2020 Subaru Forester

"Good at most everything that matters to crossover buyers, spacious cabin, relaxed ride and handling." - Car and Driver

Forester comes with a  182 hp powertrain and a 7-speed CVT is the only transmission. Five trim levels are offered: Base, Premium, Limited, Touring, and a new Sport model. All models share a CVT as the only transmission option, and the latter two are offered with manual mode and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Upgrading to 2.5i Premium ($27,395) adds a panoramic power moonroof, alloy wheels, 7-inch infotainment screen and opens up the options like a power lift-gate. Most importantly you can have excellent Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technologies. Higher trims add amenities like leather-trim upholstery, auto-on/off headlights, and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

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The base model of the Subaru Forester is well equipped with an economical price tag but it doesn't have what some owners may expect. The 2.5 limited variant hits the sweet spot as it comes with an all-weather package which will be very useful in winters.

"With EPA fuel-economy ratings that match much of the compact-crossover segment, the Forester will likely satisfy buyers seeking efficiency." - Car and Driver

The Subaru Forester returns an estimated 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. It is able to manage 28 mpg combined which is better than most of the cars in this segment. It comes with an automatic stop/start system when you are at a stoplight which also helps in preserving fuel. If you don’t push it too hard, then Forester’s 16.6-gallon tank can ensure you cover at least 480 miles without having to worry about gas stations.

Those numbers are pretty good for the class, and none of the rivals can match it. Counting the fact that Subaru comes with all-wheel drive as a system, it does not affect the fuel efficiency. The Tiguan appears out to be the least fuel-efficient contender here, despite having the humblest engine in the segment.

"The Forester's cabin is a straight-forward, frill-free affair with a good driving position and great outward visibility." - Car and Driver

Seating of the 2020 Subaru Forester

The Subaru has finally addressed the long-standing issue of irritating noise filtering in the cabin. There are plenty of soft-touch materials here and the whole cabin is simple and usable with a focus on ergonomics. As it’s a Subaru, plenty of fronts and rear-seat legroom and headroom is a given. 

Subaru's new Global Platform has a 30-millimeter longer wheelbase over the outgoing Forester. This accounts for the more interior room; the rear seat is spacious enough for two adults and a third if needed with plenty of head- and legroom. The interior is crafted from durable material and it seems like it will last a decade.

The Forester can seat five people in real comfort affording them space to spread out with its generous legroom and headroom. Also, while some will find the interior delightfully simple, some may dismiss it as boring.

It’s the Volkswagen Tiguan that holds the edge due to its 7-seating capacity. None of the other vehicles in this equation can seat more than five. In terms of curb weight and interior space, the Subaru Forester and Nissan Rogue are pretty similar. On witnessing, it turns out that the Honda CR-V offers sufficient space at the rear bench than the Nissan.

Interior Features of the 2020 Subaru Forester

The 2020 Subaru Forester  has been loaded with a ton of features that keeps up with the segment, some of these features are:

• 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• The leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter
• The heated steering wheel and front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 60/40 split flat-folding rear seats

Cargo Capacity of the  2020 Subaru Forester

Forester as the name intimates made for souls who love trails and long distances. It comes with an extraordinary space that can hold a large amount of cargo. Forester has 35.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and a maximum of 76.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. 

The wide rear gate opening of 51.2 inches and automated liftgate makes loading of luggage a breeze.

The Tiguan loses this competition hands down, as its third-row takes up good space and hence it sits out of this comparison. With all the seats down, its the Forester that that takes the lead which is then followed closely by the Honda CR-V, however, its the Honda CR-V that takes the lead in terms of space behind the second row. Also, The Nissan Rogue stacks up head-to-head with it in the same regard.

Infotainment System of the 2020 Subaru Forester

The base 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i gets the Subaru Starlink infotainment system with a 6.2-inch touchscreen. You also get Bluetooth audio streaming and a 3.5 mm auxiliary jack. The base trim has a basic 4 speaker audio system. The higher Forester Premium and Limited get Starlink infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen and 6-Speaker audio system.

The Touring trim comes with upgraded 7-Inch touchscreen infotainment with navigation. Audiophiles will be delighted here with a Harman Kardon Premium audio system. This option is also available in the 2.5i Limited trim ($1,350). However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are sorely missed especially when most other Subarus get them as standard.

Some of the outstanding features are:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Pandora and Aha app integration
• NFC technology
• Voice-activated controls
• Dual-USB ports
• Bluetooth audio streaming with hands-free feature

"It's similar in size to the Outback station wagon but offers a little extra ground clearance for when hauling your kayak by hand down to the shoreline is too much trouble. " - Car and Driver 

Exterior features of the 2020 Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester exterior has moved away from its wagon roots. While the base trim gets black rearview mirrors and steel wheels, the higher trims are adorned with LED headlights and 18-inch alloys. The raised roof rails complete the outdoor look.

The Forester is also one of the boxiest vehicles currently available.es especially around the headlamps that impart an “eye-brow” effect to them. The overall look now has a certain SUV-like road presence. The front grill features some chrome accents which add more points to its premium scorecard.

The 2020 Forester is much like the previous one as Subaru doesn't want to mess with the success mantra. Front, side, and rear under guards are standard, as is lower body cladding to protect against mud and rocks. The new Sport model is distinguished by its gloss-black exterior trim and orange accents on the black under guards and roof-rail mounts, plus orange stitching on the inside.me.

The Subaru Forester weighs 3449 pounds – light for the segment. At 182.1 inches, its length is average among competition but it’s the narrowest in segment at 71.5 inches. Hence, maneuvering in tight spaces should not be much of an issue. However, at 67.5 inches, it’s among the tallest. Combined with the segment beating 8.7-inch ground clearance, the Forester does look like an old-school SUV.

Exterior Features of the  2020 Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester has been endowed with some signature design cues that set it apart from the division in some way or the other. Some of these features are:

• LED Steering Responsive Headlights
• Rear Spoiler
• Panoramic moonroof
• Windshield wiper de-icer with heated external mirrors
• Satin chrome exterior mirrors with integrated indicators
• Roof Rails

"The Forester earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2019. " - Car and Driver

The safety rating of the 2020 Subaru Forester

The Subaru brand is now increasingly focusing on safety. The acclaimed Subaru Eyesight driver assistance technology is optional in 2.5i Premium and 2.5 Limited and it's standard on both the Touring trims. Strangely, the Eyesight system is not available even as an option in the 2.0XT Premium trim.

Safety features of the 2020 Subaru Forester

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Pre-collision Braking
• Lane Departure and Sway Warning
• Lane Keep Assist

 Some of the other safety features include :

• Automatic pre-collision braking
• Advanced adaptive cruise control with lane-centering
• Lane departure prevention
• Driver monitoring system
• Rear Cross-traffic alert
• Blind-spot detection system
• SUBARU Starlink safety and security services

2020 Subaru Forester vs 2020 Nissan Rogue:

The 2020 Subaru Forester is faster, more capacious and also costs less than the Nissan Rogue. Apart from its greater fuel economy and somewhat more cargo space, the Nissan Rogue is totally overshadowed by the Subaru. The Forester’s standard feature list is also more significant than the Rogue’s. Hence, we think if you can negotiate slightly on the fuel economy front, then it’s the Subaru Forester that acquires this contest hands down.

The Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester have a lot of things in common. Both of the vehicles have lots of legroom and headroom. The Subaru Forester undercuts the Nissan Rogue by $500 and also comes with standard all-wheel drive. In Nissan, you have to pay extra for 4WD, which makes the Forester an obvious winner.

2020 Subaru Forester vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan:

The Volkswagen Tiguan is somewhat more powerful and efficient than the Subaru Forester. It is also the more spacious of the two, thanks to its third row that can incorporate two kids at least. In terms of sturdy build character, the Subaru is quite up-to-the-mark but then the Volkswagen seems more solidly put together. Since they both can be bought for the same amount of money, we think that the Tiguan wins this battle for doing everything that the Subaru can, just better, of course at much lower fuel economy than the latter.

2020 Subaru Forester vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is lauded as the most practical compact SUV and with good reasons. It has the best in class cargo capacity, plenty of interior appointments, a great combination of ride and handling, and superior fuel economy. However, the Subaru Forester closely matches the CR-V in terms of practicality and its USP is its genuine off-road capability.

The Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V have similar fuel economies and sizes. The Honda CR-V has the best in class cargo space which the Forester can't match. The 1.5-liter turbocharged powertrain of CR-C is far better in terms of performance when compared to the Forester. The Forester is a capable off-roader and the CR-V can't match its ability. Opting one depends on what you desire, city jaunts or adventure junkie.

The Subaru Forester is a complete package that distinguishes itself from the competitors by combining such conflicting characteristics as off-road capability, fuel efficiency, and fun-to-drive road manners. The interior is spacious too with cavernous luggage capacity. The low cost of ownership and phenomenal reliability with slow depreciation further sweeten the deal. If you can agree on a bit on the fuel economy front, then we think that the 2020 Subaru Forester justifies each and every cent that you consume on it, if not more.