Subaru Forester

"accelerates well, handling is good. Its a small auto that does drive as good or better than other cars this size I have owned"

"Good acceleration, turbo engine"

"I wanted reasonable handling and a tight turning radius. Forester delivered."

"The Forester is not fast, but it handles well. The all-wheel-drive does great in the snow and ice and also off road. We drive it on the beach (4WD only areas) with no problems whatsoever."

"My Forrester drives and handles very well in winter conditions. Ice and snow do not present an obsticle."

"Good acceleration and handed well."

"Adequate, is a good single word description of how the 2010 Subaru drives. Acceleration is not the best in class, but that’s not why I purchased the car. Ask me how it drives in snow, I’ll tell you, great."

"Fun to drive, handles like a sports car, good acceleration for a 4 cylinder"

"The Forester hugs the road better than any other car I've ever driven. It also gives me a better view of the road in all directions than any other car I've ever driven."

"Adequate power, good tracking and traction in winter weather and a true 32.5 mph over almost 60000 miles."

"Great around town, but could use more power on the highway when fully loaded with and gear."

"This is the XT model - really great power and acceleration. Handles beautifully in town."

"Acceleration could be better. I have manual so it's not to bad but a little more pickup would be a welcome change"

"Under powered struggles in hill climb or with four people."

"Very poor gas mileage, suspect manufacturer published deceiving data"

"Handles well."

"The basic 4-cylinder engine develops reasonable power, but is coupled to a badly outdated 4-speed automatic. I drive in manumatic mode almost exclusively to better manage power through gear selection."

"Great in a upturn. Good acceleration always feels stable"

"The ride is rougher than I would expect. I understand the newer models are better."

"good acceleration---responsive steering"

"After doing all the research, I decided this would be my first attempt at owning an imported vehicle and I was very disappointed. My much older entry level North American sedan had many features I took for granted which the Forester does not have and I now miss very much. Something as simple as automatic headlights. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to have to remember to turn on and off my headlights when it should be automatic. The Forester is severely underpowered and under load, you won..."

"Handling is very good. All wheel drive is a great advantage in bad weather."

"In general, very comfortable. Though not a luxury car, it was my "luxury" ride when I first bought it-- now it's the family car. Only dissatisfaction is that engine feels weak when needing to accelerate or maneuver."

"It drivers fine, acceleration could be better but the handling is fine too."

"Easy to drive. Acceleration and braking are really good, with a quick response. The view out of all windows is Excellent!"

"This car, with the turbo engine, will surprise you with how much power it has!"

"I have the turbo and the acceleration is great. Handles very well around curves and in bad weather."

"handling"

"There is nothing bad about this vehicle. It just does all the basics very well and it quite roomy. Visibility is superior and the cargo area is large for a vehicle of this size."

"I find the acceleration a bit touchy. It moves quickly."

"Hard to see parking space and head straight ii space."

"Full-time AWD system provides confident handling in bad driving conditions and exhilarating handling on curvy roads"

"Sometimes does not accelerate quickly enough"

"Good cornering; good acceleration"

"Handles well, Acceleration not so good at speed."

"No particular problems or concerns with this vehicle as regards to it's driving. It does sit in our FL garage for 5 months while we are up in Delaware during the summer. It is sometimes a little sluggish when we initially return."

"It's a peppy car that responds well in all types of weather situations. I feel safe in it."

"This car is comfortable and drives well in rain, dry, snow and ice. It is very responsive at acceleration and maneuvering. Very trustworthy vehicle."

"My Forester has excellent handling and acceleration. The steering works great and even though it is a small SUV, it is very stable."

"Handles very well in ice and snow."

"Great in snow"

"It's a 4 cylinder engine so the pick up/acceleration leave a lot to be desired. Handling is fine"

"Gets thru any weather w no problems. This is snow country and this car handles blizzards w ease. Pep to pass is aok."

"Acceleration is not very good. Handling is pretty good though."

"Very adequate handling and acceleration for an SUV."

"Good AWD system."

"The Subaru handles very well - great stability."

"Since the manual transmission model was not available with a turbo, our car lacked acceleration."

"The acceleration of the car is weak but steady. I like the way the car handles. The turning radius is terrific."

"The car handles very well, and accelerates nicely"

"Routing handing and acceleration are OK. When pushed, the non-turbo is a little noisy and road bumps are pronounced."

"Handling is excellent on wet, snowy and icy surfaces."

"Very disappoining acceleration. Manual transmission is the worst of any car that I have owned."

"I'm very pleased with both acceleration and handling. The car is remarkably nimble and can squeeze right into a tight parking spot. It accelerates very quickly from a stop. Shifting is fairly smooth with the automatic."

"Surprisingly good acceleration and handling, when considering the fact that this is not a performance-type vehicle."

"not great handling or acceleration"

"Car handles deftly and the turning radius is wonderful. I can do a u-turn on a dime."

"Handles well in any driving condition. Feels solid."

"Great in snow ,blog acceleration"

"I travel dirt roads and I am impressed by how it handles on loose surfaces. I also do considerable winter driving and it is excellent in snow. I backed off the road while turning. Only the right rear and front left wheel were on the ground. I took off the traction control and simply drove out."

"acceleration is ok but not good handles like a truck which it is."

"good acceleration, good handling"

"I feel so comfortable driving in heavy rain and snow. There's no better feeling than to have confidence in your vehicle."

"It handles very well. Took me a little time to get use to it but after a few miles it would be hard to go back to another type od car."

"Manual transmission provides great acceleration. Handling is good, so as breaking."

"Handles like a dream. Great acceleration and the AWD and suspension keeps the tires on the ground and moving. Have yet to get stuck in the snow with this car."

"Good acceleration; excellent handling."

"It handles real well in the snow. That has me loving all wheel drive. That is one thing I will look for in a new car."

"Food in ice and snow nd also soft sand. 4 wheel drive is nice"

"The boost option makes for excellent acceleration especially in passing, even at 70mph. I love the short turn radius. Very stable, even on sharp curves."

"Feels like diving a car, great handling."

"I like the all wheel drive"

"Acceleration is weak and it is difficult to pass another vehicle on a lane highway. But my previous car was a Mercedes, which had much better acceleration and handling!"

"The Forester drives very nicely except unusually rough roads. The seating position and dashboard layout are excellent. Excelleration fo merging is just okay, but this has been corrected with engine and transmission improvements. The car handles very well except for unanticipated maneuvers."

"Great acceleration with the turbo engine, although with considerable hesitation from a stop. The car requires constant correction while at speed."

"A bit slow to accelerate. Excellent maneuvering. Turns on a dime."

"When I need to accelerate suddenly it has a distinct hesitation. I like instant response."

"This is the BEST vehicle I have ever driven in snowy winter conditions and I am a skier who drives in snow every winter, including driving rental cars when I travel out of state to ski."

"Handles really well, especially in snow and I am not worried about getting stuck in bad weather. I have a 5-speed and acceleration is not great especially with AC running."

"Acceleration is okay, but handling could be better. This is due to the Forester using the Impreza chassis while being taller than an Impreza, thus more leaning on curves, and it catches side wind more than I'd like."

"Handles well in snow. I haven't had any unexpected problems while driving."

"Drives like a sedan—handles easily, responds quickly, smooth braking and good acceleration."

"The handling/feel of this car makes me feel more secure than other cars I've driven."

"It drives very well, a nice stable, easy to handle car."

"I have always enjoyed the power that my Forrester turbo offered."

"Acceleration of the XT is very good. The four-speed automatic is an anachronism, but it works well with the turbo engine. There is nothing outstanding, either positive or negative, about the handling. It does handle rough gravel roads pretty well."

"Zippy car, drives well, maneuvers well in traffic."

"It feels good to drive. The turning radius is great and overall, the handling is what I'd expect."

"Handles extremely well, acceleration is very good."

"Poor acceleration"

"Great pickup when accelerating; drives curves and hugs the road with grace; comfort from driver's seat increases satisfaction; visibility is excellent - a plus+ when driving."

"Handling"

"Handles easily. Moderate acceleration."

"When I'm in "stop and go traffic" or slow traffic, and when I accelerate the transmission bogs down, then I have to let off the gas to let it slow down completely and accelerate again. It feels like it doesn't want to change gears. This has occurred from the very beginning of ownership. Have had the service department check it, but they say they can't duplicate the problem. When I had it serviced just before 60000 miles they said they felt something mild, but couldn't duplicate what I describe"

"Drives great."

"I still have trouble slowing down, stopping, and taking off, in snow, even with AsymAWD - guess I haven't how to actually use it yet."

"We have manual steering, which we feel gives us the best control over the vehicle, the most "pep" (when we test-drove a similar Subaru with automatic steering, it seemed really sluggish), the best capabilities in snow, etc."

"Boxer engine works very well with adequate acceleration. All wheel drive works extremely well."

"It doesn't have as much accelerating power on hills as our 2007 Forester. Not an enormous difference, but I have to down shift into 3rd gear in the 2010 Forester on hills that the 2007 can take in 4th gear. But both cars are great!"

"Handles like a small car, very steady in curves. Manual transmission enhances this experience."

"The simple controls and predictable handling (particularly in snow) due to the mechanical simplicity of a manual transmission and mechanically clutched center differential is REFRESHINGLY reassuring because the driver understands exactly what the car will do when confronted with unpredictable circumstances. No clicking, groaning and lurching as electronic systems intervene as they do in fully electronic systems is actually soothing when the conditions become treacherous. I do wish there were a"

"I love the quickness and handling. I drive gravel and dirt roads routinely for work and never experience traction issues. The single negative is that it takes along time to downshift when trying to pass on the highway. I've found myself concerned that I was going to be rear-ended at times because the car kept grinding along in overdrive rather than downshifting and accelerating. When I remember to do so, I shift to Sport mode and manually downshift to prevent this problem."

"Brake pedal must be pressed all the way to floor and does not react quickly enough. I have resorted to downshifting to slow car. Car engine revs when cold when starting. I have to sit in driveway for several minutes till engine settles down."

"Acceleration is not as good (5-speed manual) as compared with a newer auto-transmission model I drove as a rental but it cruises fine at highway speeds. Handling is great in winter weather."

"The turbo engine has great acceleration, at the expense of gas mileage"

"We have driven a number iof SUV's over the years including Jeep Grand Cherikee and Toyota 4Runner and there is nothing at any price better on icy roads than the Subaru. Other larger vehicles with higher road clearances can go through deeper snow but nothing holds when it's slippery like this. When buying vehicles we have looked for info on winter driving performance in your tests but have never found any. Please consider adding this. Winter driving is a major concern for at least the northe"

"Handles well . Since its four cylinders, we need to accelerate more on the highway"

"GOOD HANDLING"

"Turbo offers great acceleration when needed. I am very happy I paid extra for the feature over the standard "PZEV" engine. Completely trouble-free to this point."

"My Forester has the turbo option which makes it fun to drive and surprisingly quick. My disappointment with the car is with regard to fuel mileage. The vehicle requires premium fuel but only returns about 24 mpg on the highway due primarily to it's four speed automatic transmission and relatively high final drive ratio."

"I love the handling and all-wheel drive."

"Can hardly get out of its own way - for a lite vehicle and a reasonable engine it's got very little get up and go"

"While this vehicle doesn't shine in any area normally considered "performance," it's an absolute champ when it comes to driving in snow. It will accelerate uphill on unbroken snow six inches deep. It's at least as sure-footed as the BMW X-drive I once had. This is vital to us, as we live in a very hilly/mountainous area."

"Acceleration is great handling too, except. It is not really an SUV. Cracked a PS line on a speedbump my prior Xterra would have laughed at. Subaru took care of it under warranty."

"Underpowered. Slow acceleration at low rpm"

"It feels underpowered. I wish I had gotten the bigger engine."

"This vehicle has a 4-speed automatic transmission which does not efficiently use the available 170 hp. A 5 or 6 speed automatic, or a CVT would provide better acceleration. Handling is acceptable for this type of vehicle."

"Back in 2000 (when we bought our first Forester), we had narrowed the options to Honda CRV and the Forester. A test drive on the local freeway by my wife lead to an easy decision to buy the Forester. I too was surprised by the zipiness and punch on the road. We test drove no others in 2010 when buying the new Forester. It performs nicely for me, and I'm accustomed to driving a BMW for my personal car."

"Acceleration is slow. Would like to have more controls on steering column handles, rather than have to reach for the dashboard."

"Great in winter driving"

"The Subaru Forester lacks sufficient acceleration to merge safely onto the highway. It is not very comfortable particularly on long trips. It is disappointing that the mileage is so poor considering the lack of power and pickup."

"Four-wheel drive and handling associated with it work very well. Would have preferred better acceleration."

"The visibility to the sides and back is excellent I can easily see any cars near me while driving and especially when I make lane changes. Makes driving safer and less stressful"

"I wish they offered a larger engine for this. The car accelerates very slowly."

"This replaced an outback, and the cornering of this car is much better than the outback."

"Excellent handling, feels very safe ."

"Small engine has a lot of power and acceleration for non-turbo model. Excellent maneuverability for size and powertrain. Out does everything similar."

"I am short and elderly. The Forester is too large for me. I feel like I am driving a tank. I have trouble seeing the road and trouble with parking. We selected the vehicle because it was relatively easy for me to get in and out of. Should have considered more fully."

"This is a great car as far as dependability and cruising along. What the car lacks is some oomph on acceleration, there's enough power to get up hills but trying to get up the hill and merge onto a highway is difficult. The little box engine only has so much to give. I'd probably go for the turbo model next time."

"The acceleration has always been horrible. Even with the pedal to the floor, it hesitates for a LONG time before accelerating, which has caused some very close calls. This is a HUGE problem with this car and the dealer says its "Normal"."

"Excellent acceleration even when I have it on cruise control and have to climb a hill. The handling is solid and reliable. I owned a Jeep before this and was worried about rain and winter driving with a car - it has surpassed my expectations in this area. I feel safe driving this car. I now see why people LOVE their Subarus!"

"Love the handling and excellent vision in windows"

"The Subaru Forester I own is turbocharged. It has an 2.5L engine and DOES NOT have a CVT transmission.Its torque and acceleration is par excellent. Unfortunately, the new Foresters with the 2.0 liter engine with the CVT transmission have ruined the automobile. It has much less torque and is awfully noisy at 4,500 RPMS."

"Slow when loaded and noisy."

"With only four gears, uphill acceleration is not very good. Otherwise, the vehicle has been very reliable."

"It has the best visibility of any car I've ever driven. Amazing visibility"

"At highway speed it shifts up and down - often - with the slightest grade. Annoying!"

"Because of the 4 cylinder engine, attempting to pass another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a bit dicey, as acceleration is just not very strong."

"more acceleration when passing other vehicles at 65 mph. Have gotten into about five tight spots where more acceleration would have really helped."

"It is wonderful for long trips (over 1500 miles but I have the smaller engine and sometimes acceleration is less robust than I would like."

"Seat comfort is OK- just a little better than "basic". Also, you only have power controls on the driver's seat, the passenger side is all manual."

"Passenger seat is too low like sitting on the floor."

"Seats are not comfortable and give me and other drivers a sore back after a few hour of driving on long trips."

"It's noisy on the highway - hard to hear radio, front passenger seat sits too low and not adjustable - I do like the lumbar adjustment on drivers seat and wish I had on front passenger seat , back seat spacious and comfortable"

"It is a comfortable ride."

"Interior noise is is loud."

"Seats aren't very comfy for longer trips, and the noise level is VERY high, even higher than my Ridgeline."

"Very comfortable seating, good noise control, both better than my Impreza."

"The leather interior is nice, but i find the passenger front seat to be awkward to sit in and, it sits too low in the vehicle and has minimal adjustment points to make yourself more comfortable"

"The seats are very low and wore out very quickly. The passenger seat is uncomfortable. The driver's seat was uncomfortable even when new. The vehicle rides like a little truck. Excellent power and towing. Excellent in all driving conditions."

"The passenger seat is significantly lower than the drivers seat so seeing outside is severely limited."

"Seats OK. A bit noisy. Ride is rough."

"The seats are comfortable enough but stain very easily."

"The seats are uncomfortable, it is noisy and the ride isn't great."

"The ride is comfortable but a little noisy at highway speeds. The ride in snow and wet slippery conditions is amazing. Not much different from dry conditions if you replace the stock tires with Michelin defenders for summer and use dedicated snowtires for the winter months."

"Cabin is too noisy. Need some sound deadening material added. Driver side front window leaks air and make winds noise."

"I have the 2.5Limited. The driver seat is comfortable, easy to find a good position, has memory to come back to it, good visibility. A good front seat. The passenger seat is totally manual, It sits low, and height of the seat. cannot be raised. Seat back is hard to adjust. Visibility is poor it is unacceptable. The test drive vehicle is the Premium with all power seats. Dealer was unwilling to offer a solution. ."

"I have a somewhat standard old-man's back that has lumbar vertebrae pressing on a disc that sends pain. The driver's seat is good with its lumbar adjustment, but the other seats need a remedy with a lumbar cushion at the lower back. Second, when I sit for a long time in any bucket seats, the forced bend to my legs and hips produces a stretch in my inner thighs that grows excruciating after awhile and even causes foot cramps. I can lessen it with a seat cushion shaped like a wedge under my bot..."

"I loved this Forester (lost it to an accident). If fit perfectly, the heated seats were amazing and I loved my moon roof."

"Head rest does not adjust low enough. Wind noise is very loud."

"The seats are comfortable and there is plenty of leg room. However, there is a lot of road noise."

"Passenger sits lower than driver so smaller adults cannot see out. The ride is bumpy and noisy."

"The seats are comfortable. The car is a little noisy driving on highways. Other than that Subaru cars are great and this is my 5th one."

"The ride is rough. IT’s not that the seats aren’t comfortable, it’s just a rougher ride over the road, especially uneven roads with potholes. You feel all the bumps."

"Driver's seat has automatic control, position features; passenger's does not. Adjustable seat for passenger is available as an expensive option. Would prefer reclining seats as a standard feature. Interior road noise could be less! Ride, for the most part, is comfortable."

"Easy entry & exit. Comfortable simple seats. Nice reclining feature on two of the rear seats. Driver could use a better arm rest. Steering wheel could be positioned closer to driver. As a 9 year old car the engine exhaust is a bit loud (not sure if exhaust system is up to original specs. Suspension is okay."

"On long rides of 2 hrs or more I find that my lower back hurts when driving. Somehow the seats need to be improved to fix this."

"There is a noise like a rattle I have had to be fixed a couple of times that makes noises"

"Brakes tend to squeal quite a bit as they age, even with plenty of pad remaining. Loud heat shield rattle required an expensive fix."

"You can not carry on a conversation when driving highway speeds as the cabin noise is so loud"

"It’s somewhat difficult for a tall person to get in and out...the seat does not push back far enough. The seat is somewhat hard for an older person. I need a cushion on top of it, especially for long distances."

"The seat bottoms are short, so they do not provide good support. The car is very noisy when at speed (I actually added noise absorbing material on the doors, and the back panels, floor and hatch. The ride is compliant."

"A little noisier than I'd like, but that's what you seem to get with all-wheel drive"

"Very comfortable ride-smooth! Good, comfortable seats. A bit noisy-perhaps the tires are contributing to this."

"Driver seat height adjustment bleeds off over time - must be readjusted too often. Passenger front seat has no height adjustment and the seat sits too low. the noise level over the years has increased considerably."

"Ride is noisy; seats are basic but supportive. The ride is good"

"Our 2010 Subaru Forester is immaculate and paid for, but we cannot afford it. We are of the firm opinion that Subaru's Engineers are mentally defective, spawns of Satan, that purposely design problems into all of your products. Case in point: The Drainage Tray at the base of the front windshield. Common sense dictates that the drain for the tray be at the lowest point where water collects. However, the drooling, brain damaged, Subaru engineers put the drain at a higher point. This allows debris and water to collect in the tray, overflow into the ventilation system, and spill out onto the front passenger floor, while providing the optimum conditions for the growth of mold and mildew. Of course the air entry for ventilation is part of the windshield tray, and of course there is no steel mesh or screen covering the opening, where the air enters the ventilation system. This facilitates the easy infestation of the ventilation system by Mice, which commonly carry the potentially fatal Hentnavirus. This means that mold, any mice borne diseases, and sickening odors will be thoroughly distributed throughout the car, whenever the ventilation systems is used. The Subaru dealer will clean and “disinfect‿ (doubtful) the ventilation system for $500.00+ every 3 months, which is why, as retirees, we can't afford a car that is already paid for. I'm all in favor of hiring mentally challenged, or mentally impaired people, but not as Automotive Engineers. Numerous people out there probably have Mysterious illnesses of unknown origin. When they actually have Subaru's Engineers Disease (SED)."

"the seats on the 2010 are shorter front-to-back than my previous 1999. More UNcomfortable for me."

"Very noisy on freeways even with high quality tires and decent road surfaces. Makes communicating inside the cabin difficult and long trips tiresome."

"Loose heat shield after 8 years is extremely noisy."

"Seats are not that comfortable for long distance trips. They are ok for short trips."

"They are high off the ground, and easy on the back and legs."

"Noise level is high."

"The lowered position of the passenger seat is awkward but the seat itself is comfortable."

"Nice height in the seats, would like it to be more powerful."

"We love this car and the fact that it can tow our small teardrop trailer. Too bad they took the guts out of the newer Foresters or we would consider updating. It is a little on the noisy side but rides comfortably."

"The only thing that really bothers me about this car when I drive it is the noisy rattling sound it makes as if there are loose panels somewhere."

"Drivers side very comfortable and infinitely adjustable: passenger side, not so much (sits far too low)"

"I find the seats reasonably comfortable. It is noisy at highway speeds. The ride is a bit firmer than I would like but it works well on dirt roads and snow with all wheel drive."

"The driver's seat is adjustable. The seat alignment to the steering wheel and foot controls is slightly off so that I can perceive a misalignment of my body to the wheel. It isn't bothersome."

"It has a harsh ride on bumps and road noise is always a factor. Need to speak loudly and turn radio volum up in order to hear at highway speeds."

"Seating is generally uncomfortable. Ride rough"

"A lot of wind noise."

"The seats are comfortable, but a bit narrow, especially on the driver's side where the e-brake is in my thigh. It's also pretty loud to ride in on the highway. The ride and seats are comfortable for long highway trips."

"Car does will in snow and ice. Also does well in soft sand with the 4 wheel drive"

"The interior of the car feels light and cheap"

"Road noise is very loud. The car rattles when in motion."

"Car is noisy."

"Comfortable for about 1 hour. Then need to get out and move around for a bit."

"There isn't enough leg room for me so I can't get good support of my upper legs. That makes them tired on long trips. I know that isn't a problem in newer Foresters."

"Loud road noise. Uncomfortable front passenger seat"

"It rides like a truck, seats could be better, too much interior noise"

"I found the seats very comfortable and enjoyed the automated seat adjustments on drivers side. I also LOVED the sunroof."

"The seats are comfortable. The car is noisy"

"Road noise is high"

"Road noise is loud? Seats are not comfortable."

"Having driven the car for years, it's a little small -- narrow -- for two adults on a long trip. We crack elbows from time to time. As the car has aged it's developed numerous rattles and squeaks -- annoying, but not serious"

"back seats more comfortable then front seats, very noisy, drivers seat needed to be welded were spot welds failed."

"I find the seats to be comfortable and the seating position to be good. I like how much glass there is for good all around vision."

"Seats are very comfortable, no road noise of consequence, and ride is smooth."

"As it's getting older, notice more squeaks and rattles"

"For whatever reason, the 2010 does not have nearly as harsh a ride as the 2015."

"The seats are very comfortable and easy to adjust. The noise is very quiet with the windows and moon roof closed. I take long distance driving trips and only get uncomfortable after about 5-6 hours."

"Lots of road and wind noise. Seats lack range of movement. No telescoping steering wheel."

"Road noise is disturbing on some roads."

"Seats are rather hard, and the car motor is loud inside when driving on highway. No a very smooth ride."

"There is a lot of road noise"

"Road noise extremely loud on highway."

"For a base model Forester, the seats are very comfortable and noise is almost non-existent. The ride is compliant."

"Good"

"Over time the seat bottoms have sagged, and that causes our legs to bend up at the knees and have a farther distance to go to reach the floor of the car. It stretches nerves at the hip and can cause excruciating pain to build up. I need to partly compensate with a cusion, which never works very well. It is a worse problem for the passenger seats, less for driver's seat."

"Seats are firm and provide good support. The ride is about what I would expect from a small SUV. The noise level at highway speeds is much higher than expected. Recent installation better tires improved the road noise, but much more sound deadening is needed to eliminate that road noise (from the tires)."

"Car noisy, especially during acceleration. Seats ok. Small for wide American butt."

"That seats are very comfortable, the ride is good for a small suv. My one major quibble is with the wind noise at highway speeds. The noise is a major short coming."

"Noise level is too high. It needs better sound insulation to prevent tire/road noise."

"The level of road noise is high and annoying."

"Car is a little noisy. The seats are comfy but driver's seat had to be replaced, Subaru did this at no charge."

"There's a great deal of road noise in this vehicle."

"Lots of fit and finish issues; seats breaking, rattles"

"The driving experience of the Forester is truck-like. Lots of road noise and you feel all the bumps. As the Forester ages, we can hear more rattles and squeeks. It now sounds more like an old pickup than an SUV"

"On Long trips the seats become uncomfortable"

"Road noise is very bad."

"Front passenger seat is positioned rather low and is not adjustable. After a period of time passenger becomes uncomfortable."

"A bit noisy inside so radio hard to hear from the start. After five years the driver's heated seat coil began overheating and we were told it would be about $500 to replace it. We probably will this winter as we plan to keep it. The rattle was a loose heat shield over the muffler which I had fixed Monday. They said if it comes loose again it would need to be replaced, and it still rattles a bit."

"I like the flexibility of expanding the cargo area by easily folding down the rear seats. There is a minor noise from the heat shields that are rattling. It would cost over $400 to fix so not worth it."

"The drivers seat is somewhat uncomfortable. It is difficult to install a child's car seat in back. I previously had a VW and a Honda, both of which had much much more comfortable seats than the Subaru."

"Climate control does not allow for very low heat setting."

"its noisy inside, depending on the road surface"

"The legroom in the passenger seat makes it very uncomfortable. due to the hump between the seats, one's legs are cramped to the right."

"Far too much road noise drumming on highway. Seats are hard, perhaps ok for lightweights or small people. Climate control is quick and best in any vehicle I've owned in 50+ years driving."

"seats are super comfortable ; very adjustable and high for great visibility. Easy on my back!!"

"Forester is comfortable,it heats and cools fast and no noise."

"The two middle (center) A/C vents cannot be turned off or on and also cannot increase or decrease the air flow as with the two vents close to each door. ALSO - the tilt steering wheel does not tilt close enough to me - I do not like to 'stretch' to hold the wheel - two more positions would be great. Ride - jolting is VERY pronounced over even minor bumps and concrete 'crack' - 'separator lines' - or whatever you'd call the dividing lines between the concrete slabs. I am a VERY careful driver,"

"It's a little noisy"

"the seats are definitely made for a 6 foot male, not for my 5'3" size. Have to use 3 types of cushions to see out safely..and then the large side mirrors are still in the way. My son gave me the car feeling it was safer and newer than the '99 Astro van I was driving. I do wish I had kept the van!!!"

"Passenger seat has no height adjustment and is too low, too much road noise in cabin"

"a lot of road noise."

"Front passenger seat too low. Hard for shorter persons to look out the windows. Very noisy at times with plastic on plastic or metal rattling. Engine labors to pass and to accelerate onto highways."

"Somewhat noisy compared to other cars I've owned (Honda, Toyota)."

"front seats could be more comfortable ."

"passenger side seat lower than driver side"

"Overall I have very few complaints. The things that I would improve would be the noise especially highway driving. I think it could one better. Lastly, I didn't have the option of leather seats and the cloth seats stained almost immediately and look horrible. With a dog and a child, the seats are pretty disgusting and I haven't been able to clean them"

"Weak AC. Noisy."

"Noisy"

"The driver's-side mirror had to be replaced last year, due to damage. Instead of fitting flush against the body of the car, the new mirror connects with a narrow "stalk". This creates a noticeable amount of extra 'wind' noise, even at speeds under 40 mph."

"not a good vehicle for long trips; too much noise & road vibration. Good for trips of 50 miles or less only."

"Climate control in winter is too HOT. If dial control down below 20C (we are wearing heavy winter coats and need less than 20C) external air enters which is too cold (-15C). Difficult to control temp in winter especially on drives of more than 30 min."

"The A/C has a very hard time keeping the vehicle cool when it's near 100 outside. Maybe a little inadequate."

"Front seat cushion too short. Seats not comfortable"

"The headrests are tilted too far forward. I must recline the seat more than I like, so when I hold my head vertical it is off the headrest, but then my chin is almost down on my chest."

"AC does not cool the car well on very hot days"

"I like everything regarding comfort...except wind noise. This car has more wind noise than any other car I have owned."

"The ride is very noisy and the seats are not comfortable . I would definitely want a quieter ride in my next purchase."

"Control layout is not a convenient as should be. Car is very drivable and dependable, but just OK in most areas"

"the seating is not as comfortable as I expected."

"Road noise is a problem at freeway speeds."

"Driving the Forester is extremely comfortable, especially with the automatically adjustable driver's seat."

"not as comfortable for shorter woman ,seating proportions are not good"

"Seat weld has broken at 105,000 miles. My back hurts when driving the car. Other than that, it has been a solid family hauler."

"Ride is a bit harsh and noisy compared to Camry (previous vehicle)"

"Passenger seat much lower than drivers seat - looking down at passenger Heat/cooling controls not easily controllable.. It is either too hot or too cold, cannot adjust easily or with precision"

"too much road noise"

"Bad, Maintenace costs are very high. It is absurd that the passenger seat does not have the same adjustment selections as the driver seat."

"Leather seats comfortable. Climate control acceptable. Noise is the big problem with this car. Ride is OK, a bit rough. But we do like this car. Quality for money. Great handling and acceleration."

"passenger seat should be power. driver and passenger seats are not the most supportive for long trips. subaru could spend a couple of extra bucks on sound deadening."

"I have a manual and the relative distance between the accelerator and clutch is too great - close enough to comfortably use the clutch is too close to the accelerator. The headrests bend my head so far forward that I must drive with my head bent forward in a manner that is extremely uncomfortable and limits my vision. I solved the problem by turning the headrest around with the back forward, which provided less protection."

"I don't like the material of the seats. I would've had to go up to many tiers to get leather seats."

"Not enough leg room, and not enough thigh support. Seat not as comfortable on back and neck as could be."

"My main objections to this car are a result of rough ride, rattles and road noise. Three or four attempts were made to fix persistent rattles but were not effective."

"This is the most uncomfortable vehicle I have ever owned. There is no "sweet spot" between the adjustment for the height of the driver seat and the distance from the steering wheel and the height of the steering wheel itself. Neither of my legs are comfortable because of the right and left side of the driver's area."

"Stiff going over speed bumps, back seat is a little hard"

"Heated seats, ride"

"I'm 6'2" & 300lbs. I've got room and am comfortable - even on long drives. Noise, i.e. uncomfortable pulsing pressure, was a problem if I wanted to drive with windows open. Weathertech deflectors improved that."

"Not enough foot room."

"Very uncomfortable front seats. Little padding or thigh support. Head rest very uncomfortably tilted forward. Passenger seat very low in comparison to driver's."

"Somewhat noisy ride."

"It's not the greatest vehicle for tall people (over 6 feet)--seats don't go back far enough."

"Seats are comfortable. Steering wheel is in a comfortable position. Very noisy. Ride not very smooth because it's on a truck chassis and it's AWD."

"the only item that I would grade less than completely satisfied is noise. It is a fairly noisy ride."

"The AC is blowing warm air on driver side and cold on the other side. Not good, got an estament of over $1000. for repair. $$ I do not have at this time. I hear lots of outside noise. So I have to have my radio up very loud to listen to NPR."

"Climate control is manual and next vehicle I get will have an automated climate control."

"driving position for 6' male is cramped"

"Very easy for creaky older people to get in due to seat being at behind height. Click and Clack noted this, too."

"I traveled a lot in this vehicle. It was a joy to drive. The all-wheel drive stood up to the snows of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I never felt like the vehicle was losing control."

"Poor mileage and acceleration"

"Comfort is fine, except that it is pretty noisy."

"- The driver's seat is a bit short gor me. - Noise-wise, the my Forester is very noisy. Ground noise. - The climate control feature works very well."

"i find it odd that the river feels like a giant compared to the passenger when the driver's seat has been raised."

"Road noise is very high for such a modern vehicle."

"Very good visibility all around"

"Seats very uncomfortable for long trips."

"Heated front seats good. Height of seats from ground is excellent. Headroom excellent for entry and exit."

"Front bucket seats are very comfortable, exp. with the lower back controls."

"The drivers side seating is very comfortable but the passenger seat is cramped and my 6'2" husband does not fit comfortably in the seat. I find the passenger seat too low, it feels like I'm sitting in a hole."

"Roomy back seat. Great visibility. Feels very solid and we'll built"

"Very reliable car. Have 120000 miles in it and have had no problems."

"The SUV owes me nothing. I put very little money into it and had it for years"

"Excellent car for the price."

"Before I purchased my 2010 Subaru Forester I completed a lot of research on many small to midsize SUVs. I was replacing a 1999 Land Rover Discovery 2, one of the least reliable cars I ever owned and 14 mpg was a good day for fuel mileage. It is true, the two cars are in totally two different market segments, but that wasn’t the criteria I was most concerned about. I wanted reliability, a safe car, better mpg and a simple to use but effective all-wheel drive system. The Subaru cost about ha..."

"purchase price was excellent for all of the features. fuel economy is acceptable. repair cost are have been reasonable but are starting to mount"

"very reliable, always ready to go"

"Excellent value especially for the price"

"Great safety and 4 wd as well as most solid and stable feel of competition vrhicles I tested"

"Initial price was competitive, and it continues to hold its value. Car continues to perform extremely well. Biggest value for me is its versatility. Whether car pooling grand kids or bringing home lumber from Home Depot, this car is a workhorse that never stops."

"Not stylish, not fast, not comfortable, but LOW price and reliability."

"Very comfortable, handles well, great in the snow. Can carry large items with the fold down seats, has a lot of room for packing up for vacations"

"This was the only dealership that would allow me to trade my previous car in for the newest Subaru model when we had the "Cash for clunkers" program. All other dealers would only allow it on "leftover" models from the previous year."

"Great balance of features: safety, performance, gas milage and utility. We love it."

"all-wheel drive is great for my area climate, also good trade-in value as I understand."

"Solidly built. There were some rust issues with some of these but there's no issue with this one. AWD system with snow tires can't be beat for the money."

"Our forester has given us a very reliable all wheel drive vehicle that has never let us down. We love the high safety rating, spaciousness, and convenience that we have gotten for less than most of the others we looked at."

"The Premium trim is an extremely good value. Many cold-weather amenities are included (above and beyond the intrinsic value of AWD in the winter)."

"This has been a great car for the money. It has performed very well with NO repair costs other than routine maintenance."

"Head gasket leak under 100,000 miles is inexcusable. Apparently this is a 2010 forester problem. Look it up. Constantly dealing with brake issues. heater had to be replaced on drivers seat. Heat shield constantly vibrating. Rear view mirror mount had to be replaced."

"Good value for a reliable all weather workhorse...not much style but comfortable over long distance drives."

"Low maintenance, good handling in snow and rain, cargo area"

"Despite regular oil changes, the oil burned with no oil light ever appearing. Engine failed while I was on the highway with no warning light. 65,000 mikes on the vehicle. Now Subaru states that I am responsible for checking the oil between oil changes—not their problem. Whatever happened to the oil light?"

"Best value overall compared to Toyota or Honda"

"Still running after 8 years"

"Great car for snow, very reliable, good view out the rear windows, decent gas milage for AWD."

"This is a very safe and reliable car for the money. After driving a non-AWD vehicle in the rain, I truly appreciated the Subaru AWD and the traction from which I have come to expect. I love that Subaru has AWD standard on all its vehicles. Subaru's AWD system the one I would trust the most."

"Head gaskets started leaking at less than 60,000 miles. Very expensive to repair."

"Comfortable nice to drive"

"Number of features (eg heated seats, automated seat, roof cross rails)"

"Other than replacing the battery and tires, I have had NO problems with this car. It is the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned."

"no repairs yet"

"The car has been extremely reliable- minimal maintenance issues. The gas mileage is pretty good."

"AWD and ground clearance for miles. Slap on some real snow tires and we are ready for winter in New England. It's the best all-around value for AWD vehicles."

"Great value as a small SUV with AWD. Cheaper than the RAV4, CRV, and Escape. Would buy again in a heart beat."

"Repairs, mainly parts, are very expensive."

"excellent value-my wife loves the car and we will purchase a new onesoon"

"Excellent engineering and safety without paying premium pricing"

"I haven't had any problems with this vehicle besides a loose heat shield ($50 repair). Except for regular maintenance, I've never had to take it for service. So dependable! I hope I didn't jinx it."

"For a compact SUV it is better than most luxury compact SUVs without the premium price."

"Definitely worth the price. In my experience much more reliable than some more expensive suvs."

"reliable and therefore value for $$. however, driving experience somewhat boring and clumsy."

"Excellent car, dependable, low repair costs, comfortable, transmission and engine reliable, plenty of room, just keeps on rollin. Only problem is the Navigation module has gone bad and is about $1500 to replace."

"Good value thru the Cash for Clunkers program"

"Very reliable and excellent vison."

"Excellent car for the money"

"104000 miles and still running well, have had no problems and all service has been routine maintenance items."

"After 116,000 miles, it still runs like (but no longer looks like) a new car"

"It all works well as a unit. Some things better then others but as a whole it's great."

"Very good value with this vehicle. This car was originally purchased because of the winters we had in Pennsylvania, but we have moved it to our Florida home and it is still a great car."

"Quality AWD vehicle for a good price."

"For all wheel drive, price point was good. Overall the car has been solid"

"Subaru maintains one of the highest resale value of all cars sold in the US."

"I am very happy with the utility I received for what I consider to be a low price at purchase for the second lowest trim level (Premium)."

"Needs minimal care, just routine maintenance. Goes great in snow. Great for transporting my 2 large Golden Retrievers. (Definitely dog approved)"

"Shopped around and determined Forester was best value"

"Handles better and more reliable than other awd options. Cheaper too."

"Very reliable and easy to handle car. Four wheel drive helps a lot during snow, ice, or very rainy days. Car has required very little repair other than normal maintenance."

"If you value function more than luxury, the Forester delivers at a reasonable price. Durability is also a strong point. Performance of the XT is very good, and the Limited seats are quite comfortable. Its only real weakness is noise, both wind and road."

"We bought the base model. The vehicle feels under powered and the sound system is mediocre. But, the Forrester handles really well and it has been the most reliable vehicle we have ever owned."

"plenty of room, sits high"

"Good gas milage, great in snow"

"Lotsa miles from it with little fuss."

"Great for winter driving. Always feel safe."

"I bought it for $16K cash with a junker of a tradein."

"I've loved this car, but it has had to have the head gasket replaced and other expensive repairs."

"Compared to other SUV better value for price. Esp amount of cargo space"

"Very low cost of ownership. Very reliable."

"Very reliable vehicle. I have never had any problems with it."

"I use this vehicle for commuting to work, traveling, and transporting multiple people and cargo. It has a lot of flexibility for all of these."

"Subarus are consistently reliable. No problems and its 8 years old."

"We purchased the manual transmission premium model. This limited the available options, but it was a great value as a car that could be towed behind our motorhome with all four wheels on the ground."

"I’ve driven it 100000 miles and never had a service issue. So reliable economical."

"It was a poor decision to purchase this vehicle over a similar Honda or Toyota. I had a 1976 Ford Pinto that was a better vehicle than this car."

"We paid about $22,000 for our Forester and it has been a reliable vehicle. We just replaced the original battery after 8 years and 77,000 miles."

"Safe, reliable and comparatively cheap."

"very reliable. Repair and upkeep expenses very reasonable. Great visibility. Good dealer service."

"This is our 5th Subaru in 30 years. Subaru's are a great value as far as cost, dependability, comfort, looks. AWD is dependable and provides comfort when driving in wet or snowy conditions."

"The SOHC engine has a problem with head gaskets in the 2010 and earlier models. However, I love the car and am getting it repaired and giving it to my son. I'll be getting a new Forester."

"The car is sturdy and feels very safe. When I bought it, it was $6K less than a RAV 4 which was my other choice. I have had very few repair issues in 6 years. I should note, however, that I only have about 32K miles, as I live in a walking neighborhood and I'm retired."

"Purchased used from a dealer. Car was originally purchased, exclusively serviced, and traded in at that same dealership so it had impeccable records. The vehicle was very low mileage and still had factory warranty coverage as well. I wasn't looking for a Subaru when I bought this car but I will keep the Forester at the top of my list in the future because it is such a good car all around."

"Good gas mileage"

"The Subaru is reliable and it does maintain a decent resale value."

"great car for the price, 2nd forester I've bought new, very reliable, I require AWD for snow conditions and this forester performs well on snow"

"Safe, economical SUV for the money."

"bought at end of year, and found lowest offered prices on the Internet"

"Gas mileage, snow traction, pretty rugged and reliable."

"You get a good, dependable, capable and safe car, I just wish it didn't cost as much as it did."

"Lately doing a lot of short trips with this car as it has become the "family car" (i.e. trips/errands with kids, as opposed to commuter car). Non-highway mileage is lower than I'd like. The AWD capability was important where we used to live (where it actually snowed occasionally), but is not so helpful now (no snow ever...)."

"I wanted an all wheel drive vehicle because I live in a rural, hilly area. I used Subaru Forester was rated well by Consumer Reports and fit my price range."

"It is easy on gas and no repairs"

"Great value for the money. Very reliable vehicle."

"Terrific 2nd car. Modest out the door price."

"equipment for the money, perceived reliability."

"We never got the mileage advertised. As I also drive a Prius and get better than advertised mileage, this is very disappointing. Acceleration has been a problem - there is a delay when you step on the gas."

"solid reliable car for a decent price"

"The basic value is good. The maitence costs are way too high."

"Subaru keeps their Forester price in control from year to year although I don't like that they do this by cheaper tires and batteries. So I just go get new ones or am very vigilant about getting better quality early."

"Great quality car, had not needed any major repairs, I use it for a lot of sports activity (pudding paddle boards on top, skis, etc) and it handles all the traffic in/out of the car. The only drawback is the dashboard: the radio and speakers suck, I wish it had built in GPS, backup camera, a better radio and speakers, bluetooth for hands free driving. Love the safety and rug-ability of this SUV and only wish they would upgrade the dashboard to some modern conveniences along with safety featu"

"You pay a little bit more for the Subaru, but not many other companies can match the depreciation of the Subaru. They hold their value incredibly well throughout the years."

"Very reliable"

"This car is 6 years old, and aside from tires and routine maintenance, it has not needed any large repairs. It is very reliable, and I love the image I project as a Subie owner. I AM waiting on the airbag recall to have that problem fixed."

"Got it good bit below invoice."

"This car has had numerous recalls. Almost every time I look, there is another recall. For each recall, I have to drive a great distance to a Subaru dealership to be certain my car is safe. That is why I am not satisfied with this car. It drives fine etc but it has had at leas 4 or 5 recalls since I had the car."

"Liked everything about this car and wanted to keep it a few more years. But both front seats broke ($2000 each to replace), head gasket leak, possible head replacement (can't tell until they take it out), suspension parts worn out, power steering and oil leaks--total estimate up to $9000 :-O On a 6-year old car and already did excessive repairs on brakes, wheel bearings and exhaust before that >:(. Got trade-in $500 for it and leased new Subaru Crosstrek to make sure we never have a Subaru out"

"Great AWD, heated seats and moon roof at great price"

"This car is reliable and good in gas . The only problem we have is with the heat shield on the bottom of the car - it handles very well in the snow"

"I think for the price, the quality, no repairs so far, beat any other car in its class."

"The dealer deceived us on the loan. Instead of a 3 year loan, they did some last minute juggling and we wound up with a 6 year loan. We will never purchase another vehicle on credit, nor from that dealer Holmgren Subaru of Franklin CT again."

"Purchase used, with newly refurbished brakes and new radials: Not absorbing the initial depreciation made this legendary SUV an even greater value. Climate control, leather interior, heated seating are all superb - but the front passenger seat height lack of elevation adjustment is curiously annoying and uncomfortably low... Sadly, Subaru tends to be well behind the curve when it comes to in-dash audio and navigation accoutrements."

"very reliable, great AWD performance. well designed interior"

"The car performs adequately and is particularly great in winter driving conditions"

"It's been a pretty solid car. Not a lot of major expenses. Very reasonably priced and good value."

"Handles well, acceleration good. Mileage could be a bit better, barely 21.5-22 mpg with almost 90% highway miles. Strongest criticism VERY thin glass. Will need a second windshield replacement soon, as in had it done a few years ago and need another-- multiple chips and fractures, anticipate they will grow this winter. Long for power / leather seats but didn't pay for those, next time. No major mechanical defects, yet. Feel I got my money's worth to this point."

"The car is built to last and I have paid only for maintenance during the time I've owned the car."

"Very Outstanding Car for the Price"

"Car was a great value. I love it"

"A solid, reliable vehicle that makes through Minnesota winters. I can't live without my seat heater."

"Great car. Consistently gets 25 mpg. All-wheel--all the time-- drive system works well in snow and ice and rain, and car has enough power to tow boats and/or a traler."

"Able to negotiate a fair price and a good trade price"

"Much better look & design than in previous years. Looks more like an SUV now."

"still somewhat "boxy", but still looks good to me"

"has no good cup holder in the front seat."

"The way the front of the car is slanted, it is difficult to see exactly where the front of the car ends. Generally not a problem, more of an annoyance."