Subaru, as a manufacturer, is known to do things a bit differently. It offers standard AWD and it is one of few still promoting wagons strongly. The Forester originated as a spruced up Impreza wagon but now, in its fourth generation, the 2018 Subaru Forester has evolved into a compact SUV.

Subaru, as a manufacturer, is known to do things a bit differently. It offers standard AWD, obscure Boxer engines, and it is one of the few manufacturers still promoting wagons strongly. The Forester originated as a spruced-up Impreza wagon but now, in its fourth generation, the 2018 Subaru Forester has evolved into a compact SUV.

The 2018 Subaru Forester comes standard with AWD and offers segment-beating ground clearance, luggage capacity, and impressive value for money. Now, the Forester also gets a quieter cabin and decent ride quality. The interior is as user-friendly as ever and the material quality is great too. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are unavailable.

While the base Forester 2.0i is sufficient to meet your needs, we think the Forester 2.5i Premium offers the best value as it adds a panoramic power moonroof, alloy wheels, and power liftgate. Most importantly, it unlocks the acclaimed Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technologies.

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2018 Subaru Forester User Reviews

Overall Rating: 3.0 (1 Reviews)

Jamie Liebold

2018 Subaru Forester

••3.0

Posted On: April 18, 2024

Great buy for low costs down the road

Pros
Very comfortable ride, Low maintenance/cheap repairs

Cons
V4 engine often struggles on windy days, No Apple AirPlay

After careful research, the 2018 Subaru forester was my first car. Being a young girl, I was fearful of expensive repairs and high maintenance costs. This is such a great car for those reasons, I have not had any problems beyond standard maintenance. Most of my driving is around the city, and I still average about 28th. Overall, great performance and smooth ride, however the V4 has to work hard t... Read more

2018 Subaru Forester Review

Pros

Powerful boxer engine
Great value for money
Perfect for a 5-people family
Excellent cargo capacity
Many available safety features
Good mpg ratings

Cons

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is missing
Rivals offer better drivability
Interior design and build quality trail some rivals
Fewer tech features than rivals

Overview

Pricing and Features
7.0/10

The base 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i starts at $22,795 with 6-Speed Manual, a 2.5L boxer 4 delivering decent fuel economy, steel wheels, and basic interior appointments. However, Subaru is taking safety seriously and the Rear Vision Camera is standard even in base 2.0i. We recommend getting CVT ($1000) for far better fuel economy.

Upgrading to 2.5i Premium ($25,695) adds a panoramic power moonroof, alloy wheels, 7-inch infotainment screen and opens up the options like a power liftgate. Most importantly you can have the excellent Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technologies.

Higher trims add amenities like leather-trim upholstery, auto-on/off headlights, and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Those in need of more kick from their car seats can opt for 2.0 L turbocharged boxer 4 (250hp) equipped 2.0XT Premium ($29,495) and 2.0XT Touring ($36,090) trims. The Subaru Forester comes with two engine options - the 2.5L focuses on efficiency and affordability while the 2.0L is all about performance. The Forester handles surprisingly well for a tall SUV with the top end 2.0XT Touring getting Torque Vectoring too. The base models come with a standard 6-Speed manual (CVT is optional) while most other trim comes with CVT as standard.

Trims	2.5i	2.5i Premium	2.5i Limited	2.5i Touring	2.0XT Premium	2.0XT Touring
MSRP	$22,795	$25,695	$29,395	$33,090	$29,495	$36,090
Key Features	Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive	Includes 2.5i key features and adds:	Includes 2.5i Premium key features and adds:	Includes 2.5i Limited key features and adds:	Includes 2.5i Premium key features and adds:	Includes 2.0XT Premium key features and adds:
	SUBARU STARLINK Multimedia	Available EyeSight Driver Assist Technology	Leather-trimmed upholstery	18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels	Turbocharged 250-hp SUBARU BOXER engine	Leather-trimmed upholstery
	Vehicle Dynamics Control	Power-tilt/sliding panoramic moonroof	All-Weather Package w/ heated front seats	Dual-zone automatic climate control	18-inch alloy wheels	Heated steering wheel
	Bluetooth with USB and iPod control capability	17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels	Blind-Spot Detection/Rear Cross-Traffic Alert	Heated steering wheel	All-Weather Package	Power driver's seat w/ memory
		SUBARU STARLINK Safety and Security	Fog Lights	8-way power driver's seat	A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle	One-touch folding rear seatback
		Available Power Rear Gate	Leather-wrapped steering wheel	One-touch folding rear seatback

We Recommend

Engine and Performance
8.2/10

The base 2018 Subaru Forester, with its 2.5L, naturally aspirated Boxer engine develops 170 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-Speed manual transmission in the base and Premium trims. Ironically, the manual transmission is not much fun to use and ends up being pretty thirsty on fuel as well. A CVT is optional in the base and the Premium trims and standard on all others. The base engine feels fairly potent and allows for comfortable overtakes. Highway driving feels like a breeze, and the low NVH characteristics of the Boxer-4 engine allow for excellent cruising.

The CVT is one of the best in the business, mimicking a traditional 6 or 8-Speed Automatic impressively. Steering mounted paddle shifters can be used to select those fake gears. When not in the mood, the CVT effortlessly does the job of varying ratios for you. While it's sportier than most other CVTs in the market today, it acts better as a refined gearbox capable of seamlessly changing gears and keeping you in the right engine revs at all times.

Models	Subaru Forester	Ford Escape	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
MSRP	$ 22,795	$ 23,850	$ 24,150	$ 24,410
Engine	2.5 L Boxer 4 Gas engine	2.5 L Inline 4 Gas engine	2.4 L Inline 4 Gas engine	2.5 L 4-cylinder Gas engine
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed Automatic	CVT	6-speed automatic
Power	170hp @ 5800 rpm	168hp @ 6000 rpm	184hp @ 6400 rpm	176hp @6000 rpm
Torque	174 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	170 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	180 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm	172lb-ft @4100 rpm

The Honda CR-V is the most powerful offering among the rivals, whereas the Ford Escape offers the least raw power. The Subaru Forester is the only vehicle in the segment to come with a standard AWD system, which further adds to its practicality and helps the powertrain to put down all the power efficiently.

Acceleration

The 2018 Subaru Forester with the 2.5 L boxer 4 engine can do the 0 to 60 mph run in 8.7 seconds. That's respectable for an SUV and the competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and the Ford Escape take a similar time. However, the Honda CR-V does the run quicker at 7.5 seconds. The 2.0 L turbocharged boxer-4 equipped Forester can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 6 seconds flat.

Models	Subaru Forester	Ford escape	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
0-60 MPH	8.7 sec	8.9 sec	7.5 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter mile	16.8 sec @ 83.5 mph	16.6 @ 86 mph	15.8 sec @ 89 mph	17.0 sec @ 82.3 mph
Engine	2.5L	2.5L	2.4L	2.5L
Emission Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year	7.4	7.3	6.3	7.1

Ride and Handling

The Subaru Forester is surprisingly agile for an SUV with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and gives a car-like feeling albeit being an SUV. The body roll is well controlled and the steering feels adequate but not overly sensitive. Although the Forester is no magic carpet, it rides impressively by gobbling up almost all the undulations on the tarmac easily. The top of the line 2.0XT Touring gets Torque Vectoring, which basically applied brakes on the inner wheels when cornering for sharper turn-in.

Braking

The Subaru Forester is equipped with 11.6-inch brake rotors up front (Forester 2.0XT gets larger front rotors) and 10.8-inch rotors in the rear. The brakes are powerful enough to tame the 3322 pound Forester and allow the SUV to come to a halt from 60 mph in 122 feet - best among competitors.

The Ford Escape is marginally slow taking 123 feet but the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 are far behind taking 129 feet and 128 feet respectively.

Model	Subaru Forester	Ford Escape	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
Brake pads-front(in)	11.6	12.8	11.1	10.8
Brake pads Rear(in)	10.8	12	10.2	11.2
Curb weight(lbs)	3322	3542	3307	3455
60-0 MPH (ft.)	122	123	129	128

Towing capacity

The Subaru Forester can tow 1,500 pounds irrespective of the drivetrain chosen - similar to the tow capacities of Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. The Ford Escape, however, can tow a staggering 3,500 pounds. This leaves the Ford Escape as the only option for those in need of some considerable towing capacity.

Model	Subaru Forester	Ford escape	CR-V	Toyota RAV4
Weight (lbs)	1500	3500	1500	1500
Drive Train	AWD	FWD	FWD	FWD
Engine	2.5L	2.5L	2.4L	2.5L

Fuel Economy
7.9/10

The Subaru Forester delivers a fairly respectable fuel economy of 22 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway with a base 2.5 L engine mated to the 6-Speed manual. However, pointing for the CVT with the 2.5 L delivers 26 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway, which is very impressive for an AWD SUV. Additionally, the Forester also boasts great fuel capacity thanks to a sizable 15.9-gallon fuel tank. This allows the compact Subaru to offer a driving range of up to 445 miles on the highway.

Model	Subaru Forester	Ford Escape	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
Mpg city mpg	22	21	26	23
Mpg highway mpg	28	29	32	29
Mpg combined mpg	24	24	28	25

Comparing the competition, the 2018 Honda CR-V has the best fuel economy to deliver. Offering a highway MPG figure of 32, the base Honda CR-V stands victorious in the gas mileage battle. While the Forester's MPG figures are lower than that of the CR-V, the SUV's fuel economy isn't all that bad to begin with. The Ford Escape offers modest mileage numbers as well, while the Toyota RAV4 comes better off in this regard.

Interior
7.0/10

The 2018 Subaru Forester offers an elegant, comfortable interior. Subaru has finally addressed the long-standing issue of annoying noise filtering in the cabin. With great noise insulation, compliant ride, and well-bolstered seats, the 2018 Forester makes for an excellent touring machine. Inside the cabin, there is generous use of high-quality materials, and the whole cabin is simple and usable with a focus on ergonomics. As it's a Subaru, plenty of front and rear-seat legroom and headroom is available for the passengers. The driving position is excellent, and the leather-clad steering wheel feels firm and solid. Further, the excellent visibility from the glasshouse inspires a good deal of confidence in the driver.

The Forester can seat five people in real comfort affording them space to spread out with its generous legroom and headroom. There's great bolstering on the front seats, and higher trims let you get your hands on ventilated seats with power adjustment. Rear passengers won't feel too uncomfortable either, thanks to plenty of space and cushy rear seats. Subaru also lets you pick from a wide range of interior packages to further optimize your Forester cabin experience. We're glad that there's a good amount of interior storage space too. Whether it's your phone, papers, sunglasses, or bags, Subaru lets you easily stow away small items in the Forester's sizable glove box, console storage, and door bins.

Model	Subaru Forester	Ford Escape	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Passenger Volume(ft cube)	108.3	98.1	105.9	101.9
Front (Head/Hip/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	41.4/53.9/57/43	39.9/54.8/56/43.1	40.1/55.1/57.9/41.3	39.8/54.3/57.3/42.6
Second (Head/Hip/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.8/53/56.5/38	39/52.4/55.3/36.8	39.2/49.5/55.6/40.6	38.9/48.9/55.4/37.2

Cargo capacity

The Subaru Forester offers 34.4 cubic feet of luggage volume with all seats up. This figure is less than that of the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 at 39 cubic feet and 38.4 cubic feet respectively. However, the Forester has a boxy frame, and therefore more usable luggage space. The rear seats fold conveniently with a flick of a lever to reveal 74.7 cubic feet of luggage space, a figure still slightly lower than CR-V and RAV4.

Model	Subaru Forester	Ford Escape	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
Behind 2nd row (ft. cube)	34.4	34.3	39.0	38.4
With 2nd row folded (ft. cube)	74.7	67.8	76.0	78.4

Infotainment System

The base 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i gets a Subaru Starlink infotainment system with a 6.2-inch touchscreen. You also get Bluetooth audio streaming and a 3.5 mm auxiliary jack. The base trim has a basic 4 speaker audio system. The higher Forester Premium and Limited get a Starlink infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen and 6-Speaker audio system.

The Touring Trim comes with upgraded 7-Inch touchscreen infotainment with navigation. Audiophiles will be delighted here with a Harman Kardon Premium audio system. This option is also available in the 2.5i Limited trim ($1,350). However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are sorely missed especially when most other Subarus get them as standard. Some standard infotainment features offered with the 2018 Subaru Forester include:

A 6.2-inch touch-screen
A four-speaker stereo
Bluetooth
USB port
HD Radio
7-inch touch screen(optional)
A six-speaker stereo(optional)
Voice recognition(optional)
Satellite radio(optional)
An additional USB port(optional)
Navigation(optional)
An eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system(optional)

Exterior
6.8/10

The Subaru Forester exterior has moved away from its wagon roots. While the base trim gets black rearview mirrors and steel wheels, the higher trims are adorned with LED headlights and 18-inch alloys. The raised roof rails complete the outdoor look. The overall look of the Forester is fierce, with subtle hints of off-roading capability. The SUV comes with sharp folds and creases throughout, which allow for a sporty look. We love the front grille, which is angular and neat. The sharp slits on the bumper further accentuate the Forester's no-nonsense aesthetic and add even sportier accents to the mix. The rear, on the other hand, is plain but elegant. The dual-exhaust setup improves the symmetrical design of the rear, while the kinks around the number plate add freshness to the design, resulting in a beautiful aesthetic overall.

Model	Subaru Forester	Ford Escape	Honda CR-V	Toyota RAV4
Curb Weight(lbs)	3322	3542	3307	3455
Length(in)	181.5	178.1	180.6	183.5
Width(in)	70.7	72.4	73.0	72.6
Height(in)	66.4	66.3	66.1	67.1
Ground clearance(in)	8.7	7.9	8.2	6.1
Wheelbase(in)	103.9	105.9	104.7	104.7
Track width(in) F/R	60.9/61.1	61.5/61.6	63.0/63.7	61.4/61.4

At 181.5 inches, its length is average among the competition but it's the narrowest in the segment at 70.7 inches. Hence, maneuvering in tight spaces should not be much of an issue. However, at 66.4 inches, it's among the tallest. Combined with the segment beating 8.7-inch ground clearance, the Forester does look like an old-school SUV. The Ford Escape stands as the heaviest vehicle in the lot. The Toyota RAV4 measures the longest and tallest, while the Honda CR-V stands the widest. The Subaru Forester offers he the most ground clearance, while the Ford Escape comes with the longest wheelbase on offer.

Safety
9.3/10

Subaru 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 is standard on both the Touring trims. Strangely, the Eyesight system is not available even as an option in the 2.0XT Premium trim. The Subaru Forester gets a perfect 5-Star rating from the NHTSA and gets a respectable “Top Safety Pick” award from the IIHS, both of which speak volumes about the level of safety the SUV offers.

The Subaru EyeSight include:

Adaptive Cruise Control
Pre-collision Braking
Lane Departure and Sway Warning
Lane Keep Assist

Some key safety features offered with he 2018 Subaru Forester include:

Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc Rear Center 3 Point, Height Adjusters and Pretensioners
Airbag Occupancy Sensor
Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
Side Impact Beams
ABS And Driveline Traction Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Competition
6.0/10

Subaru Forester vs Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is lauded as the most practical compact SUV and for good reasons. It has best-in-class cargo capacity, plenty of interior appointments, a great combination of ride and handling, and superior reliability. However, the Subaru Forester closely matches the CR-V in terms of practicality and its USP is its genuine off-road capability.

Subaru Forester vs Ford Escape

The Ford Escape is an upmarket-looking compact SUV with loads of interior space too. Its interior appointment in higher trim can make luxury cars uncomfortable and the powerful optional Ecoboost engine makes it genuinely fast. However, all these come at a cost, and the Forester is better off-road should you decide to venture.

Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 looks wild with its angular looks and creases and cuts everywhere. However, its soul is as simple as any Toyota prioritizing fuss-free usability over entertainment. It has a spacious interior, decent fuel economy, and great safety features for the price. However, its engine lacks the grunt and the RAV4 is not an off-roader while the Forester is.

Final Verdict

The Subaru Forester is a complete package that distinguishes itself from the competitors by combining rare characteristics such as off-road capability, fuel efficiency, and fun-to-drive road manners. The interior is spacious too with cavernous luggage capacity. Low cost of ownership and phenomenal reliability with slow depreciation further sweeten the deal. While the present Forester impresses with its spacious interiors, clean and usable interior layout, and genuine off-road capability, the new one will be more refined, safer, and more efficient too. Further, a new one will almost surely get standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, you have to wait for almost a year for all these. As far as the 2018 model year Forester is concerned, we definitely recommend considering it for your next purchase.

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

Certified 2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2018 Subaru Forester User Reviews

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

Certified 2019 Subaru Forester Sport

Certified 2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

About 2018 Subaru Forester

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2019 Subaru Forester Sport

2018 Subaru Forester User Reviews

Great buy for low costs down the road

ProsVery comfortable ride, Low maintenance/cheap repairs

Cons V4 engine often struggles on windy days, No Apple AirPlay

2018 Subaru Forester Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Pricing and Features7.0/10

Engine and Performance8.2/10

Acceleration

Ride and Handling

Braking

Towing capacity

Fuel Economy7.9/10

Interior7.0/10

Cargo capacity

Infotainment System

Exterior6.8/10

Safety9.3/10

Some key safety features offered with he 2018 Subaru Forester include:

Competition6.0/10

Subaru Forester vs Honda CR-V

Subaru Forester vs Ford Escape

Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4

Final Verdict

Pros
Very comfortable ride, Low maintenance/cheap repairs

Cons
V4 engine often struggles on windy days, No Apple AirPlay

Pricing and Features
7.0/10

Engine and Performance
8.2/10

Fuel Economy
7.9/10

Interior
7.0/10

Exterior
6.8/10

Safety
9.3/10

Competition
6.0/10