USED Subaru Forester XT - Common problems and should you buy one? | ReDriven used car review

The Subaru Forester XT is among their most popular mid-sized SUVs, which means there are plenty on the used car market. Just be careful - picking the wrong one could lead to a massive maintenance bill! Subscribe Here! youtube.com/@ReDriven?sub_confirmation=1
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Skip ahead:
00:00​​​​​​​ - Intro
00:16 - What is it?
03:51 - How's the interior?
09:07 - Tech, features & safety?
11:12 - What's it like to drive?
15:04 - What goes wrong?
22:02 - Should you buy it?
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Used car buyer's guide here 👉 • ULTIMATE used car buye...
Cheat Sheet here 👉 redriven.com/cheat-sheets/use...
The Subaru Forester XT stands out as one of their most sought-after mid-sized SUVs, renowned for its performance and reliability. According to numerous SUV reviews, it's praised for its impressive handling and all-wheel-drive capabilities. Additionally, its spacious boot space makes it a practical choice for families or adventure enthusiasts. In terms of automotive history, the Forester XT has carved its niche, evolving over the years to meet the demands of modern drivers. When scouring the used car market, you'll likely encounter a multitude of Forester XTs available for sale. However, caution is advised - buying the wrong one from a car dealership might translate into facing a substantial maintenance bill down the road. Therefore, it's crucial to conduct a thorough inspection and possibly seek professional advice before sealing the deal on this iconic Subaru model.
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[@ReDriven]

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[@coreypaublo]

18 forester xt.. 128000kms.. driven in canadian cold winters and hot summers.. driven off road and many occassions of opening up on nice highways.. synthetic oil changes every 8k kms max.. ive had minimal issues... bushings at 110k kms and ac compressor went at 115k kms.. other than that just oil changes.. premium gas and a lot of fun!

[@joemdee]

The XT never had the head gasket issue but it was an issue with the non-turbo forester but was sorted out years ago. With all cars you should periodically check your oil. I have had over 300,000 miles on two foresters. No problems beyond normal wear and tear and old age. Brilliant cars. Just upgraded to a 2017 Forester XT.

[@melmom1102]

I have a 2006 Forester, and she's still on the road 😂😂😂 no head gasket issues, but it's a bit of maintenance from time to time, kept up with oil changes, and still fun to drive. Pop has a wrx. Sis has a Forester with the Turbo. 😂 but what's funny? Out of all 3 of us, my older subie has had less issue than their newer cars.

[@ClydeBickford]

I've got a 2017 2.0 XT, and while on a journey, a steel pipe between the engine and the radiator had corroded, resulting in the radiator emptying rapidly and then blowing the head gasket. I've since had the entire head properly redone, but now I'm faced with a really awful severely delayed response from the CVT upon acceleration, almost lurching. Engine light keeps coming on with Hill Start Assist. Issue less prevalent when aircon is off, and when hill start assist is turned off. Consuming just under 18l/100km fuel at this stage.

[@joemdee]

@@ClydeBickford radiators on my last 2 XTs (2.5L) went at 105k and 110k respectively. But they didn’t have cvt. I’ll tell my dealer to be extra careful as my 2016 xt crosses a few rivers regularly.

[@martingibbins6621]

My 2007 xt says otherwise.

[@matthewryan4003]

I've had my 2016 Subaru Forester XT since new. It is currently about to tick over the 100 000km mark. It's been an excellent family car that I have been able to use on and off the road. It's a great size to fit everything you need for a family of four. It has the power when you need it. I've found the engine and transmission to be smooth for everyday use. It really does have a proper glasshouse for excellent all around vision. The fuel economy is decent for the type of engine it has. I've replaced the head unit with a quality aftermarket setup, and it has made a world of difference. The head unit it comes with is horrible in direct sunlight. I get my Forester serviced every 6 months regardless of the kilometres I've travelled. The drivetrain has never let me down. It hasn't been perfect. The leather seats have aged very quickly, and the front passenger leather has shifted weirdly on the seat frame. The air-conditioning system kept flipping off. It turned out to be a faulty relay, which took countless hours to diagnose. The suspension bushings and control arms wore out prematurely. The steering wheel leather started peeling off after a couple of years. The plastic on the front headlights is peeling. The paint is pretty thin and chips very easily. I've thought about trading it in and buying something else. When it comes to actually finding something that is comparable for a reasonable price, the trade isn't worth it. Subaru has made a quality product that fits the market very well. It does a lot of things to a decent standard without too many sacrifices. The lack of turbo models in the current generation would make me look elsewhere. I don't think I could go for an Outback.

[@maxd4968]

They’ve just launched the 6th gen and have promised a new hybrid next year, I’m hopeful

[@matthewryan4003]

@maxd4968 I like the idea of a subaru hybrid. I'm hoping they can improve on their current hybrid tech and actually make it competitive with its fuel efficiency and power application. The Toyota Rav4 has pretty much cornered the market. They seem to have no problems with their CVT. Their engine is more conventional than the flat four, which has never been known to be fuel or oil efficient. The latest Nissan Xtrail has tried something different but turn buyers off with the out of time revving of the generater compared to what the electric motors are doing. Something always brings me back to the Forester. I've seen the photos from the LA launch. I've got high expectations.

[@maxd4968]

@@matthewryan4003 I think Subaru fixed the cvt issues and oil problems for there current cars. Yeah the current hybrid is terrible. There is rumours it will use Toyota tech

[@bertygizzer]

Give the latest outback a go. The XT is fantastic

[@matthewryan4003]

@bertygizzer I love the shape of the Outback. I do like wagons. I've just found them to be adequate with their naturally aspirated engines, especially when fully loaded up. The XT models did catch my attention. The only obstacles stopping me are the price, the fuel economy, and the fact my Forester already does the job.

[@apkathompson]

So, after having researched most cars on the Australian market I have come to the conclusion that every vehicle , new or used has significant issues, are unreliable and should be avoided at all costs. Funnily enough , my current vehicle, which I was warned not to take a chance on has given me no issues in the 6 years I have had it.

[@HyperFragHD]

I drove my mates 99 Forester. I fell in love with how it feels when driving, felt like I was driving a little truck and felt solid

[@rumblefish85]

I like what you've done with your video format, guys. I've watching you over the years and you keep refining what you do. It's good. Keep it up.

[@BenTLador]

7:35 there's a pull tab at the bottom right to recline the rear seats...

[@michaelagi3777]

Hi, I thought I better leave my honest opinion as I have owned my 2013 XT since new. My Forester has 142000 and in that time it has never let me down, saying that I have serviced the car every 6 months for the first 3 years until the warranty ran out and after that once a year as I only drive 12000klm a year. Note that the oil and filter has been done every 5000klm since new. At 100000klm I had the CVT serviced, including filter replacement done in the CVT. I also get the oil replaced from the CVT every 2 years from that date and absolutely have no issues as I did not believe in Subaru's maintenance, sealed for life. Items I have replaced due to age have been the radiator, Pioneer head unit, one CJ joint, and the usual front-end bushes. Common issues are the front seats on the bolster fail and the material crack and tears. Fuel consumption for 10 years, city driving 8.6 - 8.8 and hwy low 7s and note that they do run very rich and that can be seen when you put the foot down. Sum up, yes, I wish the Forester was manual, but with the FA turbo, it does very well for me and my family, and it's still a pleasure to drive.

[@michaelsullivan5641]

Jim nails it - love his descriptions!

[@Kyumilli]

i got 2018 FXT used back in March. Swap out the head unit with idoing aftermarket Android unit ...makes a huge difference!

[@Jacob-5412]

This video was incredibly helpful, bloody awesome job, thanks mate!

[@johnnumbat9782]

Thanks Adam - your comic grounded presentation is just perfect - I’m currently driving my sister’s current top model in the Forester line around TAS which meant I didn’t have the costly boat trip from Geelong VIC - its been very interesting to compare it to the 12 Subarus I’ve owned and mentioned in your previous episodes - my last was the 2010 XT conventional automatic with the worst fuel economy I’ve ever experienced despite me being SA regional based and driving like a granny - I stopped buying Subarus when they introduced the dreadful CVT in 2013 along with the extremely annoying stop-start feature - a shame really despite the high failures of 2002-2007 head gasket issues and door/window mechanisms - I loved my WRX GC8 Indigo Hatch but by far the best built, reliable and practical Subaru was my 1997 Forester RX Auto (the first Forester model) that I kept for over 12 years - because I now need a vehicle for three purposes especially off-roading I drive a pre-DPF 2010 Toyota Hilux diesel auto dual cab.

[@Thatguy-cb4qs]

Had a 2017. Good car was perfect for what we need, run down a rustic fire trail and not be too big to park in the city. Suspension components failed all the time, lots of annoying small issues occurred for a car with low kms. Was never unreliable but the maintenance was out of this world.

[@Krooker85]

I have the same model in the same colour and my name is Simon too! It's been a great reliable car for us and we tow a camper trailer with it. 105,500kms and still going strong!

[@AngryAge]

We have a 2014 st-l. Mechanically it has been perfect. But the internal does wear out quick. Other issue I have found is the rubber wearing out around sunroof. Love your work guys.

[@joemdee]

You don’t buy a forester xt for the internals. Well apart from the leather seats and the giant sunroof.

[@claudiadavies5110]

LOVE the little finger pointer, sooo professional 😁

[@mertus4395]

Good video to watch at 2 a.m. Thanks!

[@sneakyfoz3692]

The older Foresters, particularly the Turbo manual models are extremely fun to drive, and what made them great is you could just bolt on WRX and STI parts cheaply and easily and although you were modding them it was all still oem parts. Great cars and absolute weapons in the snow., the newer ones, great mode of transport just not as fun to drive.

[@BrentKung89]

have had my 18xt since 2017, its a champ mechanically sound and without any issue, only complaint i can mention is the CVT feels slow off the line compared to a conventional box but once moving its pretty responsive.

[@rockygoodfellow77]

We have an Outback 3.6R as our family car and recently hired a Forrester on a holiday over east, driving it from Canberra to Brisbane via the New England and north coast. Loaded up with 2 adults, baby and associated luggage, it used just over 6 lph and was excellent as holiday transport. Switched off the annoying lane departure, the on/off engine feature was also annoying but put up with it.

[@liberty0758]

Had the pleasure of driving one as a courtesy car for a couple of weeks. I'm not an SUV type, but that thing was awesome, despite the CVT being shit.

[@goodkarmacomes]

i bought one for my small family. my wife loves it. you could actually recline the back seat with the string on the bottom corner.

[@Dylza94]

I've had a MY16 XT for nearely 5 years, it had 60,000 on it as a farmers wife's car and I've done about another 50,00 since. The video is pretty spot on & some of the below comments have highlighted other things to look out for. I've serviced every 6 months and have suffered no leaks or issues with the engine. I have experienced a handful of faults, they were all minor/covered by dealer warranty (with one pretty major exception) but they're worth considering: The A/C compressior was shot when I bought it, Subaru fixed under a recall, but worth checking before your first summer. The bushings on the front lower control arms wore out around 80,000 - these were covered by dealer warranty but you'd be up for $800 or so plus labour to replace the arms. (Also made the car prone to steering shudder at 100km/h+ which was not fun!) The washer bottle sensor on mine also played up for a while, but I ran it dry and left it for a few days, after next fill it was fine and has been since (might have been an additive I was using) I did chip the windscreen on mine too, but that seemed to be bad luck as I've had no other issues. Easily fixed with an Expoxy kit. Finally the big one, the front CVT pump gaskit was leaking at my last major service. The trans itself was fine, but to drop the box, clean & refill was ~$2,000. To the car's credit, I have pushed the trans more than the average user and it hasn't missed a beat mechanically. I didn't have concerns with Eyesight because the 2016 XT (not premium) didn't have it, or the stop/start - I hate almost all automated safety systems so I made sure to get one without it. Also had some quirks with the infotainment system but I run my phone in a mount so as long as the bluetooth connects its fit for purpose. But, despite all of the above, I love the car - it will make mincemeat of so many cars it has no right to hang with both in a striaght line and on back roads (177kw seems to be conservative). It will also comfortably sit at villy silly speeds if you find yourself in an emergency as my wife & I did a few years back. I've found the steering to be better than most describe, and the grip levels are off the charts for a car of this size. There's a decent amount of body roll but when you consider how high-up you are, it makes sense. The power is readily avaliable and the turbo takes no time to get into boost at all, on highway driving I can easily average

[@chronicle_4]

Pretty much sums it up with the perfect partner (Forester as a whole) but with a bad breath (CVT).

[@chriswright5198]

Had a 2015 Forester XT from new, covered 92,000km. It’s a terrific package overall, plenty of grunt (goes hard in sports#), quite fun to drive, reasonable if not great fuel economy, tight turning circle and good for occasional light off-road/sand driving. A few minor quality annoyances (more annoying given it’s been well cared for)… these include thin paint that’s faded on the plastic tailgate shroud and upper shade, dent-prone panels, body feels a little loose over patchy city streets, leather on steering wheel and driver’s seat bolster is cracking and peeling; a CVT oil leak (warranty) and few suspension bushes/joints replaced (twice under warranty). Subaru have been good to deal with; covered some items even outside of warranty by time, due to mileage still being within the original warranty distance and having full dealer service history. A great package sadly no longer available with the turbo, the NA versions are OK but 💤💤

[@axeya366]

Owner of a 2014 XT (105k KM) and 2019 WRX. Daily drive the XT, if your using "i" mode and drive sensibly then your fuel consumption is standard, if you put it in "S" or "S#" and your heavy on the foot and paddle shifting gears for fun then expect it to drink like a V8. Common interior issues are driver seat door side tear, steering wheel deterioration (use steering cover for it). Radiator to be changed after 70-100k KM (Subaru used cheap plastic and goes green from corrosion of the fluid.) Front drive shafts also an issue that had be be replaced. No transmission issues so far. Serviced on average every 6-8k KM. Make sure to warm the engine oil to 40deg and only till your at 70+ before you start thrashing it.

[@micheljalbert6106]

Have a 2016xt premium with 75K and never had a problem with it. Its in Mint condition. Will keep it as a second vehicule since my wife bought a new SUV

[@williamegler8771]

My neighbors used to buy Subaru vehicles exclusively and had been since they graduated from university. They would sing their praises whenever the subject of vehicles came up and often when someone in the neighborhood bought a new vehicle if it wasn't a Subaru they would tell them what a mistake they made and how they should have bought a Subaru! Starting in the mid-2000s every new one they bought was less reliable than the one before it and now their driveway has a Lexus sedan and a Toyota minivan parked on it!

[@joemdee]

Your neighbours have obviously gotten really, really old. The minivan shouts “silver nomad”.

[@elchamber]

That sounds sad😅

[@ralphblundell9479]

Bought a turbo Forester XT new in 2011, still have it. 230000 km, had the original radiator split the header tank 6 months ago, fuel sender unit leaking fumes into car, replaced. I replaced the crap headunit with a Joying Android Auto unit. Oh, and a strange whistle under acceleration turned out to he a $25 hose on the intake side. That's it, total. Brilliant cars.

[@aussietaipan8700]

My son has the exact same model. About 2 years ago, the radiator started leaking, it was replaced then a few months later the heater core started leaking. It was diagnosed with blown head gaskets. 3K spent, later the car was repaired and on the road for 3 weeks when the engine started to knock. 7K for a new short block and 2k for a new turbo. Then to top this off the car had no power and I found that the turbo waist gate was open all the time. The repair shop tried telling my son there is no warranty on the turbo. I sent a solicitors letter to the repair shop. Another new turbo installed and no cost to my son.

[@jugglematt100]

Thanks for the review lots of good information as usual , any chance of a review on the current Gen6 subaru outback?

[@frankchong5585]

SPOT ON. My regular tuner told me many greed with power, went it hybrid turbo and so on, blow the CVT and blame it not being reliable. He advised max with Stage 2 and that's it.

[@NIPUNAPEIRISPR4NK]

Being a diehard Evo fan, I used to hate Subarus. But they just grow on you. Now, as much as I'd hate to admit, I love a good Subaru. Even my friends 03 Liberty with 320k kms and crumbling parts is fun to drive. The B4 is an absolute bag of laughs too.

[@williamtea8334]

Had my 2016 XT for a while now and can’t fault it, except maybe the cvt. Would recommend to anyone wanting a great stock car.

[@xpictos777]

I got a tune from a Subaru Performance shop on my 2015 XT, does 8L to the 100 on 98 now and is faster than most cars on the road.

[@Kyumilli]

wow that is really good.. i barely get 11L/100km lol its hard i always wanna floor it on this car lol

[@xpictos777]

To clarify it is about 8.6L to the 100KM running on BP Ultimate, but it is super fast@@Kyumilli

[@kpkpss]

Bought a Xt in 2014 wife’s daily it’s a great car only haven’t updated as they don’t make a turbo forester anymore

[@SuperDrummerJay]

So, i have a 2016 XT Touring, and at 124,000 miles is still doing well. The CVT is definitely an issue. But, one of the biggest issues is Subaru claiming that CVT fluid is lifetime and never needs changing. Many Subaru dealers will not change it, and tell customers not to ever touch it. Thus causes a lot of the failures due to fluid breakdown. The CVT itself isn't the issue. The issue is usually the valve body solenoids. Subaru doesn't sell individual solenoids, but only sells a complete valave body replacement. I had to have this done with mine. I think a lot of the CVT failures are from that misrepresented "lifetime fluid" nonsense that Subaru tries to tell their customers.

[@seanbarry7378]

I'm really enjoying the introduction of 'Mr Pointy' in recent reviews. He just ads something that is difficult to quantify. Let's hope Mr Pointy' is here to stay 👉

[@gibster719]

Rear seat back angle can be adjusted by pulling the black fabric loop near the bottom of the seat back. The handle at the top of the seat back is just for folding the seat flat.

[@daviddyson7359]

The way to recline the back seats is to pull the strap on the seat back gap between it and the cushion. You had the rear seats in their most upright position

[@maxwellmunene5992]

15:04 you actually have the option to turn the beeps off. Should be somewhere next to the rear view mirror and others via the secondary dashboard settings.

[@coopy5]

It's crazy that Subaru has go so downhill from what they used to be!

[@hobo1704]

Huge shame

[@truongmelb]

I drive Ssangyong Stavic 7 seater. 10 years and still haven't miss a beat and cost a lot less than these.

[@scottwilliams1623]

I have an XT Forester of that generation with high milage and it never gives any trouble. The engine does not use oil and the CVT has not died. The potential issue I suspect is that Subaru said that CVT is a sealed for life non service item. That is just not realistic, the fluid is oil and it will degrade with use over time. So a regular fluid change with a high quality correct spec CVT fluid is probably essential to avoid any problems, along with a high quality engine oil. Leather interior is easily taken care of with a quality leather conditioner. My mate has the diesel and it never gives him any trouble either.

[@Bellagiobic]

What are great comprehensive video I'm surprised you didn't stress the fact that you should really make sure the car has all four wheels before you drive it

[@MonkaS8000]

in case the rear seats in the video actually arent reclined all the way.. theres a little rope pully tab on both sides of the 60/40 split rear seats that allow you to recline further. :)

[@rossmoore5582]

A good idea is to plug in a scan gauge 11 and program CVT oil temperature, same as torque converter auto’s watching oil temps can save the transmission.

[@pnb1131]

Had my 2015 XT for 2 years now, bought it with 56k on engine. Ive had 60k service done and 90k service done with cvt fluid change and also a walnut blasting. Just this year i had to have the OCV's replaced and then couple months later i got a dreaded p0018 code which my deaker had to replace the cam sprockets which was thank fully covered under extended warranty but i had to pay for a new ecu.

[@WholeCosmos]

rear seats do recline 5 positions if you count full up as 1. The pull tab is at the bottom of the seat.

[@cameronscharnberg9172]

One exterior problem that wasn't mentioned - the tailgate garnish panel and rear spoiler are prone to fading paint. I've got a 2017 in silver and both of these are fading, and I've noticed numerous others of the same model with the same fading.

[@brianolweny688]

This is true.

[@tokekkk]

70.000 km 2014 XT Owner here, Indonesian model (RHD) Mechanical: - all wheel bearings wears quick, changed 3 out of my 4 wheel bearings - all bushings wears fairly quick too, changed almost all of my bushings (some even twice) - change the CVT oil at 30.000 or 40.000 km, and please note Original Subaru HIGH TORQUE CVT OIL only Interior: - reupholstered the steering wheel, the original leather chips and became flaky - bluetooth on the head unit is buggy, sometimes wont connect, sometimes disconnected mid song Exterior: - Foggy headlights exterior plastic - Hairy thin cracks on taillights Pros: - the last XT Forester with FA20 Turbo engine, 0-100km/h in 6 second-ish - the BEST window size among all SUV, really minimum blind spot, low beltline. Cons: - a bit harsh / stiff ride - no beeping sound from locking / unlocking the car. No options to activate in the MID. All in all, a well built SUV, reliable, no drama. Not gonna upgrade into newer Forester since no more XT model and it looks like a Ford now.

[@glennmunn970]

There is a little tab in the back the recline the seats back further that you missed makes a big difference not upright at all then

[@danm8270]

I've got 270,000 miles on my 2016 forester xt, runs like the day I bought it!

[@chrisparr7476]

Secret to cvt longevity is getting it properly serviced by someone who knows what they’re doing.

[@odeseusX]

Hey mate, love your videos. Can you do one on the Corolla 10th gen pls pls pls ?

[@jackl88]

Would love to see a review on the Subaru Levorg!

[@rob327c]

Always compared the XT to the SQ5... and the SQ5 eats it on fuel economy and performance... sure servicing and reliability is a gamble. I'll take my chances

[@scott-wright]

Because they’re comparable cars….😂

[@rob327c]

Punchy awd SUVs for around 35k... Yea.. They are. S4 forester just drinks premium.

[@Ford_TImelord]

I still consider the later CVT's in the Subaru better to drive around town and more reliable than the VW DSG. Isn't the issue with the CVT that Subaru sold it as 'sealed for life' so you didn't need to change the fluid but in reality if you do some preventative maintenance and get them serviced they seem pretty reliable.

[@dw1508]

I had a XV with a CVT worst transmission i have ever used. Sold it before it fell apart now i love my VW DSG sounds and feels far more solid than the Subaru CVT. I'm servicing it early and hope it lasts.

[@bartandaelus359]

The VW DSG feels like absolute sludge. Nothing can be worse.

[@Ford_TImelord]

Early Subaru CVTs were pretty awful but they've come a long way recently and my works MY 2021 outback is mediocre but smooth and not fighting against itself in the way that earlier DSGs felt when crawling in traffic.@@dw1508

[@scott-wright]

My forester cvt is fine. A mate bought a brand new 2020 golf r wagon and had constant problems with the dsg. Ended up selling it he hated it so much.

[@garyeastment1992]

Better than vw dsg- that’s called damning with faint praise

[@The9meister]

I have had my subaru from new for 10 years with no problems, it's a 6 speed manual , I change my oil and filter myself every 5000kms, oil is cheaper than a engine

[@bradnewman8498]

Left out the fact you need to make sure the tyres are all matching and all 4 need to be replaced at the same time to avoid winding up and damaging the all wheel drive system.

[@corrosivedevourer]

That's the only reason why I don't drive an AWD car anymore

[@boboiboy9350]

Do you hv a suggestion on the milleage that the AWD forester tyres need change?

[@johnphaceas7434]

Great video fellas, good honest appraisal. We're onto our 3rd Forester (had one from three generations - 2012, 2014 and 2019 - but only ever the standard petrol 2.5i boxer). I'm no Subi tragic (my daily is a +20yo Alfa) but the Foresters have faithfully served as the wife's daily/family hauler without drama since 2012. If you think the Gen4 is big, try the later Gen 5 and Gen 6 cars, they are almost a whole category bigger again. Totally voluminous - though I'm pretty sure anyone who sees one coming automatically assumes its an Uber or airport pick-up service - but super comfortable. (Personally I'd say the the cloth trim is a better choice than the leather, especially in a hot Perth summer - the black leather in our first Forester reminded me of the old days of getting third degree burns from the vinyl in your HQ...) Yes I hate all CVTs, but the wife has to drive an auto, and they stopped fitting the torque converter auto late in Gen 3. Still, I will grudgingly admit they have progressively improved with each generation and are nowhere near as unrefined as many in similarly priced SUVs. That said, I am also wary of their "longevity" issues, so we've never kept any of Foresters beyond 150,000km. To be fair the only issue we've had is really bad premature wear of the front LCA bushings on our current 2019 model (they were cactus at 85,000km) but Subaru actually replaced them under warranty at no cost. No problems with head gaskets or oil leaks, maybe as we've always had them serviced every 6 months (not annually) - and because we've traded them on by 150,000km. Who knows? Totally agree the constant bongs are a PITA, and that you can't permanently turn off the auto-stop/start function. And the first time I felt the lane departure "assist" function wobble the steering wheel, I thought the car was tram-lining in a ditch. The 100,000km service can also be pricey as it requires a stupidly expensive spark plug change (boxer layout is partly to blame) and fiddly replacement of in-tank fuel filter (accessed from inside the car under the back seat), which left our car smelling like a BP refinery for three days. But one thing that has kept us coming back is their structural safety - we got wiped out in our 2012 by druggie who ran a red light and T-boned us square on the B-pillar (same side of car as both my kids were sitting). Madame Meth never even braked, and hit us doing at least 60kmh. We rolled a full rotation (onto roof and back onto the wheels) and were spun 180 degrees. Both cars were totalled, but my whole family walked away with nothing worse than minor cuts. Can't beat that for peace of mind - since then its been Foresters all the way when it comes to lugging the family about. Oh - plus my missus is vertically challenged (5'1") and really likes the sit-up-high seating position and view, and the more SUV feel compared to the Outback (which I pushed pretty hard last changeover...)

[@LifeHKX]

Cheers for taking your time to write this all. Appreciated

[@t8w974]

If they put a conventional 6sp in there it would have been top of its class. More rugged, capable, dynamic and sportier than it's competition. That CVT is a real achilles heel in an otherwise awesome car.

[@teddyg5936]

There will be a 6 spd swap package made eventually by an after marked company to many foresters on the road with time bomb cvts.

[@chawalitD]

AI Tom Hanks spun me out. Great video as usual AK.

[@End3rW1z]

I never thought I'd say this, but I would recommend the Mazda CX series over the Subaru Forester. This is coming from someone who sees SUVs as mozzies

[@rolypolyyy]

6:45 Weird ..this little pocket doesn't exist in my 2015 Forester XT Touring, but I'm in the US so maybe mine is different for the US market 8:33 Mine also doesn't have a load lip like that in the hatch. Mine is all flat. Why is the hatch floor that high like that? in that Forester so high Full size spare?

[@LordLoMR2]

I had a 2019 forester XT. Bought it new and put in 48k miles when I traded it in for a Tesla. It was a beast, but the engine started making a ticking noise at around 47k miles. I had concerns with longevity and got rid of it - if not for that, I’d still be in one today.

[@tommymas1]

There was no 2019 XT. They stopped making the XT in 2018.

[@jackdavis2828]

Can confirm. My 4th gen CVT went last week. Steer clear.

[@martinburns342]

How kms has your car done? Have you ever had the fluid changed in the CVT?

[@jackdavis2828]

Bought it a year ago with 155K kms. CVT got serviced by the previous owner at 120k and I got it serviced at 170K. Died at 195K@@martinburns342

[@boboiboy9350]

Did you always keep the pedal floored or hit the gas hard consistently? Am looking to buy a 2023 Forester. Dunno if thats a good buy or not and which gen is it now?

[@rShadowFace]

Some other faults of the top of my head that go wrong that weren't included: wheel bearings go out before 100k, springs can break (there was a recall at some point), ac condensers rot out in 2-5 years (there was a recall), brakes wear prematurely/unevenly, or they rust real bad, bushings on the lower control arm go bad all the time, lower front ball joints can get wobbly, heat shields around the turbo/exhaust crack and make annoying noises (easy fix), tires wear is uneven sometimes - alignment issue. Stuff that was mentioned: wheel nuts are a nightmare, must really be careful, the quality is dogshit on all subaru wheel nuts/studs. CVTs just blow up for no reason, stay away. Also diesel engines have lots of issues, MAP sensor need to be cleaned with every oil change. Oil leaks aren't too bad, the chain cover can leak though and that's a relatively big job to seal up again, since its a one piece. Also keep in mind there are 2 diffs, a gearbox and an engine and they all need fluid changes, can get expensive every few years. Overall after working for subaru for a years I can say, the quality has gone considerably down in the last 10 years.

[@cameronscharnberg9172]

Good call with the wheel bearings. This is a common fault, as reported to me by a Subaru dealership mechanic. Mine had one go at 65k kms.

[@_ShrewdJude]

I want one bad, right now i have the option to buy a 2014 or a 2017 for 2000 more with 10k more miles but it is in the color i want with the 2.0 motor. I dont want that 2.5l motor, but i found a model with a manual transmission with only 37k miles (2017) Premium for 21k USD, im curious why they would make the 2.5l with a manual but not the 2.0 turbo model?

[@ChrisNF]

Come on Redriven review the 4.7 Granturismo 👍

[@GTFORDMAN]

Subaru lost me when they went to CVT transmissions, the old 4 speed auto was clunky and unsophisticated but at least it was reliable.

[@1stcrusader1]

Are the CVTs failing because they are not getting oil changes?

[@nathansmith6914]

I don't even know why cars have to have brake lights. Imagine how alert everyone would be if they didn't.

[@longballist]

The Eyesite system does not touch the wind screen, so NO, you do not need it recalibrated … just go buy a decent after market wind shield. Yes I own one.

[@mingtang5733]

Wheel nuts/ studs were and still are problem for me😢...I have replaced about 5-6 wheel studs along with the nuts...really annoying..

[@redmusichouse]

The rear seat backs can recline by pulling the strap from the front side

[@TheMr.Logan9]

I have had my 2017 SJ Premium manual for a little over 6 months and its been an awesome experience. The manual makes the non turbo 4cyl actually usable for power. (A lot of downshifts though) I installed an iDoing radio for Android Auto and for better sound. The stock headunit really makes the audio quality suffer. The goal is to keep it maintained, make it a daily softroader, and drive it for 200,000 miles. (Only has 60k on the odometer now)

[@esdubya]

The XT’s are a bloody great machine had 3 love them. Cvt is the only blemish they have.

[@rof8200]

Subbed and liked

[@andreabarbarewicz9320]

can someone tell me why the cvt sucks? my first automatic car is a subaru xv and i can't see what is bad about it as i can't compare it with other cars

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

Aren't you tempted to rip the protective film off cup holders?

[@MonkeyPunchZPoker]

I would go with an older model that doesn't have a CVT or the Eyesight system, or the next gen up that don't have the same CVT concerns.

[@rishabhverma1230]

Any review coming out for Mazda CX-9 2016-2023

[@koneking2569]

CVT lets this down, no optional manual XT. They were incredibly capable vehicles offroad before they started putting those problematic gearboxes. I had a 04 Legacy GT wagon, was a great car when it ran but I had a lot of issues with it, has put me off Subaru for a while.

[@WholeCosmos]

I love my 2017 XT Touring. I had a bunch of ecall repairs when I first bought it in 2019 used but since then solid for 20k miles so far. Bluetooth audio and maps with my phone so I never need to touch or look at the screen. Screens and nav systems in cars are stupid IMHO. car companies are not listening to customers.

[@owenwilson6737]

My 2 cents worth. I’ve had 3 Subarus - not Forester but 1 Impreza and 2 Outbacks. All of them handled brilliantly but were never the same once they were hit from behind - even a minor nudge seemed to destabilise them. Then the problems started. The last Outback had a CVT, which I couldn’t stand. I’ve given up on Subaru and gone back to Mazda, which has a more conventional automatic I much prefer. Also not just the vehicle but the service from my local Mazda dealer is fantastic.

[@barron204]

The Forester has had the reputation of being #1 on the list of cars bought by Lesbians and this led to Subaru’s successful ad campaigns in the USA that have been studied at Universities.

[@thomjanson9644]

Don’t care what anybody says, work in the industry and worked for Subaru. They are bullet proof. Minimal warranty and very few issues. They drive brilliantly and do everything without fuss. People whine about rocker cover gaskets at 150k or head gaskets, which I’ve never seen with a vehicle under 250k… ever.. One of my vehicles is a 2016 forester, at 150k and had nothing but servicing and front brakes. Bulletproof.

[@santouchesantouche2873]

Yeah, but so thirsty...! I had an Impreza that would do 14l per 100kms... like wtffff

[@georgepappas4628]

My wife had a 2007 Forester that was serviced at Subaru every 10,000 km. We had a left rear wheel bearing go at 50,000kms, and the head gasket started leaking at 85,000kms. We were told it would cost $3,500 to repair, so we traded it in for a Honda CRV. The CRV has done over 100,000 km without the smallest of issues and is much cheaper to service as well. I used to be a Subaru lover but would own a Honda, Toyota, or Mazda before I'd look at a Subaru.

[@fluffypuppy1040]

Beeps and bongs while driving - or maybe learn to stay in your lane. But fair enough, I have an Outback with I-sight and getting used to (ignoring) the beeps is an important part of Subaru ownership.

[@TheHayabusa09]

This model was designed primarily for the American market..Such is the same for pretty much every new vehicle manufacturer. Just look at the gargantuan dimensions of the new generation Honda CRV..

[@Capt_Samba]

I got a 2023 Subaru Outback and a 2019 Toyota Kluger you can review but you gotta come to qld for it

[@aktroy907]

2005 is amazing. I have a manual and live in Alaska. I outdrive trucks

[@strategicservices9906]

can you get it with manual/?

[@JP-hr3xq]

Yeah man, they could've really given the XT trim the 6 speeds manual from the WRX. We all know that people who buy the XT are those who want to embarrass GTI drivers.

[@ultimablackmage]

Can you believe my brother had one & it got defected because the stock exhaust was too loud? It happened! Now he drives a 2023 Kia Sportage like a sucker!

[@longballist]

2.0xt is the same as the WRX only the turbo is in a different location + J pipe. CVT in the WRX and XT is beefed up and has 10 year warranty. Steering is a $50.00 fix …. steering link spacer.

[@Rayz11112]

10 year Warranty from Subaru Aus?

[@tinker1148]

There is a nylon strap at your hip that will allow the backseats to recline.

[@teddyg5936]

I own one. Have put 45k miles on my 2018 Forester XT Touring. Purchased it used with 16k miles. No compact SUV comes close to this with bang for buck. I have zero regrets and plan to use the car until I no longer can. I have done a lot to it already. My biggest recommendation is to change oil every 4k miles. Flush the transmission if it is allowed in your region every 30k miles. I hope to use this car for the next 20 years. I would argue 2.0 Foresters should not be compared to a CR-V, Rav4, rogue. The 2.5 Foresters belong there. The Forester XT punches very high, competing with the Porsche Macan and BMW X3.

[@Kyumilli]

what kind of fuel ecnomy are you getting on your car?

[@teddyg5936]

24-28 mpg@@Kyumilli

[@samuelpellew3929]

Do you guys have Toyota Harrier in your market? Need a video on that