Consumer Reports New Cars – November 2019

COMPACT SUV

Subaru

Forester

! 0

CR.ORG/CARS NEW CARS 23

10 02 30 04 05

WORSE BETTER

0!

RECOMMENDED

SUBARU MADE A LOT of
improvements beneath the
Forester’s familiar exterior
design for 2019, but it didn’t
alter the SUV’s sensible,
no-nonsense character.
As a result, this well-
executed small SUV boasts
a roomy interior, great fuel
economy, and a full roster of
standard safety equipment.
The spacious cabin has
easy-to-use controls, plenty of
headroom, and phenomenal
visibility from all angles. Most
versions come with a power
seat that’s comfortable and
supportive. Rear-seat access
is easy, and there’s plenty of
head- and legroom.
Split rear seats fold almost
flat, leaving a slightly inclined
cargo surface. An optional
power liftgate reveals a wide,
square-shaped space capable
of swallowing bulky items.
With the rear seat folded
down, it’s possible to fit a
bicycle with both wheels on.
The Forester’s 9.2-second
0-60 mph time may trail
some competitors, but its
2.5-liter four-cylinder engine
still feels responsive in
everyday driving. Overall
fuel economy of 28 mpg is
impressive, tying the Honda
CR-V EX for the best mileage
of any small SUV that isn’t
a diesel or a hybrid.
Only under heavy
acceleration—such as making
a quick merge—does the
otherwise-unobtrusive CVT
amplify engine noise.
The Forester’s ride is one
of the best in its class, and
the SUV is adept at absorbing

road imperfections. Its

handling is more responsive

than the previous Forester’s,

with less body roll and

quicker steering in corners.

Refinement is where the

Forester falters. Despite

upgraded soft-touch surfaces

and additional padding,

some interior materials

look cheap. FCW, AEB, lane

departure warning (LDW),

and lane keeping assist

(LKA) come standard. BSW

is not available on the base

trim, is optional on Premium

and Sport trims, and is

standard on Limited and

Touring versions.

BEST VERSION TO GET

The Limited trim

adds standard

BSW, plus

convenience

and luxury items

such as leather

seats, a bigger

infotainment

screen, and dual-

zone automatic

climate control.

VITAL STATS

OVERALL

SCORE

ROAD-TEST

SCORE

Price as tested

$29,340

Trim line Premium

Drivetrain 182-hp,

2.5-liter 4-cyl.

engine; CVT; AWD

Overall fuel

economy 28 mpg

Reasons to Buy

Among the best

in its class for fuel

economy

Spacious interior

Comfortable ride

Great visibility

Standard safety

features

Reason to Skip

(^8990) Engine noise