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Reviews

4.2

288 reviews
5
(151)
4
(83)
3
(24)
2
(15)
1
(15)
  • Build Quality
    4.4 (25)
  • Value for Money
    4.1 (25)
  • Cleaning & Maintenance
    4.3 (24)
  • Noise Level
    4.2 (25)
  • Acceleration / Power
    4.3 (26)
  • Handling
    4.6 (25)
  • Braking
    4.7 (26)
  • Suspension
    4.6 (26)
  • Gear Shifting
    4.4 (23)
  • Fuel Efficiency
    3.8 (26)
  • Interior Design
    3.9 (25)
  • Boot Size
    4.3 (25)
  • Features
    4.2 (25)
  • Comfort
    4.4 (25)
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Reviewer Photos & Videos

Travis

TravisPerth, WA

  • 9 reviews

Terrible stereo can only be paired to 1 phone!

published

The vehicle is a good solid ride. People who want to spice it up and select sports mode, or switch to economy mode, there is none of that. Put it in drive and there is only one setting. The stock tyres Geolanders seemed to generate a bit of road noise. The biggest annoyance is the stereo. It is crazy hard to setup and pair bluetooth and the system only has room to store one phone. The bluetooth always disconnects 5 minutes into the drive but switching off the stereo and doing some random things seems to reconnect it. Thank goodness it is relatively easy to replace it really is well below expectations from a modern vehicle.



Badge2.5i Luxury
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedDec 2016
Raza

RazaSydney

Very Disappointed !

published

Extremely disappointed after purchasing new XT Premium 2016 model.
Very very annoying CVT transmission, jerky, you cant able to control the slow speed.
Very very bad steering and poor handling, have to hold steering with both hands all the times because it always shaky.
Bad Fuel economy
Bad road control, vehicle shakes alot on highways.
Sat NAV is totally useless
Herman Cardin speakers are not impressive, it sounds like pretty standard speakers.

BadgeXT Premium
Engine Size2.0
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedNov 2016
Shantell W

Shantell W

  • 5 reviews
  • 4 likes

Perfect car for everyday.

published

I love my forester. I purchased it just under 1year ago and I couldn't be happier. Previously I owned and Mitsubishi outlander, I wasn't never 100% happy with it but I have now found my perfect car. It has got everything I have wanted in my car and I and able to use it for my daily drive as well as taking it camping and fishing in the weekend with my major adjustment. The biggest down fall would have to be the fact that it has Pandora installed but is no longer available in Australia and no way of removing it or adding other apps to replace it. I have also be unable to sync my new phone to the Bluetooth system which is a huge inconvenience for me, as I spend a lot of time in my car daily.



Badge2.5i-L
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedJul 2017
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2014 forester

published

Great car, love it, paid 37k for a car that we thought would last 10 to 15 years or at least 150k . but at 12k had to have a new motor fitted due to failed main bearings. At 0k we complained that the new motor sounded like the old one, at 34k another new motor, failed main bearings,cams and supports, Now number 3 new motor at 0km make same bottom end rattle as the other 2, glad for the 5 year warranty but what happens when that runs out, CVT trans has a lot to be desired as wll, slow shifting from R to D, lurching at lite throttle, will never buy another Subaru

Badge2.5i Luxury
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedOct 2014
Sarena

SarenaSydney

  • 8 reviews
  • 1 like

MY18 Forester XT - best decision ever

published

With Bub arriving, it was time for an upgrade. This was the best decision ever. The seats are really comfortable, especially sitting at the back with Bub. I am easily car sick and the forester was sturdy enough for me that I wouldn’t be sick in the back even if I was travelling for an hour. Favourite features are the front arm rest in the middle, leg room at the back, and keyless lock and unlock technology.

Only negative I can say is the GPS isn’t great and sometimes gives a route that doesn’t make sense. Otherwise we’re very happy

BadgeXT Premium
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedFeb 2018
rbvm

rbvmSydney

  • 2 reviews
  • 4 likes

Excellent SUV

published

2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i L Special edition handling very good quality excellent great fuel economy great dealership service Bathurst Subaru .Like the compact size good leg room .Style is appealing, simply love the new alloy wheels as standard they are so easy to keep clean, sorry no apple car play.

Badge2.5i-L
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedMay 2018
Gone_to_the_beach

Gone_to_the_beachSydney

  • 5 reviews

One of the most comfortable drives

published

Very comfortable car to drive - visibility, headroom, legroom all great. A little too responsive sometimes and expected the AWD to feel more capable but it struggles up our steep drive. Good clearance for dirt road drives though. All round very pleased with this car and felt we got the best choice.

BadgeGT
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedJan 2018

Designed by gen. X or Y

published
Badge2.5i-S
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedDec 2015
Emily

Emily

  • 3 reviews

Love it.

published

Great car. Managed to take my 2008 forester on the beach, it went well for an AWD! Big interior, lovely style and quite cheap for uptake. Very good car and glad I invested in it!
The best part is how the car drives in wet weather! Never slides, and is very safe. Lots of air bags too.

Badge2.0D
Engine Size2.0
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedApr 2017
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Zac

ZacLaunceston

  • 2 reviews
  • 1 like

Love it

published

Great price lovely to drive heaps of room looks good good with fuel economy i couldn't think of a better option when it comes to buying a new car today to go to the bakery after work with more pallets and ill need the vic rego papers today mate hope you have a great day

Badge2.5i-S
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedApr 2018
maroubra

maroubrasydney

  • 5 reviews
  • 3 likes

Perfect family car

published

This is probably the best car i have owned and i look forward to upgrading to the next model when its time.
The design maximizes the interior space with the rear seats folding completely flat. The design is comfortable and practical for our outdoor lifestyle and kids. Having a shorter wheel base makes it easy to park and drive in the city.
There is plenty of safety features and tech that I need. As for fuel. It's very efficient.

Badge2.5i Luxury
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedJan 2017
Raj

RajSydney

  • 3 reviews
  • 4 likes

This car is everything I was looking for !

published

Stability of this car is very good especially when it is raining or when the roads are rough.
From the driver's seat, visibility is good for almost 360 degrees ! I love that. No other cars in this category can give so much visibility.Many other brands in this category have a hatch back window which restricts the rear visibility.
Running costs are very reasonable !

Badge2.5i-S
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedJul 2015
Shayno

ShaynoMelbourne

  • 2 reviews

Best car I've owned

published
BadgeXS
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedJun 2012
russy1

russy1Blayney

  • 3 reviews

a brilliant motor vehicle

published

A brilliant car purchased it in October 2015 with 169,000 km on the clock and now has nearly 250,000 km on the clock. Only non maintenance item that has needed to be replaced is the clutch at 210,000 km and it was the original clutch that was replaced. I have found servicing to be very reasonable since owning it and managed to have the timing belt done for less than $800 just recently. Mind you i am not using the dealer for servicing as you don't get the same service as you would from an independent mechanic

Badgex ski fx
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionManual
Date PurchasedOct 2015
4 comments
russy1
russy1

I still have this car. Just reached 300,000 km and still going strong

russy1
russy1
Subaru Australia
SubaruSubaru Australia
elijah

elijahMelbourne

  • 2 reviews

Great car but technology is not simple.

published

Unless you are good with technology and are a quick learner this car may not be for you. It can be very helpful if you understand what you're doing with the car, but to be honest it can be a pain in the back if you are not to switched on with the smaller details of the car. Still happy with the car but also learning new things about it everyday!

Badge2.0D-L
Engine Size2.0
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedDec 2017
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Donna H

Donna HChiltern

  • 7 reviews
  • 3 likes

The worst car I have driven in a long time.

published
BadgeGT
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedDec 2016
Poolowner

PoolownerAU

  • 6 reviews
  • 3 likes

2016 great improvement over 2010

published
Badge2.5i-S
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedMar 2016
Ash

AshNSW, 2070

  • 5 reviews

My ultimate car!

published

Living in Sydney and being someone who loves to get out in the wilderness and explore I needed a car that was going to cater for both! I've found that car in my Forester XT. Such a spacious, well designed and reliable car. Small enough to navigate through narrow Sydney streets but gutsy enough to go a little off road and get me to where I need to go!

BadgeXT
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedJan 2018
rgirardo

rgirardoGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC

  • 6 reviews

What a great car so solid, just watch out the doors open really wide and can bang into other parked

published

Driving experience - this car is far Superior then our old Ford Escape, it drives smoothly and is higher off the floor so you can see further ahead, which gives you better ability to predict the traffic.
Just watch out when you open the doors they open very wide and you can easily hit other car that are parked nearby, especially dangerous when you have kids who are determined to open their own doors but not strong enough to stop the force of the door. I like the feature that tells us how many km's we have left before the fuel will run out.
The reliability has been fine we have only had the car for a couple of weeks it is way more economical then the old Ford Escape.

Badge2.5i
Engine Size2.5
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedJan 2018
Craig

CraigPerth

  • 4 reviews

Subaru Forester 2017 base model

published

Great driving with my 2 young kids 4 bikes on the back and a canoe on the roof.
Very good reversing camera.
Good fuel economy and roomy inside.
Excellent vision to see out when driving which makes you feel very safe.
Wonderful to have a full sized spare.
Best car we have owned

Badge2.5i-L
Engine Size2.0
TransmissionAutomatic
Date PurchasedJun 2017
Page 3 of 15
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Questions & Answers

Ron

Ronasked

Forester

Before getting to my queries, I love my MY19 Forester Premium, bought May last year, under 6500kms as I have not done any long trips and the country is now in lock down. Fuel consumption from day one worked down from 9.6l/km to 8.5l/km as the motor "ran in".

Queries
Is it possible for a front seat passenger to lock the car? (My 2013 dual cab has this security feature)
As I drive out of my home street there is a very slight ridge in the road and as I go over it there is a very minor thump. Will have the dealer check it at one year service but just ask if this would be normal with this type of suspension?
I had the impression that there was a "maximum speed" button but I have not been able to find it. It would be a pretty good feature for roadworks speed restricted areas.
The Infotainment/navigation system seems to have an obscure and sealed operating system. Can an owner put any more programs on the system? If it was Windows or Android then I could use Oziexplorer on it.
Thanks for your advice on these matters.

Ron

3 answers
Ron
Ron

Angie E. received a response directly from Subaru Australia and I hoped I may be lucky with a similar response.

Subaru Australia
SubaruSubaru Australia

Hi @ Ron, Thank you so much for your review and congratulations on your new Forester - a great choice!
Passengers can only lock/unlock their own door using the lock/unlock lever. With the minor thump, it is best to have your Subaru service retailer check that out for you as its difficult to say if there’s an issue without firsthand knowledge. The MY19 Forester does have a Manual Speed Limiter function which is a part of the eyesight technology so please check the Eyesight Manual and/or your dealer can also help you with it. As for the infotainment unit, it’s not possible to add any software aside from what is provided by the factory through any updates. We hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. The Subaru Team.

Ron
Ron

Many thanks

Angie E.

Angie E.asked

Forester S4 2.0D (2013-2018)

I took a 2016 forester diesel for a test drive, its MY17 i believe. Its a manual...and i loved how it drove! My question is, how do i know if its a 2.0D or 2.0D-L model? Does the vin number give any indication?

3 answers
Subaru Australia
SubaruSubaru Australia

Hi @Angie E., The MY17 Forester diesel comes in the 2.0D-L or 2.0D-S variants. You're welcome to private message us through Facebook or send us an email at [email protected] with the VIN and we can confirm for you. The Subaru Team.

Angie E.
Angie E.

So it would be the 2.0D L, as it doesnt have the sunroof and driver assist etc.

Subaru Australia
SubaruSubaru Australia

Hi @Angie E., If it does not have a sunroof then yes, it would be a 2.0D-L. To be sure, it would be best to send us your VIN as previously advised. The Subaru Team.

Bob B

Bob Basked

Forester S5 2.5i Premium (2018-2020)

Just upgraded from a Subaru liberty 2015 (entry model) to a 2020 Forester premium. Very happy with the vehicle in general, however the radio quality and coverage is not great. I find that I need to source new stations frequently when driving, 40-60 Km is about the range. The liberty had a good range and sound. The vehicle supplier could not assist me with this issue. Learning all the new features and instructions was a daunting task and the manuals were difficult to follow. The best source of learning was from American and Canada u tube sites. Pity the car did not come with simple video instruction, it would have saved a lot of time and stress. Love the ride and cabin comfort and low road noise.

3 answers
Subaru Australia
SubaruSubaru Australia

Hi @Bob B, Congratulations on your new Subaru! We're so glad to hear that you're happy with your Forester. All our retailers provide a free one month check and chat service for new vehicles where they can go through any concerns you have. We do appreciate your feedback about instructional videos which we will be sure to look into. Feel free to contact our Customer Relations Team if you have any other questions at [email protected]. The Subaru Team.

Bob B
Bob B

Sorry, I did contact the retailer about this issue and they could not provide me with an answer, this is why I contacted Subaru Australia.

Subaru Australia
SubaruSubaru Australia

Hi @Bob B, We're sorry to hear that your Subaru retailer was unable to assist. Just to clarify, have you contacted our Customer Relations Team already? The Subaru Team.

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