2021 Subaru Forester Sport Review - Good Little SUV, But Don't Be Fooled By The Name

The 2021 Subaru Forester Sport is a great appliance to get you and 4 friends anywhere in relaxed comfort. It is not, however, sporty as the name suggests. Let's cover what's fact and what's fiction with this Subaru Forester Sport
Follow Downshift to see what's coming next!
Facebook: / dwnshftmke
Instagram: www.instagram....
TikTok: www.tiktok.com...
Website: downshiftmedia...
If you want to support the channel, visit our Patreon: / downshiftmke
#Subaru #Forester #ForesterSport
---
I want to walk you through some of the nuance since we haven’t been able to cover much background yet
So here in the US we have the Big 3: Ford, GM, and kinda now Stellantis, but over in Japan they have Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, and Subaru.
Subaru falls on the smaller side of these brands, but that doesnt mean they dont produce strong and compelling products.
Subaru’s brand identity, aside from being the dog lover brand is split into 2 categories which play into each other.
On the enthusiast side, Sub aru has a deep and rich world rally championship heritage. If your shrink said let’s play a word association game and then said “rally” you’d say WRX or STI
This legacy has been accomplished due to a lot of facets but more than anything else their symmetrical AWD system.
This brings us to the second category. Everyone wants an SUV and everyone wants AWD.
The beauty of Subaru is everything they sell has that symmetrical AWD system, even the base models.
And, since that AWD system is symmetrical that means it sends equal torque to the front and rear which means balance but also that’s exactly what a 4WD system does in your trucks and offroaders
So if you live anywhere you might have to deal with something other than sunshine and blue skies, Subaru should definitely be on your list.
But that’s more than enough background, let’s hand the keys to Paolo to get into what this Forester Sport is
This is the Forester Sport, but dont think that gets you a bigger engine. Every Forester gets the same 2.5L boxer 4 cylinder making 182 hp and 176 lbft and takes over 8 seconds to get to 60...so think of the Sport part of Forester Sport as an appearance package, but we’ll get to that
In terms of transmission, you have the brand standard CVT which is fine for the everyday person, but when you really look to test as we have, you start to notice some weird tuning at low speeds.
You also have paddle shifters which a lot of other brands use for their CVTs as well, but like...why?
And then from there your power goes evenly to all 4 wheels like Matt mentioned which is awesome here in WI in the winter and makes this Forester a great softroader
Now aside from a sporty body kit and the badge this really isnt sporty. It uses a fixed spring and damper setting which actually does a good job balancing the car between firm enough to put it through a corner and soft enough to be comfortable on bad pavement
As far as the general behind the wheel impressions, it’s nice. It’s relaxing to drive even if simply for the fact that it feels HUGE in here. The dash is low, the roof is high, and we’ll get into that when we talk interior

[@dwnshft]

Special thanks to our Patrons for their support of the channel! Would the Bluetooth issue be enough to keep you from buying this car?

[@curiosityredpill7030]

Suzuki and Mitsubishi is also recognized in other parts of the world like the other Japan brands you mention

[@LTLBproductions]

I hear people complain about Subaru’s dashes a lot. I like Subaru’s because they don’t really have a modern dash. I hate the futuristic iPad dashes cars come with nowadays. What can I say I need buttons.

[@ekimandersom4478]

Yes, they are smart, keep it simple.

[@JonathanDavisJJ]

They missed the main, or one of the main features, of the Sport trim, you gain dual X-Mode with the deep snow and mud option.

[@bobdennis4801]

We have a 2019 Forester Sport. My wife loves it and I really like it for our road trip vehicle. Get 30 mpg around 80 mph. Very comfortable for road trips and I’m 6’2” and not a thin man. Very happy with the eyesight system and the fact Subaru gives you that standard at all trims should be talked about more by reviewers I think. As far as paddle shifters we like them for the winter. Use them to slow down on icy roads and use less braking.

[@dwnshft]

glad you like your car! Yeah the engine braking is the only application i can see for the paddles

[@bobdennis4801]

@@dwnshft we agree also on the roomy ness. We were going back and forth between the Forester and the Crosstrek. The Crosstrek as much snugger feeling and even less pep off the line, not that the Forester is a peppy vehicle either.

[@ginnie5099]

Same here two yrs now and loving it. Nice infotainment layout, fuel economy. Glad we got it before the pandemic and the current chip shortage...

[@KirbyHogan88]

How do you think this sport model would work with a child? Enough room for carseat in the back and room up front for the passenger still? For stroller/ bags in the back comfortably?

[@bobdennis4801]

@@KirbyHogan88 yes. I’m 6’2” and Im comfortable with kids in back.

[@e39_toph]

This video pissed me off when you got into the car. Auto dimming mirrors all around are offered in the sport. I’ve had my 2020 forester sport since it was released and I have never had a single issue with Bluetooth. And who cares ab the stock infotainment system, everyone’s just gonna use apply CarPlay or android auto anyways. Not a Subaru til I die kinda guy but goddamn you’re giving people the wrong idea on those things making them a bigger deal than you should.

[@Kevinator1996]

I was thinking the same thing. They seem real upset with how the infotainment isn’t as luxurious and nice looking as Hyundai/Mercedes. Those are such minor complaints lmao.

[@victorherrero4790]

For me the analogue dash rocks!! I rather have this hybrid analogue with lcd dash rather than the new huge ipad like dashboards. The Stereo screen looks dated but works just fine. The CVT is not my cup of tea but Subaru has the best CVT transmission in the market. A solid reliable all around Suv.

[@SuperDB215]

Man y’all were tough on this car. I’ve owned it since 2020, thinking about upgrading to something new soon. And I still think this car was worth every penny I paid for it. Not to mention the infotainment system is fine… I’m connected to Apple car play most of the time anyway.

[@Santanabat]

Have a 2021 forester sport now at 20,000 miles after 2.5 years and it’s beautiful. No issues at all besides the regular oil change and a cabin filter change

[@Santanabat]

Get 26 mpg and 30 on the highway

[@Marcus_Wulfhart]

The paddle shifters are amazing for downshifting on downhill mountain roads, allowing you to almost never need your brakes

[@stephennelson5544]

It doesn’t shift……

[@noleshot2713]

I like this review because of the background you provide for the company, the origins and execution of the AWD, the rationale behind the small SUV segment, etc. Not just a walk-around reciting a laundry list of features. That said, it would make sense to explain the differences and benefits of CVT vs AT. Every review I’ve seen has a misplaced focus on gear-shifting sound and feel. Subaru wastes resources on ersatz “gear” changes. Subaru’s CVT is developed in-house, is durable and keeps the engine at the optimum torque for demand. It is very efficient so their AWD vehicles get great mileage. I’d rather see better Bluetooth, a turbo or a price reduction instead of phony shifting!

[@FangfangWorld]

I have exactly the same car. I hate the seats, very comfortable. Second thing I don’t like is very noise when you are driving

[@Spartan-P]

Picking up a 2020 today and Im extremely excited.

[@NeverB_Gameover]

Was it everything you hoped and dreamed it might be?

[@fernandoherranz4095]

I am a fan of the paddle shifters and the CVT in the Crosstrek. Very smooth "shifting" and it does you a decent amount of control.

[@IvanMalechko]

Symmetrical awd in subaru case doesn’t mean equal front and back. The explanation is a bit more complicated and simple at the same time.

[@AdamJayTechnoElectro]

Exactly! It’s so much more than that, and it comes through in the handling thanks to the flat 4. Symmetry is right to left, not front to back. Longitudinal engine mounting versus transversely mounted. These are important concepts to understand and I don’t believe it is properly represented in this video.

[@masoodjamily]

Very bad very poor review you guys are criticizing everything about the car when there’s really nothing wrong with this car you do not represent a good reviewer for this car

[@dwnshft]

So is it a bad review or do you just not agree with our findings

[@tomaf]

Hello, I have a 2021 Subaru Forester Sport. Can someone please tell me what the material on the interior of the front doors is on the handle and the elbow rest? I think it must be vinyl or leather, but the only thing I could find about it says it is a soft-touch material. Thank you in advance.

[@adamwright9741]

You guys went nuts over the front exterior, but I will tell you that most of the world does not have that bright orange license plate to offset the awesome changes that the Forester Sport brought

[@marksabelino]

Can you feature the forester sport 2022 version? I haven't seen anyone did a review on the 2022 version.

[@yingvang1276]

How is the noise inside while driving?

[@DiscoveringOutdoors]

So you review a SUV, built by a leader in rally racing, yet don't drive it off road....hmmm

[@TheSlugger76]

I had the body shop give me the same Forester I had no problems with my phone connection and love the knobs for heat n AC . Might have been on your end with connection

[@littlecastillo88]

I have the same Bluetooth issue with my 2021 Subaru Forester Sport. The dealership replaced the radio/entertainment system and the problem is still there. Pretty disappointed.

[@Leorgo]

Does subaru still have the best AWD system? I see a lot of other makers are making their cars AWD now

[@powertools2375]

Yes. They still do

[@erlingskancke2866]

A lot of car reviewers seem to not see a point in paddle shifters for a CVT. Could you please explain in more detail, as I don't understand the issue you see? How else do you achieve engine breaking with a CVT? Or is engine breaking particularly bad for the CVT, and not recommended?

[@dwnshft]

Engine braking is really the only practical application i see for the paddles and in all honesty I typically don't use engine braking so for me it doesn't have much use. However, another person just commented that's eaxctly what they use the paddles for in their 18 forester

[@barryspotts9850]

Yes.. We have the touring model so it has the paddles.. Basically can be used in steep inclines to keep the wheels in a single gear or engine breaking on going down sleep inclines especially in snowy weather... The X-mode is great but it is for harsh conditions and turns off at 13 MPH, so paddle shifters can be used to give one more control. Quite honestly my kids have this car now, so they haven't been in a situation where they need to use these...

[@mrcha0s]

The paddle shifters are very very convenient if you're driving in the mountains.

[@charliek9311]

On mountain roads and long downhill grades that are common in Colorado, it sucks on other cars to have to ride the brakes because you don't have a way to downshift aside from shifting to Low.

[@fernandoherranz4095]

I am a fan of the shifters and I've been able to get a little extra mpg out of my Crosstrek using them on the highway, as well as using them for engine braking on steep hills. You can get a little more pep out of the engine with them too, especially when you want to get past that "2nd" gear which is very flaccid in the D mode. It's kinda like CVT automatic lets the computer do the "shifting", and the manual mode lets you tell the computer what "gear" you want.

[@kaylieladwig5150]

Love the Drake and Josh reference haha. Nice video, guys!

[@dwnshft]

thanks for the love!

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

The only thing I do not like is the Subaru spare tire is a donut tire and if you have a flat on the front, you need to first switch a rear tire to the front, then put the donut tire on the rear. A better solution would be to have enough space so if desired, the owner could store a spare tire the same size as the 4 other tires.

[@xenoyariin]

Hence the wilderness trim

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

@@xenoyariin Don't get a flat in the wilderness!

[@OldDogNewTricks_at_60]

how does the sport differ from the wilderness? Wilderness is not sold in Australia...

[@EricGrassi]

Wilderness has almost an inch more ground clearance, the roof is rated to hold much more weight, gearing is a bit lower and the tires are more aggressive, so it gets worse MPG, but is better offroad, wheel size is smaller on the Wilderness for more sidewall deflection. Wilderness also has a front camera that's not in any other Forester. Wilderness also has more weather-proof upholstery.

[@fernandoherranz4095]

@@EricGrassi Wilderness also has all that plastic fantastic cladding everywhere. Looks impressively ugly IMO.

[@TheWoodsOnline]

Didn't read all the comments, but the BRZ is rear wheel drive. So, all Subarus aren't AWD.

[@737Parkie]

Isn’t that because it’s actually a Toyota?

[@richardwilliams3839]

I like this car no lie nice

[@SuperDB215]

I’ve owned this car since 2020, still love it and the price was great. It’s really holding its value

[@yoshisfriend1987]

you know a forester is build to be rugged and made for adventures you can say all you want, with things missing and all but at least you can hop in with your muddy boots dirty hands and always wipe it all off in a second, things break you don't have to grap every penny out of your pocket to fix things. but don't worry because things don't break like for example the infotaiment knop of a bmw x3 that costed 200 eu about the same in US dollars to replace :/ also a tip the CVT transmision has already fit an extension for a CVT cooler if your driving a lot off road or with steeb hill climbs upgrade it not expensive and makes your cvt last way longer with regular transmision oil changes.

[@DK-vx1zc]

whiny to the point of irritating

[@EricGrassi]

NOT every Subaru comes with AWD. Subaru sells the BRZ which has RWD only. Also symmetrical AWD has to do with the longitudinal engine not creating torque steer like most FWD layouts with transverse engines that were adapted to AWD. So, you kind of lost me by about 2:30 with the lack of simple knowledge of the details.

[@bryankrejcarek2386]

Every Subaru has AWD. Except the BRZ sir….

[@tsizzle]

Boy, I wished you guys waited just a little longer until they release the Forester Wilderness to review that trim. I’m would be interested in your thoughts on the wilderness versus the sport! Also how would you compare forester wilderness to outback wilderness!?

[@dwnshft]

Thanks! We wanted to get the outback wilderness but logistically this is what worked out this time. Hoping to get more subie content soon!

[@zhihangchen9228]

anyone owns 2021/2022 model could provide me an idea of "Actual MPG" based on daily use? thank you!

[@EricGrassi]

The worst it gets is mixed driving in Minnesota winters. Goes as low as 23-24. In good weather, mixed driving, from 26 - 28. On the highway doing reasonable speeds from 60-75, I'll get 33-35 This is on a '21 Forester Sport.

[@BigMikeLV]

BRZ does not come in all wheel drive.

[@snapunderst33r]

My domestic partner has one of these and uses it to transport goats for our goat yoga business

[@dwnshft]

I'm so happy for ou and your domestic partner! Hope business is booming!

[@user-mz5tf5pm7u]

I’ve heard business is baaaaaad

[@manauryreyes7262]

In Japan its called Forester STI sport.

[@salsamancer]

Talk about false advertising 😂

[@marketbuy]

The doors are way more solid than the crappy Tesla Model Y.

[@codenameexoliby6020]

Where i kive, they are starting at $36K after stealership markup youre out the door $42K. My only gripe about subarus is that they are overpriced

[@albertopadilla7432]

When u said u rather get a limited over sport I knew u guys were chumps. Think u meant premium. That’s like looking at a type r and saying u prefer a civic sport as if the next trim down isn’t the si

[@stephenhendricks103]

Subaru isn't alone in using the "Sport" moniker simply to designate an appearance package and (frequently) a somewhat de-contented trim level compared to a top trim with more bells and whistles. Undoubtedly they've found that younger consumers with less disposable income find the "Sport" designation appealing and compensate for the lack of distinctive features.

[@noelevans8239]

Can hardly understand a word he’s saying,speaking much too fast.

[@zerobatsu]

what the fuck is going on with the captions????

[@SkepTones]

Fuckin CVT's man, the scourge of the auto industry

[@calvinspiff4348]

People that care about space want a compact?

[@pmcg55123]

Not the entry level , your distinction will be lost to some vieweres

[@joecoffee968]

Why are people so excited about these ridiculous automatic dimming rear view mirrors! Forgive me but God help me that blows my mind. Up until about 10 years ago most cars had a perfect system for dimming the mirror at night. Simple mirror covered by an angled piece of glass. During the daytime you see through the mirror. Nighttime you flip the switch changing the angle of the mirror so that now you see a reflection in the glass which is not nearly as bright. At the most in today's money they would probably cost you about $100. These automatically changing mirrors from what I understand go for just under $1,000. I'm sorry but what the hell is wrong with you people? What is the advantage of this stupid mirror over the old school mirror? Why do people want this? Could it be possible that people today are so damned immature that they just have to have something because it's new? I'm sorry but God help me that is so freaking asinine. Please tell me my fellow Americans are not that damn stupid. On top of everything else these Auto changing mirrors do not last very long. My Lexus has one that has never worked right. I wanted to swap it out with a traditional mirror and a technician warned me I should not do this because it would interfere with the automobiles other systems. God help us what have you people done to the automobile industry? End of rant.

[@allcreate2943]

$26,000 for forester???

[@gunnarnewton5592]

Take it off-road, X-mode is not standard on Forester.

[@XYZ-sq7ki]

And then they added more orange to the 2022 … not less 🙄

[@dwnshft]

hahhahahhaha CMON SUBARU

[@antoniomarroquin3649]

You guys should review Mercedes' and BMW's instead .

[@dwnshft]

working on it!

[@tonycoz2309]

All show and no go.....sport by look only. Bring back the XT!

[@colt191169]

Imagine thinking, and saying out loud, multiple times in one day that Hyundai makes a better car, in any way, than Subaru does

[@regen3rate]

They have been on the top end of reliability rankings for years. Sooo yeah...

[@ricky3506]

Great truck all around just too damn boring

[@ofcbob6391]

Um, it's NOT a truck if you haven't already noticed.

[@razzso1482]

Boo

[@jabbadahuttful]

If these guys aren’t gay they should be..they are adorable 👍😊

[@obscureopenings]

Tf

[@jabbadahuttful]

@@obscureopenings lol 😂 they are cute AF!

[@jonathanhughman154]

If you’re not straight you should be… oh wait i can’t say that, can i?

[@jabbadahuttful]

@@jonathanhughman154 You can say whatever you wish..people say ignorant things that make them look like homophobic nitwits all the time lol 😂

[@newmason5572]

@@jabbadahuttful i mean you sound like a bozo for saying they “should be”. Random a$$ comment 🥴