Forester in the Market

The previous Forester was a Cars.com Best Bet on the strength of its versatility, reliability and safety credentials, but I've always had to footnote my recommendation of it with a warning about its sparse interior and noisy cabin.

This time around, the Forester's refinement has turned into a relative asset. The cabin isn't as classy as those of some of the overachievers in this segment, but overall quality has improved to a point where excuses no longer need to be made. Its cargo-area execution and driving dynamics remain as good as ever, as do the Forester's go-anywhere capabilities.

Perhaps Subaru's last hurdle is the Forester's image as a quirky car for quirky people. The latest model does a lot to overcome this, and it's time mainstream shoppers gave it a look.

    See also:

    Seat heater (if equipped)
    The seat heater is equipped in the front seats. The seat heater operates when the ignition switch is either in the “Acc” or “ON” position. • There is a possibility that people with delicate skin ...

    Center console box (front)
    If you remove the divider plate from the dual cup holders, you can use the center console box as a storage space. To use as storage space: Pull out the divider plate of the dual cup holder. T ...

    Checking the oil level
    Non-turbo models 1) Yellow handle Turbo models 1) Yellow handle Check the oil level monthly. 1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and stop the engine. 2. Pull out the level gauge, wipe it ...