Experience with Redesigned Subaru Forester

[Anonymous]

Subaru redesigned the Forester for 2019. We’re considering buying a 2021. Any feedback on the ownership experience? Any must have features or trim level?

[Anonymous]

I have a 2019 Forester in the Limited trim. I chose Limited over the Premium and Sport features because I wanted the larger wheels and leather seats. I didn’t do Touring because I didn’t need navigation although I wouldn’t have minded the upgraded sound system. I also wanted the additional safety options like lane departure assist, blind spot monitor, and I wanted a power lift gate.

I love my Forester and absolutely love Apple Car play. I use Waze which displays in the monitor - functions just like built in navigation and includes voice control. My calls, music, and text can also be controlled by voice commands.

The Touring models are beautiful but I just didn’t need the additional items.

[Anonymous]

The redesign’s main goal was to put all Subaru’s on their universal platform (ie, chassis and other mechanical parts) in order to save the company money in the long run. 2020 was the model year switch for the Outback, the Forester switched a year earlier.

The biggest noticeable difference is that the redesign has a massive touchscreen system. They eliminated a lot of the physical buttons and knobs and replaced with touchscreen controls. I didn’t like it, so we bought the last remaining 2019 Outback on the lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The redesign’s main goal was to put all Subaru’s on their universal platform (ie, chassis and other mechanical parts) in order to save the company money in the long run. 2020 was the model year switch for the Outback, the Forester switched a year earlier.

The biggest noticeable difference is that the redesign has a massive touchscreen system. They eliminated a lot of the physical buttons and knobs and replaced with touchscreen controls. I didn’t like it, so we bought the last remaining 2019 Outback on the lot.

I’m the PP and I love the touchscreen, there are also steering wheel controls you can use to change volume and radio stations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The redesign’s main goal was to put all Subaru’s on their universal platform (ie, chassis and other mechanical parts) in order to save the company money in the long run. 2020 was the model year switch for the Outback, the Forester switched a year earlier.

The biggest noticeable difference is that the redesign has a massive touchscreen system. They eliminated a lot of the physical buttons and knobs and replaced with touchscreen controls. I didn’t like it, so we bought the last remaining 2019 Outback on the lot.

I’m the PP and I love the touchscreen, there are also steering wheel controls you can use to change volume and radio stations.

I think you are just saying that alternatives to the touchscreen exist, which is true. But, the be clear, the steering wheel controls are not new. I have them on my 2012 Imprezza

[Anonymous]

Subaru has grown too bloated. It has lost its niche. I am still happily driving my 2003 Forester and saving on annual car insurance premiums.

[Anonymous]

I have a a 2020 Touring Edition Forester. While I mostly love it, I've had a lot of glitchy stuff happen, which when researching seems to be fairly common. Things like- the trunk lift gate not opening, stereo functions not working when car is in reverse and stereo going on and off. The other thing that i don't love is the ventilation in the back seats- it gets REALLY hot back there and the AC just doesn't cut it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a a 2020 Touring Edition Forester. While I mostly love it, I've had a lot of glitchy stuff happen, which when researching seems to be fairly common. Things like- the trunk lift gate not opening, stereo functions not working when car is in reverse and stereo going on and off. The other thing that i don't love is the ventilation in the back seats- it gets REALLY hot back there and the AC just doesn't cut it.

it's called de-contenting. Cheaper parts, remove the rear HVAC outlets, etc.

[Anonymous]

I have a 2015 Subaru Forester. We did a lot of research before buying the car and I was really excited about it. However, we have had nothing but problems with it since I bought it. A lot of stupid things (the sensor that reads the key signal died so the car wouldn't start, had to have it towed with only 20k miles on it), the bluetooth died after three years and it was going to be expensive to fix, the power tail gate only works part of the time. I now have almost 100,000 miles on it and I was recently told that my car is both burning and leaking a lot of oil. It has been well maintained, we followed all factory mainetance. That said, I will NEVER AGAIN buy a Subaru. I had an Acura before this that I traded in with 170,000 miles on it that was in much better shape than my Subaru. I will be trading this in earlier than I planned and buying another Acura or Honda.