2024 Subaru Forester review
Subaru Forester highlights
Customer rating
(not yet rated)
Pros
- Good off-road capability
- Standard driver-assist features
- Spacious cargo area
Cons
- Slow acceleration
- Basic base model
Mileage (EPA estimate)
25 city, 28 highway, 26 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
The 2024 Subaru Forester is an off-road-capable compact crossover with seating for five
The Forester is Subaru’s entry in the competitive five-passenger compact crossover SUV market. Fitting in between the subcompact Crosstrek and the larger midsize Outback, the Forester has been around since the late 1990s. Like the other SUVs in the Subaru lineup, the Forester comes standard with all-wheel drive as well as the latest advanced driver-assist features included in the brand’s EyeSight® system. The Forester comes into the 2024 model year with minimal changes in anticipation of an all-new version arriving for 2025.
Subaru offers the Forester in trims that range from a basic base model to the well-equipped, top-of-the-line Touring. While all Forester variants can handle off-road ventures, the Wilderness gets a higher ground clearance, off-road tires, and bolder styling cues. As one of the most popular SUVs in America, the Forester holds its own against strong competitors like the Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-50, and Honda CR-V.
All Subaru Forester years
5 reasons to buy the 2024 Subaru Forester
What We Like
Driver aids: All Subaru Foresters come standard with the brand’s EyeSight driver-assist systems. Highlights of this camera-based system include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert.
Interior: The Subaru Forester’s cabin is well laid out and its intuitive controls are within easy reach of the driver. With a dual-screen center layout, the Forester’s infotainment system is clear and easy to use. The GPS navigation system works well with good voice interaction, and Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ phone integration is standard.
Comfort: With tall doors and SUV-style ride height, the Forester is easy to get in and out of. There’s good legroom and headroom in front and back to handle up to five passengers. The front seats offer nice padding with good bolstering support as well as multiple adjustments. The ride is smooth and comfortable, with minimal road and wind noise.
What Needs Improvement
Performance: With good ground clearance and responsive steering, the Forester performs well in off-road settings, but its 182-horsepower four-cylinder engine, teamed with the continuously variable transmission, doesn’t offer much acceleration. In Edmunds’ testing, the Forester took 9.3 seconds to reach 60 mph, making it one of the slowest in its class.
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Ratings & reliability
Customer ratings
The 2024 Subaru Forester is not yet rated. Help future customers learn about a car you've owned and write a review.
RepairPal gave the Subaru Forester an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Subaru Forester 22nd out of 29 among Compact SUVs.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Subaru Forester is $525, compared to an average of $473 for Compact SUVs and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Subaru Forester owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 1.1 times per year, compared to an average of 1.0 times for Compact SUVs and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 15% for the Subaru Forester, compared to an average of 13% for Compact SUVs and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Subaru Forester features and specs
Limited 4WD/AWD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- 4WD/AWD
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automated Cruise Control
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- CD Audio
- Front Seat Heaters
- Lane Departure Warning
- Leather Seats
- Overhead Airbags
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Remote Start
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Traction Control
- Full Roof Rack
- Harman Kardon Sound
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Navigation System
- Parking Sensors
- Rockford Fosgate Sound
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
All Wheel Drive (4WD/AWD)
Engine size
2.5L
Horsepower
182
Torque (ft-lbs)
176
Engine type
Gas
Fuel capacity
16.6
Wheelbase
105.1"
Overall length
182.7"
Width
71.5"
Height
68.1"
Leg room
F 43.3"/R 39.4"
Head room
F 40.2"/R 37.6"
Front tires
P225/55HR18
Rear tires
P225/55HR18
Seating capacity
5
Max towing capacity
150/1500 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2024 Subaru Forester FAQ
The 2024 Subaru Forester is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- Limited : 26 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway
- Sport : 26 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway
- Wilderness : 25 MPG City and 28 MPG Highway
- Touring : 26 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway
- Base : 26 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway
- Premium : 26 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway
The Subaru Forester received a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks the Subaru Forester as 21 out of 29 among Compact SUV
The 2024 Subaru Forester has a maximum towing capacity of between 1500 and 3000 pounds, when properly equipped. Various factors may impact towing capacity, including weight of passengers, cargo, and options/accessories.
Here is what's new for the 2024 Subaru Forester:
- Remote Start
- Harman Kardon Sound
- Rockford Fosgate Sound
- Bluetooth Technology
- CD Audio
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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