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Our 2026 SUV buyer's guide ranks 11 picks by use case, not rank. Best family SUV, best hybrid, best EV under $50K, with verified specs and five-year ownership math.
Read moreSubaru unveiled the 420-hp all-electric Getaway three-row SUV and the first-ever Forester Wilderness Hybrid at the 2026 New York Auto Show.
Read moreThe 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness stands as a capable refuge for those seeking to car camp off the beaten path. Its interior design and robust roof rails transform it into a mobile basecamp, ready to deliver you to remote forests and mountain valleys. With the rear seats folded flat, the cargo area opens to 69.1 cubic feet of usable space. That’s enough room for an under-6-foot adult to stretch fully while the rigid frame and reinforced structure keep you secure. The roof rails, designed to support rooftop tents with an 800-pound static load capacity, add another dimension to adventure. While I utilized the spacious cargo bay on my trips, other Forester owners in the community have successfully mounted lightweight rooftop
Read moreThe 2025 Subaru Forester Limited, finished in Autumn Green Metallic, pulled into the parking lot of a Dry Creek Valley tasting room on a Friday afternoon. Early June in Northern California’s wine country arrives with warm afternoons and lingering daylight stretching late into the evening. For the last week. this compact SUV became my partner for exploring the roads most wine tourists never discover. Narrow mountain passes leading to small-production wineries, then deeper into Mendocino and Sierra National Forests where old logging roads climb toward views worth the dust and effort. Each drive confirmed what drivers who explore beyond interstate highways already know: the Forester remains the practical choice for those who refuse to choose between pavement and wilderness. Northern
Read moreThe 2025 Subaru Forester Limited Hybrid arrived with Autumn Green Metallic paint, a color that blends naturally with pine trees, granite shorelines, and the blue expanse of mountain lakes. Over the course of a week, I loaded this compact SUV with paddle boards, coolers, and camping gear for day trips to California’s network of reservoirs and lakes. Each drive reinforced why the Forester remains a top choice among outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize capability and reliability over flashy performance numbers. Exterior Adventure The sixth-generation Subaru Forester receives a significant redesign for 2025, and the new hybrid powertrain represents the most substantial change. The exterior presents a cleaner, more contemporary look while preserving the practical proportions that define this nameplate. At 183.3
Read moreTraveling with the family dog in the car is great. But some carmakers make it easier and safer than other manufacturers to travel with an animal. A blanket in the back of a station wagon can still work with a calm dog. But it’s not really safe if a driver is forced to stop suddenly. And arguably the bigger the dog, the more difficult it is to accommodate the family pet on a vacation or just on a trio the veterinarian or the local park. Fortunately for all parties involved, an increasing number of carmakers understand. It’s a good thing, too. About 47 percent of households in the United States own at least one pet, according to the American Veterinary
Read moreMotor Trend is a well-heeled automotive publication. Its reviewers are experts. They take their jobs seriously and they recently selected the 2014 Subaru Forester as the 2014 sport utility vehicle of the year. Really? Anyone who lives in mountainous areas knows Subaru’s strengths. Its all-wheel drive system is the best in the auto industry. And if you’re a dog person or dog family, Subaru always gets top honors for its design consideration to animal comfort and safety. Still, the Subaru got top honors over Acura, BMW and Land Rover, among others. The editors begin their decision process with a statement: “What makes an SUV? Ask 10 people and you’ll get 11 answers, as no doubt some will change their minds
Read moreThe redesigned 2014 Subaru Forester crossover has an impressive new design with better styling, performance, economy, comfort, space and safety features. As the song goes, who could ask for anything more? Early 1970s Subarus felt like tin cans, despite a ruggedness that made them popular in New England states. Subaru hung in there and gradually improved things, while wisely adding and promoting standard all-wheel drive. Car buyers began looking at Subaru in a new light, and it was on its way. After all, Subaru is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s giant Fuji Heavy Industries, which wasn’t about to give up the big U.S. market. The fourth-generation Forester crossover’s all-new body not only looks better, with sharply defined new details,
Read moreThe 2014 Subaru Forester, the fourth generation of the all-wheel driver crossover that debuted in 1997, will be slightly longer, taller and wider than its predecessor and will make its North American debut at the LA Auto Show in late November. While featuring slightly bigger dimensions, the 2014 Subaru Forester will be closely related to its older siblings and will offer, according to the manufacturer: “An exceptionally roomy interior, featuring increased rear seat legroom, and an enlarged cargo area.” New features will also include for the North American market: an infotainment system with smartphone integration, navigation, rear view camera, and harman/kardon premium audio amplifier and speakers. In Japan, the new Forester’s powertrain options include a 146 horsepower, 2.0-liter flat four
Read moreIn its 17-year tenure, the Subaru Forester has transitioned to having one of the coolest names in the automotive industry from having one of the worst names. The name Forester implies “Of the forest.” But when the vehicle debuted in 1995 at the Tokyo Motor Show as a concept, it was called the “Sutoriga” or Stalker. The reason for its first name is subject to interpretation, but a decade-and-a-half and several editions later, the Forester is fully ingrained in Subaru‘s practical, if unspectacular, lineup of sedan and utilitarian sports vehicles all featuring symmetrical all-wheel drive. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Introduced to the United States market in 1998, the 2011 Forester is now available in six trims, including the 2.5X
Read moreI recently was in the left front seat of an older Subaru Forester at highways speeds, but with no steering wheel in front of me. Not to worry. I was in Australia, where the steering wheel is on the right side and vehicles are driven in the left lane. My daughter was at the wheel. I recently tested a 2011 Forester four-door small SUV (or “crossover,” if you will) after returning to America. This third-generation Forester, which was new for 2009, is appreciably larger in every dimension than the last generation model, with a roomier back seat. It’s styling is clean, but won’t turn heads. There are only minor trim changes for 2011. The new Forester is no more powerful
Read moreAdditionally, the Forester, like all Subaru models, features an all-wheel drive drivetrain. It’s the standard in the industry that nicely complements another keen Forester features. The Forester’s low center of gravity allows the vehicle to meet the U.S. federal standards for passenger vehicles, and thus it does not require a risk of rollover warning label. The name Forester was used to convey the vehicle is “of the forest.” The name has always worked. The Forester’s characters are shared with siblings Legacy and Outback and the manufacturer’s versatility was a primary reason why it was chosen by the U.S. ski team years ago as one of the first “official vehicles” involved in sponsorship. The 2010 Forester has only slight updates following
Read moreWhen the elements cooled and the steam drifted away, the Forester stood tallish and proud in the vanguard of the new crossover craze. Others would follow in its tracks, but it was the Forester that showed them the way. It will come as no surprise that for 2009 the Forester has gotten bigger, taller, and even fatter than the very first model that rolled out of the Subaru‘s primordial soup. Is it a giant station wagon, or a small SUV, and does it really matter to most new car buyers? I suspect what matters to Subaru is that the Forester is now in the same price range and size category as to compete with such heavy weight crossover sellers as
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