2020 Subaru Forester Review

Name: 2020 Subaru Forester
Brand: Subaru

Price Range: $14,471 - $30,990

Subaru Forester Limited 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Good

7.8

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Aside from lackluster acceleration, there isn't much to dislike about the 2020 Subaru Forester. This crossover SUV delivers the feel and rugged attitude that buyers want, along with a comfortable cabin and plenty of features for the price.

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Average price: $23,528

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Appraise My 2020 Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester model years

Subaru Forester for Sale

Pros

Standard all-wheel drive
A full complement of driver assist features is standard
Enhanced off-road capability thanks to better-than-average ground clearance
Generous cargo capacity

Cons

Engine is underpowered
Modest tow rating limits maximum utility

What's new

New lane centering function added to list of standard driving aids
All-Weather package now standard on Premium models
Part of the fifth Forester generation introduced for 2019

Overview

Written by automotive expert Ryan ZumMallen

Updated: 10/8/2019

Subaru introduced the latest generation of its Forester in 2019, and this small crossover SUV returns almost unchanged for 2020. That's good news for adventurous buyers. The Forester delivers on nearly every area that you're likely interested in, including rugged capability along with comfort and technology at a good value. Critically for some shoppers, all-wheel drive is standard.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

134 listings

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Certified 2020 Subaru Forester
Base 4dr SUV
$17,598
good price
$1,922 below market
- 83,616 miles
- 5 Seats, 26 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- 6 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Upgraded Headlights
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Leesburg, VA
CLEAN 1 OWNER CARFAX, APPLE CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO, ALLOY WHEEL PACKAGE, CERTIFIED, STEERING AUDIO CONTROLS, Certified. 2020 Subaru Forester Base AWD Ce...
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
JF2SKADC2LH487397
Stock:
23697A
Certified Pre-Owned:
Yes
Listed since:
08-14-2024
New Listing
2020 Subaru Forester
Premium 4dr SUV
$18,601
good price
$499 below market
- 97,652 miles
- 5 Seats, 26 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- 4 mi away
- Free home delivery*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Sterling, VA
Rare Find,Apple CarPlay,Back-Up Camera,Bluetooth,Brake Assist,Heated Seats,Lane Keeping Assist,Satellite Radio,Sunroof / Moonroof,Sunroof / Moonroof,W...
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
JF2SKAJC0LH428613
Stock:
LH428613P
Certified Pre-Owned:
No

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There's really only one significant downside here: The Forester isn't all that thrilling to drive. The main culprit is the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that's connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It delivers impressive fuel economy but lacks power. Acceleration is sluggish, whether from a stop or pulling ahead of slower cars on the freeway. And unlike a lot of other rival crossovers, a more powerful engine option isn't available.

Still, the Forester has personality. Its styling suggests the Forester will be at home in the mountains, and its features back up that sentiment. It has a higher ground clearance than many competitors, and several driving modes ensure the crossover is ready for different road conditions. Inside the comfortable cabin, there is enough technology, storage space, and driving assistance to keep everyone happy taking the long way home. Overall, we think the Forester is a smart pick for a small SUV.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

7.8

out of 10

We drove the 2020 Subaru Forester on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7/10

How does the Forester drive? A largely gutless engine holds the Forester back. The four-cylinder engine and CVT automatic take their time getting up to speed. The Forester accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a slow 9.3 seconds during Edmunds testing. Its steering, handling and braking, on the other hand, are more respectable. While the Forester isn't sporty, especially not compared to top rivals, it feels planted and changes direction with speed and confidence.

The Forester shines off-road thanks to 8.7 inches of ground clearance and an X-Mode drive setting that includes trail capability and hill descent control. There's much more off-road prowess here than you get in a standard all-wheel-drive crossover.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the Forester? Whether you've got a long daily commute or a refreshing retreat on the horizon, the Forester will keep you riding in comfort. The front seats are well-padded and have good bolstering and lumbar support, and the suspension easily smooths out bumps and ruts in the road.

Road noise is kept to a minimum. The Forester's tall profile does produce some wind noise, but it's a small price to pay for the commanding seat position and great visibility. Climate control knobs are right where they should be and easy to find without taking your eyes off the road. The available automatic climate control works well, and the Forester's higher trims offer heated seats front and rear.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? All controls inside the Forester are clearly labeled and easy to reach. There's no fussing around or overdoing things. The available 8-inch center touchscreen is crisp and simple to navigate. It also supports a crisp display from the rearview camera.

Everything about the Forester seems to have been designed right. Getting in and out is aided by tall doors and an SUV-style ride height. There's enough room for four, and possibly five, seated adults. The driver's seat offers a wide range of adjustments, and the steering wheel has plenty of telescoping range.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? Subaru provides infotainment features that any owner, tech-savvy or not, can appreciate. The dual-screen center layout is attractive and easy to use. The navigation system is clear and even takes voice commands well. If Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are more your flavor, Subaru has you covered by making them standard equipment. Multiple USB ports are in both the front and rear.

We're especially fans of the driving aids included with Subaru Eyesight. The adaptive cruise control system works well and lane keeping assist, now with lane centering, prevents the Forester from drifting out of its lane. Forward collision mitigation is also included and never activated when it wasn't needed in our test.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The Forester is slightly lower in total storage capacity compared with competitors such as the Honda CR-V, but a high roof and clever cargo layout make the space usable for large items. Parents will find the Forester a little disappointing when it comes to installing child safety seats, however. The car seat anchors are buried deep in the rear seats, and fitting large rear-facing seats will be a squeeze.

With just 1,500 pounds of maximum towing capacity, towing is not the Forester's strong suit. It's better to look elsewhere if you're pulling anything substantial.

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the Forester at 29 mpg combined (26 city/33 highway), which is near the top of the class. In testing, however, we found that the weak engine had us pinning the throttle more, which can make real-world fuel economy suffer a bit.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Forester a good value? The Forester comes in five trim levels, giving buyers a lot of options depending on how much they want to spend and how fancy they like their cars. Subaru offers an average warranty for the class, while buyer satisfaction and residual values are historically outstanding for the brand.

Wildcard

7.5/10

Acceleration is the Forester's only notable weak point. While it's a big one, it's certainly not enough to detract from all of the vehicle's standout areas. Everything else, from comfort to technology to driver aids to storage capacity to outdoor adventure credentials, is top-notch. Its upright style and rugged components lend the Forester a unique personality, and standard all-wheel drive with a strong ride height backs it up.

2020 Subaru Forester trim level differences

Five trim levels are available on the 2020 Subaru Forester: base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. All models come standard with all-wheel drive, and the only engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (182 horsepower, 176 lb-ft of torque) mated to a CVT automatic. Compare the 2020 Subaru Forester trim levels in-depth.

Which Forester trim does Edmunds recommend?

If you're looking for an affordable crossover that can head for the outdoors in style while keeping your monthly payments reasonable, try the Forester Premium. Standard equipment includes a few useful extras that you don't get on the base model such as a panoramic sunroof, alloy wheels and raised roof rails, heated front seats, and a windshield wiper de-icer.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$161/mo

$215/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

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Reliability

The 2020 Subaru Forester has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #22 out of 29 among Compact SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average

#22 out of 29 among Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$525/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

1.07x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

15%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Subaru Forester Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.6

134 reviews

5(77%)

4(12%)

3(5%)

2(2%)

1(4%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2020 Forester Features & Specs

Trim:

Base

MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee	$24,495
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$161/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	35.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Forester models:

EyeSight Driver Assist Technology: Helps prevent accidents, with features such as lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and automatic emergency braking.
Reverse Automatic Braking: Helps reduce collisions by applying the brakes if an automobile is detected crossing the Forester's path while it's in reverse.
DriverFocus: Sounds an alert when the head-tracking system detects that the driver is distracted.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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