Subaru Forester Car Review – Kelley Blue Book
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Subaru Forester. Rising gas prices are compelling large SUV owners to turn to small crossovers like the Subaru Forester. An agile vehicle built to handle most anything man or nature can throw at it, the third-generation Forester has a contemporary exterior complemented by a spacious interior and a smooth, quiet ride.
With competent four-cylinder Boxer engines and standard all-wheel drive, the Forester offers the capability of an SUV with fuel economy that won’t break the bank. This segment has seen a lot of growth in the last few years, but the Forester can go places the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Saturn VUE and Nissan Rogue can’t. For more new car reviews, interviews and automotive news visit kbb.com today.
Duration : 0:5:11
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i need an opinion …
i need an opinion from someone who has owned a Forester. how good are they? I’m wanting a AWD that is better than a Jeep Patriot. My Jeep gets 25 MPG and i need a AWD that is fuel efficient.
jeesh!!! this is …
jeesh!!! this is the ugliest suv that ever came out after the fortuner, and its interior so cheap! the older ones are cool but what did they do with this???
I actually like the …
I actually like the older models better. Maybe lift them two inches and they’d be perfect, but it just doesn’t look as good when the entire vehicle is larger. It doesn’t look bad, just not as good as they used to.
Who needs rear dvd? …
Who needs rear dvd? I can buy one at Walmart for $149, with 2 screens….
Cool.
I retract …
Cool.
I retract my grudging approval of the navi system. I used it today and took 4 tries to find a local chain store. Arrgh. It’s not worth the price. but the rest of the XT sort of makes up for it.
I added a 10k resistor in parallel to the RTD in the climate control sensor. Much nicer. I had to do it too quick, i’ll redo it later with a switch to cut it in and out, and drop the parallel resistor to 7-8k ohm, for a little more offset.
Hard part was accessing the wires. Ciao.
Also we get pop up …
Also we get pop up head light washers like the JDM model.
Yeah i had heard …
The manual is more of a drivers car i think but in typical subaru fasion the gear box is somewhat “clunky” great car though with plenty of room 
Yeah i had heard you never got a manual option on the xt in the U.S Dont worry though i would have got an auto had it commanded another $3000. The xt premium i bought with no accessories was $49,750
Tease!
Okay, the …
Tease!
Okay, the 2010XT in the US is only 4 speed. it works good on the highway. only 2700 rpm at 75mph, but still accelerates like spit.
i put in a 10k ohm resistor in parallel with the climate controller. it has dropped the apparent temp 8°F. i’ll put in a 7500 ohm toggled resistor in later.
This drive was so nice, so cool, so fun, so invigorating! It really made a difference. subaru+xyaqua= nirvana!!!!
MY10 it a 2010 …
MY10 it a 2010 model. yes its five speed, i dont think they come in a 6 speed? maybe in japan. I dont know about the 3.6 because it would be a 6 and i like the 4 cyl turbo. im in australia we dont have push button here, but we got the power seat extra storage etc etc. and keyless entry. also the MY09 and MY10 xtp had different suspension. Also the MY10 has, bluetooth hands free, reverse camera, chrome exhaust tips and a few other little things the MY09 only optioned.
Okay, i’ll bite.. …
Okay, i’ll bite..
What is a MY10 XT?
manual? how many speeds?
They may offer a 3.6 normally aspirated version in 2011 or 2012. I’d prefer being able to use regular octane gas, but i won’t upgrade, the 2010 XT is fast enough for me.
Wants:
2-3 gallons bigger tank.
5 speed tranny
Keyless entry AND ignition (RFID- no pushbutton) like Infinity has.
other little things:
10 way power passenger seat.
More storage pockets
more stereo, or a replaceable unit.
early 2009 XT’s had …
early 2009 XT’s had a oil issue to the compressor- pre-mature failures. The later 2009’s and 2010s are okay. Subaru made good on every failure.
Yes, this is true …
Yes, this is true to a degree. The interface is still un-intuitive, the complexity of display is 5 years dated.
But i have a mount for my Nuvi 200 up at the windscreen, and use the two at the same time when exploring rural backroads at different magnifications.
Tomorrow i add a resistor to the climate control system to offset the minimum “65F” setting. It is really about 71F, and way too warms for active people.
500 miles through a snowstorm last week… VERY STABLE poor-weather ride!
once you get used …
once you get used to the satnav its actually very good its just set up differently to independant units.
i have this exact …
i have this exact car Mine is a MY10 xt premium (limited) but mines manual.
yes depending where …
yes depending where you live and what model you buy, but the 2010 is also more expensive.
are there any major …
are there any major differences between 2009 and 2010 versions?
Avoid vaccines, …
Avoid vaccines, they contain aluminum, mercury, MSG, asptartame/formaldehyde, squalene, mutagens etc that cause diseases like lupus, arthritus, Gulf War syndrome, Guillain-Barre, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, asthma, allergies, cancer, ADD/autism etc. The WHO is still pushing the genocidal h1n1 vaccine when they should promote vitamin D3, garlic , silver products etc to oust za verevolves & vampires!
I have a 2009 …
I have a 2009 Forester XT. It is a versitile a fast vehicle that can handle any road or weather condition. It is comfortable, although not as luxurious as the BMW I owned before getting this buggy. I am very satisfied with the vehicle and with my dealer.
i’ve just been told …
i’ve just been told by my local subaru dealer that I will soon need a new clutch , for my 52 plate AWD All Weather Forester, and it is likely to cost me in excess of £1,000. Can anyone confirm as to whether this is a fair price ? I never expected to pay this much. Any advice would be welcome.
It’s for faster …
It’s for faster acceleration. You’re pretty lucky to get a 2010 Forester, very good gas mileage. I have a 2005 Nissan X-Trail 4×4 and it gets the job done.
The floozy will get …
The floozy will get her 7-inch heels stuck in the Swiss cheese floor pedals.
Just got a 2010 …
Just got a 2010 2.5x, great car, love the moon roof, but why a 4 speed? Manual mode is silly with just 4 gears.
The 2009/2010 Turbo …
The 2009/2010 Turbo Forester is a 4 speed auto only, with manumatic shifting. (like a motorcycle)
In reality, the gearing feels like a 5 speed with 2nd gear missing. it downshifts well to 2nd, but down to 1st gear is a BIG drop. it is not meant to be a canyon racer but it is a fast vehicle, and will be very fast in the mountains.
It is not a luxury SUV, but it is a very well appointed version of a truly capable AWD vehicle with traction control, with a turbo engine tuned for high torque.+++
2010 XT limited. …
2010 XT limited. at about 750 miles, i wound it up to 105mph, without breaking the 4000 rpm break in limit! LOTS of torque! Excellent driver visability. Much roomier than it was.
The downs:
1. The Navi system is shameful. it works, but nowhere near as well as a $150 garmin nuvi.
2. Not as fast as the Rav4 V6, it is not meant for racing.
3. Premium fuel requirement and 23 mpg actual @ 75mph with a/c, 10mph added cruise speed drops mpg fast!
Verdict: Excellent sub-luxury small SUV, fast
and it doesnt get …
and it doesnt get near the gass mileage that it sais it does i get maybe 15 -20 on a cold day shifting at 2300 to 2500 rpm with a 5 speed trans. another thing the thin quarter pannels dent vary easy. the doors and hood stand up prety well against hail i only got like 3 dints in last hail storm but quarter pannels are paper thin. and resale value sucks so prety much dont but this car its a waste i loved it for 2 years now its trash and im stuck with it dont buy this car!