-AWD -Performance in deep snow -Handling -Front-seat comfort

-Small, hard back seat -Bad cupholders -Paint chips easily

-Great braking though somewhat mushy gas pedal. -Excellent power-great horsepower+torque from 2.5L SOHC engine. Faster than CRV and RAV4. -Lexus-like fit and finish, very rigid body structure, very capable AWD system in any condition.

Similar Products Used:

Dodge Caravan Honda CRV

Handles great, stays on the road, not that falling over feeling from big SUV''s. Great storage, fantastic hauling our junk and the kids around. Great in PA snow.

Cup holder really bites.

Leased 98 Forester and not one problem. Purchased 2002 Forester in May 2001 and immediately had engine pings. Was told to use better gas, higher octane. Took it back twice, on the third time, computer was replaced. We''ll see what happens when the weather warms up.

Similar Products Used:

Jeep, Blazer, Explorer

practical, price of L model, size, AWD, loads of fun.

back windows dont go all the way down for my dog. Rear Discs only available on S models. Gets pricey with options. Cup holders a little flimsy (Im reaching here..)

Alright, I''ve had enough types vehicles to feel confident in posting an honest review. I''ve owned $60K BMW''s to $4K''s Volvos DL''s. Also, my 4x4 auto experience is extensive. So here goes, this is a great vehicle! I just went from a ''01 Saab 9-5 Aero to this car and have never looked back. This car/little ''ute makes sense. Everybody should drive one, maybe we would not kill each other out there on the highways.

Similar Products Used:

used most of them.. from Land Cruisers to BMW''s.

AWD is great. With the right tires you can travel ice, snow and loose gravel in confidence 4 channel ABS. Saved me from a serious accident on an icy downhill. Power, there is much more than the competition. Handeling, it is a drivers car which is surprising for what is essentially a small station wagon.

Clutch, the automatic adjustment mechanism makes the clutch hard to get used to. I have driven all manner of standard transmission vehicles from really small cars to large gravel trucks. This is the first vehicle I have had are hard time using the clutch in. Limited rear leg room, this has improved some on newer models but could still be better. Stock tires, the Bridgestones wear out quite quickly but more importantly their performance drops off dramatically in only a few thousand kms. Dealership, I just don''t trust those guys. They charge a lot for basic service and I have found that they don''t do everything you are paying for

I really like the car and have had very few complaints in 3.5 years of driving. Great handeling, lots of power and quite comfortable. I have read some of the reviews here and had to laugh. One guy seems to have based his dislike on the cupholders. If you are buying a car on the basis of the cupholders you are buying it for the wrong reasons. The Guy who worte that a 30mph crash totaled the car and thougt the damage was out of proportion to the crash ratings doen''t understand crash ratings. Most vehicles will be heavily damaged in a 30mph crash. High crash ratings mean you have a better chance of survivng, not the car

Similar Products Used:

Rav 4, low power ruled this one out. CRV, pitiful engine and poor brakes.

1. Consistently top-rated: #1 overall small-SUV by Consumer Reports; Best Buy by The Car Book; Best Bet by The Car Book; Choice Winner by Car Review; great write-ups in Edmunds.com, Cars.com, Car and Driver.com 2. Proven reliability over a few years: Rated Very Good by Consumer Reports 3. Excellent customer satisfaction: Consumer Reports 4. Best all-wheel drive from manufacturer with most experience 5. Highest HP & torque 4-cylinder engine vs. competition 6. Best-of-class crash ratings: only small SUV to receive a "Good" rating (highest available) in the 40 MPH offset test by the IIHS 7. Best-rated handling and ride 8. More interior cargo volume than Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 9. 60 month/60,000 mile major components warranty 10. Little advantages: de-icing front wiper, integrated window antenna, numerous storage compartments, easiest-to-open rear door 11. Equal-to-competition features: side impact bars, side airbags, moonroof, leather, gas mileage, price, heated seats, ability to use regular gas, full-size spare, 6-CD in-dash changer, loaner car for overnight service while under warranty and door-to-door shuttle service thereafter, front & rear headroom & legroom

cupholders. Just the fact that it has a lot of mindless critics........with obsessive compulsive disorders

WONDERFUL! This is a great vehicle for most everybody. Car-like ride and wonderful components. Unless you''re off-road more than on, I would seriously consider the Forester. The AWD system is great. I''m having a great time in my Forester. Also, I read something like "Stay away from Subaru, Hyundai, etc." Well, read through Consumer Report''s car issue from the past couple of years. They recommend every Subaru available, especially Forester. They don''t recommend any Hyundai or Kia. Totally different. Best ALL-around vehicle we have driven. Does great in snow, ice, mud and mountain roads. Has great visibilty. Handles great and is comfortable. Is a fun machine to drive. Thus far, it has been extremely reliable and we are looking forward to years of driving pleasure. People, if you think it is ugly, DONT BUY IT!!!! If you want the best small SUV on the market, this is for you!!!! The CRV and RAV 4 are unbelievably weak (not to mention smaller and uglier)! They do not have a proven AWD system, as does the Forester. It does ride like a car, BUT WAS NOT BUILT TO BE AN OFF ROAD MONSTER, and neither was ANY of the competition. I would recommend the Forester for its excellent handling in rain and snow and its excellent safety record--Also it is very comfortable on long trips it has plenty of power--if one needs more then they probably aren''t driving safely

Similar Products Used:

all mini suvs,... see above. Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4, both are VERY weak and underpowered, look at the stats before you buy!Compare with Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Honda CRV, Toyo

Versatility, handling in all weather conditions, mpgs, speed, handling, breaking, storage capacity

coffee cup holder

Excellent all around AWD vehicle. Kind of like a big station wagon. Ignore the reviews posted by the retards and look in the car mags. Motor trend, Consumer Guide and Consumer Reports all give good reviews. If you are looking for a vehicle to cross the tundra, look elswhere. If you want a vehicle to get you through adverse road conditions in comfort and style consider this car. THis is a mini SUV. It is menat to compete with toyota RAV 4, Honda CRV,... it is not menat to be a full time off orad vehicle. If you buy it for that reason and are disspaointed it is your own fault for not using your brain.

Similar Products Used:

CRV, RAV 4

-acceptable gas mileage for an "SUV", I''m still getting close to 30mpg after 2 years. -Good residual value, thankfully I should have no problem dumping this POS on some poor fool in 2 years. -Lots of room inside to stroe crap.

-Weak engine, gutless acceleration. -The whole vehicle creaks and makes all kinds of noises just days after driving off the lot. -Poor quality construction, interior starts to look cheap and tacky after about two months. -Crappy Yokohama All Season Tires, thrown them away first chance you get (actually recycle them ok?) -Terrible in wind, pushes this BOX all around the road, unlike any other vehicle I''ve driven. -Worst stereo in history of automobile. -Weak climate control, can''t defog the whole vehicle. -Back seat is worse than a church pew, I apologize to my passengers (when I make the mistake of offering to drive anyone). -Terrible placement of climate controls and cup holders, right in front of the radio controls, nice one! -Contrary to popular belief, this vehicle experiences lots of roll on turns, Subaru claims it doesn''t cause it has the low centre of gravity (due to horizontally opposed engine), don''t believe them.

Not at all pleased with my Forester, I''ll know better next time. Classic story - if you want an SUV, buy and SUV, not and SUV look-alike (like the Forester). If you want a true SUV, you''re looking for Guts, Ground Clearance, and Good Looks, which after thinking about it, does not describe the Forester at all. Subaru should borrow Chevy''s slogan "Like a Rock", maybe alter it to describe the Forester "Like a Brick", or better yet "Like a Shopping Cart", cause that''s how it handles.

Similar Products Used:

-Rav 4 (weaker engine but better vehicle for less money) -CRV (same as above) -Ford Explorer (not really similar)

AWD

Cup holders are so poorly designed that it''''s ridiculous.

My wife and I love our Forester, but it has a major flaw. The cupholder is aweful!! Soon after getting the car, we had an after-market stereo installed to replace the cassette player. Well, a few months went by and eventually some sweat from a drink dripped down on to the stereo and fried it. It wasn''''t even a spill!! Someone tell me how Subaru isn''''t responsible for this! I dare you! $200 wasted. My Accord has two nice cupholders in the hump between the seats, but Subaru had to reserve that spot for a freakin'''' change holder!! What a waste of space. I was considering a Subaru Legacy GT 2.5 to replace my Accord, but not anymore.

Similar Products Used:

None

Good quality. Lots of power. Smooth driving and handling. Very comfortable. The AWD is a definated asset for the hills in Saint John in the winter.

Wheel alignment is negative. At 16,000 kms there is already premature wear on the tires.

Completely satisfied. Being ''somewhere'' between a station wagon and a SUV is exactly what I wanted. I don''t sit in the back, I don''t drink coffee while I drive, and I don''t ''go off roading'' so these pre mentioned complaints don''t affect me.

Similar Products Used:

Jeep Cherokee, Mazda Tribute. Both don''t match the Forrester when it comes to quality and handling.

Strong engine, great snow handling, great overall mechanics.

Cup holders are REALLY bugging me.

Here in Utah we got our first real snowstorm. All I can say is that the Forester is AWESOME in the snow. What a blast. No problems at all since we bought it. I can''''''''t vouch for the seats in the other models, but in the s-premium they are great.

Similar Products Used:

Test drove all the competition, this was best for us (I like engine power).