Used 2021 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
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Better Than I Expected
SealsForChristTrucker, 11/22/2020
2021 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
48 of 51 people found this review helpful
We purchased this car to replace our 2007 Edge. Was not sure if we were going to like it since it was not as heavy. But after driving it, we Love it. It is almost the same size as the Edge and has much better visibility. It has plenty of pep with the Boxer 4 cylinder and do not have to deal with a turbo. I like to do my own oil changes and this car has the oil filter sitting right up on top in the front with the threads down...so easy and no mess. The transmission is sealed so I do not have to deal with the fluid. We got the base model with a couple of upgrades....roof rack and 17 in alloy wheels. There is still plenty of neat things on it without spending the extra money....unless you want them, which we did not. All in all, the more I drive this car the more I like it.
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1st Subaru after 21 years of Honda products
Mike, 03/02/2021
updated 01/18/2022
2021 Subaru Forester Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
87 of 94 people found this review helpful
Picked up my 2021 Forester Touring on Saturday and wish I had looked at Subaru years ago. A much better product than Honda. Solid in every aspect - my prior 2019 CRV was all over the road in bad weather (snow, rain and wind). Made the switch to go back to AWD and it is like night and day. IMHO there is plenty of acceleration to get on and pass on the highway (was worried when reading reviews) but it has plenty of get up and go! Comfortable and a pleasure to drive - went out on Sunday and drove over 150 miles and didn't realize it - did not want to get out of the car. The only complaint - and it is MINOR - is the placement of the lap seat belt attachment. Different placement and size compared to the Honda, but everything else is top of the line. Lots of tech (if you want to use it). As a long term Honda owner (owning the Pilot, CRV, Element and Odyssey) the Forester is hands down the best vehicle I have owned.
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2021 Subaru Forester for sale near you
3 of 39 listings
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $19,025In-stock online
- Premium 4dr SUVMSRP: $17,799In-stock online
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $17,747In-stock online
See all 39 listings
Great car that got better!
Joe of Delaware, 12/21/2020
2021 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
67 of 73 people found this review helpful
Traded in our 2016 Forester for the 2021 model and couldn’t be happier. Both models were the Premium line and there is so much more included in the 2021 over the 2016 that it is amazing. The ride is superior and so is the road noise (much quieter that is). Instrumentation and comfort is also much improved. So far couldn’t be happier. One thing to note is that because they put more into the car, you now have to purchase the cargo rails separately, but at $200 it was not the end of the world either.
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Great vehicle
Marion , 12/24/2020
2021 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
31 of 33 people found this review helpful
So far this vehicle has proven to be every thing I read about it and even better on gas. A lot of electronics to learn, but nothing that really effects driving it. Great sound system. Subaru is one of the last cars to offer a cd player, which is part of why I bought it.
Lovely
Anoniemoose, 03/20/2021
2021 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
58 of 64 people found this review helpful
I'm a 6'2" man with an unusually long torso. Most new vehicles come with standard moon roof, and no height control in the passenger seat. This means I do not fit in most new vehicles without special orders. Some of the only vehicles I fit comfortably in, with the trim levels I want, are the Forester (taller headroom) and Outback (standard option to delete moon roof). Luckily I love these cars. I have a 2021 Forester Premium with the power lift gate package, which adds rear cross traffic alert. The safety is fantastic. Subaru's adaptive cruise control can follow start and stop traffic, or intelligently slow down if the car ahead slows. It can also automatically steer and change lanes, although the system requires a good amount of input. It cannot follow hard corners for instance. Android Auto means I can use my phone's Google Maps for navigation. The tech is quite good even on less-than-loaded models. Overall I think the Premium pack with power lift gate is open of the better options on the market. It has buttons! I hate the Tesla style over reliance on touchscreens. They get dirty, and they're dangerous to use while driving. The Forester Premium has all the right controls (volume, climate) on physical buttons. Once you commit those controls to muscle memory it's a superior experience. The engine rocks. Reviewers complain that the engine is smaller in class, while praising best in class fuel efficiency. The two are related. The Forester has similar EPA gas mileage to my old Civic (!), and feels if anything faster. It corners like a dream. My wife is not a performance driver and she is still commenting on the lack of body roll. The Forester comes standard with a CVT which maximizes fuel efficiency. Drivers used to harsh manual transmissions often feel CVTs are weaker because they don't jerk as much. Think of the Subaru boxer engine more like a luxury experience - the power delivery is immediately and smooth at all speeds. I spend 1/3 the amount on gas that my family spend for their Land Cruiser, yet this thing can probably race my old Civic, with similar gas mileage. It's insane. It is also a Subaru in all the right ways. Tons of storage. I packed for 2 people for a week going cross country, and barely even used the back seat. We arrived at a muddy back road and engaged the X-Mode just for fun. The vehicle had zero issues and I arrived with more energy thanks to the excellent safety features and adaptive cruise control. Equally capable rock climbing as at highway speed. Complaints? The ride is quite stiff. It feels fine on the highway, but over poorly maintained city streets where truckers have built up brake zone ruts it's like a roller coaster. The infotainment system could be faster and integrate more seamlessly with Android Auto. When I plug in my phone I want Google Maps - make it happen. The steering assist is a bit annoying. It requires such constant input that I don't feel I'm gaining much. However, up models (especially on the Outback) have even more advanced navigation that likely makes this better. The stop-start cruise control with engine cutoff for efficiency is still a winner, it's just not a Tesla autopilot. Storage could be better. The cup holders are far back to put the X-Mode button on display, and the console has fairly small bins, so you're often hunting for a spot to put things. It's not terrible, but you get the feeling if they relocated the X-Mode button you could gain the storage you need. Rear headroom is poor with the moon roof, so rear comfort is a bit of a budget experience compared to the front. Interior is worlds better than the last generation Subaru, but they still need a design expert to to get rid of those last vestiges of awful cheap plastic where your hands go (especially around the door handle, and around the shifter, for me personally). Overall. Zero issues after a six-hour trip into mountains and dirt roads and mud. Dealership experience was ideal. Fuel consumption is beautiful. Subaru cruise control means you arrive at your destination fresher. Covid financing and warranty options mean I'll be seeing my dealer if anything happens, and right now that seems wonderful. This car makes me and my wife happy. We literally drove it from the lot to a bike shop. Subaru lifestyle is real.
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