The 2024 Subaru Forester Is Old Yet Relevant

We've met with the Subaru Forester a few times, and as the current generation rides into the sunset, we feel like it deserves one last look! Not because it's a crossover with breathtaking soul, but because it likely marks the end of an era for Subaru! 

The first thing we need to do is highlight the 2025 Forester, which has just debuted and is undoubtedly going to be a better car. It uses a revised version of the e same platform, and if it's anything like the new CrossTrek, Subaru isn't just rubbing our bellies with PR nonsense. It should be quieter, the dual-pinion steering rack has proven to make the steering feel a little more natural, the interior looks like it should be more upscale, you can now get a full 360-view camera, and it seems to retain the great level of versatility found in the current Subaru while also confirming a hybrid down the line. 

Don’t Judge It By The Looks

The current design should be a notable improvement for many; however, we have some worries. One is price; currently, this is among the best values in the segment! The base trim may have no frills, but it still comes with all-wheel drive, steering-responsive LED projector headlamps, and a price that's well under $30,000! 

The new CrossTrek in most configurations saw a notable increase in price, and it pushed a couple of features up the ladder too. Something similar will likely happen to the more posh-looking 2025 Forester, which is a big reason to pick up the 2024 Forester now. Just move up to the Premium trim, and you'll get standard alloy wheels, roof rails, proximity unlock and lock, seats with lumbar adjustment, a giant sunroof, heated front seats, and six speakers! The set of speakers should really be standard on the base model because, without the tweeters, it sounds like your favorite artists are having a concert with your ankles! 

Inside The 2024 Subaru Forester

While it seems like materials for the next generation should be improved, they're not too bad in the 2024 either. The panel fitment is okay, the construction of everything is sturdy, you have nice-looking stitching, a little bit of padding for where your knees will rest, and a few changes in textures to keep things from being too boring. While the seats are new for 2025, we're happy with the ones in the 2024. The seat bottom could offer a little more support, but it's plush and agreeable. 

One aspect that separates the Forester from any other all-wheel-drive Subaru is that it is the last model that uses analog controls for most functions. In contrast, the 2025 model just slaps their big touchscreen in there, which, to be fair, is simple and at least gives you a few buttons. But we've always found it to be slower than the competition, and it just dates itself very fast! 

This 2024 Forester could pass off as a 2014 with its 6.5-inch screen; you can upgrade that size, but none of them are going to have Wireless CarPlay yet. We love just having my physical HVAC controls, or the big knob for X mode! 

Part of us wishes that Subaru would at least offer things like a heads-up display or ventilated seats, the latter of which will come with the 2025 Forester, but we can accept the lack of some features because the Forester has long been a value-minded, straightforward, and outdoorsy option. 

Our concern is that the new one is moving toward the Outback’s more premium and expensive formula, just utilizing a more traditional SUV driving position and silhouette. Now, one thing that we like about the current generation of Foresters that should apply to the new one is the wide variety of flavors that you can get this thing in. So you have the Sport with its goofy orange accents; you can get the luxurious touring grade with brown Nappa leather seats; you can get a truly base model; and you can get a fairly thorough off-road grade with the Wilderness trim. 

There's a helpful amount of interior storage too, and while it's old now, we believe the interior of any Forester is a nice place to be, even if it does feel a bit like it should have sliding rear doors. Speaking of minivans, the back seat also offers giant legroom! For a 6'3” guy, the hair grazes the ceiling, but there's still enough support to be comfortable. 

You have rear vents and USB ports on most specs, and behind you is a giant cargo area with a very wide opening! The seats can fold down flat, and it's long enough that you could camp out of this thing pretty easily, with a spare tire on each model and a full Sizer on the Wilderness. 

Drive Experience Is One Selling Proposition For The Forester

Above anything else, what we think has helped this generation of Forester age well is the driving experience! The aspect that won't garner any enthusiasm is the powertrain. The current gen has a 2.5L naturally-aspirated boxer 4-cylinder making 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, and it is hooked up to a CVT. The new model has basically the same powertrain, but it does seem to have a different tune as the power numbers are slightly different. 

The actual people who buy these probably appreciate that because they're not adding complexity or cost by adding a turbocharger. For most people, the current generation Forester has enough power. We've gotten this thing to 60 mph in about 9 seconds. That said, it would have been nice to see a turbo option in the current model for people at high elevations. 

The CVT implementation is bittersweet, too. So, it reacts fairly quickly to our inputs; it never bogs down the engine, and we would consider it more refined than older Subaru units. But, at low speeds, the throttle is a little inconsistent; it doesn't feel as linear or natural as a traditional automatic, resulting in a groaning absence of personality. 

The biggest advantage that the 2025 model will have under the hood is that it will offer a hybrid powertrain. We really hope that this is not a half-ass PHEV like the CrossTreck hybrid, and more so, something that's a RAV4 hybrid adjacent. We would expect gas mileage for the 2.5-liter to be identical, which isn't a bad thing, just like with the CrossTrek and a lot of other cars these days.

The new 2025 model is not a full redesign, yet it's more than just a mid-cycle refresh. It's riding on the same Subaru Global Architecture; they've just added like 10% torsional rigidity instead of changing things from the ground up. They tried to specifically address shortcomings for the 2025 Forester, one of which was sound-dampening, but the 2024 doesn't disappoint me on that front. Wind and road noise are present but inoffensive. 

Though there is still an audible difference between it and the more premium Subaru Outback, the all-wheel drive system is unchanged; it is Subaru's active symmetrical all-wheel drive, which is the only one in its class to offer a true full-time setup. It can send well over 50% of torque to either axle and typically resides around a 60/40 split front and rear. They share the same 8.7 inches of ground clearance. 

As it sits, the Forester is among the best compact crossovers you can buy for some mild off-roading, especially with the Wilderness trim, which we're sure will work its way into the new generation here soon. 

Rugged Yet Comfortable

On top of providing the best all-wheel-drive system in the class, we would also argue that this has the finest ride quality, and this is going into the new redesign because the flat-4 engine, just like in the new model, has a low center of gravity, so they don't need to stiffen it up to compensate. The final product is a vehicle that is smooth over the light to medium-sized imperfections. It still transmits them through to the cabin. We know what's underneath me, but it feels better than most of the class and can take most large potholes on the chin without much drama. 

Despite its forgiving nature, the Subaru Forester handles well, so you have a pretty quick steering ratio on this thing. It doesn't have a lot of body roll, and it does a great job at staying planted in basically any situation. The problem with the Forester is that the 2025 shouldn't be able to fix is the steering. So this one, yes, it's capable, but it's completely numb, and there's this vagueness in the center that makes it feel like a simulation. 

The current generation CrossTrek uses a dual-pinion steering rack, a feature coming to the 2025 Forester as well. To keep things simple, it means that there is less between hands and the road. So if you're looking for something that's a little bit more engaging on a back road, waiting and probably paying more for the new model should be worth it. 

One thing that you'll get with any Subaru Forester generation is great visibility. The window line is so low, you have a giant windshield, and seeing over your shoulder is a breeze. Combine that with how well this handles, and you have an SUV that makes you feel very confident in its maneuverability! 

A Reliable Subaru With Decent Safety Measures!

Reliability has also been a strong point for this generation of the Subaru Forester. There aren't many common issues to discuss, as the most reported problems include infotainment bugs, cheap stock batteries, easily cracking windshields, something like that that can be pricey to replace, and in rare cases, a sunroof leak. If you prioritize reliability, we have no problem advising a Forester; we will just recommend changing the CVT fluid every 50,000 miles and working in a fuel induction cleaning every 25,000 miles to prevent a direct injection-related carbon buildup. 

Whether you go new or old, you're still going to find standard autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane centering with the availability of emergency steering if you get blind spot monitoring. While the eyesight active safety technology is identical, we would expect the redesign to help the Forester ace the updated IIHS crash tests.

We're sure the 2025 Forester will impress, but the current Forester offers the rugged simplicity that has made this nameplate stand out in its crowded segments, and the aggressive price made it a no-brainer for a person who wanted a versatile ride that could take them practically anywhere!

To us, that's what the Subaru Forester has always been, and the new one might have lost touch with that. Until we find out next, the current Forester easily earns our recommendation!