Is the Subaru Forester a comfortable car to drive?
The Subaru Forester has long been a popular choice among drivers seeking a reliable, versatile, and practical vehicle. But when it comes to comfort, how does it measure up? As an experienced auto service provider, I’ve had the opportunity to work on countless Subaru Foresters and hear feedback directly from their owners. Let’s dive into what makes the Subaru Forester a comfortable car—or not—based on its design, features, and driving experience.
Interior Design and Space
One of the standout features of the Subaru Forester is its spacious and thoughtfully designed interior. The cabin is roomy, offering ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. This makes it an excellent choice for families or anyone who frequently travels with passengers. Additionally, the Forester’s large windows and high seating position provide excellent visibility, which not only enhances safety but also reduces driver fatigue on long trips.
Seating Comfort
The seats in the Subaru Forester are designed with comfort in mind. They are well-cushioned and supportive, making them suitable for long drives. Higher trims often come with additional features like power-adjustable seats, lumbar support, and even heated seating options, which can significantly enhance comfort during colder months. However, some drivers may find the base model’s seats a bit firm, so it’s worth considering an upgrade if comfort is a top priority.
Ride Quality
The Forester’s suspension system is tuned to provide a smooth and composed ride, even on rough or uneven roads. This makes it a great option for those who frequently drive on gravel roads or in areas with less-than-perfect pavement. The all-wheel-drive system, a standard feature in all Subaru vehicles, also contributes to a stable and confident driving experience, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Noise Levels
While the Subaru Forester excels in many areas of comfort, one potential drawback is cabin noise. At highway speeds, some drivers have reported that road and wind noise can be more noticeable compared to competitors in the same class. However, newer models have made improvements in sound insulation, so this may not be as significant an issue depending on the model year.
Technology and Convenience Features
Comfort isn’t just about seating and ride quality—it’s also about the features that make your drive more enjoyable. The Subaru Forester comes equipped with a range of technology and convenience features, including:
- A user-friendly infotainment system with a touchscreen interface.
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration for seamless smartphone connectivity.
- Dual-zone climate control in higher trims, allowing personalized temperature settings for driver and passenger.
- Advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, which reduce stress during long drives.
Conclusion
Overall, the Subaru Forester is a comfortable car to drive, offering a spacious interior, supportive seating, and a smooth ride. While it may have some minor drawbacks, such as cabin noise at higher speeds, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Whether you’re commuting to work, embarking on a road trip, or tackling off-road adventures, the Forester is a reliable and comfortable companion. If you’re considering purchasing one, I’d recommend taking it for a test drive to experience its comfort firsthand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Subaru Forester noisy?
The Forester is a fantastic SUV—great safety ratings, excellent all-wheel drive, and solid fuel efficiency—but it's not the quietest option in its class. Compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, the Forester tends to let in more noise, especially at higher speeds.
Which has the smoother ride, Outback or Forester?
Due to its longer wheelbase, lower height, and more substantial weight, driving the Outback could feel smoother over rough roads and trails compared to the Forester.
What are the disadvantages of a Subaru?
There are ample Subaru Legacy pros and cons to consider. The car comes with the best safety technology, standard all-wheel drive, and tons of room in the front and back. However, it also lacks a manual transmission, a seriously underpowered entry engine option, and a troublesome driving attitude.
Why are Subaru Foresters not selling?
The popular Forester's five-month drop in sales performance has a lot to do with the economy. Many seniors look at the Forester and compare the price with the Crosstrek and can get an excellent all-wheel-drive vehicle for about $5,000 less—and even more so on the upper Touring trim level.
Is Subaru discontinuing the Forester?
Subaru Corporation will continue to produce the Forester in Japan for its domestic customers and customers in Europe, Asia, and Australia. That means all Forester made in the U.S. will stay here. Forester production is going up. Subaru Corporation's production of the all-new 2025 Forester has increased.
Is Subaru a comfortable ride?
Consumer Reports says the 2025 Subaru Outback is the best most comfortable midsize 2-Row SUV you can buy. "Comfort is an important element in driver safety," says Alex Knizek, CR's associate director of auto test development. "You can be more attentive to driving if you're not distracted by a sore back or achy legs.
Does the Subaru Forester have a comfortable ride?
Instead of radically changing the formula, Subaru set out to make the 2025 Forester more comfortable, quieter inside, more premium feeling, and even a little bit more fun. And I can now confirm that the redesigned Forester is indeed decently quiet, comfortable, and more fun to drive than I expected it to be.
Why is the Subaru Forester so popular?
For those in the market for a new or used small yet versatile SUV that's affordable, rugged, comfortable, and known for its high safety ratings and sustainability, the Forester checks off all those boxes.
Are Subarus good on rough roads?
Yes almost every subaru can handle Forrest roads and gravel roads easily, the AWD really gives extra confidence. For what it's worth, I take my lowered wrx off road all the time, to go camping or exploring and my only concern is really ground clearance.
What is the weakness of a Subaru Forester?
Excessive oil consumption, unexpected acceleration, engine stalling while driving, the check engine light staying on, engine reluctance when accelerating, and the engine catching fire or malfunctioning are among the top engine issues expressed by 2015 Forester owners.
