our 2015 Forester however the 2018 Forester has several key improvements which justified our trade in/purchase. Bluetooth is MUCH more reliable. Heating/Cooling system is MUCH MUCH better and the overall ride and performance are noteworthy. Except for driving in cold weather temperatures gas mileage is exceptional. EyeSight is an additional safety feature we use often and rely on. UPDATE: It’s one of the best vehicles I’ve ever owned. After almost 7 years and 70,000 miles of driving it’s been a pretty reliable vehicle. I’m not sure the quality of any vehicle is as good as it used to be, but I’m very pleased with this Forester. Best ever was to go in the snow.
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Very good value for the price
Abe, 10/20/2018
updated 10/25/2023
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I just purchased 2018 Subaru Forester, the basic model. This is the first Subaru I ever owned The car has a nice interior and is quite roomy. The trunk has plenty of room for storage, The car gets pretty good highway mileage (over 32mpg) and fair mileage fir city driving(mid 20's) I had a Honda CRV but I think the Forester handles better. It drives like a car rather than a SUV. The climate control is easy to manage and the blu tooth is a nice feature, The best feature ,I think of the Forester, is the visibility and no blind spots in the rear or side windows. For the price and its reliability grades, the Forester is a good SUV for its value After owning it for 2 years with 20,000 miles on it,, I never had an issue with the Forester. It is very reliable. Of all the cars and SUV's I owned before, the Forester is on top of my list
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So nice, I bought 2....
herbstine, 01/22/2018
updated 02/03/2025
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
35 of 38 people found this review helpful
I considered a number of vehicles to replace my wife's car. We finally settled on the Subaru Forester as being the best quality, safety and value vehicle. The comfort and convenience features of the touring model made the choice easy, so much so that I replaced not just my wife's car, but mine as well. Lots of perks for the price. Handles great. Acceleration is good, I found it to be much better than I've read on some reviews (it actually accelerates better than my wife's old Hyundai Sonata). The crash avoidance, lane drift and adaptive cruise control are must haves. Since I do most of my own repair work, I didn't opt for the extended warranty. The cargo cover tends to make a slight metallic rattle on rough roads. Update: Still very happy with my Forester & my wife loves hers. I've had to turn off the Automatic Lane Drift function, as the city road repair services use a shiny asphalt seal to cover cracks and many of the cracks run along the direction of travel making the Lane Drift try to compensate, jerking you back and forth. Not the vehicle's fault, you'd think the road service could use a dull sealer to blend into the road surface, instead of a really shiny one that highlights how heavily cracked the roads are. Update: Still very happy with both Foresters. No maintenance issues. Warranty is just about expired (not for the CVT, it has 100000 mi warranty). The stock tires are showing the wear bars, will need replaced soon. Update: Still very happy with both cars. No malfunctions on either. Replacement tires lowered mpg a bit, but are better touring tires for SUVs than stock. Update. Still happy with both cars. No malfunctions on either. Update. Jan 2021. Still rolling, nothing broken or worn out (besides normal wear out items: tires, wipers). Great little vehicles. Update. Jul 2021. No issues. Still running great. Update. Jul 2022. Both rear wheel bearings had to be replaced. Update Jul 2023. Both vehicles running fine, no issues. Update Jan 2025. Both vehicles running fine. Mine is now over 100000 miles, wife's is 65000.
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Ooh ooh got my first Subaru
Average Joe, 10/11/2017
updated 04/13/2022
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
54 of 60 people found this review helpful
It is three years and 40,000 miles later. I am as pleased with the Forester as I was on day one. It performs as I hoped and expected. I will be keeping this Forester and depending on it for quite a while. It was time for a replacement for my Jetta TDI. Living in New England it is four wheel drive or walk home. I am a retired businessman living on a fixed income so getting the best value is important. I narrowed the search to a Kia Sorento and the Forester. Both were impressive on the test drives with the Forester edging out the win by being tighter and quieter. The layout of the cockpit was better in the Forester and I was able locate and understand marginally better. Once I began driving I became more impressed with all of the aspects of the Forester. It does things for me like; reminding me to stay in my lane, put my brakes on to slow properly, eyes in the back of my head with the camera. It is not going to win a drag race but I can merge into traffic with no problem. Bottom line is, It feels solid and drives the miles in an honest and straightforward way. I am actually looking forward to snow season this year.
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Perfect car but Navigation is not good
Bobby K, 10/26/2017
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
50 of 56 people found this review helpful
For an affordable cost we got a car this is good to great in every category, except navigation. We are used to using a garmin. With that when you are driving and need to stop for lunch, a coffee, gasoline, your passenger just searchs for it on the garmin and then inputs it as an add to the current route. We use it all the time. But with the stock navigation system it locks you out from any changes. I think you can use voice commands but the voice recognition is poor. So my solution is to get a new mount for my iphone or garmin and put it over the expensive nav screen. I used to put the garmin up in the middle of the windshield but you cannot do that with this car because it will interfere with the “eyesight” system. Still a good car but the navigation sucks.
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CVT transmisson not smooth
Dick M, 07/30/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I originally wanted a manual, which was not available in my area, so I got the CVT automatic. The transmission downshifts when encountering the slightest uphill grade and, like most inexpensive automatics, revs too mush before shifting in some circumstances. The "CVT" is not actually a continuously variable transmission, since it shifts to pre-set ratios, rather than true continuously variable ratios.
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Great little SUV With antiquated electronics
Mark Baldwin, 06/19/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
29 of 32 people found this review helpful
I love the car and do not regret the purchase. The Good: Handles and drives as well as a car. Very intuitive controls. Surprisingly spacious back seats. Truly AMAZING visibility, really bucks the trend here! (I drove the Ford Explorer for almost 10K miles and hated it on all those points.) Eyesight is ok, the Adaptive Cruise Control system is a feature I love and will insist on in any future car. Makes driving in traffic so much less tedious. The bad: Climate system's auto mode refuses to blow on the feet. Switch it to also blow on the feet as well as the top and "auto" is disabled. WHY!?!?? The Adaptive Cruise Control system will slam on the brakes unexpectedly if someone makes a right turn in front of you and doesn't have a clearly painted separate lane for right turns. doesn't matter if there's lots of room or not. The UGLY: Radio is clearly an il-conceived leftover from the last century... No Android auto. Takes 30 minutes to re-index a thumb drive every time the car is turned on. Forcibly autoplays something from your phone when the car is turned on if you had bluetooth selected as your audio source last time the car was driven. The "smart" features are generally counter intuitive, provide no value and the "entertainment" system as a whole detracts from the whole ownership experience. Sadly its complicated dash integration makes upgrading very difficult and most likely unsatisfactory from a cosmetic standpoint.
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Traded in my 2009 Cadillac CTS for 2018 Forrester
Brad K., 10/04/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
I owned a 2009 Cadillac CTS. Nice looking car but it hurt my legs, back and neck. A nightmare to run errands in. My son had a 2009 Forrester which I borrowed to drive when I visited on vacation. I fell in love with his Forrester . It had great viability, lots of pickup and tons of room for me and my wife. I traded my Cadillac for a 2018 Forrester. That weekend I drove it out of sate and back for more than 500 miles. On the instant average I got up to 32.8 MPG. I thought the gas gauge was broken but it was not. It uses like 9 gallons of gas. I was shocked. I listened to songs on my iPhone on the radio. I set the climate control and was kept at the perfect temperature. The front seat was large and comfortable. My wife and I could stretch out and be conformable on the trip. I was able to open the front drivers door and jump right out. What a saving on my back. The first time my wife drive we were hit with a large rain down pour. The all wheel drive kept the car planted and gave us both piece of mind in such bad driving conditions. BTW, I purchased the Premium model. Some after thoughts. I think the car needs automatic door locks. I wish I had spent the extra money on the Isight system. Its truly remarkable. I am 60 years old and expect to get many years of service from this great vehicle.
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TRANSMISSION NEEDS WORK
GRANDPA, 04/06/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
47 of 54 people found this review helpful
Just bot a 2018 Forester with cvt transmission. I no more than got it home and the car would cut out 1-2 seconds or more from a stop or slow movement. Apparently this can be a problem with some cvt transmissions. It is dangerous in close traffic or pulling out into oncoming traffic. Took it back to the dealer who told me it takes a while for the car to get used to my driving habits. I cant buy this. Once the car cuts out it starts back up with a sudden jerk forward. This is unacceptable and am considering envoking the lemon law. Also the spedometer is set back under a cover and is hard to read.
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fun to drive
Michael, 04/10/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
Needed an AWD on our hill for the winter, but also needed space for our camping, hiking & biking trips. Lost some space when we sold our minivan for this, but still has plenty of storage. Wish the console was a little bigger-it is deep. Also the console which serves as the elbow rest is short, so really unusuable as an elbow rest if the seat is forward. Very easy to fold down the seats & love the sun/moon roof. Great turning radius but haven't driven it off road yet. Plenty of pickup. Auto climate control is a little tricky to figure out. But overall, felt it is a much better buy & better visibility than a Santa Fe Hyundai, Ford escape, Honda, or chevy equinox. Nissan rogue & even the subaru outback.
"Peaceful Easy Feeling"
RSJ, 04/29/2019
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have about 10,000 miles on my 2018 Forester Premium in the Jasmine Green Metallic color. So far, the Forester has been a great vehicle. It is not exciting, its not the most technologically advanced (other than the Eyesight Safety System which is amazing!) and its not luxurious...but its not meant to be any of those things. Its a solid, safe, easy-to-live-with SUV with a comfortable ride, good gas mileage, decent handling and plenty of space. The thing that stands out about the Forester over its competition is the spacious interior and incredible visibility. Sitting in the Subaru on a warm spring day with the sunroof open is almost like sitting outside...you feel like you can take deep breaths and relax! I test drove the CR-V, Mazda and the Nissan but they don't begin to compare to the open and airy feeling of the Forester. Large windows, panoramic sunroof and almost zero blind-spots make the Forester a nice place to be when you drive. The driving experience is not sporty by any means but the Forester handles well. The CVT is one of the better ones out there but will never have the good feel of a well-tuned traditional automatic transmission but it works for every day driving and unless you spend a lot of time doing jack-rabbit starts and racing other cars, the CVT will serve you just fine around town and on the highway. It has plenty of pep to get up to speed and when passing other cars and never feels under powered. The factory stereo in the Premium model is adequate - won't blow your mind but the sound is good enough for daily use - I'd opt for the upgraded Harman-Kardon system if you have a demanding musical ear. I don't know about long-term reliability yet since I haven't owned it long enough - I have heard some complain that Subaru has lost its edge on reliability but I have family who have Forester's that are 5 or 6 years old and they have not had any major issues and they seem to love them so we will see over time. The Eyesight Safety System is really amazing...the adaptive cruise-control works very well and lessens driver fatigue in a big way on long trips. The emergency braking is something I haven't really seen in action but one time and it saved me from rear-ending someone so that alone was worth it! Blind-spot monitoring works well other than I'd like there to be an audible alert when you are about to change lanes rather than just the warning lights in the side mirrors. Overall, I'd highly recommend the Subaru for those who want a fuss-free, easy driving experience, plenty of space, loads of safety and that "peaceful easy feeling" when you drive!
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Solid
Pashanan, 11/07/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2018 Touring Forester, 50th anniversary edition. I had owned a 2008 Forester sports model in the past and had kept it for 10 years. The older Forester kept me safe in a bad accident, and although I had her repaired at the auto body shop, I wanted some of the newer technology to help me on ever-more crowded roads. I sold the old Forester to a friend. Newer Forester chirps and blinks lights to alert me if car coming up in blind spot or if a car or human is advancing from behind as I pull out in reverse. I love those features. I use them much more than I thought I would. I have yet to use the navigation system. I am used to looking up my destination ahead of time at home and having printed directions. Also, when I learned that new "maps" have to be purchased every three years, I lost interest in trying. Maybe if I am desperately lost somewhere, I will try the GPS system before it expires. I also enjoy the Sirius radio. I listen to the news and have my pick from numerous music or comedy stations. I find the bluetooth system works fine. Driver's seat is comfortable. On the rare occasion when I am riding shotgun, however, I find seat buckle bothers me as I seem to slide left into it. On driver's side, this is never an issue. I was very hesitant at first to buy a car with a leather interior, but it has been very comfortable. I had a brief break-in period where I felt I was sliding too much, but this feeling soon went away. I keep a sunshield in the windshield of the car whenever I park it, and this keeps the interior nice and comfortable, even on very hot summer days. I have yet to try it in colder climes. Another reason why I purchased the 2018 model is because I knew the 2019 Foresters would no longer have the manual emergency brake. I did not want an electronic brake, and am very happy I made the move when I did. I am indifferent about the sunroof. I would be just as happy without it and don't know when I would use it. I have taken it through the car wash several times without any issues. My preference would be not to have it at all but that is not an option unless buying the base model. I have had very good experiences with Subaru and am a diehard fan. I put a seat protector on back seat area and a towel atop that to protect the area from my dogs. Beach and trail outings are a weekly deal. I could easily live without the automatic hatch/trunk door, but that too comes with the package. My motto is keep it simple and you will have less problems, but the safety technology I mentioned earlier is a definite plus and makes me feel much safer on the road. If you are looking for a safe, fun, and practical vehicle, check out the Forester. It is several inches shorter in length than the Outback, and it seems to sit higher. So, I prefer it to the Outback, although we do have an Outback, too. I had also considered buying the 2018 XT Forester turbo, but I find the regular engine suits my needs just fine and has no trouble at altitude or on the freeway. I am very happy with my new Forester.
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GREEN ALL THE WAY
Marilyn Ferguson, 04/05/2019
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
We purchased a Jasmine green metallic Subaru at the Green Dealership in Springfield, Il. I like the large windshield as one can see really well. We purchased the premium Forester. It gives us everything we need. The ride is smooth and quiet. The last three vehicles we have purchased have been Subaru's. The Forester offers everything that a more expensive SUV would offer. I highly recommend it. The controls are very easy to use. At nighttime the mirror keeps other cars from coming up behind and blinding you. The Forester sits up high enough off the ground that you can clear a 6" to 8" snowfall in the wintertime. It has climate control to where you just put the temperature where you want it and it stays that temperature in the summer and wintertime, too. For a couple or one with a couple of kids, this SUV is the perfect pick for going on short or long trips. There is plenty of space in the back seat for passengers. For those looking for an SUV that doesn't break the bank, a nice ride, easy to use controls, etc., the Forester has it all! I have a bad back and it has a comfortable ride. It has all wheel drive and is perfect for those who live in states where one battles the snow, etc. The outside mirrors are heated to melt away snow and ice as well as heated seats if one chooses to warm up quickly.
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Got it in September; got rif of it in December
CBTman, 01/11/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
63 of 75 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2018 Forester 2.5i to replace my 2010 Honda CR-V 2WD. Compared to the CR-V, the entry level Forester 2.5i is just that: an entry level car for college students or young people. The 2018 Forester 2.5i has great acceleration when the CVT does not hesitate or when not changing from Reverse to Drive (you might wait several seconds). As per the dealer, the vibration you feel when stopped at a traffic light is caused by the CVT trying to go. The vehicle has great turning radio when the steering mechanism does not start making growling noises during a close U-turn. Its steering is agile on regulars streets, but it has a mind of its own on the highways. Driving the Forester 2018 on the Interstate or Turnpike is an exhausting and stressing experience. The vehicle's steering is too sensitive and the small steering wheel does not help. The vehicle shakes when a car or SUV passes it on the HW and tries to escape away when a truck does so. Changing lanes on uneven asphalt requires maximum concentration or you may end up crossing the whole lane (it did happen to me). Driving with cross wind on the HW proved to be a very unpleasant experience. I think that it is too high and too narrow to be really stable on the HW. The interior is fine for a short drive, but the padding on the seats is not enough for long trips. The central console has a deep box with a lot of capacity, which has a conventional cigarette lighter socket, the auxiliary audio jack, and a USB jack. It also has a tray for coins and other stuff that mostly gets in the way. The cargo area light is too small and is located too low on the right side to be of any help. In fact, Subaru could have saved some money by not including it at all (keep a flashlight handy). The space under the cargo area floor is great and it comes with plenty of room to accommodate your little things, which prevents them from rolling from side to side while driving. The rear gate does not open all the way up, which leaves it exactly at 5 feet 4.5 inches, and I am 6 feet tall (you guessed it). The vehicle comes with two sets of floor covers (cloth and black plastic), which is also great. The Forester 2018 also comes with rails on the roof, but you need to buy the crossbars to complete the roof rack. In general, I was so disappointed with the vehicle that, after less than 3000 miles, I traded it for a Subaru Outback 2018, even if it cost me a hefty $8000 depreciation. Yes, it was that bad, at least for me.
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Riding off into the sunset
Jim, 01/31/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
21 of 24 people found this review helpful
I test drove several cars and a few trucks including the CRV, Rav4, Tacoma, and Escape. I loved the Forester Premium XT Turbo and ordered one in early January. I love the minor changes including the boxier front end. I have only been driving it for a few weeks but I am more than pleased. I wasn't looking for mind blowing mileage since I ordered the turbo, and am happy averaging 25 MPH with a mixture of city/highway driving. On a recent 400 mile trip I averaged 28 MPG. The comfort is very good and the visibility is outstanding. Subaru has vastly improved the quietness of this vehicle. The leg room is great, even in the backseat. My 5' 10" 250 pound frame fits this SUV very comfortably, and the vehicle is easy to get in & out of. I was never real technical and the backup camera, blue tooth phone capability (downloaded my entire phone list, works great) , and simple GPS system meet my standards. It has starlink (similar to onstar) and Siriusxm radio I am currently using, will evaluate and decide whether to keep them.
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Nothing to Dislike
Allen, 08/11/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
The Turbo makes the car. Its just a plain beast. The visibility of the car is superior. It is extremely quiet. The sunroof is huge. The fit and finish is excellent. Really no equal to Subaru's Symmetrical AWD. Handling is excellent. With conservative driving it yields 30+ mph on the highway and 26 in suburban driving. The infotainment system needs Carplay. V oice commands are not top notch. Just can't say enough about the vehicle. I love the CVT
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A car with longevity!
Aurelio, 02/04/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
Investigate options and incentives being offered, so you won’t be over charged. The Subaru Forester is a great automobile, excellent rating for safety, roomy, versatile, and back seats lay flat for large cargo. My last Subaru Forester lasted fifteen years and I just purchased a 2018 Subaru Forester I expect it to last another fifteen years!
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Forester is Fine!
Denise, 01/10/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
32 of 38 people found this review helpful
Many features have improved from the 2009 to the 2018 Forester, however, one very poor decision was to NOT have a light in the trunk! The rear cargo (Trunk) does not have a light.
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Way Better Than I Could Have Ever Expected
Ryan Ligma, 10/14/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This car is truly amazing, and truly looks and feels refined compared to the earlier iterations of this generation (2014-2016 really). Not sure why people say that the acceleration is slow, I think the acceleration is amazing, especially for a car this size. 0-60 in around 5.7 seconds or so, which is amazing for an SUV. Great fuel economy too, depending on your speed on the highway you can expect anywhere from 32mpg just driving normally, all the way up to 45mpg if you keep it steady and not go too fast (60, maybe even as low as 55mph). So you can really hypermile the thing if you have the time on long car trips. Of course this is only after the break in period once the CVT adjusts to your driving habits. Design on the outside is nice but not overdone or overly exciting. You won't be picking up women in it but it in no way looks bad. Interior design and quality is great, infotainment is sorta dated, has Pandora, Aha, optional XM radio as well as Subaru Starlink which gives you access to a few cool things like Weather, News, parking spots, and a few other things is standard, but no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Doesn't really bother me but I can see how this might be a dealbreaker for more tech oriented drivers. Only real complaint is the front seats during long car rides. Not sure how they screwed this up, but the curve of the seat makes it your tailbone starts to really ache after a few hours of driving. Might just be me because I'm pretty tall, but just a pillow fixes it for me. Best in class visibility, which you really appreciate now that other SUVs are trying to look like sports cars, coupled with responsive steering and a good backup camera and it makes for a surprisingly good car for parallel parking if you do that a lot. Very durable and has 9 inches of ground clearance + renowned Subaru AWD so snow and rain and even a bit of off-roading is no problem at all. Honestly, great car and goes above and beyond for what it sets out to do. Can't recommend enough.
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New and improved
Mario, 02/24/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
17 of 20 people found this review helpful
Our Last Subaru was very good but high maintenance cost after 40 k miles
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Won't let you down
Reggie, 03/23/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
Reliable, great drive, easy handling and no fatigue, a bit punchy initial acceleration and effortless cruising, sure braking, easy getting in and out, great cornering, fantastic on snow and ice- full time dynamic AWD, traction control etc., great on gas (have got 41 on some trips), good cargo through hatch with back seats folded down and roof rack, great visibility but no tinting, uncomfortable in summer. Ok infotainment and electronics, phone pairing lost often, daylight savings does not stick. A bit stiff ride (needed for an SUV). Hood of soft material (aluminium perhaps) dropping acorns put three dents, body panels similarly feel soft. Body seems to have a bit of flexi which adds to its comfort on trails, not an extreme off-roader but enough for the unpaved trails.
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Safety Safety Safety
Love to drive, 07/08/2019
updated 07/19/2021
2018 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I had the Subaru Forest XT Touring for a year now. The car has helped avoid at least 6 accidents that are not my fault. There are cars out there that they said have similar safety features like Subaru, buy they are either optional equipment or they do not offer a full suite. Subaru has improved and refined their safety for many many years, way before their competitions even have any safety features. I would recommend Subaru Forester or Outback to anyone who rates safety as their top priority. After 3 years, I must say I enjoy driving my Subaru more and more. The Turbo engine is the hidden diamond, Subaru is making the wrong decision not to offer this option. It is a joy driving with the turbo engine.
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Outstanding Vehicle
Larry, 09/15/2019
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is my 1st Subaru, and I love it. I have had it two years now, and although I have only driven 6,500 miles to date our Subaru has been 100% trouble-free. Aside from 3 oil changes, this Forrester has had no issues at all. It is very responsive, reliable, and has no blind spots. We also like the ride, handling, braking, and roominess that this Subaru has. Even the air conditioning system is outstanding. The gas mileage is impressive we average 29 mpg. We took the six-speed Manual transmission because it was the last one they had and we got over two thousand off the sticker price. The six-speed was the right choice. It shifts smoothly and has hill-assist, which comes in handy. We love this car. We are in a lease and fully plan on purchasing this one at lease end. Not only would we not find a vehicle with under 8,000 miles which is what we should have on our Forrester at lease end We won't find anything this nice. We plan to add the Subaru care for another seven years of bumper to bumper coverage and keep it. We could not be happier with this Subaru.
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I call her Susie Forester
Idaho Conservative, 10/31/2018
updated 11/01/2023
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I am extremely happy with my 2018 Forester that I affectionately call Susie. I paid $30,100 cash out the door for a 2.5i Premium with CVT. Nicely appointed, great handling, it also came with the X mode and descent control. I am consistently getting about 35 mpg combined on Idaho roads. Zero problems now after 42,000 miles. The warranty on the CVT was extended to 100,000 miles for no charge. I love the heated seats, the mileage, the handling, the fuel economy, and the reliability. I drive Susie easy so I may not represent those that drive their car hard. Nit picks I have is I wish it had a temp gauge instead of the blue light that indicates a cold engine, and I wish it had a heated steering wheel. I have zero problem with the CVT, but I never rabbit start at lights. The drive feel is very solid. The all wheel drive gives the sense of all 4 wheels grabbing the road, which I love. I am happily bonded to Susie. Now 42k miles and about 4 years old: my Forester is still one of the best cars I have ever owned. The mileage has settled in at ~35 mpg, I have had zero problems, the car handles Idaho roads with ease and a sense of control. I have the oil and filter changed and tires rotated every 6 months regardless of mileage. I had the 30k service, they adjusted the brakes, flushed and filled all the fluids, checked the wheel alignment, and even checked the torque on all the bolts of the rear drive axle. I had the engine block heater installed at purchase and plug it in every nite so no cold starts. I highly recommend the engine block heater if the car is driven in an area where temps get in 40’s and lower at nite, the blue light comes off very fast. Everything works, the car is great!
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First Forester Love It
Don V., 09/05/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I suppose there are sleeker sexier candy coated suv's out there however I suspect none as reliable and rock solid as the Subaru Forester. In my book it drives and looks great in town cruising or out on a winding gravel forest service road in the mountains here is Arizona. It has AWD, 18" low profile tires/wheels, chrome in all the right places, and holds the road unbelievably well. Night time visibility with the steering responsive LED headlights is stunning, and all the other included safety features (Lane departure, automatic front/rear braking, blind spot warning, etc. )make for about a safe a ride as one can find. Not having purchased a new car in awhile and needing to get up to speed on all the new technology, the support I've received from the local dealer, Subaru Superstore of Chandler, has been exceptional.
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Safest legal rocket ship I ever drove
Uncle Wolfy, 02/21/2022
updated 08/22/2022
2018 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Had a 2010 Forester Limited and loved the safety and reliability in every weather situation. Just wasn't too happy with the engine and the 4-speed automatic transmission. When our daughter inherited the car, we bought a 2014 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0 with all the bells and whistles. That car was fast and fun and very versatile. Our son inherited it, and we hoped we would find a compact SUV that is as safe and reliable as the Forester and as fast and fun as the Escape. Voila, we found the 2018 turbocharged Forester XT touring. This car is a race car in disguise and absolute fun to drive on the highway or in the city. The 8-speed CVT in sport mode shifts like butter and accelerates almost as fast as a Tesla. This car is a wolf in sheepskin and great value. Now you say, but the Navi is a TomTom and it doesn't have android "whatsoever" or apple "blah blah". Well we don't need these gimmicks, since we actually look outside while we are driving and listen to Sirius XM all the time anyways. This is the best built (made in Japan), safest and sportiest SUV we ever owned or seen on the car market for a reasonable price. For car enthusiasts that love driving, you can't go wrong. If you spend all your time on your cellphone or looking at your infotainment system in your car, you shouldn't be driving in the first place.
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Safety first
Jkmiller, 07/12/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
My 2014 suburu forester just sustained serious damage in a severe accident and I survived after extreme front/side head on collision and was told by emergency personnel “be thankful you were in a suburu”
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Low oil light
Bill Dow, 10/01/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
13 of 16 people found this review helpful
If you purchase the Manuel transmission you need to keep replacement oil in your vehicle. Your vehicle will start running low about halfway between oil changes. Haven’t needed to check my oil this often since the ‘70s. Other than this problem, love the vehicle, great value.
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Buyer beware - can’t navigate with radio on
Joe L, 08/27/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
13 of 16 people found this review helpful
I am unable, in this car, to listen to the radio and receive voice navigation commands through my phone (either Google Maps or Apple Maps. I’ve had the technology to do this for well over 10 years in other cars I’ve owned. It is so basic that I never thought to ask about it before buying. I didn’t think to ask if the lights or brakes worked either(fortunately they do). I can only get voice commands in the Bluetooth setting. I guess the folks at Subaru didn’t think that it’s buyers might ever listen to local radio for weather, traffic, or local news. I guess I’ll have to dig out my 15+ year old Tom-Tom and suction cup it to the window.
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My ultimate unbias review
Dr.Y, 06/18/2020
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
The few years that I've driven this car it gave us ZERO problems mechanically, it was a car that I felt would get me anywhere safely and back without any hiccups. Just very reliable overall and with the added eyesight feature it actually prevented a few "could've" fender bender. A few times the car in front of me suddenly stopped and the pre-collision just took over. I also really liked the adaptive cruise control in traffic. The drive has always been impressive, its always smooth and very responsive with little effort to make turns and dodge potholes. This car had literally the best visibility in every direction. The best of all MPG was amazing, I get about 28mpg in city and 35 in highway With that being said I also had a lot of dissatisfaction with the car. First off, the noise on the road is very loud, you can hear every little piece of the road you are on. I also had problem with cracking noises coming from different areas of the car, it only happens in Hot weather and not cold so I can only assume its structural. Took it to the dealership service under warranty 7 times and couldn't find what was wrong. Its really unsettling to drive with that noise when this car is supposedly able to drive in all conditions. Another problem I had is the tailgate ( I got the manual) it never really close very well. Cloth seats stains very easily even with a drop of water, not very sports Utility. Overall interior material is not very well made, alot of hollow plastic pieces, which made sense because the trunk panel scratch VERY VERY easily with normal items. CVT is not responsive, when you go from N to Drive there is a lag, you can press the gas right away and the RPM would go up but your car won't move until a second later. Overall Its a great vehicle for the price. Great to drive, reliable and good on gas. My lease just finished. I might give Subaru a try again few years from now.
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Great safety features with "Eyesight"
Carl Thormeyer, 01/24/2019
updated 01/27/2020
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This, overall, is a great car with tremendous safety features. However, the climate controls are totally digital and not at all intuitive, and require visual sighting to properly operate which takes your eyes off the road. The entertainment controls are touch-screen and don't always register, again requiring driver distraction to resolve. Other than that, it's great car which blasts through deep snow when necessary. After 18 months, no real change in my impression above. "Eyesight" has saved me many times, but the info-tainment displays and climate controls remain user-hostile!
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Connectivity issues - USB/car lighter ports go bad
Linda G, 10/12/2018
updated 10/20/2021
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
2021 Update: Nearly 4 years in - the car lighter adapter in the dash stopped working early on. Up until a week ago, though, the USB ports in the center console worked but - THAT's no longer the case. I had to buy a 10' charge cord for my phone to utilize the last option, a car lighter adapter in the rear of the vehicle. I'm NOT HAPPY though because without the USB ports, I can no longer listen to my audiobooks via my iPhone. SUBARU. I've talked with other Subaru owners and this is DEFINITELY A WEAK LINK. Fix this damned crap so that I have the hands free accessibility that I paid for! But I still love the rest of my car. Had to take it to 4 stars from 5 though. Cmon Subaru. There are TWO things about Stella that I wish I could change: the USB ports in the console are a pain to access! Second, the talk-to-text (so that's Bluetooth I guess) is not very accurate, so I have pretty much stopped even trying to use it. Other than that - I love my Stella Blue. She has Eyesight, cross-traffic warning (which is awesome when you are backing out of a space in a busy parking lot - humans walking, even small ones, will also trigger her to alert me) and lane departure warning are terrific - am SO GLAD I decided that these safety technologies were a must when I was looking at Foresters. I didn't realize it but her foglights turn on and off as needed to help me see better as the road changes ahead (hills/curves) and this is also an EXCELLENT feature. There is a good amount of cargo space and this was the only AWD SUV which has enough leg/head room to comfortably seat my 6'7" partner in crime. This is my first car with heated seats and I will do my best to never live without this again. My previous car, a Toyota Corolla S, had been rear-ended and my back was hurting after 20 minutes of my 50-minute commute - until I got Stella. The heated lumbar support was HEAVENLY. Sure I wish the bumper-to-bumper warrantee was more than 36 months/36,000 miles but - oh well. Steering/handling is a bit stodgier than my Corolla S but Stella is a considerably larger, heavier vehicle. I have zero complaints though, she moves as I need her to, and the AWD has performed well in heavy rain/snowy conditions. Fuel economy? From 10-20K my average was 33.3 mpg - I'd say my city:highway driving ratio is 40:60, and I am a pretty chill driver, so I may do better with fuel economy than many, but that's better fuel economy than I got with my 2011 Corolla S! Her exterior is very attractive, the Quartz Blue Pearl color gets me SOOOOOO many compliments. The interior is comfy and attractive also. I'll never willingly part with her, but I certainly would recommend others look at Subaru Foresters (but definitely get the Eyesight/adaptive cruise control and other safety features, WELL worth the money).
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Still loving it!
Adrian, 09/26/2018
updated 04/04/2024
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
With the features of this Subaru Forester Touring shining in the northern areas of the country, don’t let that put you off buying one in the south. Safety, company longevity and proven records are just a few of the reasons i went with Subaru. Although somewhat utilitarian in its looks, there is a reason it has stuck with a proven engine and transmission, it works. The same goes for the all wheel drive where Subaru are the masters of their craft. Happy to own and recommend to anyone.Approaching 50,000 miles and still going great. Just changed tires and a bad experience with a dealer but does not take away from the vehicle. Only thing I would add is stay away from dealerships after warranty. I have taken off one star for this reason. Love the vehicle.
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No more Subaru for me!
Alex, 07/17/2020
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I used to like Subaru brand. Thi is my third Subaru. And first two were not bad. But this one is terrible! It is a touring version of 2018 Forester. There are some positives about this car but nothing that would set this car apart comparing to other vehicles of the same class. And as far as cons go, there are plenty! - Interior design. It is ugly! It seems that the information layout on displays was not thought-out at all. Looks like somebody who doesn't have any background in the design cramped whatever information is needed there without any consideration for how it will look and how readable it will be. I'm disgusted every time I have to look at these displays. In general, cheap materials are used and the car doesn't look inviting it looks like a cheap car inside. - Cruise control. Whenever you want to change the speed by a couple of MPH you need to hold the keep the paddle depressed for couple of seconds before it starts changing speed which is very inconvenient, because you have to take your eyes off the road and look at the display all that time. You cannot quickly depress the paddle (like in all other cars). if you do that it changes the speed by 5MPH increments. - Automatic lights. In auto mode, lights are supposed to switch on at night. In my Subaru, they switch on during the daytime when it is sunny outside. I wouldn't notice it but all displays go to the night mode (dimmed) and become too dark for daytime use. - Acceleration is weak. For the price it could be better. - Rear door auto-closing. It doesn't work (it didn't work in my previous Subaru as well). It wouldn't close the door all the way and you have "door open" indicator on. - Handling. It is not inspiring to say at least. Every time I have to drive it I find myself thinking how to avoid it. I didn't drive many other SUVs. I did try Audi Q5 on a long trip and I can say that Audi's handling it just another league, it is not even comparable. - After driving the brand new car for a year and a half I had to repair the suspension, which never happened to me before (and I purchased used and new cars before). I would give this car 3 stars if it was cheaper, but the price of Forester Touring is getting too close to luxury SUVs.
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Top choice in small SUV’s
Tom Farina, 05/19/2019
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Just sit in driver seat a look at the view from every window. You won’t find a better car with this view. No blind spots. Extremely reliable and good gas mileage too make the Forester a good choice. Some say engine is under powered but I don’t intend to drive it at the Indy 500. I can live with it. After 10,000 miles not a single complaint. Carries so much with rear seat down. Even back seat is comfy comfy!
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Unreliable electronics
Angelika Hall, 01/29/2019
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 27 people found this review helpful
We had great hopes for this car, bought it primarily for the safety features. Shortly after purchasing it we noticed random acceleration - RPM would jump to 4000 and above. This happened even when using cruise control without any other cars being in sight. Once during cruise control the car started braking, again, without traffic in sight. At times the running lights would not come on in spite of the 'auto' setting. On 2 occasions the blind spot detector failed to notice full sized trucks coming up behind me, yet it it 'detected' a non-existing vehicle in an empty parking lot. The lift gate closed on my husband's arm on two occasions. When shifting from reverse to drive the car rolls backwards - according to the mechanics the car is designed that way! When turning on the inside air button the AC comes on, even in freezing weather. GPS would freeze frequently. The only way to restart it was to turn off the car. Most phone calls/SMS did not come through. The infotainment system would change radio stations by itself or lock up altogether. None of these issues could be reproduced in the shop. We are in the process of selling it.
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I got a new car!
Mary S., 03/26/2018
updated 03/29/2022
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
My 2018 Subaru Forester is wonderful! They have made improvements since the 2012 model (my last car)--better acceleration, quieter & roomier interior, much smaller blind spot. I still love my Forester after 2+ years. Very dependable. Would buy another Subaru if needed.
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Beware of Forester ignition steering lock
michael d, 10/30/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
The car is fine but we have had numerous problems with the ignition steering lock. When this happens one is unable to turn the key and start the car. You have to twist VERY hard on the steering wheel while you try to turn the key. Our dealer says "the car is working as designed and this is not a problem".
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Great except the sun roof leaks
dawn jones, 10/05/2018
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I've had my Forester a few months. I love everything about it except that I've been told NOT to take through a high pressured car wash as the sunroof leaks. Actually rained in my car. I have pictures of that and damage it did to the cover of the sunroof. I took it in and they didn't get it to leak with a hose. They said the seals were good, that this was COMMON and not to take it through a car wash. I found that a bit odd. Called corporate and they said if they can't duplicate the problem at service they won't fix it. Anyone know a service that has a high pressure car wash? Me either. Not happy.
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2 many costly repairs
Matt G , 03/21/2021
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
bought a 2018 manual trans forester new. had regular maint done as scheduled. have 112k miles on it.so far-spent $1000 on front axle; $2100 on new catalytic converters; $350 on front control arm ; and now have knocking sound in lower engine. save your money and get a Toyota -that what I will be doing. my Toyota has 279k miles without a major repair
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The Blue Pearl
Tim from Portland, 12/30/2017
2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
Stayed with a Subaru. This is our 4th Subie in 15 yers. 1st one retired after 250000 miles. 2nd one (Outback 07)was totaled by a hit and run We lurched this on for all of the safety improvements.
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