2021 Subaru Forester: Test Drive Review

[@oooploopborisboris]

I am from Australia and I love my Forester I live in the Country and it handles oh so good around our roads. After owning a variety of 14 cars upon retiring 3 years ago I decided on a Forester best choice ever

[@Honestandtruth007]

I Do think so too 👍👍❤️

[@nicholasdupre6916]

I always come for the desert washboard road tests because this is what every car shopper should do to evaluate build quality. Thank you Sam for helping people to make better decisions with our hard earned money.

[@harrahphotoman]

I've studied all of the brands/models of the smaller SUVs for several years. I decided to buy a Subaru and got the 2021 Forester Touring. It's a great SUV, comfortable, handles well, has power seats for BOTH the driver (10 wau) and the front seat passenger (8 way). The sound system is beautiful, love the perks like the large power moonroof, the LED front and rear lights, the front headlights follow the steering, so it lights your way around corners. Personally, I like the somewhat less techie 9-inch media screen and I really like the other displays which are customizable. The car remembers me and adjusts the seats and mirrors to my settings. It has an incredible amount of legroom. Much more than in my previous SUV (GMC Terrain). Your review seemed to be looking for issues where there weren't any - do you have a bias against Subaru? It felt like you did.

[@Honestandtruth007]

Great Choice to buy Subaru Forester.... Now you know what Subaru is All about...👍👍❤️

[@spol1622]

If you studied small SUVs for several years you would know what Subaru is known for....head gaskets and oil burning...and you would buy from some other brand.

[@Doc1855]

I LOVE the Crimson Red exterior, but it would be too hard to keep clean for long. We live in north central WA state up in the mountains. We get 5-6 feet of snow every winter and have to plow our own private road. I chose the Sephia Bronze with Saddle Brown leather. It’s very easy to keep clean and I’ve had a lot of complements on the color combination, especially the Brown interior.

[@frankmartinez6880]

I just bought my first subaru 2 weeks ago. The 2022 forester sport. I absolutely love it.

[@detroitj7475]

I just brought a 2022 Forrester limited in the cascade green love the way the car feels love the way it drives and handles and it’s got just a right amount of pick up to it. Great quality

[@katrinabrodski550]

I just got a 2020 Limited but in Black. I traded in my 2013 Wrangler and while I loved it, I don’t miss it after getting my Forester a week ago. I love this thing!

[@detroitj7475]

I’m glad you crossed over to the Subaru side

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Sam, both you and the Forester have grown in size over the years, with muscular shoulders and strong 💪🏽 character lines! I really like what I am seeing here, Sam. Thank you so much for sharing these delightful treats.

[@CamboTriton]

Love my 2020 Touring. My only major complaint is; the storage cubby in front of the shifter is way too small.

[@raydavies3278]

Where have you been, we missed you,Great review as always, thanks.

[@greendg7]

I come for the washboard also, wish you posted this before I brought Forester. On rough city streets too much commotion and rattles

[@Honestandtruth007]

My last Car to Buy will be another Subaru Forester......👍👍🤩

[@chuckwalla2967]

Which cars you have tested ride the best on gravel roads with no rattles and compliant suspension?

[@dougnyc8324]

Several for sure. 4Runner and Land Cruiser as examples - look at the video of those vs this Forester, it's pretty clear. A few off-road orientated pickups.

[@sjs1555]

@@dougnyc8324 So you’re comparing apples to apples? NOPE!

[@dougnyc8324]

@@sjs1555 Agree. I was answering the OPs question. I haven't watched all of TestDrivenTV's reviews but most are not taking off road. The ones that are and perform well are more off-road focused SUVs like I mentioned. I don't recall a crossover that performed well in that situation with the exception of the Hyundai Tuscon he just reviewed. That held up much better than the Forester in that test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKeTlqaNq7yYiK8

[@ratdogsistercat8682]

I wonder if you do a 2023 update?

[@Doc1855]

The CVT only robs the under powered engine of hp, torque and most important, MPG. You can’t rebuild a CVT, you can only buy a new one for $8K and another $1K to have it installed. Sadly if the car is only worth 6-8 grand, you’ll have to junk it.

[@warrenmooney9422]

Weird that he has things rattling. My Forester has over 18k miles and not a thing vibrates or rattles.

[@Doc1855]

The 2023 Forester Touring with body side moulding, mud flaps and rubber floor mats sets you back $40,100. I’m glad they still offer the Saddle Brown leather interior. Most people are sick and tired of the gloomy grey or coffin black interior colors that became popular in 1990. Those colors are old, dated, drab, depressing, boring. 10% of the population demand classy tan, brown and red interior colors. Usually those people are low key and happy overall with their lives.

[@mnfreeman]

I wish more automakers would go back to simple practical center console layouts and simple speedometer / tachometer - we really don't need a wide screen all touch unit. I would never drive a tesla for that reason. There is pleasure in tactile and practical controls you can operate without looking. I call it the 'merge' factor -- where, when you're driving the car, you feel as though you merge with the vehicle through its comfort, and easy to use controls - you become part of the car. Subaru's big problem in my experience is the HORRIBLE placement / design of the pedals and foot area. The center transmission tunnel pushes out into the gas pedal area so that you can't put your foot flat on the floor -and the brake pedal is too far away from the gas, and the pedals are too far above the floor. I compared this to a CR-V and measured it -- there is a significant difference in pedal placement. The cr-v you can heel-toe comfortably and there's WAY more foot space - also in the dead pedal area. I owned a 2017 forester for 10 months and had to trade it in because it was so damn uncomfortable to drive for more than like 5 minutes

[@billharris7235]

Leather seats, but no ventilation? That's a deal killer here in the Southwest! Good thing you didn't get this a month or two from now.

[@JDS-Dalton]

Exactly why I got the sport trim. Some of the upper trim features, but cloth seats. Last car had leather seats and in the southeast that was horrid.

[@benhaze1010]

If I am not mistaken this is not the first time Subarus don't do too well on your washboard road

[@greendg7]

Think they lowered the weight to increase mpg!

[@yendis181]

when you have had the safety features of this car save you then you relies do not turn them off

[@kevinW826]

When you have had an accident with a car not having these things, you realize you don’t need them. They are computers that will fail. They make up way too much of the repair cost in a fender bender. Not worth it. I will stick with a car that doesn’t have this stuff. My backup camera is starting to go, I’m not going to spend the $2000 Canadian on repairing it. Not worth it.

[@yendis181]

@@kevinW826 well sorry to disappoint you as a car reviewer you have you style and points of interest and it should about the car and features you do a great job but some things you say are no correct to some people - i have been driving Subaru's for 10 years and the safety features of the eye sight and features have saved us and helped many times why turn them off just review another car that does not have these features if you don' appreciate what they do. Thanks.

[@kevinW826]

@@yendis181 they interfere with the driver and they make the driver complacent and rely on the computers when they should be using their eyes and mirrors to look. Smart systems don’t make people smarter, they make them dumber as now it takes the thinking ability out. That is not good. Just look at the crashes involving Tesla’s. People are using the autonomous feature and not paying attention to the roads. They still need to drive the cars but they are either sleeping or reading a paper. It’s making people stupid, not smarter. Same thing with these blind spot monitors, auto parking, etc. How did people drive before? They used common sense and their eyes and mirrors. Now people just change lanes without looking or using their mirrors and they rely on a computer to tell them what is there or let the computer park the car for them. It’s sad and pathetic.

[@yendis181]

@@kevinW826 im sorry this is not a Tesler and the safety systems are there to support you and help you where as needed if you totally rely on this you are an idiot driver and should buy a car with these features and besides that we will never agree on this argument, from what i see you are a good reviewer and driver but you are missing the point with this cars most important feature and what they can do to save you one day - so good luck and thank you.

[@harrahphotoman]

I'm surprised he didn't complain that he couldn't disable the seat belts and the air bags, lol. WHY disable the safety features, of which Subarus are class leaders? Seems stupid to me.

[@raydavies3278]

Can you do an Outback Premium model please.

[@TestDrivenTV]

We will probably see the new Outback Wilderness later this year.

[@raydavies3278]

@@TestDrivenTV Thanks for a swiftly reply,have you already done the Premium model ?

[@Andrew-zx9wx]

Good review; I thought this would have done a little bit better considering Subaru’s reputation.

[@greendg7]

I agree, second forester - this not as solid as last. Too many rattles and poor suspension

[@chrisa7832]

Needs a turbo

[@harrahphotoman]

I agree, but I bought one anyway and it is adequate. I'm not buying a sports car or I would buy the WRX STI. But, a turbo also requires more expensive maintenance, so there are trade-offs to owning the turbo. Acceleration is fine and it is more than capable to cruise all day at 80 mph.

[@elgreeko6241]

@@harrahphotoman CRV is the way better deal. More power and reliability , also looks more modern. Forrester I liked , but the reliability is not there. Looks bland as well.

[@mariog5062]

Wow, looks almost the same as their third generation model. The interior cracks me up. I have to admit though, they have their following. 🤣

[@nesheiwg]

It needs a Remote Starter.

[@harrahphotoman]

I use the app on my phone. Easy and you can be a LONG distance from the vehicle (like anywhere).

[@elgreeko6241]

Test drove this and the CRV ,as much as it had a smooth ride , it was gutless , also had no arm rests in the back . The CRV was more powerful . Also forester reliability not very good , that's why I went CRV

[@redmusichouse]

I don't know what trim of Forester you were in but every Forester I've sat in has arm rests and a centre arm rest in the back.

[@CupidinColorado]

Sammy!

[@boymadafakatv3724]

chuck liddell

[@Kiss__Kiss]

Good looking, no doubt about that. but powerless..

[@planetfabulous5833]

He's yummy!!!

[@johngiampapa]

We test drove one, very disappointing! Sluggish and unrefined. Love my Outback however. We went with Honda CRV in the end for my wife over the Forester.

[@electrology]

Do you recommend CRV AWD over this? I am considering Forester Limited vs CRV EX-L AWD trims. Appreciate if you can share your opinion. Thank you.