2013 Subaru Forester

The 2013 Subaru Forester is available in four main trims, namely the Base, Premium, Limited, and Touring. The main four trims get a naturally aspirated engine, whereas the XT version, available with the Premium and Touring trim, gets the same engine in a turbocharged version. The interior of the Forester is not very exciting but is functional in nature. As you climb up the trim ladder, more features are added at your disposal. 

Which trim should you buy? 

While the Subaru has offered four major trims to choose from, the additional two trims based on the powertrain configuration makes things more exciting for the customers. We prefer the 2.5XT Premium trim owing to a better performing engine and the list of creature comforts that you get with this trim. With features like the 10-way power seats for driver, raised roof rails in black finish, keyless entry system, automatic transmission with manual shift mode, panoramic moonroof, all weather package, rear vision camera, optional navigation system etc, the 2.5XT Premium trim makes for a value for money option in the lineup.

The 2013 Forester is available with two engine options. The cubic capacity of the engine remains the same, however, their nature differs. Both the engines are 2.5L boxer-4 and are available as naturally aspirated or turbocharged. The four main trims get a naturally aspirated 2.5L engine producing about 170 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged version is available across the Premium and Touring trim only, and it produces about 224 hp and 226 lb-ft of torque. 

Both the turbocharged trims are designated as XT and offer a more enjoyable performance. The base and Premium trims get 5-speed manual transmission as standard with optional 4-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Touring trims get only automatic transmission as standard. The XT trims also get only automatic transmission as standard. Being a Subaru, all the trims come in AWD configuration as standard.

The Forester in its naturally aspirated avatar is not the most powerful option. However, owing to a manual transmission, the acceleration is good, and it does a 0-60 mph sprint in about 8.2 seconds and quarter-mile drag is done within 16.8 seconds. The GMC Terrain and Honda CR-V offer the same acceleration times. The Ford Escape is the least powerful car here but does 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds, faster than the CR-V and Terrain.

The 2013 Subaru Forester’s base engine is fuel-efficient and offers good performance to move around town. It offers 21 mpg, 27 mpg, and 23 mpg, in the city, on the highway, and in mixed driving conditions, respectively. With a fuel tank capacity of 16.9 gallons, you can expect a range of 355 miles, 456 miles, and 389 miles, in the city, highway, and mixed driving conditions, respectively. The efficiency figures are good because Forester is an AWD vehicle.

The GMC Terrain and Honda CR-V come with smaller engines and are the most efficient of the lot. The GMC Terrain is equipped with a larger 18.0-gallon fuel tank and can travel up to 468 miles on a full tank of gas in combined driving conditions. The Escape and CR-V are efficient as well but lose out on the range battle due to smaller fuel tanks.

The 2013 Forester’s interior design is not fancy but functional. The fit and finish levels could have been better, while the design is pretty straightforward. The Forester seats five across two rows and space is commendable. The lower trims get cloth upholstery and the seats are pretty comfortable. The features like leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, reclining rear seats, and heated front seats are available in higher trims. 

The instrument console is legible and gets clear gauges with user-friendly controls. A high seating position and adequate under-thigh support aid the driver on long journeys. All the windows are wide enough and provide a good view of the outside. Overall, the interior is pretty basic and provides convenience to the passengers.

The Honda CR-V is the more practical offering of the lot. It provides a better cargo capacity than its competitors, followed by Escape, Terrain, and Forester. The Subaru Forester gets a lower cargo capacity, but it can be increased by folding the rear seats. The Subaru Forester gets adequate headroom and legroom across both rows. The GMC terrain offers better legroom at the rear. Some of the standout interior features of the 2013 Forester are:

• 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks
• Reclining rear seats (Premium and above)
• Heated front seats (Limited and Touring)
• Leather-trimmed upholstery
• Aluminum-alloy pedal covers (XT trims)
• Automatic climate control system (Limited)

How intuitive is the 2013 Forester’s infotainment system?

The 2013 Forester gets an adequately loaded infotainment system. The base and Premium trims get features like 4-speaker single-CD audio system with USB port/iPod control, Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free phone connectivity, and a 3.5-mm auxiliary jack as standard. The Limited and Touring trims get features like a 4.3-inch display, HD radio, 3.5-mm auxiliary jack, and 6/7 speaker audio system depending upon the trim. 

The system is basic and easy to use. The optional packages include a TomTom navigation system with a detachable 4.3-inch high-resolution screen and another navigation package which includes a 6.1-inch touchscreen display with an activated GPS navigation system, Sirius XM radio, Sirius XM NavTraffic, SMS text messaging capability, etc. Some of the standout infotainment features of the 2013 Forester are:

• 4-speaker single-CD audio system (base and premium trim)
• 4.3-inch LCD display
• USB port/iPod control
• High-resolution 6.1-inch touch-screen (optional package)
• 6/7 speaker audio system 
• TomTom navigation system (optional package)

The 2013 Forester is devoid of any visual drama and is made to withstand the test of time. The front fascia imbibes two curvy headlamps and a small chrome grille with the Subaru logo. The front bumper gets fog lamps on each side and lends an attractive look. The sides are free from aggressive character lines, and the tall windows on the Forester provide a roomy feeling inside the cabin. The roof rails come in different colors depending upon the trim and make the Forester look rugged. Overall, the exterior design is timeless but misses out on modern styling elements as the competition.

The Forester is a lighter SUV of the lot despite being an AWD vehicle. The ground clearance on the Forester is unbeatable, and no SUV comes close. So, the AWD and higher ground clearance allow the Forester to do some off-roading on weekends. The GMC Terrain gets the longest wheelbase, which aids with better legroom at the rear. The Escape also comes with good ground clearance when compared with others. The CR-V is more suited for paved roads and gets the least ground clearance. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2013 Forester are:

• High-intensity discharge (HID) low-beam (Touring)
• Rear spoiler (XT trims)
• Body-color side mirrors
• Panoramic moonroof
• Raised roof rails
• All-weather package: Heated side mirrors and wiper de-icer (Limited and Touring)

The 2013 Subaru Forester is a well-built and sturdy SUV. The body structure is designed in a ring-shaped reinforcement frame and is engineered to be exceptionally rigid for maximum protection from impact energy. The NHTSA has given it a 4-star safety rating in rollover tests, while the IIHS has rated it as “Good” in various tests conducted by it. The Forester gets many safety features like front airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control, etc as standard. Some of the standout safety features of the 2013 Forester are:

• Antitheft security system
• Engine immobilizer
• Optional rear vision camera
• Brake assist
• Vehicle Dynamics Control
• Rollover sensor

The 2013 Forester is a sturdy SUV from the house of Subaru. It offers very good ground clearance and comes with AWD as standard, which testifies to its off-road capability. It also scores well in the safety department. The performance from the base engine is not peppy but is tuned for better fuel efficiency. For better performance, you can opt for the XT trims. If you don’t mind simplistic styling and bland interiors that are functional as well, you can go ahead with the 2013 Forester.