Used 2019 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
Used Forester for sale
Good concept, poor execution
toeser, 01/22/2020
2019 Subaru Forester Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
We have owned eight Subaru's and will probably buy another someday. However, we bought the absolute top-of-the-line this year and it has been disappointing in its flaws. There is a lot to like about this car, but following are our gripes. Rear door electronic release. This can and has failed. We had the car loaded to the roof the first time it did, and we had to unload everything and then crawl through the car to the back door, and then pry off a small door with a screwdriver to reach a manual release. We had the factory-authorized fix and it has happened again. Bad, bad design. Start-stop system to save gas works only about 50% of the time (even allowing for air conditioning loads, etc.). My ten-year-old golf cart works 100% of the time. EyeSight distracted driver warning. This is useless. It has given warnings when my eyes have been glued to the road. On another occasion, I had my wife hold the steering wheel as I stared out the side window. The warning never went off. You can do better Subaru, particularity for a car this expensive.
My last forester
JJ, 10/20/2019
2019 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
Horrible auto stop/start feature. I was almost rear ended by an inattentive driver at a stop. I drive forest roads to hike a lot. The car reads the tire marks in gravel roads as lane markers and beeps as if I cross lanes. The brakes engage suddenly if the eyesight reads a bird or low hanging branch as an obstacle. I don't feel confident this will be a good thing when it snows. How is the car going to know that there is black ice and slamming on the brakes could be disastrous. I have owned 2 other foresters, and I know feel uncomfortable trusting my car to be safe in hazardous conditions. I'm tired of turning off features I don't want because they came standard and when I turn the car on after stopping they reset to on. Too many features. I'm a minimalist. They placed the cupholders too close to the heated seat switches, AGAIN. Very easy to spill liquid on them. And large cups catch on the cubbyhole lid. The back hatch gate works when it wants to. Now for the positive side. The seats are very comfortable. The ride is great with good stability on cornering and dirt roads. Great cargo space for my 2 large dogs to go with me. The 17in wheels handle well. The climate controls are way better for quick heat/cooling. But I am seriously considering finding another car due to the above problems. Too bad, Forester used to be the perfect ride for my lifestyle.
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2019 Subaru Forester for sale near you
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- Premium 4dr SUVMSRP: $20,375In-stock online
- Sport 4dr SUVMSRP: $20,391In-stock online
- Premium 4dr SUVMSRP: $16,990In-stock online
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A compromise... and many regrets
RLT7020, 04/03/2019
2019 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
52 of 56 people found this review helpful
I regret purchasing the base model... what didn't seem apparent on the test drive is now a major contention for me: no power seat with adjustable pan in the base model. This vehicle just kills my back. I have been in the shop for the rear hatch not closing and catching properly; I've also been in the shop for a bad window channel run that pinched the glass and never allowed the window to roll fully up - boy, that was a treat trying to convince the window regulator to roll up my window on a wet day. Waited six weeks for the part. The fuel range is completely off ... there is an issue in the software with the OBK and another Subaru product; I hope the fuel range software recall soon extends to the Forester because it is completely inaccurate and unreliable. The good side to this vehicle is that it's tighter than previous Foresters; the CVT seems better tuned, but the drone still exists. Rear doors swing wide for easy entry/egress for elderly ones, and I love that I can carry just about anything. I also have the strange belief in being able to sleep horizontally, fully stretched in any vehicle I own (I'm 5'10") and it's just another box to check with the Forester. Eyesight is what it is... annoying bells I've turned off, and sometimes the fight for the steering wheel is scary in situations where lane construction means a very narrow passage... but otherwise, the Eyesight system is worth its weight in gold in touch-and-go, congested traffic - no more stress. All in all, this vehicle is a compromise. It's a 2019 and I'm already shopping to get out of this thing... after four Subarus, I believe this is my last one... time to go back to a normal transmission, and a more refined driving experience.
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Jack of all trades! Impossible not to love!
Laurie Jean, 03/07/2019
2019 Subaru Forester Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
80 of 87 people found this review helpful
Nothing I can truly hate. I'll start with my gripes - as it may be an immediate dis-qualifier for some. IT DOES NOT have true built in GPS. Not on the Sport trim. The only GPS you are going to get here is either by syncing the car to your phone via Starlink and using the Magellan app within it or by using Apple Car Play (or Android if that's your thing - eew!). Both of those options will be using your phone carriers data. The Magellan app within Starlink is about the most atrocious navigation I have ever used in my life. It is slow, it is loaded with glitches and is down right ancient in operations compared to others on the market - but it works. However, the Apple Car Play is absolutely seamless. It becomes a mirror display of your phone to include Siri who then takes over your cars Bluetooth and makes the car her own. Just say "Hey Siri" and anything is possible. Okay. Not anything - but close. The second gripe would be that IT DOES NOT come with a towing package. That is only allotted on the two trim levels above it. Even though when you build the car on Subaru's website - they offer the option of adding a "trailer hitch cap" so one thinks there is a trailer hitch already on it. Secondly, one cannot add the hitch in the build options on Subaru's website so therefor it convinces the buyer that again, it comes with a trailer hitch. It doesn't. If you want one - you will be buying one separately and paying to have it installed. You're welcome for those two "off the get go" Debbie Downers. Moving forward to the Goodie Gumdrops of this car. My review comes from choosing a fully loaded Sport trim to include literally everything possible (all but the two previous things...as I couldn't). This car comes equipped with enough technology to satisfy the biggest nerd. The Harmon Kardon upgrade is worth it if you are a music fanatic like me. I LOVE the KH upgrade. If anyone tries telling you the Rockford Fosgate is just as good - they are lying. The HK upgrade is crisp, harmonic and thumps evenly throughout the car with it's built in tweeters and subs. It's worth the price. Plus the upgrade includes a larger screen and other fun things like the most out of the EyeSight features. Speaking of those - they are wonderful and perform flawlessly. And they can each be turned off. Which is nice for when you want to get out of the "driving a spaceship vibe" and actually drive your car. The back up camera and the RAB feature is wonderful - picks up things I honestly haven't seen even after looking. Like a child rushing out of store just today as I checked things were clear, backed up and the child ran out of the store from his mother. The car saw him, I didnt. I was far enough away that an accident wasnt going to happen but to know the car was capable of picking that up - awesome. It also picks up very well at night for when the reverse lights just dont provide quite enough light sometimes. The EyeSight system on the interstate is single handedly the most luxurious without being obnoxious like some of it's competitors - like the lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control. Everything can be fine tuned as well. You can turn the chime volumes down or you can once again simply turn the features off. The Automatic Start/Stop has already saved me 0.25 gallon of gas in a matter of a single tank. Sure - it can sometimes feel a bit weird but it too can be turned off. The interior surfaces of the car are both aesthetically and physically appealing. Streamlined and soft to touch. The automatic dimming mirror with a compass has certainly saved my eyes while driving at night. I didnt think I would care until I turned that feature off and was immediately blinded by the vehicle behind me. The headlights are bright and the light is diffused evenly where you need it. The brights will also dim automatically if option is selected. Cargo space inside is more than adequate. No doubt I will be able to cram luggage, camping, fishing & photography gear, coolers and dogs in the back without concerns. Easily put a kayak or bike or two on the roof racks if needed. Rear seats are just as comfortable as the front and they recline giving those tall folks in our lives plenty of space and comfort (or your dogs). The climate control certainly makes it's way to the back as well. The sunroof is huge without cause that flapping noise when open. The exterior approach LED's save you from stepping in mess and getting into your car. The keyless concept is awesome. The automatic trunk is handy when your arms are full. I'm your M-F city slicker who is the avid outdoors person come the weekend. This car more than covers both & more of my needs without a single sacrifice other than true 4x4 and a truck bed. But - you're not buying a truck. You're buying a Subaru and they dont have a truck to buy so just get the Sport. A overly happy medium in the forester lineup! Dont forget the all-weather flooring and seat back protection. Thank me later.
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I don't actually have one complaint
Alex, 04/01/2019
2019 Subaru Forester Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
41 of 44 people found this review helpful
All the slight, or unimportant questions I had, already had answers. Everything has a place in the car, and everything works. The cargo is amazing, the features feel incredible. I love eyesight, I love car play, I love the feedback of the vehicle in the info dash, I love the reverse camera and power tailgate. I can't see myself not driving this car. I've heard people say that a fair trade off is the lack of power. I can't argue that it might not tow as much as a dedicated truck. But it terms of acceleration I think it's got everything it needs. I'm coming from a smaller two door sports car, and I really don't miss much. Especially over the fact that it's an SUV with 29 combined miles per gallon. It's a killer and I love it.
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