Review of the Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a compact SUV that's oriented towards those looking for a car with off-road capabilities. Coming with four-wheel drive, a comfortable ride, and self-charging hybrid technology, the Forester strikes a good balance between sustainability and practicality. 

Rivals to the Forester include the Ford Kuga, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Rav4, and Nissan X-Trail. 

Our Subaru Forester review covers:

• Rugged exterior with huge ground clearance and an imposing front grille 
• Well-built and practical interior 
• 509-litre boot 
• 2.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine 
• Three trim levels 

Pros:

• Good off-road capabilities
• Spacious and well-built interior 
• Four-wheel drive as standard 

Cons:

• Poor fuel economy for a hybrid 
• Strange dashboard 
• Lack of high-quality materials 

The Forester has a rugged exterior, coming with massive ground clearance, large wheel arches, an imposing front grille, and roof rails. It's aptly named because it looks like it belongs parked outside a log cabin in the woods. 

There's plenty of room inside the Forester. Two passengers in the front have plenty of space for manoeuvre, and there's even enough space for two six-footers in the rear. Add a third passenger in the rear, and they'll have limited legroom, but even so, they should be able to get comfortable. 

Boot space comes in at 509 litres, which is slightly smaller than the Nissan X-Trail and Toyota Rav4. Regardless, it's practical for loading larger items thanks to its square opening and being without a load lip. 

The cabin of the Forester is pleasant and comfortable; however, it's not as premium as some of its rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe. Everything is well-built and easy to clean, but when you start poking around, there are a few too many cheaper materials. 

All versions come with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that has a DAB radio, Bluetooth, voice recognition technology, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. All in all, it's quite a basic system, but it does its job by displaying sharp graphics and is responsive. 

Above the infotainment system is another 6.2-inch display showing the hybrid system's energy flow. The screen serves its purpose, but it looks a bit odd, being above the infotainment system. 

Three trim levels are available: Lineartronic, Sport Lineartronic, and Premium Lineartronic. 

Lineartronic has 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fabric seats, and heated front seats.  

Sport Lineartronic has 18-inch dark-painted alloy wheels, privacy glass, a heated steering wheel, a power tailgate, and sat-nav. 

Premium Lineartronic adds 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a sunroof, leather seats, and heated rear seats. 

Under the bonnet, you get a 2.0-litre petrol engine that's linked to a small electric motor to make it a hybrid. It's paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and has all-wheel drive. 

A 148bhp engine paired with a 16bhp electric motor, it comes with a top speed of 117mph and completes 0-62mph in 11.8 seconds. You'll find that it pulls off the line quickly, but as you get above 50mph, it starts to run out of puff, unlike the Ford Kuga.  

Official fuel economy comes in at 34.7mpg, but in the real world, it's more likely to be around 30mpg. 

The Forester stands out from its rivals thanks to its excellent four-wheel drive system. Giving it that extra bit of traction, it feels secure on the road, even in the most extreme conditions. 

The handling is pretty decent, and it feels nice and light when driving around town. Four-wheel drive does help and prevents body lean when cornering around town. As you increase speed, handling worsens, and you'll find it a bit vague, while road noise is quite loud. 

For its suspension, the Forester strikes a good balance between comfort and practicality. It deals with bumps in the road pretty well, and the large ground clearance means it can tackle obstacles when off-road. 

Prices for the new Subaru Forester start from £38,445.00 OTR* or to lease from £531.81 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Subaru Forester? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.