The best alternative to a RAV4? 2023 Subaru Forester review

The Subaru Forester SUV is a terrific option for those who don't want to wait for a Toyota RAV4.

Like the RAV, the Forester comes with a choice of petrol, or petrol-electric hybrid. Both are offered with the brand's symmetrical all-wheel drive system, and that gives the Subie a nice point of difference.

It really is a practical, well-priced and well equipped medium SUV - and while there are others out that that you might consider as rivals, this is a five-seat family SUV with a big boot and no third-row compromises on cargo space.

Watch my review for all the important details.

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00:00 Intro
00:36 Is it the right price?
02:40 What are the best alternatives?
04:11 Is it the right size?
05:16 Interior
09:09 Under the bonnet
10:06 Driving
11:40 Efficiency
12:41 Is it safe?
13:52 Ownership
14:43 Verdict

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I am aiming to review every new car on the market that people actually buy, to help new-car customers like you, or curious car enthusiasts (maybe also like you) get the right steer when it comes to choosing a new set of wheels.

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[andrewt]

Took a test drive in this car today, and am now buying my first Subaru. I actually like the older style interior that still has buttons and knobs, not a fan of everything been controlled from the touch screen. Was very impressed with how roomy it was inside. Have been waiting for a Rav 4 for 12 months, and there have been 2 price increases in that time, it's just becoming too expensive, and it's only taking 2 weeks to get my Forester.

[ProfessorWesty]

I’ve just bought a 2023 Premium 2.5l model and you’ve nailed the key points for me.

I live in NZ and while the RAV-4 hybrid would have been my first pick, my local dealer quoted a 2 to 3 year backlog and they had 31, 000 people ahead of me in the queue. They weren’t even prepared to put me on the wait list.

Our specs and warranty are quite different in NZ and most manufacturers only offer a 3 year warranty. Subaru extend this to 6 years if you purchase the 3 year service plan which works out cheaper on its own as you effectively pay for two services and get the third free.

I considered other options but the warranty plus the better bang for buck you get compared to rivals for a really practical, safe and reliable SUV made this a no brainer.

Very happy with my decision so far!

[Richard-slwe]

Great review Matt; one of the most objective road testers on YouTube.

[eddielia]

I purchased the my 2022 Premium and absolutely love it. It’s all wheel drive system is fantastic in wet weather.

[stendecstretcher]

Great review much better than the Chasing Cars review I watched recently. After watching and reflecting on some of your comments. I will probably go for the Sportage SX plus diesel.

[TheHayabusa]

Great review Matt. Keep up the good work.

[anthonyabdo]

Seat belt in the roof, so passangers closest aren't sitting on the buckel and when the seat is flattened the buckel doesn't damage the cushion when it is compressed, especially if a heavy item is on top

[KingOfShadows]

After watching all these American channels with a unit converter ready on the side, hearing someone finally use real units of measurement is like music to my ears! I can't even express how happy that made me!

[johnfricano]

Great video!I recently leased a 2024 Forester Wilderness Edition in the US and it's the first car in a LONG time I am considering buying at lease end. It's also the first foreign car I have ever had in the US. It's a very impressive vehicle with plenty of safety features and power for normal driving. No regrets so far!

[vhr]

I have the 2.5iS, bought in July 22. The vehicle is Gr8 with what you expect, Nice roomy with space for a 5 seater, with the predictable CVT band transmission - Doesn't feel bad at all. Perfect to commute the family with todds

[dkkli]

Another quality review for sure.

Been having my MY15 Forester (as a brand new car) for 8 years as a daily commuter. It's been dead solid with zero major issues so far, and to me, it just drives better than the RAV4, CRV, Sportage and Tucson. I didn't quite like the CVT at the beginning, but it only took me really just a couple of days to get used to it and since then, I don't quite mind it at all. It really gives me the good fuel consumption (8.6L/100KM for 125, 000KM).

Apparently the MY15 CVT isn't the most reliable one, but maybe because I am a moderate driver (TBH, I don't think how you can be aggressive with a 2.5 naturally aspirated engine paired with a CVT -_- ), the transmission of my car has no sign of any degradation or any oil leakage at all. I actually think the CVT is a better transmission if you just need something to get you from A to B.

Anyway, I love my Forester and have no plan to sell it. I might use it for another 100, 000KM and see how it can hold up.

[michaelpayne]

I bought a 2023 Subaru Forester Limited about 4-1/2 months ago. So far I love it! I’m in New Jersey in the United States. I was in an accident about 5-1/2 months ago and my car was totaled, but I was okay (walked away uninjured. I was driving a 2016 Subaru Impreza at the time, and given how well that protected me, decided I wanted another Subaru, but something a little bigger, which is why I went with the Forester.

I actually wanted the Premium trim, but those seemed to be the most popular trim, as I the dealer didn’t have any on the lot specked the way I wanted, so I went with the Limited trim

[dmoskaly]

Back in 2012 I had a look see at the Forester and only chose the RAV4 because of the seating, didn't "sit" well for us. I got the V6 RAV4 and (still is my primary) has been great for towing (3500 lbs spec) our teardrop and would feel my safety factor lessened with the current Forester's 3000 lb spec. Since they don't sell a V6 RAV anymore (2012 was the last) I suppose I would just move up to a Highlander with the 5000 lb spec. But....this was an excellent review. Just enough details, it hit the spot for information quenching in case a new vehicle was needed in my near future.

[realjohnboxall]

05:08 We love our '23 2.5 Premium. As a forester person, we put amateur radio gear in the boot, along with a fridge, etc. '73!

[brz]

It's big inside, controls are all nice and chunky, and gas mileage is great on road trips. Mixed only got around 25mpg but highway we could brush against 35 pretty easy. Leg room side to side was tight though, my right knee always felt cramped against the center console.

[maxd]

Got ours delivered in February and have been enjoying it so far, Ours is a blue 2.5is like this one. It’s really comfortable and the leg room is great and so is the boot. Love having a full size spare that’s why a RAV4 was off our list immediately. We had a 07 manual before so a lot of the weird quirks we are use to (like the middle seatbelt coming from the roof). We were concerned about the performance of the cvt compared to our old car (which I would actually class as pretty quick ) but even though it is slower it’s really not bad at all, it actually feels quick around town. The only issues I have with the car is that the radio doesn’t turn off so you have to mute it which is a bit strange and the “keep ur eyes on the road” thing is a bit annoying. Also it does feel a bit gutless overtaking at speed but I’m sure that’s just con with all cars that use a cvt but overtaking is definitely still possible. If you are someone that need to overtake a lot then I would buy a diesel

[martinh]

Hi Matt, After driving Nissan products for 25 years, I swapped to a 2022 Forester, simply put, I love it. Thanks for the advise on pre paying the service costs, I will speak to my dealer on the GC.

[MsNando]

Nice review, I hope your channel gets more subscribers. All the best, I have a Crosstrek last 5 years and now I will upgrade for forester. No problems at all with my Crosstrek. I will let you know how it goes with forester. All the best.

[yhsrsbi]

This guy and John Cadogen do the best reviews

[johnnumbat]

Thanks Matt - having owned 10 Subarus and over half of them Foresters I’d happily own a new one with some caveats - kill the CVT bring back the conventional auto and turbo engine, remove the stop/start system and include a factory 2” lift - they’ve been very reliable and I only upgraded due to lifestyle changes - brilliant AWD that all the other makes pretend to have - great customer/service culture too - I still have a runabout ‘06 Forester parked next to my Toyota Hilux.