2025 Subaru Forester vs. the Subaru Outback and Crosstrek that I Sold | Which is a better car?

[@wocketman1629]

I test drove all three a few weeks ago and I found the outback the best with size and family comfort. I purchased a 25 outback premium, and it fits the bill for my family perfect

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

That’s awesome! The premium trim is a good one. That’s what we went with in our Forester.

[@2ndAdvent888]

Exactly how we do it - Outback for highway and longer trips and Forester for around town. Have 2016 Outback 106k currently using as my work car 500miles per week. Well maintained. Comfortable, reliable and does everything.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Nice!! Thanks for sharing this.

[@darrenmorrow5697]

We got our first subaru in March a forester with no children at this point in our life it's an ideal car for visalility better then anything we've ever owned we've put 18000 miles on it 2 week trip through tennessee worked excellent This last few days it has shown its awd capabilities here in ontario canada

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

That’s awesome, thanks for sharing your recent experiences with the Forester!!

[@tuan056585]

I decided and bought the 2024 Outback touring last year. What I missed on the Forester touring is the 360 degrees camera and the "Made in Japan". The Outback on the other hand has Power folding side mirrors a Ventilation seats, a Safety Warning LEDs on windshield and a Napa brown leather that Forester touring doesn't have (Forester touring has brown leather but NOT made by Napa). So far I love my Outback very much. I'm glad I did make a right choice. This is my first Subaru I ever bought in my life.

[@PeteManning-ym2ss]

About to be a first time Subaru owner- picking up our 2025 Outback Limited 2.5 tomorrow. I drove all three of them. All nice but we liked the Outback best. Always enjoy your videos! I watched a bunch of them throughout the decision making process.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I’m super excited for you picking it up tomorrow! They’re awesome cars and I highly recommend the Outback. I miss mine haha. Best of luck with yours and thank you for watching my videos!!

[@minnybiker4505]

I really like the higher roof of the Forester for ease of entry and tall windows for visibility. But i like everything else about the Outback better, especially the seats. Always appreciate your videos!

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thanks for sharing your preferences between the vehicles and for watching again!!

[@MIkegrimm2]

I test drove the 25 Outback, 24 Crosstrek Sport, and the 25 Forrester. The Forrester was ok but did not excite me to much (it’s nice vehicle but not what I was looking for), the Outback was more comfortable, but I wound up settling on the Crosstrek. Since I don’t have kids anymore, my wife and I don’t really need a larger vehicle. The 24 Crosstrek is an excellent commuter, I will be taking it on its first 1800 mile road trip in a few days. But so far it has a good ride (maybe not as nice as the outback, but it feels pretty close).

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I’m glad you at least tried them all out to help you come to that decision. I miss my Crosstrek, it was a fun little car that did great in the winter and got pretty good MPG. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!! Best wishes on your roadtrip.

[@lynnolson4415]

Interested in your real world mpg fron your trip. Currently own 2019 legacy and have gotten high 30's on trips. Contemplating the 24 crosstrek

[@MIkegrimm2]

@@lynnolson4415 I was seeing around 33/34 MPG on my 24 Crosstrek Sport (2.5L Engine) while on a 1800-mile road trip. . My wife's 18 Crosstrek would get around 36 MPG. My 24 Crosstrek also gets around 29MPG with mixed driving commuting to work.

[@lynnolson4415]

@MIkegrimm2 I'm leaning towards the sport also. Thanks for your reply. Happy Holidays

[@harrahphotoman]

We bought a 25 Forester Touring 2 months ago and we love it. It is our second Forester (we had a 21 Forester Touring which had 50K miles when we traded it in). I appreciate the great visibility, ease of entry/exit with the tall roofline, quieter ride, nice features (we like the 360 camera, the electronic rear view mirror, cooled seats, etc.).

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

That’s awesome! I’m glad you’re enjoying it!!

[@devilefan]

I worked at Subaru as a PDI tech for six months and because of my job I got to basically test drive all the different vehicles and that's the reason I fell in love with the outback... I have to admit one of the things that drew me to it was the station wagony look to it, but also I felt it had the best feel in the ride than any of the other models.... probably my least favorite of the Subarus was the ascent.... I didn't like the bulkiness of it, I didn't like the way it rode or handled for that matter, just wasn't one that I would recommend.... the two best in my opinion were the outback, obviously my first choice, followed by the forester, with the Crosstrek very close behind.... I'm not much of a sport car person so the WRX and BRZ didn't really make my list..... for me. The outback was the overall clear winner.... I've had my outback for almost a month now and not surprisingly I have no regrets whatsoever, absolutely love it... takes a little getting used to being a ram owner for the past 13 years, but I have no complaints

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thanks for sharing all of this! I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying your Outback!!

[@devilefan]

@ ... part of the reason I got it was due to your reviews 😊👍🏻

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Haha that’s awesome! I hope it turns out well and I didn’t mislead you. I would never want to be a salesman and try to convince people to buy a certain vehicle (especially if it financially benefited me). But I do really like that I get to showcase what some of the vehicles look like and talk about them.

[@devilefan]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 ..... well it was a combination of your review and my own experience with the outback when I worked at Subaru, so don't worry I won't hold you responsible if it fails 🤣🤣..... just kidding, the fact of the matter is I love my outback, and I have absolutely no regrets in getting it

[@fkee10]

I love Outback on my 2nd one. It's longer length always was deciding factor as it allows me to campout in it more easily though I wish it was a bit higher like Forester. Subaru wish.

[@jettschenker]

In previous years I did not care for the look of the Forrester but this year it looks damn good!

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

That’s for sure! If you haven’t already then maybe consider checking out the lifted 2025 Forester I posted in the last few weeks. It was a really good looking knock off Wilderness.

[@Subie-Driver]

I agree We’ve had an outback and currently have a crosstrek and a forester. Forester has been the best fir for us. Our crosstrek is a great little run around …it’s my daily driver. For the road trips though the forester is the best.

[@WildernessForever]

I have a Forester Wilderness and a Crosstrek Wilderness. I agree...long trips the Forester is on deck, but the Crosstrek is more fun to drive...I drive it to work every day and really enjoy the little guy.

[@xMcLite]

I’m tall so the Forester is perfect for me. My commute is 35 mins one way and it’s perfect since most of that is on back roads. I think it has plenty of power; coming from having a 260,000 2002 Camry so this car is a major upgrade.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

That’s awesome, I’m really happy for you! This Forester replaced my wife’s Chevy Cruze, also a HUGE upgrade haha. Either way the safety and AWD of this car I have so much more peace of mind then I was starting to have with us keeping the small sedan.

[@jimwilliams7136]

After doing a lot of research, I purchased an Outback Touring XT. Absolutely no regrets.

[@nthdegree1269]

Excellent review. Really enjoying the channel!

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thanks, I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the videos!

[@danielroberto9183-w8j]

A few years ago I test drove and outback and it impressed me for being sturdy, handling with aplomb, an obviously a midsize car. My test drive was quite long and in rainy conditions. Comfortable, roomy, responsive large station wagon. At the time I had a Forester. Now I have what a call an Outback offspring, the Crosstrek with the 2.5 L engine. I strongly recommend it, but know that it isn't a vehicle for cargo hauling. It's comoditious and ergonomic as well as very responsive with room for four adults and even five. I can't say enough about it. The Forester is the one to beat though.. Each and every Subaru is similar to each other but each is for different purposes. At the end of the day these three are winners. I'm angry at SOA for taking 2 horsepowers on what used to be a 182 hp motor, and I don't really care that they added a couple pound feet of torque. it makes my Crosstrek have a lot of omph. Very informative video.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thanks for sharing all of this!! I agree, the size of the Crosstrek was wonderfully convenient. Except for when it comes to hauling a lot of stuff haha. The Outback and Forester do quite well in that department. But it is surprising that the Boxer 2.5 isn’t even a smidge more powerful for this current generation. Thanks for watching and commenting again!!

[@AVMD83]

This new Foresters shape reminds me of the first model Foresters kinda cool wagon.

[@99observer99]

My first time watching your channel. You cover the important factors. My recommendations: 1. Slow down. 2. Ditch the extraneous stuff. I think you mentioned flooring the throttle about 4 times. Most drivers rarely floor the throttle as it is rarely, very rarely, necessary.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I appreciate you for giving my video a try and for your recommendations!

[@BradleyOcchipinti]

We got the outback touring xt and have ridden in a friend's accent and it reinforced our opinion of the outback. Also living in NYC with all of the tough merging we have to do the xt engine was a must.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

The Outback XT definitely does a great job merging and getting up to interstate speed. That’s one thing I miss about mine.

[@ClydeSmith-km6iv]

I noticed you didn't even mention the Ascent. After three Outbacks and totaling the third, we went to the MUCH larger Ascent as our road trip vehicle. BTW we walked away from the accident with minor bruising. We still own the second outback and use that for our around town vehicle because it is smaller and has 225,000 miles on it. That being said the Outback is PERFECT for around town and the Ascent touring is probably the BEST vehicle I've used on any road trip. It is simply luxurious, quiet, comfortable and more room that we'll ever need. IF we were younger I'd get a roof top tent and use it for exploring! I forgot to mention the visibility in the Ascent is unbeatable!

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thank you for mentioning this!! I just didn’t bring up the Ascent because we haven’t owned one, just the 3 smaller SUVs. I agree, the Outback is such an awesome vehicle. I miss mine haha but I’m glad we have a Forester.

[@bender2033]

I think the longer wheelbase has more to do with perceived road stability than front and rear overhang.

[@Lalambz]

I was getting the crosstrek convenience but it doesn't arrive till late december.. Luckily Forester 2025 convenience was available, which is basically buying crosstrek onyx with same engine HP, but forester had far more visibility and space.. So I ended getting the forester for my wife and I and our upcoming baby hehe.. Amazing upgrade in comparison to our 04 civic lx for sure!!

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Congrats you too! You have a lot of exciting stuff going on!!

[@Gageraid]

I have both Forester and Outback with the 2.5L. Both vehicles are amazing and so similar. You really can't go wrong with either one. One of my favorite things about the Outback is the slightly bigger gas tank. While the Forester Hybrid will be cool when it comes out, I think the Outback Hybrid will possibly be even better.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

That’s awesome!! It will be interesting to see how the new hybrids do.

[@charliefarr5675]

Bought a 2025 forester premium love the comfort and quiet ride.all around a nice ar.

[@frankweathersbee2553]

Really enjoy my 21 crosstrek sport, plenty of power, tows the 14ft boat great & pulls out of dirt & slick cement boat ramps with no drama!

[@Motortiger05]

I bought a 2025 Forester premium with blind spot detection for little under 35,000 I’ve had it three months. The newness has worn off. I don’t regret buying it, but my biggest disappointment is it’s a lot of money for what it is. No fancy stereo no fancy wheels. No leather. Just a basic car with all-wheel-drive and decent room.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Yeah, I get that! But wait until you drive it through some snow, I think you’ll realize why people swear by these. ⛄️

[@johnsplitt6727]

Does the turbo use regular gas or does it require a more expensive grade?

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Regular gas!

[@mr.mahmudhossain8033]

Outback is the best to drive. I have both crv & crosstreck, had Forester before. CRV is by far the best to drive & mine is Hybrid. Smooth ride & lots of leg room compare Forester. If i choose one that will be CRV. Rav4 also have same leg room issue & ride is not as smooth as CRV. Subaru make we made car for long run & you can depend on it while dive on tough areas. Good video man.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!!

[@geepee4134]

I have a '22 Outback Limited XT. The thigh extension on the driver's seat was the main selling point. Whereas I get 31 mpg straight highway, I struggle to get 18 mpg timidly driving around the suburbs. What's most disappointing is the depreciation. With 44k miles, trade-in value is just $21,000 - $22 000. Much less than my lease buyout. I do like the body cladding of the 23 - 25 models, but Subaru deleted the acoustic glass of the front side windows in those years to save money. I also lije the boxier shape of the 2026 as it should increase cargo area to perhsps 40 cubic feet. Being a heavier car, I dont see how the base 180 hp 2.5 is going to propel it. One dealer told me that all '26 Outbacks will be made in Japan. I seriously doubt that but perhaps the hybrid will.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thank you for sharing these thoughts and experiences! When I sold my OBW I was also sad to find out how much it depreciated haha. The 2026 gen sure looks interesting. Hopefully you have a bit of time to decide what you’re going to do next!

[@luckemi]

Acoustic glass still available in the Touring trim - that’s the one I have. The seats @ thigh extensions were 100% why I chose this over the Mazda CX70/90. I got like $13,000 OFF MSRP with the Mazda but even their $60,000 car doesn’t have seats as good as the Outback in higher trims.

[@Jay-bw3fl]

If forester came with the turbo it would be a winner for me. The 2026 outback in typical Subaru fashion looks disgusting to me right now but I’m sure like every Subaru refresh it will grow on me lol. But to be honest I don’t like the split headlight on the bottom look that is trending for the past decade. More importantly I really hope the screen will be updated with at the very least more ram and cpu power and going horizontal instead of vertical would be a huge improvement imo. And maybe they have been listening to us all and will give us physical climate controls again.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Absolutely! Thanks for sharing all of this. I’m excited to learn the actual facts about the new gen Outback and I’m sure that information will be out soon. That way people have time to make there decisions before it’s to late on what they want to buy new.

[@DavisDoodle]

We bought a 2025 Outback Limited XT. It is our first Subaru and we are really enjoying it. Also liked that Forester but we liked the bigger body style & roomy back of the Outback.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Very nice! Outback’s are awesome, and I already miss it being our road trip vehicle.

[@nyrocks5580]

The XT was the right move. We have a Legacy Limited XT, and there's absolutely no comparison to the 2.5 NA engines. I wish the Forester came as an XT because that's a deal-breaker for us. It's just too slow.

[@mfzahir]

I went for 2025 outback limited

[@robertolsen1833]

I love my 2019 Forester Limited.

love the outback for light off road and snow driving.. but my next buy would be a Land Rover defender 90

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Defenders are cool, that will be fun to look forward to! Thanks for watching.

[@TODinWY]

Read MANY reviews before you sink your hard-earned cash into a rover of any kind.

[@Kevin-hy8ok]

I own a 2019 Forester. It’s been a great car. I really can’t comment on the Outback, but I love the visibility and headroom of the Forester. I have rented BMW suvs several times the last few years and they are so much quieter than the Forester. BMWs handle much better as well, BUT I’d never own one as they cost a fortune and maintenance costs would be too high. The noise is my biggest complaint about my 2019 Forester. I live in the snow belt, and I love the Forester capability in the snow. I do hope this latest generation is quieter. What’s your experience with that? I’ll probably look at the coming hybrid Forester.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I haven’t driven a pre refresh Forester of the last generation. I would assume the newer the car the more quiet it is, but probably only marginally. 🧐

[@conwaycat5112]

What about the Astec?

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I’ve never owned an Ascent and while it’s good it’s a 3 row SUV so it’s in a bit different class than the other mainstream Subaru SUVs. Thanks for watching!!

[@conwaycat5112]

@ Ascent, yes. Thanks.

[@ItsEverythingElse]

Really having a hard time deciding between the Forester and the Outback. I love the view and higher height of the Forester but prefer the power of the Outback and a few other things. Decisions decisions....

[@mgsun6978]

Love my 2018 Touring Forester. Only con is no Apple car play, but that’s how I got a great deal.

[@DarlowMaxwell]

Why did you get rid of them with so few miles on them? I’ve owned all 3 myself.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Oh very cool! I just don’t keep anything longer than 1.5-3 years. I think part of the reason is because my first car had its engine blow up after 2 years (and under my care it was maintained well). Either way how much I drive now once the warranty on a new car is almost up in my mind I’d rather write a check of an amount I’m comfortable with to buy the next new warrantied car, than be surprised by other powertrain failures. I’ve also had a couple transmissions go out in performance oriented cars. I don’t like dealing with these issues haha.

[@tails300]

I’d say wait for both the hybrid Forester and Crosstrek coming soon.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Hopefully we know all the details soon!

[@billd8949]

Thank you for the work you put into your videos. I will be buying a new vehicle next year, and am very interested in the 2026 Outback, although I hope they don't delay the Wilderness model as they have on the Forrester. Not sure how I will feel about the looks once we see it without the camouflage, but my priorities will be the best balance of 10% off-road capability (including ground clearance and skid plate protection) vs. 90% long highway comfort, towing capacity, safety, and technology. Better MPGs are always nice, but not critical and, although I'd love a hybrid, I think I'll lose too much towing capacity. From what I know right now, only the 2026 Outback and 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport Elite are on the consideration list.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Of course, thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts! I think those two vehicles sound like great potential options and more information should be floating out about them soon!

[@MarthaMansbridge]

Wish we got the Wilderness Outback in the UK.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

That would have been awesome!

[@erndog66]

I have a 2016 Outback...non-turbo of course. My #1 complaint is the Interstate MPG. Usually drive 75-80 MPH...which is probably 75-80% of my driving. Terribly disappointed in the MPG. I heard you mention this Forester gets around 30 MPG at the speed...but lacks the handling on the highway. Do you know if the highway handling of the Forester similar to the Rav4? I have been doing research on my next vehicle and would like to know your opinion. Thank you in advance.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thanks for sharing this!! I don’t know how the regular RAV4 hands at those speeds. But with the Hybrid it feels slightly more stable at speed due to the weight. And MOG range has been 28-35 at those speeds, whereas our Forester has been like 26-30mpg. Thanks for watching and best of luck.

[@erndog66]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 thank you so much for the response. Perfect, I was actually looking at the RAV4 Hybrids as well. Weight definitely would help with road stability.

[@luckemi]

Outback has vastly better seats; comes with the XT engine and the start stop is much smoother in it too. The upside of the Forester in the previous years was that they kept the small screen with buttons even in top trims. Now that’s gone too in favor of the standard Subaru large screen; so the advantage is gone. For tall people above 6.3-6.5Ft the Forester might be easier to get in; but overall it would be a downgrade to the Outback - top trim to top trim. Seats being the #1 downgrade. Shockingly, the Forester has better cameras than the much more expensive Outback.

[@royhughes2854]

How much was the 10 year bumper to bumper warranty?

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I was asked not to share the exact figure, but it was just a bit above invoice. There’s a decent amount of margin on warranties between invoice and MSRP. I would advise negotiating for no less than several hundred dollars off or until the price feels like a no brainer.

[@royhughes2854]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 Gotcha! Thank you very much. Can I ask you another question? The thing that still gets me is that huge IPAD just sitting there in the middle of the dashboard like that. Having the air vents right up against it makes it look so much bigger of an albatross just taking up so much real estate. Plus isn't all.. ALL.. the controls contained in that IPAD? I like buttons, real buttons. I have had too many IPADS go on the blitz due to some hiccup in the software. Then you lose all the controls to the heater, a/c, whatever. Doesn't that bother you?

[@comment6864]

I want a hybrid .. WITH a spare tire

[@nyrocks5580]

The Forester is a very nice vehicle in so many ways, but I just can't get past its lack of any oomph. Subaru, please, an XT. I also think the 2025 should be called the Fordester, due to its design, but...

[@saulliang5880]

Im 6'2" 250 lbs, id love to fit into an outback but im just not gonna. Forester seems like the obvious choice for me. Ascent looks like a van and i dont need a 3rd row. What trim would you recommend?

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I’m personally a big fan of the Premiums. You can get most of the safety features with heated seats and a sunroof. But you’re not paying for all the creature comforts like leather seats and fancier wheels. Best of luck in whatever you decide!

[@saulliang5880]

@AutomotiveAnonymous208 thoughts on the wilderness?

[@albertpobre7101]

im looking for the new WRX replacing for my F150 .2021-23 WRX any pros and cons thanks

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

The WRX is a really cool car, especially with the manual. It’s not as smooth and sound deadened as the Legacy XT. But a very fun rally car at a pretty good price, or at least the base and premium trim levels. I have a few reviews of them but the blue 2024 WRX review I did is the most recent and best one. Best of luck!

[@albertpobre7101]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 thanks for the info Happy Thanks Giving

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Thanks!! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@luckemi]

At these prices don’t touch it. I would get the top trim Outback XT; it won’t feel like much of a downgrade in ride quality. WRX is less spacious; really overpriced since Covid. In fact, 2025 is the last year for the Legacy. If you need a sedan a top trim XT Legacy is a larger WRX with all kinks ironed out and they should have good resale value. All the above goes out the window if you must have a manual transmission. You are stuck with the WRX, Integra and Golf R. You get more car for the money with Golf R compared to the Subaru. They are also more rare and have 60+ HP.

[@pm7805]

VIN numbers starting with J will last long for sure.

[@jamesdarcy3902]

I bought a new 2025 Camry LE and kept my 2015 Outback with 153,000 miles and port injection. I do not like direct injection only or the large buggy touchscreens on the new Subarus. Also turbos likely to be money pits after 100,000 miles?

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

That sounds like a nice garage! Thanks for sharing and watching my video!!

[@jeffjohanson3830]

Totally agree about the direct injection. The inevitable problems and maintenance required are a complete turnoff and not worth whatever benefit you get (probably a broad CAFE improvement for the manufacturer that ultimately costs the customer) Toyota’s D4S which combines port and direct injection (and is used on the BRZ only in the Subaru lineup) would be nice to see across the entire Subaru lineup. I LOVE my girlfriends Outback which we custom ordered. 2019 Limited 3.6R 6 cylinder, no sunroof or NAV. It’s almost incredible you could order it without those in a Limited because usually it’s forced on you in a package. Saved $2-3K. 3.6R engine is an absolute gem and port injected. Smooth, very smooth, quiet and tourqey. Mates to the CVT exceptionally well and the mpg hit isn’t bad for the driving we mostly do. Car has been exceptionally reliable and trouble free. Me, I’m totally happy driving my low mileage 2010 Toyota Sienna (port injected hee hee) I purchased from CA and had shipped to MA. Not one spec of rust. All undercoated now ready for its first winter in 14 years ☹️

[@donnymac575]

How well do you like your new RAV4 in comparison with the Forrester, Crosstrek, and Outback? I bought my wife a 2023 Outback Touring XT and it's a great car. I drive a 2012 Ford Escape that I want to replace soon and am trying to decide what to get, since I already own the Outback. I was thinking about getting the Crosstrek however they are not available with a heated steering wheel in the USA. This seems like a dumb move by Subaru since Subaru's are focused towards cooler climates and winter driving conditions.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I really like the RAV4, I might temporarily regret the decision during the worst moments of winter driving. But the 99% of year round driving when there isn’t deep snow or slippery ice I think it’s going to be really fun. The RAV4 and Forester are the same class of vehicle so it’s nice that we know they can be packed the same, but also now we don’t have a “larger” vehicle for longer trips or unusual items. All 4 of those vehicles in my opinion are fun, but if you have kids or pets you might feel tight in the Crosstrek and then between the RAV4 and Forester I think it just depends on your priorities. Peak safety, AWD, and value is probably the Subaru, but peak reliability, MPG (if hybrid), and slightly better estimated resale would be the Toyota. Basically, you can’t go wrong either way, these are all some of the most well rounded cars you can’t buy! Best of luck and thanks for watching!!

[@donnymac575]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 Thanks for the insight!

[@teacherchrisesl]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 We are trying to decide between the Forester and the RAV4. We have a small hybrid for around town and are looking for more of a freeway/longer distance car. Which in your opinion would be better? Or should we go for something bigger like Highlander or Ascent? I like the size of the Outback, but don't care for the "station wagon" look.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I personally think the Outback is a well balanced car for road trips but also driving around town. I don’t love Ascents, not because they’re bad but because I wouldn’t want to drive that big of a vehicle around everywhere especially if it’s not a body on frame truck type. I’ve had no experiences with the Highlander so I can’t speak to that. Definitely test drive all of these vehicles! Best of luck. 🙂

[@ItsEverythingElse]

The 10 year warranty costs extra, right? How much?

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I’m really sorry I was originally asked to not give an exact objective number to the deal they cut me. There were also a few variables with our overall vehicle trade. But I will say there’s an invoice price that the dealer pays to sell the warranty and an MSRP that they are recommended to ask when they sell it. And there’s hundreds of dollars of margin in there. So I recommend calling them and asking for the managers behind the desk and telling them the KZbin guy said they’d cut you a deal haha. If you want to of course, there’s no kick back for me. But I’ve been told I can make claims that hold them accountable and hopefully they can work a deal or at least give you a no hassle quote for you to consider. This also goes for anyone else reading this comment! 🤪

[@TODinWY]

Check out after-market warranties.

[@anthonyng3014]

"know how the power deliver is" => aka: know it takes 9s to get to 60mph. Wonderful in 2025.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Yeah the 2.5 can take anywhere from 8.5-11s depending on vehicle model and density altitude and the turbo goes 6.3-7.5 usually in my testing.

[@WatchTheJoeChannel]

A couple of my friends have foresters and they love them. Which is more stable on the highway,Outback or rav4? It’s so hard to decide on which car to get. Do you think you will be reviewing Volvos? I drive a friends XC-90 all the time and the only complaint is the ride is a little firm but handles like a dream even at 95mph.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I was actually surprised at how stable the slightly heavier RAV4 felt driving it home the night we got it. It’s hard to say which is more stable because their steering rack sensitivity is quite different. The Toyota is much more numb and less likely to over react with minimal inputs compared to the Subaru, which is good and helps increase the confidence I have in driving that car at 80mph. I’d love to drive some Volvos, my dad use to drive one when I was little. But the nearest dealer is over 100 miles away. So unless I do this full time at some point, or can find a very new used example at another dealer it’s unlikely. 😬 I’ve also only heard good things about the XC-90, but there’s very few in my area. I think it’s the V60 Polestar wagon that I especially would LOVE the chance to drive, it’s like a 450hp wagon. 😍

[@anthonyng3014]

Check out how well the RAV4 did on the moose test. Just search RAV4 moose test and be entertained. Feel free to view the same test for the Outback and you'll quickly find out which is an appliance and which is a true vehicle.

[@enmass90]

@@anthonyng3014lol damn the rav does comically bad on that test. I’ve actually never seen an SUV fall on its face that badly on a moose test before.

[@luckemi]

Outback bar none.

[@4orrcountry]

​@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 WTH are you driving 80 mph? It's SO much easier to lose control at 80 than 70...

[@stw2186]

I’ve watched your videos on all the Subaru models, and you do a great job! I currently own a 2011 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, but I’m considering upgrading to a Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. I really like the look of it, the higher seating position, and its practicality. I also saw your videos on the 2024 Canyon and Ford Ranger. How did you find them to drive? Would you still choose a Subaru over those midsize trucks? I’ve been thinking about getting a Colorado Trail Boss-it looks awesome-but part of me is still drawn to the Subaru lineup. I’ll be splitting my time between working and living in a big city, so maneuverability and ease of parking are big priorities. I also live in Pennsylvania, where I have to deal with snow from January through March. As someone who enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and kayaking, I think the Crosstrek Wilderness would suit me well. The seats fold down, so I could fit my fishing gear inside, and I just need crossbars to attach my kayak with my J-hooks. That said, the Colorado and Ranger are really tempting too. What are your thoughts? Which would you recommend for someone in my situation? Thanks!

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I’ve loved owning my Subarus! As a car enthusiast I do have to say they may be a bit on the boring side. But the coolness of the Wilderness is why I kept it a whole 3 years, lol. I have my own biases with certain brands and out of no legit reasoning and therefore would pick a Tacoma over the Ford or Chevy, even though the Tacoma has is own fair share of issues. I just couldn’t spend 45k+ on a mid sized truck that isn’t a Toyota (historic reliability and resale). Even though the Ranger and Colorado are both quite good and in some ways out perform it at a cheaper price. But also while I use to own Tacomas I now kind of feel like trucks are a status symbol if you don’t use it for work and they’re less practical to drive with their longer length and reduced interior space with no covered storage. Subarus aren’t for everyone, but in the snow they handle better than the trucks I’ve owned but they’re also not perfect. Ultimately I think you need to buy what makes you happy and what you won’t regret living with when the rose colored glasses come off on it being a brand new ride. My thoughts and opinions are ever changing and we all have such different thoughts and ideas on what a vehicle should be that that’s why I wouldn’t want to sell them to someone. I like filming them and showing what they look like and how quick they are but not helping someone spend their hard earned money on one haha. Sorry this was wordy, best of luck in whatever you decide! And I’m so grateful for you and that you choose to watch my videos. 🙂

[@stw2186]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 Many thanks for your reply! I think I am leaning more towards the Crosstrek Wilderness. I am looking forward to the upgrade!

[@mariodiaz3897]

25 Forester

[@DavidHuckabee-v7x]

Hybid news: If you are persistent and google trying to limit responses to strictly Japanese content, you can find videos of a recent press event showcasing the Crosstrek “strong hybrid.” I used google translate and various torque and kw to hp converters and came up with theses stats to the new Crosstrek hybrid. Engine output 158 hp. Engine torque. 154 lb-ft Motor output. 118 hp. Motor torque. 199 lb-ft. Battery type. Lithium ion. Battery capacity. 1.1 kwh From pictures on the videos, the battery will take up all the spare tire and most of foamed storage space under the cargo floor, but the floor will not be raised. Obviously, no spare tire, and the instrument cluster is all electronic.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

This is awesome, thank you for going through the effort of putting this together!! I’m glad the floor may not be raised like it was in the 2nd gen.

[@gibblespascack1418]

The legacy would be the car of choice. Let everyone else live in an SUV.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Legacy’s are way under rated. It’s a shame they’re just about gone.

[@gibblespascack1418]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 A few years ago, my mom was tired of the quality of her Impala, so I asked her what shape car she was looking for. The only thing that she would consider was a sedan. So in 2021, I learned that an Impreza sedan was coming into the dealership, and the morning that it arrived on the truck, she traded her 2016 impala plus 17K for the red Impreza. Now with snow tires, I feel more comfortable that she is driving something that can go when you want it to go and stop when you need it to stop in the upstate NY winters. For 23K, it is a great car. It is also sad that an affordable, very capable car is also gone.

[@annaaron3510]

1. Why a computer screen in a vehicle ???...dangerous. 2. Why Subaru ( and all others) use touch screen controls for everything ? When the electronics die no heat, no radio, no nothing. 3. Will car makers please delete the useless "moonroof". 4. Get rid of this useless "on-off" engine feature. I'm dismissed now. JMNSHO

[@chrisb.8497]

It is a decent vehicle but there are 3 things that hold it back. 1. The CVT. It has got to go. Why Subaru refuses to abandon this is beyond me. Their technology does seem to be a smidge better than Nissan, but that isn't really saying much. 2. HP. Seriously. 180??? My friggin lawnmower has more uumph than this thing. In an age where even basic minivans and sedans routinely get 300 HP, this is frankly insulting and also dangerous. Look at the EVs. Instant torque in traffic and merging situations. Orrrrr a Forester that takes up to 12 seconds to hit 60 mph. Sorry, but that is deal breaker. 3. The infotainment. The Forester was the last model that didn't have this obnoxious tablet. And now it does. And now it sucks like all the other Subaru models. Literally everything goes through this vertical ipad looking monstrosity. Live in a cold climate? Forget using your gloves! Want to change the temp or choose different HVAC options?? Go through the menus. In my state you can't even HOLD your cellphone while driving. But Subaru thinks it is ok to require the driver to divert attention from the road for every possible change a driver may want. What could go wrong here? Almost like this is how they can force all the decision-making driver AI technology on you because of their bad design.. oh.. wait...

[@ColeridgeGuo]

please don't upload HDR videos...

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

I’ll look into this. Thanks for mentioning it!

[@chrisbradley3285]

Pity there is not an Australian review. Did not understand a word what was being said in this ex colonial drivel.

[@MichaelNovello-q4i]

Which model will have the earliest oil leak? Be very careful when buying a used one for sure. Stick with a Toyota, not perfect but no massive oil leaks.

[@aceburns8673]

Annunciation would help you out here bud and don’t take up the first 3 minutes in commercials. 👎🏿

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

You’re right it probably would haha, but it was 30 degrees outside and this is just a vlogging YT video update, I wasn’t going to stay out any longer for multiple video takes. You might be surprised at how many people ask about how much we paid for the extended warranty and tint percentages. So I do realize watching it back now that felt like a lot of extra talking and referencing those companies that I’ve been impressed with, but to some people that information is important. And others have commented that due to hearing about the SoA coupon on one of the few videos I’ve mentioned it they called and received it. If this was a full car review video I’d put a bit more effort into it and limit the extra thoughts. But I do appreciate you calling out what you didn’t like and that you expecting a higher quality video!! Thanks for that and for watching!!

[@django02]

Tinted front side windows should be made illegal. Huge safety issue.

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Why do you say that?

[@django02]

@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 Because other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, etc. can't make eye contact with the driver and vice versa. The lack of this simple communication increases the chances of something bad happening on the road. I see this problem a lot when encountering cars with front side windows tinted like that.

[@chrisb.8497]

​@@django02 right because if you make eye contact, it removes the possibility of an accident. What a stupid comment. I have countless health conditions, most annoying is a vestibular disorder. I literally couldn't drive without tinted windows. So how about you stay on the sidewalk and stop making decisions for other people because you are obnoxiously neurotic

[@user-tb7rn1il3q]

I wouldn’t touch any Subaru with a ten foot pole. They suffer from oil burning issues and CVT failure.

[@briandavis8139]

Just traded our 24 forester sport for a 24 Wilderness Monday. Wanted the 24 before they went away

[@AutomotiveAnonymous208]

Very nice! Enjoy that Wilderness!!