Does anyone rate the Subaru Forester?

[Wulbert]

I've been browsing the posts on these pages. Lots of mentions of various Land Rovers, Jeeps, big Japanese Pick-ups etc.

I haven't seen anyone recommend or praise the trusty Subaru Forester though. This seems a bit strange given how very capable they are, both off-road and as a real "driver's car" on-road. They come in diesel (not so good) and petrol (better, more reliable but less torquey) versions. The 2 litre manual models have a low range gearbox and the 2.5 turbo has a very powerful motor.

There are loads of YouTube videos of Forester's trouncing much more macho looking off road vehicles. It does have a rep as being expensive to run ( suspension parts & exhaust system) but surely no worse than some of the Landy models?

I'm just curious about why it isn't a more quoted car on here? Any one have an opinion?

[Wulbert]

Jag_NE said:

I had a new one as a rental for a couple of days, a few months back. Road use only, granted, but utterly awful in every respect. Reliability may be better than average but unsure. They aren’t cheap either. Absolutely awful interior, used loads of fuel, very dated looks. But a 330d with x drive.

I suppose I'm basing my query on pretty limited knowledge of only one, nine year old, model. I have no idea what the new ones are like, especially compared with their modern competitors. Glad to see that some folk rate them. I agree about the poor interiors ( flimsy & rattly compared to my Honda CRV and Honda Jazz) and can imagine that if you never took one off-road then there might not be much to get excited about.

I like the low C of G and feeling of being glued to the road, but I have not driven any other 4 x4's ( unless you count the CRV, which I don't and which handled very stodgily indeed) so there may well be better out there.

I'm pleased with my old Forester though and have just, this afternoon, hauled a trailer load of logs out of a muddy, soggy woodland without even a wheel spin.

[Wulbert]

They are pretty ugly; "designed by committee" comes to mind. Bland and generic looking. Although I think the pre-2009 models are ruggedly handsome.