2021 Subaru Forester review

2021 Subaru Forester Review:

The 2021 Subaru Forester debuted with minor changes: every Forester now gets automatic high beams, which is a nice quality-of-life improvement. Otherwise, the compact SUV returns with few changes. It's a great SUV if you plan on doing light off-roading thanks to its higher-than-average ground clearance. It also comes with lots of useful tech features, including Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, along with adaptive cruise control. 

If there's a reason to look at other vehicles, it's the engine. It's not very powerful, and it's not very fuel-efficient either. And if you plan on towing, the Forester might not be the right choice. It can tow up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped,

which is a little less than the competition.

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2021 Subaru Forester have?

Connectivity

Whether you choose a base, Premium, or Sport trim with the 6.5-inch touchscreen, or a higher-end trim with the eight-inch screen, the Forester comes standard with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™smartphone integration that allows you to use many of your phone's apps and functions right on the touchscreen. There's no wireless connectivity for them, however, so you'll need to plug in your phone with a USB cord to activate the integration. Also, the Forester does not offer a wireless phone charging pad, and the pocket in front of the shifter for smartphones is on the small side. Audio quality is fine, but audiophiles will find better options elsewhere.

Infotainment

The Forester has two display screens: a touchscreen in the center of the dash and a smaller information screen on top of the dash. The touchscreen has clear and colorful graphics, and it reacts quickly to your touch. If you like using voice commands for things like the built-in navigation, it supports fairly natural speaking commands. Thankfully, major functions like volume, radio tuning, and song skipping are physical buttons.

Driver-Assist Tech

Subaru's EyeSight® driver-assist system uses a pair of cameras mounted high on the windshield for functions like lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control. They usually work well but have a hard time in bad weather, such as heavy fog, where the cameras can't see the road clearly. It's also possible for them to be dazzled by direct sunlight, such as at sunrise and sunset. Those caveats aside, it's great that you don't have to stretch your budget to the highest trims since it's standard across the board. The backup camera has a crisp-looking display, and although a 360-degree camera system isn't available in this generation, the Forester's big windows mean it's easy enough to see out of that you don't really need it. 

How comfortable is the 2021 Subaru Forester? 

Front Seating

The driver and front passenger seats have supportive and firm padding that's great for any trip, long or short. There's enough legroom and headroom for anybody who isn't in the NBA, and the side supports are firm and prominent enough to hold you in place around corners but aren't confining when getting in or out. The front seats are heated on Premium and higher trim levels, as is the steering wheel. Touring trims get extra adjustments, along with memory settings. 

Rear Seating

The rear seats have good legroom and headroom, although some competitors have adjustable seatbacks, whereas the Forester's are fixed. No matter, they're comfy enough even if the padding is on the stiff side. On top-tier Touring trims, the outboard positions are heated. 

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

Whether you're on the highway or around town, the Forester's ride quality impresses. It soaks up bumps smoothly with little drama, and the vehicle remains controlled enough that it doesn't bounce excessively after large bumps, which is good for combating carsickness. The Forester's tall shape means you get some wind noise at highway speeds, it's fairly muted, and the engine is quiet unless you're flooring the gas. 

Does the 2021 Subaru Forester have good storage?

Cargo 

While on paper the Forester is a little short on cargo space compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, it's not likely you'll notice. The big hatch opens to a wide and deep 35.4 cubic feet of cargo area, and the Forester's height makes it easy to load in tall items. If you need more space, the rear seatbacks fold flat to expand the space. It's enough for furniture, or if you're the outdoorsy sort, you can stretch out and sleep there when your campsite gets too chilly for a tent.

Storage

Overall, interior storage on the Forester is as good as the cargo area. There are cupholders on the center console, a deep bin under the center armrests, and plenty of door bins and other pockets strewn through the cabin. About the only quibble is the small area ahead of the shifter. It's where you'll plug in your smartphone for Apple CarPlay®, for example, but the pocket itself is too small for plus-size modern phones. 

How easy is the 2021 Subaru Forester to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

The Forester's tall doors and squared-off roof make it easy to get in and out, and although the ride height is up there for a compact SUV, it's not a climb inside like it is on something like a Toyota 4Runner. 

If you'll be hauling kiddos, the lower anchors for car seats are behind some stiff padding, making them a bit hard to reach. Like many similarly sized vehicles, the rear seat is fine for front-facing boosters, but if you're using large rear-facing infant seats, the front passengers may have to scooch their seats up a notch or two. 

Interior Layout and Visibility

If you've sat in a new car with an all-touchscreen dash, the Forester will feel like a breath of fresh air. The touchscreen dominates the center, but it's flanked by knobs for volume and radio tuning, plus physical buttons for skipping tracks or switching touchscreen functions. The climate controls are all physical buttons and knobs. Best of all, everything is clearly labeled and easy to use. When you look up from the dash, the Forester has excellent visibility thanks to thin roof pillars and plenty of glass area. 

What’s the 2021 Subaru Forester like to drive?

Driving

If you pick the Forester, be patient when accelerating. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder under the hood drives all four wheels, and its modest power equals modest acceleration; during Edmunds' testing, it was consistently near the back of the pack. That means passing on the highway will take a little extra planning. However, the engine is smooth and quiet in its operation, and the transmission reacts quickly enough that it's never a chore to drive. 

Thanks to its standard all-wheel drive and ample ride height, the Forester is a popular pick in snow country. Those qualities also come in handy if you want to do some light-duty off-roading. The X-Mode on some models modifies how the all-wheel-drive system works to maximize traction in the worst conditions. The Wilderness trim introduced in 2022 takes this to the next level with even more ride height, off-road tires, and more tricks to help it perform in bad-road conditions.  

Towing

Most Foresters can tow only 1,500 pounds when properly equipped, which is on the low side compared to other small SUVs like this.

Fuel Economy

According to the EPA, the Subaru Forester gets a combined fuel economy score of 29 mpg, which is competitive with other small SUVs. The Wilderness gets a 26 mpg estimate due to its increased ride height, hurting aerodynamics.

In testing, Edmunds found the real-world fuel economy impacted by drivers' tendency to compensate for the Forester's relative lack of power by constantly flooring the gas. A lighter—and more patient—foot will likely achieve real-world results closer to the estimates. 

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates