2024 Subaru Forester Review

While many SUVs are advertised as a sleek family package that can hit the ground running off-road, the Subaru Forester has been putting its money where its mouth is for decades now.

In its latest form, Subaru has opened up orders for the Forester Hybrid after a brief absence from the market, with some minor equipment tweaks and price increases applied across the range.

With no shortage of competitors, let’s take a closer look at how the Subaru Forester holds up in 2024 as a family-friendly midsize SUV that isn’t afraid to get its toes dirty.

Subaru Forester Competition

How Much Does the MY24 Subaru Forester Cost?

Prices for the MY24 Subaru Forester range have risen $800 across the board over last year’s lineup.

That means that the entry-level Forester 2.5i is priced at $38,690, with prices rising to $41,090 for the Forester 2.5i-L and up to $43,890 for the Forester 2.5i Premium.

The Forester Hybrid L is priced at $44,090, with the Forester 2.5i Sport priced at $45,640.

Finally, the Forester range wraps up with the 2.5i-S which is priced at $47,140, while the range-topping Forester Hybrid S is priced at $50,140.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Subaru Forester 2.5i (AWD) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Subaru Forester Have?

The MY24 Forester lineup has received some added equipment as standard, to help sweeten the deal in light of those price increases.

As a result, the entry-level Forester 2.5i comes riding on 17-inch alloys and receives active cornering LED headlights, new LED fog lights, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, dual-zone climate control, a 6.3-inch digital instrument cluster, automatic wipers, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and a heap of active safety gear.

Stepping up to the Forester 2.5i-L and the Forester Hybrid L adds heated front seats, front and side-view cameras, driver attention monitoring, rear autonomous emergency braking and adaptive high-beam headlights, while the Hybrid L picks up upgraded black premium upholstery.

The Forester 2.5i Premium receives a set of 18-inch alloys as well as a powered boot lift, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, satellite navigation and upgraded premium cloth upholstery.

Upgrading to the Forester 2.5i Sport adds a panoramic sunroof, upgraded water-repellent cloth upholstery, orange and gunmetal contrast stitching and highlights as well as an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Finally, the Forester 2.5i-S and Forester Hybrid S pick up black leather upholstery and an upgraded eight-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.

Subaru Forester Connectivity & Infotainment Features

All members of the MY24 Subaru Forester range receive the same 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system sitting on the dashboard.

We’d love to see Subaru transplant the larger 11.6-inch vertically-mounted infotainment system you’ll find in the latest Outback and Impreza range though, for now, you’ll have to make do with the smaller 8.0-inch unit.

Considering just how tech-heavy the Forester’s rivals have become in recent years, this is a significant downside of the package overall, particularly for younger buyers.

That said, Subaru’s display is relatively user-friendly and misses out on the display-centric controls of the latest unit, which means you can make quick climate inputs via the dials instead of fussing around with the display.

Subaru’s infotainment system is packed with DAB+ digital radio paired with a six-speaker sound system, while the 2.5i Premium receives satellite navigation and the range-topping 2.5i-S and Hybrid S receives an upgraded eight-speaker sound system courtesy of Harman/Kardon.

Does the Subaru Forester Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Subaru’s 8.0-inch infotainment system offers both Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, though owners will have to bring their own USB cable, since there’s no wireless smartphone mirroring on offer.

Is the Subaru Forester Comfortable to Drive?

The Subaru Forester is a solid contender behind the wheel, remaining easy to pilot around town and confident on rougher country roads.

Under the bonnet of the non-hybrid Forester range, you’ll find a 2.5-litre boxer four-cylinder petrol unit that pushes out 136kW of power and 239Nm of torque to all four wheels via a CVT automatic.

Opting for the Forester Hybrid pairs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘e-Boxer’ engine and an electric motor working alongside the same CVT, symmetrical all-wheel drive system combination.

While the CVT is smooth on the road, it’s not what you’d call the most engaging or responsive transmission on the market, offering a somewhat rubbery acceleration feel when you flatten your right foot.

That said, the CVT auto works away in the background and offers some perk off the line when you press the sportier drive setting, though the power curve flattens out as you approach highway speeds.

On the road, the Forester is impressively user-friendly, with its feather-weighted steering rack offering easy lock-to-lock turns that make parking and low-speed manoeuvres a simple task.

Combine that with absolutely excellent visibility all around the cabin and a great suspension package that makes light work of bumps around town and the Forester is easy and smooth on a daily drive.

Leaving the city in the rearview, the Forester proves itself as one of the most versatile family midsize SUVs on the market, confidently eating up rough roads and choppy corners without an issue.

Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system, lofty ground clearance and hearty suspension package prove a great combination for rougher roads here in Australia, putting the Forester at the top of the pile when it comes to refinement on a wide range of surfaces.

On the highway, the Forester’s boxer engine tends to drone away in the background, though the company has done well to keep things quiet inside the cabin, making it a great long-distance tourer.

Is the Subaru Forester Good Off-Road?

Let’s not get it twisted - the Subaru Forester is not an outright off-road hero, though it does offer a heap more confidence on loose surfaces and light off-road excursions than its main rivals.

This is largely thanks to a healthy amount of ground clearance, totaling 220mm, as well as Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system that helps to keep putting power down to the road.

The Forester also picks up a set of adjustable driving modes, operated via the X-Mode dial, which offers optimised traction in deep snow and mud, as well as light snow and most importantly for Australians, dirt roads.

• Ground Clearance: 220mm

• Approach Angle: 22.9 degrees

• Departure Angle: 24.6 degrees

• Break-over Angle: 19.6 degrees

• Braked Towing Capacity: 1,800kg 

Is the Subaru Forester Fuel Efficient?

For 2024, Subaru has given buyers the option of the Forester Hybrid after a brief absence from the market - but it’s not a game-changer when it comes to outright efficiency.

In the regular Forester range, you’ll consume around 7.4L per 100km on the combined cycle, according to Subaru.

Ticking the box on the pricier Forester Hybrid range, though, brings these figures down to 6.7L per 100km on a combined cycle.

While it’s certainly a more fuel-efficient engine option, this isn’t as dramatic of a reduction as you might be hoping for while spending the extra money on the Forester Hybrid.

Is the Subaru Forester Practical and Spacious?

The Subaru Forester has always been a pretty heavy-hitter when it comes to interior space and practicality, with the latest-gen very much upholding that reputation.

Within moments behind the wheel, you’ll notice just how transformative the Forester’s tall, boxy design is when it comes to the amount of light inside the cabin, while visibility is amongst the best of any vehicle on the road.

The added visibility is a particularly nice touch for buyers looking for more confidence around the urban jungle, giving you a clear view of your surroundings that works well in combination with the onboard tech - rather than relying on it completely.

The driving position is nice and lofty without being a pain to step inside, with full adjustment in the steering wheel to find your preferred posture.

Up front, the Forester’s cabin design isn’t the most impressive on the market, though it does remain incredibly easy to operate, with large dials for the climate control system instead of the display-dominated controls you’ll find with Subaru’s latest infotainment system.

There’s also a healthy range of storage options, with a storage tray hiding behind the gear lever, a pair of cupholders, extra real estate inside the folding armrest and glove box, as well as large door bins.

Move to the second row of the cabin and the Forester remains a strong contender in the family segment. 

There’s more than enough legroom for tall adults in the rear, combined with acres of headroom that make it a hit for families with growing kids.

With a great view out of the large windows, a folding armrest with cup holders, USB charging ports and rear air vents, the Forester is ready for a long-distance haul with the whole family loaded up.

For the parents out there, the Subaru Forester receives two pairs of ISOFIX anchors, three top tether mounts hiding behind the seatback and offers easy access into the rear cabin thanks to wide-aperture doors.

How Big is the Subaru Forester’s Boot?

The Subaru Forester rounds out its family-friendly package with a healthy amount of boot space.

With the rear seats standing, the Forester’s boot measures 498L, which puts it somewhere in the middle of the midsize SUV segment, though this comes with the added bonus of a full-sized spare tyre hiding beneath.

Fold down the rear seats and you’ll unlock a total of 1,060L worth of real estate in the back, with neat little storage areas and tie-down hooks to keep any valuable cargo from sliding around.

Is the Subaru Forester Safe?

While its infotainment tech might be ageing, there’s nothing to complain about when it comes to active safety gear bundled in with the latest Forester range.

Every model, including the entry-level Forester 2.5i picks up autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure alerts with lane-keep assist, emergency steering, lane-centring and a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors.

Upgrading above the base model adds camera-based driver attention alerts, front and side-view cameras as well as rear autonomous emergency braking.

Does the Subaru Forester Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

Yep - five stars, in fact.

ANCAP gave the Subaru Forester the five star tick after it scored the following marks in 2019 testing.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 94%

• Child Occupant Protection: 86%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 80%

• Safety Assist: 78%

What Warranty Does the Subaru Forester Come With?

Subaru offers the Forester range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty.

Buyers opting for the Forester Hybrid range also pick up an eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty for the battery.

Subaru gives buyers the option of a three- or five-year prepaid servicing package, which are priced at $1,398 and $2,693, respectively.

Service intervals for the entire Forester range stand at 12 months/12,500 kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the Subaru Forester Worth it?

The Forester remains one of the leading contenders in the world of midsize SUVs that can actually tackle some light off-road adventures.

While it’s not perfect, particularly with the ageing infotainment technology suite, the Forester’s smooth on-road manners, confidence on a wide range of Aussie roads and impressive interior practicality make it a must-have on any midsize SUV shortlist.

In hybrid form, the Forester picks up some efficiency gains but not in a game-changing manner, making the regular lineup perhaps the smarter buy for now.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help take the stress out of the buying process. 

Five Subaru Forester Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Forester Hybrid picks up eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty for battery

3. 6.7 - 7.4L per 100km fuel economy figures

4. 498L boot expands to 1,060L with rear seats folded 

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating