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Subaru Forester variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £17,999. Borrowing £16,199 with a £1,800 deposit at a representative APR of 10.9%.

48 monthly payments
£268.43
Fixed interest rate
10.9%
Total amount payable
£23,371.47
Cost of credit
£5,372.47
Optional final payment
£8,687.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

Subaru Forester buying guide

About the Subaru Forester

You won’t find the Subaru Forester outside a swanky London hotel or in the background of a rapper’s music video. You’re more likely to find one parked outside a thatched cottage down a country lane, or following a tractor’s tyre marks in claggy mud.

It’s an unpretentious but phenomenally capable SUV, the sort of car that you won’t mind using for tip runs, towing a horsebox or trundling over tricky terrain. Robustness is one of the Forester’s top priorities. Another is safety, and the Forester is overflowing with driver assistance tech and the feeling of strength. In its Euro NCAP crash test, it scored 91% for child protection – one of the best-ever scores in that category.

What versions of the Subaru Forester are there?

Until recently, just two trim levels were offered – XE and XE Premium. LED headlights, heated front seats, two-zone climate control, a rear-view camera and adaptive cruise control all come as standard. XE Premium adds a sunroof, a powered boot lid and built-in sat nav. There’s now a Sport trim, too, which sits between the two and adds coloured accents.

What features does the Subaru Forester have?

Every Forester comes with four-wheel drive – including an ‘X-Mode’ dial with hill-descent control for proper off-roading. Plus, a ‘Lineartronic’ CVT automatic gearbox comes as standard, while there’s a towing mode that helps keep a trailer stable. Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite makes for confident driving in any scenario.

Inside, there’s an eight-inch touchscreen, which includes DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Above that is an LCD multi-information display.

Is the Subaru Forester a good car?

The Subaru Forester is a good car if you live far away from civilisation. It won’t show its best attributes in the suburbs or in a city centre, but show it a country lane and it’ll feel right at home. The Forester is tough and reliable, plus safe and practical.

Subaru Forester engine range explained

Subaru Forester 2.0 e-Boxer petrol

The Forester uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which now boasts mild-hybrid tech to save fuel (that’s the ‘e’ in e-Boxer). A small electric motor helps out at up to 25mph, and provides extra torque to improve its off-road performance.

On-road performance is adequate, while its 34mpg fuel economy is a side-effect of its permanent four-wheel-drive system and chunky body.

Subaru Forester FAQs

Yes, the Subaru Forester comes as a 4x4 as standard. It’s much more competent off-road than many other family-sized SUVs, and provides all-terrain grip as well as on-road confidence in poor weather.

Subarus tend to be thought of as pretty much bulletproof in terms of reliability – handy when your local Subaru workshop might be some distance away. Their reputation for dependability and toughness is partly why they’re so popular in rural areas, and partly why owners tend to keep Subarus for longer than average.

What price capability? The Forester will cost a bit more to run than something more road-focused like a Kia Sportage but, for Subaru buyers, spending a few extra quid on a tank of fuel is more than offset by its commanding ability.