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S3, 79V, 1997 Release, etc...Superb machine
After having owned a WRX the Forester took a little getting used to, but it is such a refined a driver friendly car that this was an eady transition.
It handles really well for such a high car, and the cvt is crisp and responsive. The adaptive cruise control is really well sorted and helps make commuting far more palatable. It is a perfect size for the teens in the family and is a very manoevorable car in shopping centres. It is engaging enough in the twisties and manages light off-roading consumately.
Purchased in November 2021.
1 comment
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MelmainPerth, WA
- 5 reviews
Incredible value for money
Want to pay double the price and get less? Buy a flash badged European car!
This car is incredible value I think for all the included safety features. Too many to list but the most important ones are.
Collision avoidance (brakes hard! to avoid rear end crashes)
Adaptive cruise control. Set the speed and it will keep a safe distance from the car in front and....collision avoidance will stop you hitting the idiot who turns at the last minute without indicating. Will even come to a complete stop at lights (when you have a car in front). Touch the ...Read more
accelerator when the lights go green and it will cruise back up to your previous set speed or the speed of the car in front, whichever is less. Lane departure warning. It will gently ensure you stay in your lane. 5 star safety rating equals bloody cheap car insurance probably because you will never* have a rear end crash. * I cant see how you could ever have rear ender with this feature on (by default)
Purchased in March 2021 for $43,000.00.
1 comment
SubaruSubaru Australia
Thank you for your excellent review Melmain! Here at Subaru, we're really proud of our innovative safety features and we're so happy that you're happy :) One quick thing - we would be thrilled if you ... Read more
could post this on Google Reviews as well! Thank you again and happy driving!Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
PetermPerth, WA
- 5 reviews
- 1 like
the best for this category of car
After test driving a number of other vehicles in this category including the Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota Rav 4, we concluded that the Forester had a lot more bang for buck and drove much nicer than the other cars. The Nissan X-Trail came closest and was a very quiet and smooth ride but the Forrester just came with more tech and had really good vision from the enlarged front, rear and side windows. We had a battery fail and Subaru covered this under warranty without any issues.
The transmission (CVT) is great and shifts real...Read more
ly smoothly through city driving. We also go away quite a bit and do trips of up to 300km in one drive which the Forester drives like a dream on open highways. Most reviews would state it is under powered, but I think in a fast moving world where the chase for the fastest 0/100kmh in everyday cars is hotly contested, this isn't an issue. It has plenty of pickup when needed and let's be honest it's not often you need to boot it to get going as it is quick of the mark and helped along by the AWD in the wet or loose terrain. A full size spare tyre was also big selling point, as w don't want a space saver in case we do get a flat tyre whilst away. The boot space is big enough but not massive. The back seats fold down with a flip of a swithc from the boot which is neat, and speaking of rear seats there is plenty of room for passengers. The middle seatbelt when not in use neatly tucks up into the roof out of the way. There is plenty of storage space in the cabin as well which is also welcome. My only problem is with the stop/start function but at least you can disable it each time you start the car with a push of a button. I just wish you could permanently disable it as I prefer not to use it but my wife leaves it (it is her car and drives it daily). Our model doesn't have Apple/Android play which is only slightly annoying as the Bluetooth works well but means we can't have maps as this requires you to purchase another SIM or something I couldn't be bothered with. Newer models now have build in GPS which is good and only a minor annoyance. Overall I'd recommend a Subaru Forester to anyone with young families or couples wanting a larger car that drives and handles much better than other vehicles I had driven in this price point and year.
Purchased in June 2021 at Subaru Dealers for $30,000.00.
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EvonneSydney, NSW
- 7 reviews
- 1 like
- Forester S5 2.5i-S
- Verified purchase
It is great as a car, but not as a mobile entertaining tool.
I bought this car because I was expecting my baby and I need a solid car. This car came to my sight because it looks very tough, and it is. But what I did not expect was the horrible interior/ computer system design.
1. only 2 USB porters, and at the trunk near the elbow of the driver, seriously?? How can you access that??
2. no Apple or Google play system inbuilt in this car (2018MY). omg that's such a pain! every time you want to use the navigator, you'll have to use the outdated one inbuilt in your car, or you'll have to pay a good deal of...Read more
Purchased in March 2021 at Subaru Dealers for $37,700.00.
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PierreShellharbour NSW
- 16 reviews
S Edition for the money
Picked up a nice S Edition Foz last month. It's had some extras put into it, such as bigger intercooler, cold air intake, brembo brakes, full stainless system, upgraded coilover suspension, heavy duty front and rear sway bars and a host of other things, and it runs hard, sounds great and steers beautifully on the road. I sold a beautiful 370Z and bought this and have not regretted it in the least. In fact, the Foz is much more fun to drive, much better handling and has room for tons more things. I've pretty much driven sport's cars and nothing...Read more
else for the past 10 years, but now I've driven a Foz, I won't be buying another sport's car. They have tons of character and the S edition has plenty of poke. The seats aren't what you would call super comfy, but nor are they that bad. Air con works very well, Inbuilt satnav is nothing special No USB port 'field of vision is outstanding Stereo is good without being brilliant. My only gripe is the automatic; even though its a five speed and from a wrx, it saps a lot of the engine's performance. A six speed manual would really bring this car to life, but the S edition only comes in semi auto. Such is life. Would I reocommend a Forester? You bet! Great fun and loads of character.Purchased in August 2021 for $22,000.00.
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Daniel
- 3 reviews
- 2 likes
Ticks many boxes, very versatile.
With baby on board we decided to upgrade the Impreza to a Forester as we needed the extra space and enjoy heading out on camping trips. The sedan wasn't cutting it any longer. I've been generally unimpressed with the performance of previous cars so this was an opportunity to pick up something with a bit more oomph. I test drove the current version and whilst nicely packaged, the performance was lacking and reminded me of the Impreza and some engine whine. With a bit of searching and test driving, I managed to pick up one of the very last XTs fu...Read more
lly optioned for a great price down at Subaru Docklands. Good sales process overall. About 3.5 months in now, the car is going well. I ensure to warm it up each time and most of the driving has been city based which is not great on the fuel efficiency side TBH. Over 12 litres per 100, with some motorway driving into the high 9s. Have had a couple longer country trips and this brings the fuel consumption into high 7s. So I think the official numbers are not accurate but that's usually the case with most cars from what I've read. But on the other hand, the performance is there on demand and it really goes. Not many cars in this category and price range that can complete. Also it's very sturdy and a comfortable ride on rough roads. Lots of features in the XT premium category. I like the adaptive cruise, lane assistant is good, autonomous breaking a little too sensitive but has helped me on a couple occasions at the start. Excellent sound system. Great outward sight (including huge sunroof) and easy to judge dimensions so it feels like a nice and compact SUV. Stepping up to a proper 4WD would be a bit too much for city parking and was not preferred by my partner. Overall, I really enjoy driving the car and it's perfect for a small family. Time will tell but the experience so far with Subaru has been positive and their cars seem reliable.Purchased in May 2021 at Subaru Docklands.
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sylviaSydney, NSW
- 2 reviews
Love this car
I use this car everyday for work and family and outings.
This car is brand new so it will be serviced yearly.
No issues at this point.
Fantastic car i would recommend it for all ages so comfortable and spacious .
Purchased in March 2021 at subaru sutherland for $43,000.00.
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Tristan Evans
- 3 reviews
Love this car, I almost live in it.
I have owned this car since March and it has not skipped a beat on the road or off the road. Great safety features that suit me for long driving trips and goes really well off the beaten track.
Purchased in March 2021 at Cricks Highway for $43,000.00.
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Kangaroo3dHunter Region, NSW
- 7 reviews
- 12 likes
$170 diagnosis fee after Takata Air Bag Recall
AirBag Recall Time: 29/09/2018
AirBag signal displayed on the instrument panel in May 2022
Airbag signal disappeared on the day 31/05/2019 when sent to 174 High Street Maitland NSW 2320
Airbag signal appeared again from 15/06/2019
I called the customer service on 21/06/2019, [name removed] gave me a quote "$170 for diagnosing the issue" and "more for fixing the issue"
I called 130 550 994 and [name removed] serviced me. [name removed] also suggested me writing an email to [email protected].
Subaru Official reply: if the airbag warning issued proved to not relating to the airbag recall, the dialog and fixing fee apply still.
My arguments are: (1) how to prove that if no airbag recall installed, the airbag warning will be on? ...Read more
(2) how to trust another review comments from the Subaru Service Centre? If you have similar issue about the airbag warning, please show your details here. So we could present our complaints to NSW Fair Trading.Purchased in July 2021.
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AnonSydney, NSW
- 5 reviews
Love this car.
Great for everyday use in suburban and off road. So great for camping because high ground clearance (same as land cruiser). AWD is great.
If serviced regularly it's a Good reliable car.
Purchased in February 2021.
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TonySydney, NSW
Navigation System Outdated And Not Current
2019 Subaru Forester
We purchased a new Forester in February 2022 from Liverpool Subaru. We are happy with the car with 1 major exception.
The in car navigation system is out dated and not reliable. I have checked the version of the navigation system and it is 2017. As we purchased the vehicle new in 2022 I would have expected the navigation system to be current. I was not told this was out of date and this may have had some impact on our decision as we were comparing similar vehicles.
We live in an estate and moved into our address in 2016...Read more
Purchased in February 2021 at LIVERPOOL SUBARU.
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levinSydney, NSW
- 5 reviews
- Forester S3
- Verified purchase
Reliable and maintainable family car
Bought it when it was 7 years old.
We used it for our family and it is always reliable.
We drove it across states, went to the snowy mountain. Never had a problem.
Purchased in December 2021.
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RaresenseSydney, NSW
- 8 reviews
- 22 likes
- Forester S4 XT Premium
- Verified purchase
Safe, Reliable and wonderful car to drive! Highy Recommend!
I have a my18 XT Premium Forester, for the uninitiated that’s means a petrol turbo charged, symmetrical All Wheel Drive vehicle with leather interior. I owned it since new for nearly 18mths with over 32,000 km travelled.
Coming from a Highway Patrol background and presently being a National Road Safety and Compliance Manager for a global company, I have over 30 years experience in road safety and collision investigations, I cannot give a higher recommendation than I personally entrust this vehicle to convey my most precious cargo of two kid...Read more
s 9 and 7, .... alright and the minister for war and finance (wife) as she’s hovering around me as I write. It is often brushed over or dismissed by reviewers that don’t understand crash dynamics the actual benefits of “Symmetrical” AWD that only Subaru offer standard from a general road handling and holding in all conditions but it seriously rises above all others in adverse conditions where the traction is second to non. Add to this all the safety technology and wizardry and you have an amazing vehicle for the money. From a safety background it’s the attention to detail to safety that makes this car a true champion of champions. The seating position and driver ergonomics are in a word “brilliant” giving excellent all round vision even to the placement of side mirrors to minimise obstruction in usual blind spot at the front in some other brands. The “eyesight” features along with all the other multifaceted safety features come together in concert to deliver a premium safety package far beyond the price paid delivering true value for money. I must mention here that impact forces in collision are massive that I’ve seen Subaru handle in real world collision situations extremely well protecting the occupants from potential serious or fatal injuries. This is due to Subaru’s clever design and impact crumple zones again often overlooked by reviewers. Let me explain, they have a boxer motor (flat) that it actually designed go under the vehicle not into front seat occupants as normal raised engines do in frontal impacts, as I’ve seen previously in serious or fatal collisions. I would not dismiss this fact, seriously clever and smart. You only need one collision whether you are in the right or wrong the laws of physics and impact forces come into play and it is always better to put the odds in your favour as you can’t have a dress rehearsal. I have also been towing an Adria caravan since December 2018 that’s 1.6 ton fully laden albeit to my wife that appears to be trying to impersonate a gifted prophet of carry enough food to feed as well as clothe the 5000 whilst allocating me enough space for 1 pair of underpants, singlet and socks...although I still waiting for her to turn water into wine for medicinal purposes only to no avail! So, I recently towed it for 4,200 Klm over 3 weeks up steep hills in extreme temperatures 45 degree heat and all terrains and with the turbo model these hills were not noticed. It is extremely comfortable for all passengers and my two kids under 9 love it, especially albeit perfectly their back seat driving techniques vide watching all instruments inciting entertaining back seat driving conversations genetically passed on by the mobile handbrake aka Clayton driving instructor that has had more prangs than Evil Kaneval in front passenger seat (wife)- but seriously they all love the seat and door pockets. It has the perfect carry space for our “soccer” kit.... yes dad.... alas our AFL gene was not dominant here compared to the dark side (in-laws)! That said, the Forester has never failed us for room.Purchased in October 2021 at Trivett Subaru Paramatta for $47,500.00.
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ClarkKent3792South East Queensland, QLD
- 27 reviews
XT: Amazing ride quality, effortless torque, Swiss Army knife of SUV’s
I researched for 3 months solid prior to this Subaru Forester XT purchase, looking at all options in the market.
Why did I arrive at this decision?
1. Off-road capability was one of the better among its peers( 220mm ground clearance, LSD effect on both axles using suitable parameters on the ABS, and centre proportioning diff. Excellent approach, departure and ramp over angles.
2. The Subaru Forester XT’s Ability to engage ourselves with its driving dynamics via its chassis balance, solid power down ability under all conditions via it's perman...Read more
Purchased in January 2021 at Subaru Dealers.
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Marco NiereGreater Melbourne (Metropolitan), VIC
- 17 reviews
- 1 like
TERRIBLE is an Understatement: AVOID Poor Quality and Over Hyped
AVOID like the plague Poor Quality and Over Hyped: Where do I start. I seriously can not believe how many people are brainwashed and suckered into thinking Subaru are a high quality brand.
First of many negatives: Crap build quality, aesthetically UGLY and multiple faults both before and after the warranty expired. Seriously I can't believe its a Japanese company ( I recon its an Indonesian company posing as a Japanese brand). Never again will i consider this brand (unless they gave me the car for free!), and pity the suckers (like me) who ge...Read more
t sold on all the hype. I had multiple problems: Radiator only lasted 5 years and had to be replaced at high cost, power window motors died out after 4 years, constant electrical problems and the fuel economy is like a V8. Resale value was poor. My cousin also had a Subaru and after the warranty expired the manual transmission packed it in: $10K to repair. Everyone I know who has owned them has has complained about multiple problems. Be warned Service and spare parts are an absolute rip off, the brand is way way over rated hence my new name for the brand Junk-aru. Would only recommend to my enemies and politicians. If there was a negative 5 star rating that would be generous. Do your self a favor buy a real Japanese brand like Mazda or Honda not this imposer. They are really the most overrated hyped up brand would only have one if it was free.Purchased in October 2021 for $41,000.00.
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Really disappointed
We purchased a new Forester recently and within the first couple of days an error appeared which disabled all electronic features. It is taking 3 weeks to get fixed. Not reliable.
Purchased in January 2021.
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AliG
- 2 reviews
- 1 like
Serious Design Flaws and Product Issues
I have a 2012 Forester which I have always looked after it and now having head gasket leaking issues after only 40,000km!!!
always serviced it in the dealership and let me tell you, log book service is really expensive, major ones costed me ~$900 and it is every 6m.never been off road and never towed anything with it…they reported the leak first service after warranty was finished. Now call me cynical but I have a feeling that they kindda ignored it while it was under warranty…I’m finding now it is a common problem due to design and material o...Read more
Purchased in May 2021.
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ShenanigansBrisbane
- 32 reviews
- 2 likes
Great, but not perfect.
We have the 2.5iL model which is one up from the entry level model.
Love the amount of gear you get for the price, interior space is outstanding for a car of it's size.
The headlights are brilliant (pun intended!), ride and handling are great. Fuel economy is good, power is adequate, front seats are comfy, (but a little short for taller people like myself).
The car is reasonably quiet inside, although the engine is a bit loud when accelerating, but quietens down when up to speed.
Really the only real disappointment is the sound system - its clean and loud enough, but it's pretty light on
bass, I would call it almost tinny. This is a real disappointment in a car costing close to $40,000...Read more
Purchased in January 2021.
1 comment
Just an update as more things have become apparent...
My previous vehicle was a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder, so in comparison to that the Forester is a fair bit noisier inside - for both wind and tyre noise. ... Read more
And whilst it does handle better than the Pathfinder, the ride is considerably firmer. One online review I read said that it had a silky, compliant ride that just glides over pot-holes and bumps. That reviewer had obviously not actually driven the car. To be honest I'm not really sure how the Forester compares in these departments to other mid-size SUV's - I haven't driven them. But for anyone (like me) that is downsizing from a large SUV, it's worth noting that it is noisier inside and harder riding. Oh, and Subaru really sucks at cabin ergonomics. Switch gear is awkwardly placed and hard to reach. The engine start button is pretty effectively obscured by the steering wheel. The buttons to the lower left of the steering wheel are hard to see and access. The tyre pressure monitoring switch is inside the (small) glovebox (!) The interior mirror does not have enough adjustment range for taller drivers. And don't even get me started on the Android Auto issues! The switch gear itself does feel good to use and seems to be of good quality, but jeez Subaru - hire a new interior designer!Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
MartinSydney
- 5 reviews
- 1 like
Love our new car!
True, we are only 5 days into our new Forester 2.51 S but wow! Silky smooth to drive, plenty of power, amazing technology covering everything you could need. Real luxury car feel with soft leather and great finishes. Traded in an xc90 and loving our experience.
Did lots of research before buying looked at xc60, x3, discovery sport (awful reliability), Honda CRV, Mazda X5...the Subaru came out on top for us with plenty of space, awd, latest release and features, great price compared to all the others.
So far so great!
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auslanBlue Mountains
- Forester S5 2.5i-L
- Verified purchase
Simply easy to use - teenagers love it
Have just bought this demo car, after using it as a loan car for 2 months. Traded my old car once fixed as this Forester is too good to let go...
Love the safety features, anti-collision (both front and rear), multiple cameras whilst parking or reversing, as well as staying with lanes on motorways and busy roads. We downgraded from a 7 seater SUV to this 5 seater car, kids happy with this.
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Questions & Answers
Sophie M.asked
Hey.
Im looking into buying a 2010 Subaru Forester MY10 2.0D 6 Speed Manual Wagon. It has 285,000 kms on the clock though. Turbo diesel model. Has anyone had any issues with this model? Or has one with similar kms'? Has a lot of km's and thats my only con to the car really! Just trying to see if its worth it or not.
4 answers
That’s a lot of kms and turbos can be expensive to repair and replace. Unless u get the car for next to nothing I wouldnt buy it, it’s a big risk
Also I would suggest that such high KMS would mean the engine would be very old and tired and towards the end of its life, car had probably been thrashed.Definitely worth paying a bit more and get one with lower KMS AND NON TURBO! I wouldn’t pay more than $1000 for it
If highway kms and well serviced, (and the DPF could be a pain on these ( Diesel particulate filter))and if a low price could be plenty of life left. Diesel buyers are typically not hoons, tend to look after their cars, generally. I have seen cars with 200,000 kms that were in incredible condition. Get a independent mechanical inspection, peruse Forester owner forums, then decide.
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SubaruSubaru Australia
Thank you for the excellent review, @Rodney Diaz! The Forester has so many great features and we're so glad to hear that its made your driving experience even better. If we could ask one thing, we wou... Read more
ld love to see your review on Google Reviews. Thanks again.