Used 2017 Subaru Forester XT Premium for sale 

The SUV offered in five trim levels: Base, Premium, Limited, Touring, and a new Sport model. All models share a CVT as the only transmission option, and the latter two are offered with manual mode and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The base trim of the crossover is available for the customers with a sticker price of $22,795 and goes up to $36,090.

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The base model of the Subaru Forester is well equipped with an economic price tag but it doesn't have what some owners may expect. The 2.5 limited variant hits the sweet spot as it comes with an all-weather package which will be very useful in winters. It also gets some extra necessary features over the base trim.

Under the hood of the 2017 Forester is a  naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine. It makes 170 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The grunt is enough for city jaunts and highway passes but still, the 2.0-liter turbocharged unit on the upper trims will offer a more pleasing performance. Subaru says 90 percent of the engine parts are new, which includes a stronger block and a new direct-injection system.

The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed CVT unit. The 2.0-liter turbocharged motor gets an 8-speed CVT as standard. The CVT shifts quickly when the driver is being aggressive with the throttle. The paddle shifters offer more control over the shift and offer a sporty driving feel. The manual gearbox is quite fun to drive as well with its precise and short-throw shifts.

The Mazda CX-5 is the most powerful on the list closely followed by the Honda CR-V. Both the Nissan Rogue and the Subaru Forester are evenly matched in terms of power and torque output. Except for the Mazda CX-5, all the SUVs come with CVT units.

How fast is the Subaru Forester Crossover?

The 2017 Forester with its robust engine and snappy transmission provides brisk acceleration. It can reach 60 mph from a standstill in just 8.5 seconds, which is okay for a crossover. It feels sluggish when you are trying to accelerate on the highway or merging into traffic under a full load. Sport mode sharpens the throttle response, still, there isn't enough grunt at the top end.

Among the competitors, the Honda CR-V is the quickest one with a second quicker than all the rivals on the list. All the other rivals are in the same ballpark in terms of 0-60 times and quarter-mile runs.

How well does the Subaru Forester Ride and Handle?

The new Subaru Global Platform that underpins the Impreza, Crosstrek, all-new three-row Ascent, and now the Forester is 40 % more rigid than the outgoing model. The ride quality is excellent with minimal body roll on corners.

The Forester is equipped with a stellar suspension with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which can tackle any terrain with ease. The ride quality is excellent on the revised suspension. Its electronically assisted chunky steering is heavy at first but feels composed after some time with an immediate response. It also features two drive modes, the intelligent mode favors fuel economy but still leaves a lively response when the gas is hammered. Sport mode inclines things up with the eager throttle response.

How efficient are the brakes in the Subaru Forester?

Subaru has also worked on the Forester's braking system, which is more responsive than the previous variant. The bite remains the same after repetitive use and less pedal stroke before braking inspires confidence.

The Forester's brake-based torque-vectoring system squeezes the inside wheel calipers in hard cornering to provide a more nimble feel. The Forester is easy to modulate around town and on highway speed.

The Honda CR-V scores the best number when it comes to braking, followed by Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester. The Mazda CX-5 is the worst performer here. The CR-V stops from 60mph in 115 ft. while the Roque takes 124 ft. The Subaru and the Mazda take 129 and 136 ft respectively.

The Subaru Forester returns 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. It can manage 28 mpg combined, which is better than most of the cars in this segment. It comes with an automatic stop/start system when you are at a stoplight, which also helps in conserving fuel. The Subaru Forester has a fuel capacity of 14.9 gallons and provides a range of 387 miles in the city, 447 on the highway, and a combined range of 417 miles.

Those figures are pretty good for the class, and none of the rivals can match it. Because Subaru comes with an all-wheel drive as a system, it does not affect the fuel efficiency. The competition is on par with each other among the competition. The Subaru has the biggest fuel capacity of 14.9 gallons followed by the Mazda CX5 with a 14.8-gallon tank. The Nissan and the Honda have fuel capacities of 14.5 and 14 gallons.

Subaru's new Global Platform has a 30-millimeter longer wheelbase over the outgoing Forester. This accounts for the more interior room; the rear seat is spacious enough for two adults and a third if needed with plenty of head- and legroom. The interior is crafted from durable material and seems like it will last a decade.

In terms of curb weight and interior space, the Subaru Forester and Nissan Rogue are pretty similar. The Honda CR-V and Mazda are also quite similar, but the CX-5 suffers from cramped rear seats. Overall there are no drastic differences in interior spaces among the competition. Few key interior features include-

• Front Bucket Seats with 10-way power driver's seat and power lumbar support
• Height and tilt adjustable front head restraints 
• 60-40 Folding Bench Front Facing Manual Reclining Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat
• Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Power Rear Windows and Fixed 3rd Row Windows
• Remote Keyless Entry with Integrated Key Transmitter
• HVAC - Underseat Ducts
• Automatic Air Conditioning

Infotainment System

The Subaru Forester features the Star Link infotainment system from Subaru with a 6.5-inch touch screen and a larger 8-inch touch screen with a built-in navigation system are available on the two premium variants.

As for audio, the Forester is equipped with a four-speaker audio system and an option to upgrade to a six-speaker system or a premium 9-speaker unit from Harman Kardon. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration are also standard features. These are the following infotainment amenities available:

• Two USB ports, Bluetooth,
• A four-speaker sound system, satellite radio,
• HD Radio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Wi-Fi hotspot,
• A six-speaker stereo, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system (optional)

Cargo Capacity

The Forester, as the name suggests, is made for people who love trails and long distances. It comes with an impressive cargo space that can hold a large amount of cargo. Forester has 35.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and a maximum of 76.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The wide rear gate opening of 51.2 inches and automated liftgate makes loading of luggage a breeze.

With the rear seats down, it can hold a substantial amount of cargo, which's above average for the class, exceeding both the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V in total cargo space. The CR-V's cargo area is slightly larger, though the Forester has more maximum cargo room if you don't opt for the sunroof.

The 2017 Forester is much like the previous one as Subaru doesn't want to mess with the success mantra. Front, side, and rear under guards are standard, as is lower body cladding to protect against mud and rocks.

The new Sport model is distinguished by its gloss-black exterior trim and orange accents on the black under guards and roof-rail mounts, plus orange stitching on the inside.

The Nissan Rogue is the largest among the lot, which accounts for a spacious interior, followed by Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V. The Mazda CX-5 is the smallest among the rivals. The Nissan and the Honda have the most ground clearance of 7.8 inches, followed by the Mazda with 7.5 inches of clearance and the Subaru has the least which is 6.9 inches. The Subaru has the longest wheelbase of 107.3 inches. Few key exterior features include-

• Wheels: 18" x 7.0J Black Finish Aluminum Alloy
• Express Open/Close Sliding Glass 1st And 2nd Row Sunroof w/Sunshade
• Body-Colored Front Bumper and Rear Bumper
• Black Side Windows Trim and Black Front Windshield Trim
• Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Galvanized Steel/Aluminum Panels
• Lip Spoiler
• Grille Chrome Bar
• Liftgate Rear Cargo Access

Subaru brand is now increasingly focusing on safety. The acclaimed Subaru Eyesight driver assistance technology is optional in 2.5i Premium and 2.5 Limited, and it's standard on both the Touring trims. Subaru Forester is pretty good when it comes to safety features and comes loaded with a long list of safety tech, including Driver and Passenger Airbags, Front Head Airbag, Rear Head Airbag, Front Side Air Bag along with 4-Wheel ABS and Traction Control. More advanced safety features include Auto-Leveling Headlights, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist. The Subaru Forester gets a 5-star rating from NHTSA as a testament to its crash credibility, and it has not been rated by IIHS yet. Major safety features include-

• 4-Wheel ABS
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Traction Control
• Auto-Leveling Headlights
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist

Subaru Forester Crossover vs Mazda CX -5

The Mazda CX-5 is priced higher than the Subaru Forester and comes with an upscale cabin. The steering is precise, and it's very fun to drive like other Mazda's.

The Subaru, on the other hand, comes with a bland cabin but makes up for it with an excellent safety score. The Mazda also loses in terms of cargo space when compared with Forester. So the Forester is a clear winner here.

Subaru Forester Crossover vs Honda CR-V

The Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V have similar fuel economy figures and sizes. The Honda CR-V has best in class cargo space, which the Forester can't match.

The 1.5-liter turbocharged powertrain of CR-V is far better in terms of performance when compared to the Forester. The Forester is a capable off-roader and the CR-V can't match its ability. Opting one depends on what you desire, city jaunts or adventure junkie.

Subaru Forester Crossover vs Nissan Rogue

The Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester have a lot of things in common. Both have an underpowered powertrain and similar EPA ratings. Both of the vehicles have lots of legroom and headroom.

The Subaru Forester undercuts the Nissan Rogue by $500 and also comes with standard all-wheel drive. In Nissan, you have to pay extra for 4WD, which makes the Forester an obvious winner.

The Subaru Forester has always been that go-to car that can manage many things single-handedly. It is a good soft-roader and is pretty decent off the road too. With the AWD developed by Subaru, it is a potent machine in tricky situations. All in all, the 2017 Forester with its combination of all-wheel-drive system and choice of the engine gives it a can-do-it-all attitude. It has been that reliable goat and it is a potent choice.