Best SUVs off-road: Top 12 medium SUVs compared - some fail to make it!

[@CarExpertAus]

Thanks for watching folks! What type of cars should we do on the same course next?

[@HughRussell06]

Dual cab utes, but you should wait until the new Ford Ranger goes on sale or you’re able to get a press car though

[@trentmorris2502]

7 seat SUVs like Sorrento, Santa Fe, outlander, cx8, kluger etc. Ones that dont have hi/low etc

[@crawfordrod]

MG SUV

[@snsum2853]

The next range up would be a good test - kluger, sorento, santa fe, cx9 etc and ideally keeping it similar eg all petrol/hybrid or all diesel

[@duncaninglis5407]

I would love to see Ssangyong Rexton, Toyota Fortuna & Prado, Isuzu MUX, Mitsubishi Pajaro Sport and the Ford Everest.

[@trojanhman8136]

This is very good content. I am very happy to see that Australian reviewers are testing the performance capability of these cars, and not just looking at number of cup holders.

[@billylid100]

But how many cup holders does it have ??

[@jay-firstofhisname]

but doing an off road test in factory all season tires really doesn't show much

[@leonwakefield7285]

@@jay-firstofhisname it shows that you need all terrain tyres

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

@@leonwakefield7285 No, it shows that you need a 4WD with hardcore off-road powertrain designed to do this kind of driving.

[@airforceone6523]

Does it come with res stitching or just black

[@adrianwalker1578]

As a subaru Owner I am not surprised, but I am glad to see Subaru living up to its full expectations

[@Traumatree]

Yup! And I am mostly glad that this test showed the real colors of all other AWD SUVs lol

[@brad3d]

Agreed. I have a 18 Crosstrek, and I am going to assume it would have done about the same as the Forester.

[@truckerrickakamanowar]

Yep loving my Outback, first Subaru I've ever owned.

[@victorteran9766]

I also own one and I can tell you, if you add a 6MT to that AWD it becomes a traction monster! my Crosstrek is unstoppable on slippery conditions and light offroading

[@kristinireland-doll6562]

Love my Forester, never has let me down.

[@dhanunjayareddy3132]

Perfect review. This is what I want to see from car reviewers. I don't want them to just read out engine numbers and count on cup holders. Thanks to all team members.

[@kriseightyfive5854]

Exactly this! Tired of those "0-60 and fake exhaust" reviews. I want to know about the practicality of the cars

[@Altezza447]

Most reviewer are avarage people that work and have family trying to get extra income on side from youtube

[@avia4281]

Any other channels do reviews like so ?

[@photographyofnaturey]

Bro if there was Mahindra Thar tata harier and safari and fortuner than 😂

[@ghostgutarist5234]

Another one I like is Drive sport TV, that guy put cars to test properly.

[@heezythecasual]

just brought a CX-5, I knew it was not made to be off-road but very pleasantly impressed and alot more happier with my purchase

[@patilmatrix]

Hats off to the hard work done by Paul and CarExpert team. Covering 10+ cars with basic off-road test and putting the result in very simple and transparent way. Really Great job 👍

[@Soul-Taker]

I agree it was well done, I'd love to see the same test done again with a control tyre, an affordable all terrain tyre ideally suitable for the road and dirt.

[@NickoFaTe]

I can appreciate the amount of networking / collateral(cost) might be involved in setting something up like this, fabulous review with a lot of work that was well done!

[@PO-wh5fz]

Thanks for a great video! I spent a good year studying, driving and researching all but the Haval, simply because I wanted the best suv for me and one that would last at least 250,000 miles minimum, I finally decided on a 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness-wow, wow, wow what an amazing vehicle, I cannot tell you amazing and how wonderful my beauty is! She has never failed me- thru 3' plus snow at Mammoth Lakes, sticky, deep mucky mud and deep desert sand, and also so safe on wet and/or icy roads.

[@corkstylin]

Desert sand you say. Interesting.

[@pkho5361]

I'm not surprised that the Subaru Forester did well in this test. I'm not surprised that the CRV didn't move an inch up the log mountain. But I'm surprised that the Haval could and the Jeep compass couldn't. Excellent review to Paul and the team 👍

[@CGRCOOL]

There is nothing to surprise, the haval has proven its high reliability within very short period of time and nothing to surprise overrated suv, jeep compass couldn't make it.

[@b1rrdu29]

Do not forget that the COMPASS is not a real JEEP it's a FIAT. FIAT is not a very reliable car or SUV, not very well built.

[@largol33t1]

You were somewhat misled. The only reason Jeeps these days (any models) do well off road is after a majority of the owners slap on hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of off road upgrades. In my city, 90% of the Jeep Wranglers have about $2,000 worth of accessories on them like blingy off road bars, fat tires, a sand jack, etc.

[@abujeylani8937]

I didn't know what the "Haval" was, I had to Google it. We don't have that car in the U.S.

[@aquaboy1650]

CRV is rubbish

[@Grant_Ferstat]

And that's why I purchased another Forester. Not the prettiest looking & not the most exciting on-road but if you need to actually need to leave the tarmac every now and then, the AWD system and extra ground clearance really does make a difference.

[@CarExpertAus]

They really are quite exceptional!

[@wavavoom]

Agreed on Forester traded from an XV, if the XV had a little extra umpf I wouldnt doubt it would be a class beater for on/off roading in it's segment and would give a few medium SUVs a run for their money too

[@drjphau1834]

Same too mate subaru the best awd

[@gizme10]

Foresters are underrated, been a forester fan for years. Never have I been disappointed with any of my foresters. I’ve bought them solely for there off road abilities, I only need light off road abilities so they really suit me. Yeah not the prettiest out there but great for my needs.

[@Mjollnir1983]

Once you go Subaru, you never go back.

[@VorpalGun]

That the Subaru performed adequately is no big surprise. I have been incredibly impressed with my 2011 Outback in Swedish winter conditions. What is surprising is the number of SUVs (with 4WD or AWD) that just didn't perform well at all.

[@shaorune3873]

the only lack accessories for forester is MT tire

[@Jose_hernandez970]

Unfortunately, what Subaru lacks is long term reliability. As a 30 year master mechanic I have first hand knowledge of this.

[@largol33t1]

Maybe but Subarus have gone down a bit on reliability. I know a co worker whose Outback had engine problems after only 4 years and she never took it off road or drove it like a maniac.

[@laurielavallee411]

Love my Forester Wilderness. Not surprised at all that it conquered this course 🤗

[@coenraadvanderwalt2039]

I am saying this a bit tongue in cheek but to say the Forester performed adequately in the test is a serious understatement. It looked like a proper off-roader amongst a bunch of soft roaders. I suspect permanent all-wheel drive has a lot to do with its ability to withstand heavy work as opposed to a car that just switches on the back tires occasionally. The other thing is Forester owners use their cars off-road a lot - just watch you tube for some really crazy things done to Foresters, so I guess issues get picked up and sorted.

[@percyppenguin8687]

So many car "experts" always underestimate the subaru. Then they drive one and fall in love with them just like every other subaru driver on earth. They are extremely well built and soiled, all the bells and whistles, and well priced.

[@jistone7851]

amen to that, but really I like that they're so underestimated keeping the cost low for us who know

[@crispinswainstonharrison9042]

Very soiled 😂😂

[@charliewhiskey8440]

Subaru drivetrain is excellent, but the interior is quite horrible. My 2006 Honda Jazz inside looks MUCH more pristine than my 2014 SJ XT, with cracked seat fabric and plastic panels. I got both cars since new. The front seats headrests are so rock-hard they give you concussions on rougher ground, and don't get started on that horribly useless thing they call head unit...

[@liannebenn2097]

Who wants a soiled car?

[@ethansnipez]

Car is trash and falls apart in less than 100k miles. Also they have failed to fix major design flaws as a company. figure out your damn head gaskets for god sakes

[@Docsammy]

I was once stuck in a snow storm and I had a 2004 outback. It kept going through mounds of snow. Really impressed me with the AWD system of Subaru.

[@thatfrenchcanadian5779]

Indeed.... i have a sport impreza and it is better in Canadian snow then my former jeep Rubicon.

[@domwesbentick2960]

Yeah, my 2013 Impreza handled snowy roads like a champ!

[@bjohnson1489]

So did my 1980 monza 2wd with a 4 banger just like a vee plow

[@sublevel03]

The only thing that you missed is that the Subaru has dominated this segment for well over a decade. Transverse FWD platforms with an "on demand" AWD system (that overheats/ECU nannies out) are not going to be on the same level to a longitudinal engined design built for AWD.

[@ВячеславАнатольевич-н8б]

людей то не смеши:) Все субару на автомате давно имеют муфту подключения заднего привода, а последние лет 10 еще и вариатор добавили вместо автомата..так что были субару отстоищем , стали еще хуже:)Посмотри сравнительные тесты Дияса Валихана, переживи это унижение легенды:):):)

[@MADDOG100ful]

You didn't test the body twist doors opening with out binding, on the Toyota Rav 4

[@MT454]

@@MADDOG100ful yes he did? 9:02

[@jessebrinker3706]

It’s a shame it’s got a CVT and brittle windshield.

[@monkeysezbegood]

And now if it's not electric it's already second.

[@Toastmaster_5000]

Seems like the Ford's, VW's, and Nissan's AWD systems were actually somewhat competent but mostly lost because of tire traction. Otherwise, no surprise Subaru won, and no surprise Honda did terribly.

[@shalami2]

yep

[@grants69r]

I'd love to see this test done again but with AT tyres

[@Noah_E]

I have Toyo Open Country ATs on my 2015 Forester XT (225/55R18). It climbs right over rock ledges and rough terrain at my tree farm and my parent's cabin. Areas my F350 and dad's Ranger struggle, even in 4 low.

[@PapaA7145]

Purchased our first Subaru(2024 Forester Wilderness) this year. Four months later I received a text from the dealership informing us of a trail event and we were invited as Wilderness owners. I accepted. My wife was not interested so my 18 year old granddaughter went with me. I must admit that I did not expect to be on serious trails but once completed, we loved it. There were a few obstacles on the course requiring spotters and that was awesome for someone not accustomed to trail riding in a new vehicle. X-Mode was explained, experienced, and is awesome. Special thanks to Charlotte at Darrell Waltrip Subaru and Morrison Outdoor Adventures.

[@ELHemi440]

That is why I love my Forester!!, had a 2019 CRV before and let me down with the AWD system exactly the same way it was shown on this video and did overheated the AWD system @ -15c, every 2 minutes, did my research and got a 2021 Forester Limited, hands down the best car I ever owned.

[@PPLd1]

Glad you made the right choice.

[@Xyb3rTeCh]

Honda are an absolute pile of garbage. I still don't understand why people are still buying these piece of junk brand.

[@dineshtak1984]

Hi Paul, Thanks for making this video. I got big smile when saw Subaru Forester is the winner. I own 2022 model New Zealand. Honestly, after buying this car, I always felt the car doesn't look great compere to other mid size brand's car. If I keep the look aside, I always love how the forester drive and after watching this video, I think I made a right choice. No more regrets. Thanks Paul.

[@kevinclark7773]

As a Forrester owner, I knew the winner from the start.

[@grandche3966]

How many times you dare to challenge that cvt?

[@PoliticalMatter]

What do you suggest Outback or Forester?

[@kevinclark7773]

@@PoliticalMatter I've had my Forester for 6 years now and it's great, but if I went and got a new car I'd do an outback. Better towing capacity and near the same ground clearance and interior cubic feet.

[@LitheInLitotes]

Ford is trash

[@Wes147]

I’ve only had F150s and bought my first Wilderness Forester this year, got 8” of snow the next weekend and it’s amazing how it performs in the snow, way more confidence on the ice too

[@Kungfusue]

That was very interesting, thank you. I brought a Subaru Forester a couple of years ago. I love taking it off road, it’s an impressive car. So glad I brought this.

[@jackmann7227]

The moment I saw the Subaru Forester on the list, I knew it was going to be the winner. Best price out of all of them because the symmetric all-wheel drive system comes standard. I would love to see a Subaru Forester driving through a swamp or something like that.

[@Ravenousjoe]

As someone who recently got a Tucson for a work vehicle, it is nice to know it does decently it some more adverse conditions. It does extremely well in deep snow, and ice as well.

[@themadnes5413]

If you look at pricing the Mitsubishi was very impressive, it is the cheapest car and did very well with all the testing, not bad at all.

[@OliveiraPaulo1978]

Certainly one of the most underrated channels on KZbin about cars in general - I love how Paul and his team do their reviews and test everything in cars handed to them. Cheers from Canada!

[@bfc1999]

Well the guy is a bit of a dick that's why he's never going to reach the hights of carwow or throttle house

[@rolexr]

YESS.....the Forester is no wanna be "Sport" Utility Vehicle - He´s a real light Offroader with the biggest ground clearance of all that 12 vehicles !!!

[@thuantq91]

When I see the title, I already thought Subaru and Mitsubishi would won this test, and the result wasn't a surprise. Mitsubishi hasn't been really popular recently years, but their AWD system always be outstanding.

[@ruslanataoullov9248]

Agree. And considering that mitsu on same platform as Nissan , engine and all, mitsu's offroad programming more superior ...

[@Osmanloji]

yes bro

[@baghibassi]

Phev version is better

[@小藍の熱血時光]

The medium-sized SUV I use at home is the fifth-generation Forester, it is comfortable to drive, and its off-road capability is really good.😊😊

[@fryzvova]

I use 3rd gen (SH body), also great car. But was looking to buy 2nd gen (SG body) at first, but they are hard to find in good shape, so bought SH.

[@domwesbentick2960]

I have a 4th Generation Forester, and that thing is a beast. I take it to the snowy mountains in the winter to go snowboarding. With M+S All Seasons it never has an issue. I've been on many fully iced roads, no chains ever, and no issue. I even took it to an Iced ParkingLot to break it loose, and I was struggling to get it to lose traction. It sticks to ice like it belongs there. I love it!

[@fryzvova]

@@domwesbentick2960 I got it just before end of winter, and had no chanse to try it potential, only drifted on snowy parking lot with disabled stabilization. And now we have war at our country and it's prohibited to go to forest, so not a lot of real offroading now. But what I love about it - really universal car - not only good on offroad/mud/snow - but also is f*cking great on road - steering, maneurability and dynamics are great ( I have one with EJ253 engine - 2.5 naturally aspirated with TZ transmission which is 4 speed automatic with dynamic momentum distribution between axles - when you driving calmly - you got 90% on forward wheels and 10 on rear, when you really tapping gas - 60% - forward and 40% on rear, also when you engage 1st gear on manual selection - you getting 50/50) So I love my Forester, it's great =)

[@yzer]

@@domwesbentick2960 You should try dedicated snows as there’s a noticeable difference, plus more confidence on ice, and decreased stopping distance. Been using Bridgestone Blizzaks since 1997 on a 90 Legacy. Always had at least 1 Subaru in the garage and always manuals. Miss the additional torque the 05 LGT had over NA engines as it was such a huge improvement with the AWD system in the snow, especially going up hills or quick escapes while avoiding others slipping and sliding. Currently, can’t afford to keep rebuilding the EJ255 engine, so only have a 03 Legacy Wagon daily, but still running dedicated snow/summer setups. Believe that the extra money spent on the best tires possible is the best insurance policy.

[@charliefreddy2356]

This is by far the most comprehensive comparison of such crossovers. Thanks a lot for giving buyers a comprehensive test of what this vehicles are capable of.

[@sa2591-p5d]

I had a Forrester for years and it went plenty of places that 4x4’s were challenged with. Happy to see Subaru continues with the same formula!

[@andrewjones-productions]

I'm not surprised with the Subaru Forester. I owned one 15 years ago and even that edition did some things that impressed me time and time again. The Jeep however, was disappointing but to be honest, not all that surprising. The USA is too focused on marketing and I am sensing that Jeep have a severe dose of 'marketingisis' and have consequently let their standards drop and are slapping their 'Trail Rated' badge on vehicles that perhaps in the past, they would never have done. The biggest disappointment of all is the Mitsubishi Outlander. Having axed the Pajero, Mitsubishi should really have put a lot more effort into the Outlander. I have no idea what Mitsubishi are up to, but they seem to be completely uninterested in honest customer feedback. Note, I have driven a Mitsubishi Pajero from new for 15 years and have just today signed a contract for a new vehicle. That new vehicle is not a Mitsubishi. (Japan resident)

[@infernodani749]

Hi there, I'm a big fan of Mitsu' myself and looking concerned at their venture with Renault and Nissan, but your comparison is not fair, Pajero is a niche vehicle, just like Suzuki Jimmy, purely for off-roading without any compromises while the Outlander, just like the other models from this clip, is just a bit from everything (family car, offroad, comfort, city driving, sportive, etc. )

[@alexleishman1080]

Mitsubishi really screwed up neglecting the Pajero, and then giving it the axe. The Prado just swallowed up that entire segment since its departure/neglection. The Pajero Sport (aka Challenger) just doesn't interest me like the 'real' Pajeros did. Now no longer a Mitsubishi customer.

[@keyner111]

The Outlander, a disappointment? LOL, it's literally a game changer, S-AWC is one of the best considering the new Outlanders come with a bigger 20" rims with a low profile tires and and a crappy Ecopia, tires it did an outstanding job figuring out where to send power.

[@AgsyMixChannel]

Paul's testing and review should be an industry standard!

[@toshiyam2853]

It was impressive that the Forester did not raise the engine output so much. In a section like this, I think it shows that the excellence of 4WD control is more important than absolute power. The opinion that the tires are not the same would be correct. However, there are only easy sections, and they are all tires for highways, so there won't be much difference...

[@darrenbryans8288]

Great review, it really shows which SUV’s have serious engineering behind them and demonstrates what quality really is. Add this time the other important factors like general reliability and resale value and it makes it very easy to choose which car you’d want to buy when you spend the time watching this. They all say they can do these things and they spend a lot of money on marketing but only true real life test comparisons tell the real story.

[@Ydkoll]

one really important factor was left out. Since all of these vehicles were put to the test off road you would think that it would be fair to fit these suv's with off road tires. This obstacle was far from novice. Most buyers would probably do minimal off roading and no where near what these reviewers doing. But hey, those are my thoughts.I did like the review though.

[@justjoe5373]

@@Ydkoll I'd like to see the cars with appropriate tires for this kind of offroading but I'm glad we can see what you're getting out of the box. Most people that buy "smaller" SUVs need them for comfort, cargo space and bad roads (bad asphalt or maybe dirt) and don't bother offroading with them, so it's nice to see what else you could do with the stock tires

[@xsfeatg]

@@justjoe5373 I take my Honda CRV AWD thru light sand and some times a foot of sand when you lose the road, the AWD does kick in correctly when I lose traction. These mid size SUVs are what they are,,, my Honda is the most reliable car I have ever bought. I heard that using All Terrain Tires may mess up your computer,, any thoughts?

[@avonperera2187]

my 2013 Forester XT never fails to impress with how well it copes off-road. Most people who think you need a hardcore 4WD have probably never driven a Forester

[@tomjackson2341]

nothing to compain about forester offroad ability just its design way too ugly both inside and out everytime I see it on road I yell up yuckk and when I see the inside I slam the door straight away double yuck

[@gagd7351]

@@tomjackson2341 They're fine nowadays tbh

[@aecs.constn]

I knew that the subie will ace that log course. We were in UAE doing a site development project, with all of us using Prados, Hiluxes and Fortuner 4x4s except for our chief surveyor who uses a subaru forester. For the whole 12mos plying that desert, only him had the best offroad vehicle and never got stuck 😆

[@Brabant076]

Those are the story's we want to hear lol, Subie for life!

[@errolfeistl1705]

I love the forester, but suspect if that is true that perhaps the chief surveyor is a better driver or wasn't tackling quite as difficult terrain. As good as the forester is, in my experience the Prado is substantially better offroad.

[@aecs.constn]

@@errolfeistl1705 I guess so since he is more often offroad than us. Getting Topographic surveys every day of the week! But still, that little Subaru earned all of our respect 🙌

[@naiemzamdin9823]

subie gang for life

[@amirsamsudin]

Same here for me in Qatar when bringing the forester to the dunes. I friend even asked me to hop in his car cause the forester is consider “small” car compared to all the big SUVs. And i proof them wrong when i drove in the dunes without any issues 😄

[@127Foxtrot]

Paul and CarExpert; what a great comparison of these SUVs 'out of the box'. Given the Forester did so well, for us Subie enthusiasts, I'd like to see a side by side comparison of the current stock standard Forester versus Crosstrek and Outback (non-turbo) on this course and same conditions. The Crosstrek being lighter weight but with smaller engine, and the Outback being heavier and (I think) has less aggressive stock tyres.

[@ankaris5129]

My gf has a 2012 Subby XV. I threw on some 15" wheels, down from the 17's and put Yokohama Geolandar G015 AT's on. Transforms the car like you wouldn't believe. The grip is awesome and rides better! Best upgrade you can make on an already good AWD.

[@sergardom]

Traducción

[@mehdinazarbeigi3168]

This is actually very good review, thanks Paul, and thanks to all your team! Can you please do more comparison videos.

[@CarExpertAus]

Thanks and will do!

[@tantiwahopak101]

@@CarExpertAus yeahhhhh!

[@ทีมงานพิสูจน์ผีครับผม]

@@CarExpertAus รถดีๆเอาไปทำให้พังหมด

[@ทีมงานพิสูจน์ผีครับผม]

@@CarExpertAus รถอ่ะ

[@akuyangbenar5897]

Thanks for a great video. Real time testing tells what 'normal' car reviews can't. Subaru as usual the champ of AWDs, eating up log mountain. What's surprising though is the number of big names, RAV, Jeep, Tijuana, CX5 that fell to Log Mountain, while some of the lesser names like Tucson and Outlander passed with no drames. Most surprising is the H6, possibly the most underrated car getting through impressively.

[@kzookid545]

I didn’t see the RAV4 fall to the log mountain?

[@alex98b627]

You didn’t watch the video?

[@kzookid545]

@@alex98b627 I did, after he gave it momentum it went up. Wouldn’t necessarily say it “fell” definitely didn’t fail like the trail hawk did but oh well. I’m not emotionally invested in it just pointing it out.

[@ryuk276]

hyundai tuscon showed a lot of loose of traction where as talking about jeep it made it well even though the 4x4 system wasn't working so it did with FWD so that's more impressive even RAV4 made it well

[@jm7720]

@jm7720 0 seconds ago NO. JUST NO! What makes me laugh about this video is that consumers think that todays SUVS are off-road LOL So stupid. These things are the manufactures way of selling you a GLORIFIED Hatchback. If you want off-road, go by a JEEP or a TRUCK. Do not buy a Toyota rav 4, kia sportage, Hyundai Tuscon, ford escape or any of that crap as they are basically the new mom and dad caravan that pretends to be an off-road vehicle.

[@mrbeest13]

This is the best SUV test video I've seen so far. I was already considering buying a Subaru Forester before this video, now I am sure that's the one I will buy. I might be wrong, but I really think the boxer engine played a big role in Log Mountain.

[@9002alex]

My wife and I bought a my21 forester in December when our first bubs came along, selling my baby for it (2013 wrx STI) but the versatility of the car, the space and has every bell and whistle under the sun Is just great. 3 friends of ours have also purchased one on our advice from various other suvs (sportages, cx5s etc) nothing in its class comes close, especially for rear seat room and comfort. Also for the stat buffs out there, the ground clearance from the forester and outback for the new model is 213mm, which is only 3mm less than the new hilux and other Utes currently on sale. Good review Paul.

[@SteveC-Aus]

The Forester ground clearance is actually 220mm so even better! I also sold my 2020 WRX for a Forester when for a newborn daughter, no regrets it's an incredible all round SUV.

[@ramboexcess4469]

Ive had a Subaru Forester and it was incredible off road and ive owned prado, jimny and pajero and done heaps off hardcore 4wding. I actually expected it to win. Great car

[@aronharrington]

Strongly considering a forester for my next car... I had a 2001 full size montero (pajero) and wish mitsubishi had continued selling them here in the US.

[@sunofyourdrop]

@@aronharrington I had a 2002 full size Montero. Thing was a beast. Loved it.

[@Darion350]

@@aronharrington I have a 2020 Forester Sport and I absolutely love it. It goes through mud and snow up to the bumpers like it's nothing. Drives a lot better than similar vehicles I tested when I bought it, too. The facelifted Forester is likely even better now, so I 100% recommend it.

[@JonathanWrightZA]

​@@aronharrington Just bought a 2018 Forester. Absolutely loving it

[@Doc1855]

Great review. Subaru suits our needs perfectly. We live in north central WA state USA up in the mountains where we get 5-6 feet of snow every winter. We live 5 miles from town on a private road which we have to plow and maintain ourselves. The county road where our private road is, is the last road to get plowed, so usually we have to drive into town on unplowed county roads.

[@2krspy]

My dream of living in the mountains on acres away from people! So jealous, I'm a CRV owner though lol.

[@jeffjames736]

Spent a few hours looking at medium sized suv's at the Ford, Dodge and Chevy dealers today. Held off buying any of them until I saw how they would do off-road. This test was really amazing. Now I was hoping that the Subaru Forester would do well and it surely did! That's the car for me, but I'm going to have to wait to see what the offerings are for 2024 when the Forester gets its five year refresh. Don't care for the under-powered 2.5L engine (really want a turbocharged version). So I have to wait for several months more (hope it will be worth it).

[@ks-bg5uk]

Not all surprising. Subaru has been dominating these kinds of tests for years. The forester isn't the most exciting and the stereo could be better, but safety, all wheel drive, large cabins, and off road challenges are what makes the forester a great vehicle.

[@KarinainOZ]

The visibility is excellent. I feel like I’m in the Popemobile 😉

[@hortiboi]

As a Forester owner I'm a little biased but could you expect any less from a Fozzie? Subaru have made their reputation on their AWD platform and have perfected it over many years. I'm actually surprised the Jeep performed so well considering they have a reputation as such a poorly made vehicle in general.

[@davidnobular9220]

And then....they went CVT.....(Subaru, not Jeep to be specific)

[@jinyax3321]

u just mad my bro. Dont u know jeep is #1 off road vechicles in the world... OMG. Did u hear about Wrangler? Seems like not.

[@Emily-lk1mf]

@@jinyax3321 between you and him which one of you appears to be mad lol. You seem like a kid so ill just say hes not wrong about them being built poorly nowadays

[@davidnobular9220]

@@jinyax3321 I like the Jeep "There and back" guarantee......you get to the middle of nowhere in your Jeep.....and when it breaks down, you get towed back by Lancruiser/Pajero/Patrol......

[@jinyax3321]

@@davidnobular9220 yea all cars may be broken but LC just wont get to the middle of nowhere to save wrangler

[@basilbrush6014]

I feel that on log mountain the individual vehicle wheel base length has the greatest affect on results. No surprise that Subaru was the best with their AWD system, Havel was a surprise. Another good episode, that Paul & the team.

[@CarExpertAus]

Yes that's a good point!

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

Wheelbase has absolutely nothing to do with it. It's the drivetrain and computing software. Only one vehicle in the 12 is designed to handle this kind of driving. Shock, it's the vehicle that won.

[@sic22l]

Subaru has a regular cheap Haldex AWD system paired with some decent electronics.

[@DrKnowsMore]

As long as your head gasket and windshield remain intact during the climb, you'll be fine.

[@no1lineman]

@@DrKnowsMore You may have something with the windshields, but the head gasket issues have been resolved long ago and are rare these days.

[@davebalanding]

Love this type of review. Actual test on different conditions helps viewers to choose the right car.

[@TommyHorsen]

Surprisingly Haval H6 did such a great job with reasonable price.

[@angelopeiris]

Exactly, would be be fun to see how the hybrid model performs

[@paradigm3876]

@@angelopeiris hybrid will be only FWD in Aust, otherwise I'd be getting one. So effectively not like Toyota Rav hybrid tested here.

[@tudortanase8957]

The cheaper ones are actually expected to be taken offroad!

[@jzvr5842]

Lowest price here and Haval H6 is segment leading or near the top in every way, not just off-road capabilities, shows you how overpriced the other cars are.

[@tzeshenlim]

Tester was as surprised but no great words or more screen time😆

[@Mightyhawk84k]

Subaru Forester 😍 I think Outback would hv shined along with Forester if it was included in this test. Subaru vehicles r most practicle n better quality with ever so reliable AwD with 220mm ground clearance. Also priced fairly compare to sportage or cx5

[@camf7522]

I agree with the Forester, both from value and capability. Also the Forester is very safe on sealed roads too.

[@insomniacryan9916]

This is a test I've wanted to watch for a lot of years. I've always wanted to watch a video of cars-pretending-to-be-SUVs being put to the question, and this is a proper large-scale test with lots of prime candidates. Bravo, gentlemen!

[@GeoffMaher12]

Finally!! someone who did a proper performance test in the habitat these vehicles are meant to excel & justify their inflated price tags...and not just tell us about LED screen size and available USB ports... Had I seen this earlier it would have influenced my purchase decision ( I bought the KIA but now wish I bought the Subaru) Such is Life :-)

[@stevenrotherham6443]

Very nice to see such a comprehensive test of off road ability in SUVs. One point worth mentioning tho is the chassis rigidity test could really be more of a build quality test. If the door latch is misaligned slightly it will make it hard to open/close even with minimal flex

[@theretroman3862]

I knew it! I had my eye on Subaru Forester for almost 5 months now and been looking at a lot of testing, but this video right here proves it right! Thank you so much man! \m/

[@ghostgutarist5234]

Same here was out for Rav4 TRD and also test drove those, after this video.... Test drove Forester and FELL IN LOVE... bought the WILDERNESS right away. after discovering the Safety feature .... Damn . I m glad i fell for Subaru.

[@Jose_hernandez970]

As a 30 year master mechanic I love that you chose Subaru. They are garbage for long term reliability and they keep my job well funded.

[@josephwillig8561]

In the US subaru is known for being too dog for long term reliability. Honda, Toyota, and Subaru are the big 3. Funny thing is lots of people like to hate on the CVT and say it overheats… but many of these other vehicles without CVTs overheated and the Subaru with a CVT actually did not and got 1st place against these 11 other vehicles

[@sunofyourdrop]

@@Jose_hernandez970 Could you elaborate please? My understanding is problems in the past (head gaskets for example) have all been resolved. If you are including past issues, then that is not a fair comment. This video is targeting towards new vehicle owners and giving potential skewed data is not helpful. 250K+ miles on a well-maintained vehicle to me is a hallmark of reliability.

[@athony2620]

I'm thrilled with my recent purchase of the Forester. So far, it's been performing well, and I truly feel secure when driving it. Even my wife has taken a liking to it! However, I'd like to note that its miles per gallon (mpg) ranges from 21-24. Given that I drive in California, with about 80% of my time spent on highways and the external temperatures being between 30-40°C, this is something to consider. Aside from that, I genuinely enjoy driving my new car.

[@athony2620]

Another point I'd like to mention is its acceleration. Some might find it a bit slow or lacking in power, but I believe that's one of the reasons why it feels so steady and safe to me.

[@cristian78ortegacatalan78]

Subaru es excelente y es japonesa tambien felicidades

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

Great comparison video. The Forester was always going to win. Imagine how much better it would be with a set of all terrain tyres fitted.

[@mayconmcc]

Forester, its the best 4x4 suv

[@ZzmaerD]

@@mayconmcc 4x4 is not the same as awd but I get what you are saying :)

[@josebabilonia2418]

Comparing forester with escape compass and other small ones is not comparing apples to apples. Maybe crosstrek was a better one with the rest of the vehicles. ford have the edge jeep the Cherokee in that range.

[@johnkellett7797]

I would be interesting to see how the cheaper LandRovers coped, the Discovery Sport and Evoke. We all know the Defender, Discovery and Range Rover would have no issues but the Jeep in this video proves that just having the name is not enough :-)

[@ThePhantom41]

I've driven my old Land Rover Freelander (1st generation) over that course and it didn't miss a beat, easily handled the same terrain. The newer Disco Sport would romp it in.

[@slandshark]

The Jeep Compass AWD system failure is consistent with what I've seen in other videos. It's likely overheating AWD system that is causing it (seen in another video). Didn't seem to take much wheel spin in AWD to get it to break in either video I saw (the other was in snow).

[@PPLd1]

The latest Land Rover Discovery Sport is quite terrible offroader. I have tried it and it was obvious 4WD with heavy bias to FWD until you slip.

[@jase4452]

The failure of the Compass is no secret to anyone that own the bigger Jeep fourbies. They are shunned within the Jeep community.

[@jay75rv]

Couldn't get anything Land Rover as they were all on a hoist here,there and everywhere

[@jarontran3697]

Fantastic comparison video. Would love to see a similar video comparing the Audi Q3, BMW X1, MB GLA and Volvo XC40

[@CarExpertAus]

Noted!

[@AuntieSalisbury]

Well done and very good review....I will buy Subaru Forester ...good performance On and Off the Road.....

[@NorthernLights1]

As for the RAV4 Hybrid, the rear-end motors aren't so powerful. They are powerful enough not to be the limiting factor in snow/ice traction. However, for hill climbing, just don't have enough torque. I think the RAV4 plugin hybrid would have been able to make it due to much stronger rear-end motors.

[@simont8757]

Should put the RAV4 to trail mode...

[@NorthernLights1]

@@simont8757 It would probably not have made much of a difference. The electric motor that drives the rear-end wheels (MGR) only has 53hp and 120Nm of torque. Compared to 220hp and 220Nm on the front wheels. As a side note: I own a 2021 RAV4 Hybrid AWD and am very happy with it, it's not the right car for heavy offroad or hill climbing. But it can handle any “normal” roads be it in ice or heavy snow. And when I don't need the AWD (99% of my driving) the RAV4 hybrid give me an amazing MPG.

[@fcnghkkc1]

@@simont8757 the hybrid doesn't have trail mode.

[@NorthernLights1]

@@fcnghkkc1 The 2019+ RAV4 AWD Hybrid has a designated "Trail mode" button. I own one so I'm absolutely sure.

[@christinakerovecz9018]

@@NorthernLights1 Yes, I agree. I just bought a 2022 RAV4 Hybrid, and the mileage is amazing. I fell in love with the 2022 Forester Wilderness, but because of mileage, went with the RAV4, and I'm not disappointed. It's going to be a very capable car in snow, ice, etc., and I feel very safe in it.

[@incognito1067]

Thanks for a great review. Purchased a new Forrester a month ago after considering different SUV’s. arrives in 2 weeks. Glad to see I made the right decision. 😊

[@preetmohantuli1795]

An awesome review Paul , great job Car expert team.. These kind of videos will be referred for years !!

[@CarExpertAus]

Thanks mate!

[@ashmass1000]

This was a good test, and I was very pleased with the result as a Subaru forester owner myself. I would like to see the same vehicles on an incline test with loose gravel, dry dirt or Sandy surface, and finally wet dirt.

[@Soul-Taker]

Yeah I don't own a Subaru but I was secretly hoping it would do well as I've always appreciated them. I own an old CRV, it has been a great reliable car. However they're not aimed at off roading, they were one of the first manufacturers to recognise their "soft roaders" were actually being bought by soccer mums who rarely leave the city and constructed them accordingly.

[@toshiyam2853]

@@Soul-Taker

[@haiironezumi]

I'd selfishly love to see an even more niche version of this, testing the performance of these vehicles in snow.

[@Traumatree]

The Subaru will win it even more in snow and slippery surface.

[@ericchandler90]

It's all about tires in the snow. All of these vehicles would do well with proper snow tires in several inches of snow. None of them would do well in deep snow. Tires just aren't tall enough and none of them have lockers.

[@gbsailing9436]

Oh there's plenty of YT videos out there showing that if you are really interested. Just google it

[@haiironezumi]

@@gbsailing9436 None that I have seen from an Australian perspective/using vehicles in our market.

[@super_street_racer5094]

Considering how the outlander fell in the city SUV category with its street tires it did impressively well🔥

[@ruslanataoullov9248]

Especially considering it's mostly Nissan now...

[@ruslanataoullov9248]

@visayaya outlander 4 is made on the platform as nissan xtrail, same engine and powertrain, but offroad programming is still superior...

[@greggh8611]

This could be one of the most useful cross vehicle reviews I've seen. Most reviews offer only the same details that EVERY other review has - blah, blah, blah. Then the reviewer gives his/her biased opinion. But this review focused on what should be somewhat important to every SUV buyer - mild off road ability! But, it let all the contenders perform and let the results speak for themselves. As a past Jeep Cherokee owner, I wasn't surprised. The performance didn't live up to its reputation. And the quality of the build was horrible. Never again!

[@alirezabayat3994]

Im in love with outlander , it was an amazing test , thanks for it . please let us know more about this Suv .

[@MVDROZ]

Great video, Paul! Informative and entertaining. Any chance you’d wanna do another but with medium luxury SUVs? Macan, X3, XC-60, Q5, NX, GLC, GV70, F-Pace, Discovery Sport? 😉

[@CarExpertAus]

Great idea!

[@uYahbonaEmbo]

I second that idea would like to see those medium luxury SUV off-road.

[@JTisGOD]

They would be too scared to put a scratch on them

[@peters5692]

And maybe slightly older secondhand vehicles? Most of us can't afford a brand new car, so would be keen to see which 5-10 year old cars can do this off road track!

[@JasonNguyenimproved]

Don't forget the GLB as well please!

[@iguanagoat799]

Great job guys! Not at all surprised to see the Subaru come out on top.

[@CarExpertAus]

Thanks for watching!

[@cy9nvs]

Such an embarrassment for jeep. A brand that kind of lives off their "Off road roots" throws an AWD error as soon as it's actually needed.

[@chriswording8638]

They have been pretty crappy for years. The only Jeep worth investing is the Rubicon. And even that only if you have some more serious off-roading in mind and don't mind breaking down once in a while.

[@martinr8278]

Not to surprised for jeep, even crv and ford.

[@cy9nvs]

@@martinr8278 I think people got higher expectations of Jeep than Ford or Honda when it comes to off-road capability.

[@Xyb3rTeCh]

Jeep is an American brand and as Jeremy Clarkson said countless of times, American cars are rubbish

[@NoQuarterNoMercy1]

@@Xyb3rTeCh The Jeep Compass is an Indian/Italian car. It’s made by Fiat in its plant in India.

[@Ka0s42]

I've bought a Renault Koleos with AWD this year, which is basically the same car as the Nissan Xtrail, as they are both built on the same platform. The AWD is really well for driving through the forest where I live. For your log test, it's really important what kind of tires you have on the car. With Summer tyres, they tend to slip more on logs. My Koleos has All-year tyres that are a softer rubber mix and they grip better on flat surfaces.

[@AIRDRAC]

Fantastic review, thank you so much for doing this! It looked a lot like that the X-trail and Tiguan were mostly limited by tire grip, as they both managed to spin all four wheels on the log climb. Fascinating to see the only brand with "off-road heritage" and tons of branding about it being the absolute loser of the bunch :D

[@Soul-Taker]

Jeep make garbage cars, I'm shocked how many people buy them.

[@keaujibaha2594]

@@Soul-Takerit’s fiat what else’s is expected ?

[@julius43461]

​@@Soul-TakerMost people buying these cars don't even know what their specialty is supposed to be. Most SUVs are sold because they look cool and are a status symbol.

[@jm7720]

@jm7720 0 seconds ago NO. JUST NO! What makes me laugh about this video is that consumers think that todays SUVS are off-road LOL So stupid. These things are the manufactures way of selling you a GLORIFIED Hatchback. If you want off-road, go by a JEEP or a TRUCK. Do not buy a Toyota rav 4, kia sportage, Hyundai Tuscon, ford escape or any of that crap as they are basically the new mom and dad caravan that pretends to be an off-road vehicle.

[@julius43461]

@@jm7720 They are off-road enough for what most people need them. Just having more clearance and 4x4 is way ahead of any regular car.

[@AlejandroArchila1]

Mitsubishi Outlander did outstanding with those 20’ alloy wheels.

[@keyner111]

Also it has Ecopia tires which isn't really good for off-road, S-AWC is mighty impressive.

[@doctordryan]

Subaru owners won't be surprised here! Far out Jeep has fallen from grace massively

[@theworldviewers3586]

Love the outback

[@myauctionaddictionestatesa7451]

Unless you want a real 4x4 suv and buy a Rubicon for actual off road use

[@chadweaver9138]

Love Subarus, but did he use the 4 Lock, or "rocks" when climbing the timber in the Jeep?

[@DanielFrein-n5r]

@@myauctionaddictionestatesa7451Best satire post of the thread

[@braydenhancock3907]

Glad to see that while the Tucson is slow to get through it still makes it! Just bought my second car new and I am not disappointed so far

[@ztechrepairs]

I have a 20 17 Hyundai Tucson all wheel drive. Damn capable little car when I need it to be. Going through wet and muddy farm fields for equipment demos is easy peasy. 9 times out of 10 I have the smallest car to show up on sites but have never worried about getting stuck

[@peterpanousis8458]

Love this format. Separate the contenders from the pretenders. Bravo CarExpert. Manufacturers must be sweating bullets when they hand the keys over 😂

[@CarExpertAus]

😁

[@keynesianeconomics4113]

That's what the industry desperately needs. Build a good product and stand by it.

[@reshad711]

@@CarExpertAus Hello, I liked it super but I wanted you to do an off-road test for such models : mercedes GLE 350 de , Chinese electric cars BYD TANG EV600 2022, NIO E8S , HONGQIE HS9, I wanted to see what they are suitable for, can they go where ordinary ones will not go? And also sees in this test how models with a hybrid will behave? Where's the new Kia Sorento?

[@Angkor_Noble]

Bet you, the losers would find the excuses to contest such tests, there will be but, but, but...

[@geilamarcia2218]

P

[@taohan2281]

Great video Paul and the team! It is awesome to see the comparison that put everything on the table. Would it be possible to do a Subaru off road series with XV, Forester and Outback? Thought it might be good to see if they are consistently capable regardless of the difference in prices. Cheers!

[@PhilM-zd9le]

Great video for a good range of vehicles. I think you could include a beach section to compare how these vehicles go in the soft sand. I am currently thinking of buying a Subaru Forester so this video was particularly useful to me. Great stuff. Keep up the good work.

[@andrewcoulls3718]

Totally agree about seeing them tested in sand. Afterall we are in Australia and taking your SUV or 4x4 down the beach is probably the most common off-roading we do. You certainly wouldn't buy one that is ok on fire trails but rubbish down the beach.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Love my MY22 Forester. Such a lovely car to drive and one that instils confidence no matter what terrain I drive it on. Extremely happy with my recent purchase, having moved on from my first generation Kluger.

[@AD28197]

Honestly this test shows that these manufacturers have lost the plot with their crossovers. Example the first gen Rav4 is the most off-road capable while the models that came after are more city based and less off-road capable. Hats off to Subaru👏🏾.

[@pummyy]

What % owners do anything remotely close to this. 99% used for school pickup.

[@AD28197]

@@pummyy What percentage of countries do you know that have a good road infrastructure like Australia or any other 1st world country? The answer to my question should easily answer yours as well.

[@pummyy]

@@AD28197 most if the countries where they cud afford an expensive offloaded for school drop will have a good road too.

[@AD28197]

@@pummyy reasoning with you is a waste of time if that is your answer.

[@allisterdavidson9805]

Well yes...just look at what Nissan did to the Pathfinder.....2010 - fully capable offroad 4WD low range with lockers to current model which is a bigger version of the Xtrail!

[@JohnMohn]

So shocked with the rigidity test of the Jeep. I've been tuning in your vids and this is the first time I watched it happen. So the test is really real. Wow!

[@CarExpertAus]

Thanks for watching!

[@User-cb4jm]

When it’s the one car that failed the door opening test definitely shoddy engineering - can’t imagine what would happen in a crash. Not sure if I’m surprised that it’s the Jeep with the worst engineering given their terrible reliability record. Huge delta between the image of the brand and what they actually put out.

[@DerangedSloth555]

It's a jeep thing...

[@seegee7728]

@@DerangedSloth555 What's that? To not work properly.

[@jzvr5842]

@@seegee7728 To be built and perform like crap.

[@fredepolis]

I’m a happy owner of a 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sel Black Edition. I’m not surprised it is #2 out of 15. I love the way it rides, robust safety features, in addition to great warranty and looks.

[@johnwayne8475]

Nice review, in the U.S they have an even more off road capable Forester called Wilderness. It makes sense to have a car based SUV that drives like a car on road but also capable off road when you want to go on holiday camping somewhere in the wilderness. What you have shown is it's not easy to engineer a car that can do both really well.

[@CarExpertAus]

I've seen that! I wish we got that version in Oz.

[@denniscoronel2691]

When you go camping you go to the wilderness but here in Straya when we go camping we go to the Outback. Funny ei, subaru got both🤣🤣🤣 Anyways, before easter i was on one of the subUru dealer/service centre to have my forester a periodic maintenance and i ask the sales manager if wilderness edition will going to land here in Straya but he said still on the process of negotiating but he reckons more on not coming.😢😢😢😢 Wish can get the wilderness ground clearance for the Subaru Outback. Im ok with 2.5L N/A engine.

[@rich7447]

Isn't the Forester that we get in the US a compact SUV?

[@gavinmcfadden1386]

@@denniscoronel2691 just got a 2 inch lift on my diesel 2017 outback. Iron man coil over complete change out. Has helped a lot stopping fender drag and scrapping a few underbody bits I take it some interesting places!

[@CraigWinstanley1]

Thanks Paul and the entire CarExpert team for all your effort in putting this together. I like your no-nonsense approach and non-biased verdict. Congratulations. Fair comparison of vehicles with sensible tests. Very informative. I have a new diesel Sportage (AU version), which I am very happy with.

[@thiagovedder]

Great job folks, always such good comparisons! You guys take them in equal condition and put the truth right in front of our eyes. Some cars were built behind their brand names but don't perform up to them.

[@abegiesbrecht1148]

This video helped me in my final decision on buying my Mitsubishi Outlander. I got the V6 6 sleed with the S-AWC though. Thanks for the video bud. Cheers from Canada

[@messierthirtyone777]

Why the outlander and not a RAV4?

[@davidholmes4088]

That is the best thing I have seen in ages. Companies sell these cars built around an outdoor do it all image. I live in the country. Subaru for me.

[@SuperDuperSoundFX]

Subaru's dedicated awd system has never failed me.

[@DieterWoestemeier]

It's the best

[@kdomster9141]

Not with CVT overheat 🤣

[@beefuzzy310]

CVT has really held Subaru back. Loved our 2015 Outback but that transmission would max out in sand or hills. I still recommend them as the best soft roader.

[@kdomster9141]

@@beefuzzy310 2 of my friends got CVT failures, one at 33K miles on a turbo Forester and other one at 70K miles in a 2.5 Legacy .... People just don't do their homework, and Subbie goes cheap and lazy by designing off road vehicles with CVT that hates power, torque and heat... CVT is ok in econo box , light small car with tiny engine like Honda Fit where in econo cheap vehicle it is ok but not in any respectable vehicle over 20K usd

[@jaguar2164]

@@kdomster9141 The 2023 model, which is the one that was tested, has improvements in the transmission that allow it to have better torque at low speeds, more speed before suspending the xmode help and a general improvement in the transmission to avoid heating, it applies to the normal model gasoline and for the hybrid model. For the other thing you are talking about, you are talking about 2017 Forester models, which is the last turbo that came out and the legacy model that you are talking about because of the mileage, it looks like models from those years too. Now the cvt with lineartronic is much improved.

[@kevinvalenzuela4354]

I’m surprised Jeep cut it for the test. But thank you, definitely secured our position to purchase a forester

[@martinr8278]

You’ll love the forester Much better choice

[@ianmcmillan1411]

I love this kind of comparison; however clearly tyre traction is a huge factor, and many manufacturers will sell cars like these with 'road tyres' on them, and recommended tyre pressures are always for tar roads which is NOT optimal for off-road. I would say that fitting them all with comparable all-terrain tyres & deflating to recommended off-road pressures (1.8bar?) would provide a better comparison of the actual vehicles' capabilities off-road. Nevertheless, I did expect the Subaru to win, so kudos to Subaru for meeting my expectations!

[@juandig]

I found this randomly looking at good unbiased comparison videos for the Subaru Forester, and was actually expecting some of the other contenders in this video to be better than the Forester from what I had heard about them in the past like the Nissan X-Trail. Only thing I would've add to the body flex test would be to open the trunk of the vehicle. Other than that, I'm really pleased with this video. It compares some really good SUV options on the current market and the trail seemed challenging enough to me.

[@esperago]

Well, from what I can tell, this reviewer does someone little funky with the settings. For instance, the Outlander is in AWD mode but it also has 4WD mode. Had he switched it to 4WD mode, it would have shot up log mountain the same way the Forester did (as the reason the Forester performed so well is because it has permanent synchronous 4WD). As well, he is mistake about the Outlander and XTrail being identical underneath the skin. Yes, they share many, many components but they do not share the AWD/4WD system. Mitsu uses their exalted AWC system and Nissan uses their whatever they use. I'm knowledgable about the Outlander and caught his inconsistencies. Who knows what other settings he mis-selected on the other vehicles.

[@Alaster-]

@@esperago it's annoying when the miss little details like that - how much more did they miss??. The not yet released X-Trail (early 2023) will share (supposedly) a lot with this version outlander - platform, engines, drivetrain etc. But yeah, not the X-Trail he tested... That said, I can't find any user manual or brochure that shows dedicated 4WD mode in the current model. They all go on about 6 modes: "Normal mode, Eco Mode, Tarmac Mode, Gravel Mode, Snow Mode, Mud Mode"

[@tonycoz2309]

Great comprehensive test which is often not looked at with SUV's when reviews take place. Sure the Forester is starting to look dated but the most capable of the lot, great visibility and a good all round family vehicle.

[@CarExpertAus]

Agreed!

[@scott8238]

The Mitsubishi did great which is based on the all new rouge/ x trail over seas. we just bought the updated Nissan rogue and it does great in the mountains for us.

[@kennedy9072]

Actually it's not based on the Rogue. Mitsubishi, Renault and Nissan shared the costs to develop this platform (CMF-CD) and then after that, each manufacturer tunes, designs, and programs the car differently, and this Outlander has Mitsubishis famous S-AWC compared to Nissans Intelligent AWD.

[@super_street_racer5094]

SAWC works wonders

[@scott8238]

@@kennedy9072 So yeah same platform and much of the interior is the same.

[@vypir313]

This was a great side by side comparison of a basic off road course. Well done and thank you! My only comment, as a 2024 forester owner, is that you probably didn't even need to put the forester in either x-mode for any of the tests. Deep snow/mud mode is only for those times when you are literally in deep snow or deep mud which you really didn't have on your test track.

[@JackInDaBoxx]

Having owned a Subaru I can vouch for its X-Mode capabilities. As soon as I clicked on this I knew the Subaru would champ it. I'd like to drive the Wilderness edition with off road tyres as I am sure its a weapon.

[@toddmobby1595]

I do own 2015 forester for 3+ years, it has serious problems in very dry forest sand. I would love to test 21/22, but even if it is better, it still it looks like crocodile.

[@ronaldleemondia6555]

This will be one for the ages Paul. Great work for you and your team. No one has done it yet if at all!!!

[@AD28197]

Finally, the true test of a crossover

[@CarExpertAus]

😁

[@AD28197]

@@CarExpertAus if possible can you get a G-wagon soon

[@josephwillig8561]

Great video! Subarus AWD system is the best in the world only other manufacturer that’s comparable is Audi! The forester preformed amazing and it wasn’t even the wilderness model