2023 Subaru Forester

The whole lineup of the Forester is split up into 6 different trim levels- the base, the Premium, the Sport, the Limited, last year introduced the Wilderness and the most expensive the Touring. Each model cumulates extra features and functions with the increasing price bracket. All the variants run on the only available 2.5L I4 engine and offer a standard AWD system.

Along with the features furnished in the Subaru Forester, it offers additional packages–

All-weather package in Premium Trim

• Heated front seats 
• Heated steering wheel
• Windshield wiper de-icer

Interior options

• Cargo net
• All-weather floor liners
• Cargo cover
• Rear seat back protector
• Auto-dimming mirrors with compass and Homelink
• Footwear illumination kit
• Sunshades
• USB charging port

Exterior options

• Rear bumper cover
• Sport grille
• Alloy wheel locks
• Fog light kit
• Body side moldings 
• Door edge guard
• Splash guard

We Recommend

The Premium model delivers the best value for your money if the Limited and the Touring models are surpassing pocket limits. It provides the best mix of features and available options. CARHP recommends this vehicle. 17-inch alloys, and an option to upgrade the comfort and handling experience of the driver. A 10-way power adjustable driver seat with the sunroof adorns the interior of the Premium trim.

 

Release Date 

It is expected to be launched in late 2022.

The Subaru offers only one 2.5L I4 engine that pairs with the CVT automatic transmission and provides mileage figures of – 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highways, and 29 mpg combined, which are decent numbers in the segment. With a fuel capacity of 16.6 gallons, it ensures a range of – 431.6 miles in the city, 547.8 miles while running on the highways, and 481.4 miles when running on both terrains

Thanks to its good mileage figures and the highest fuel capacity, the new 2023 Subaru Forester delivers the best range in the segment. The Toyota RAV4 achieves extra range numbers while managing competitive mileage figures with the newest Honda CR-V. The fuel economy figures of the 2023 Compass are dullest among all the competitors in the comparison. It also delivers the lowest range.

The interior of the Forester is straightforward. All the ports and buttons are easily accessible and clearly labeled. The elements on the dashboard are practical and function well. The available 8-inch infotainment touchscreen can be easily operated and it is handy to use. Getting in and out is very convenient. The textured plastic trim on the dashboard feels solid and is made up of high-quality material. The interior is spacious enough to accommodate 4 passengers, possibly it can adopt an extra person. Wide range of standard adjustments for the driver seat, and the experience increases with an optional all-weather package on the Premium trim. The Limited trims bring this package as standard.

The front row passenger seat is also 4-way manually adjustable as standard. The steering column is sufficiently telescopic to elevate the convenience of the driver. Well-padded front seats with the help of good suspensions absorb the bumps of the road and enrich the ride quality. The rear row seats are also plenty spacious and can provide a good room for the adults. The road noise feels minimum, but the accelerating engine speaks a lot, and that noise enters the cabin. The interior does provide proper visibility. The buttons are correctly placed, and the climate can be easily controlled without taking off the eyes from the road. The sound from a four-speaker on the usual trims is not complaining, but the premium Harman Kardon audio on the Touring provides a soothing and enjoyable sound.

For front-row passengers, the all-new Forester delivers the best roomy interior. In the second row context, the 2023 Honda competes with the Subaru. Both the Jeep Compass and the Toyota RAV4 have spacious interiors with mere numbers up and down, but the Compass has the least cargo space behind the first and the second row. Behind the first row, the Subaru and the Honda provide equal space, however, the all-new RAV4 has the largest cargo capacity behind its second row.

Highlights of the interior features of the Subaru Forester include —

• Power rear windows
• Front cupholder
• Rear cupholder
• Valet Function
• Automatic air conditioning
• Driver footrest
• Locking glove box
• Cloth upholstery
• Day-night rearview mirror
• Driver and passenger vanity mirrors
• Cargo space light
• Cargo floor trim
• The fully digital instrument panel
• Trip computer
• Outside temp gauge
• Perimeter alarm
• Three 12V charging socket
• Air filtration
• Front armrest
• Rear armrest
• Manually adjustable rear head restraints
• System Monitor

How intuitive is 2023 Subaru Forester’s Infotainment system?

The first three models of the Subaru Forester are composed of a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, but the higher variants offer an 8-inch touchscreen. The infotainment screen of all the models is furnished with the updated Starlink interface. The screen is easy to navigate and has features that anyone would appreciate. It has good visibility and touch response and is in favor of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The car has at least 3 USB ports to charge your phone. Except for the base, all the other models have standard 4G Wi-Fi support. The Subaru Eyesight system works well. The lane centering assist helps the vehicle while drifting out from the lane.

More impressive infotainment features include–

• Radio data system
• Speed compensated volume control
• Bluetooth handsfree text messaging connectivity
• 4 speaker audio system on the ordinary trims
• Harman Kardon sound system on the premium trim
• Steering wheel controls
• 3.5mm headphone jack

The exterior look of the Forester gives it a truck-like impression. The base, Premium, and Sport variants offer 5 different exterior color options while the rest of the three trims give a wide range of 9 colors to choose from. The headlight cluster in the new Forester looks way different than its previous generations. The standard black grille with piano black elements looks promising. The 3D textured finish on the bottom of the front end gives it a bit of a rugged sort of adventure vibe. Full LED headlights come with LED daytime lights.

The 17-inch alloys on the standard trims look decent with a diamond cut finish from the outside and a piano black finish from the inside. Even the 18-inch alloys are pretty modest in the Forester, as some of its key rivals offer 19 and 20-inch wheels. It does provide over 200 mm of ground clearance which is higher than most of the competitors. The satin finish on the wing mirror with the built-in indicator lends a gentle appeal. Chrome elements around the doors are offered on the higher trims, but it does carry roof rails with them.

In the back end, even the top model does not provide LED tail lights, instead, Subaru offers incandescent globes. The shark fin aerial and Forester wrote on the back along with a reminder of AWD trying to give it a more modest appearance than its old generations.

The Toyota RAV4 has the longest wheelbase, while the new Forester is the longest car in the segment. The Compass is the widest car among the four vehicles, but it does not offer that much airy interior. A few centimeters less, the Forester is also fitted with the comparative wheelbase. Honda CR-V and the Compass offer almost the same amount of ground clearance, whereas the Subaru Forester offers the highest ground clearance.

Highlights of the exterior features —

• Body-colored front bumper
• Body-colored rear bumper
• Black grille
• Black power side mirrors
• Variable intermittent wipers
• Liftgate rear cargo access 
• LED brake lights 
• Power door locks
• Headlights with automatic high beams

The 2022 Subaru Forester scored 4 out of the 5-star ratings in the rollover crash test. It scored a 5-star in overall safety ratings. Along with that, it comes with Adaptive Cruise control, DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation, and much more impressive safety features.

These features on the Forester add to the safety –

• Standard automatic emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control
• Electronic stability control
• Side impact beams
• Collision mitigation front and rear
• Dual stage driver and passenger airbags
• Airbag occupancy sensors
• Rear child safety locks 
• Driver’s knee airbag

2023 Subaru Forester vs. 2023 Honda CR-V

With an extra $1000, the CR-V offers a little more power and performance. The Forester comes standard with an AWD system, but the CR-V offers an FWD system as basic. Both the SUVs offer a competitive roomy cabin, but the Forester has a little longer wheelbase. The CR-V comes with a lesser top speed but it secures more cargo space behind its second-row seats. The exterior design of the CR-V gives a simple and sober appearance, whereas the Forester proposes a ruggedness in its style.

2023 Subaru forester vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 does provide a great power output than the Forester, but it does not cope with the fuel economy figures. It carries less curb weight than the Forester but takes the same amount of time to catch the speed. Carrying the dimensions equivalent to the RAV4, the Forester delivers a more airy interior. The Toyota RAV4 provides the highest in the segment cargo space behind its second row. Side profiles of both the cars somewhere match each other.

2023 Subaru Forester vs. 2023 Jeep Compass

Though the Jeep Compass is way shorter in length compared to the Forester, and it comes up with the lowest curb weight. The Forester provides more space for the passengers to accommodate, but it also delivers a comparatively larger cargo capacity. With a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Compass offers more top speed. The Forester provides more ground clearance and a longer wheelbase. The exterior of the Jeep feels more polished and updated, while the Forester carries a look of an off-roading vehicle.

You can consider it over the other vehicles in the segment. Its standard symmetrical AWD system works well, and some of its rivals offer it as an option. The engine feels a little tepid, but it offers good comfortable seats and an interior. The various standard safety features make it a choice above the others. Suspensions are well-tuned and help provide a smoother ride quality in the not-so-good terrains. It is a good value for your money.