2019 Subaru Forester in-depth review and demonstration

It's finally here: the all-new redesigned 2019 Subaru Forester.
Learn more here:

Check out all the new features:
-Driver Focus
-Standard Subaru iSight.
-Now on the Subaru Global platform which is quieter and more rigid
-New body styling, more body cladding, new wheels, mirrors, body lines, head and tail lights, fog lights, and more.
-Modified engine with better fuel economy, new SI Drive, and new xMode.
-New power lift-gate (faster open)
-Wider rear cargo opening
-Electric parking brake with Auto Vehicle Hold mode
-Optional rear heated seats and air rear vents
-Auto Start / Stop

Want to see it in person for yourself?
Stop by Groove Subaru today.

Check Us Out Here:

CREW
Host: Brendan Hancock
Producer: Justin McMinn
Photography: Andrew Mueller

[Doc]

This is 12/22. I have a 2019 Forester Touring, Sephia Bronze with Brown interior.
I bought it 2 days ago but I have to wait until the mtn passes are reopened due to a huge snow storm.
Get this, it’s almost 4 years old and has only 4, 700 miles on it.
It’s a Certified Subaru.
Last year we replaced my wife’s 18 year old Camry with a 2019 Outback. The Outback only had 5, 600 miles on it when we bought it 11/21.
We LOVE our Outback and are really looking forward to our new (to us) Forester.
The Forester will be replacing my 12 year old Rav 4WD Limited with the 3.5 V6

[lynnvv]

Brendan, Thanks for making so many excellent videos...You’ve helped to make it so much easier for me to adjust to the changes in the 2019 Forester —with all of your excellent directions about how to adjust many of the car settings to your excellent explanations about how these cars actually function...You have helped us to really learn so very much more about these vehicles... All of your efforts are very much appreciated! Thanks a bunch!

[jr]

Great review and a bit of history of the Forester line too. I knew quite a bit from Subaru’s website but received some clarity from your review on features. Side note, that brown leather looks niiice! Also I personally don’t care about a turbo on a SUV, I’m looking for MPG and quality.

[Lochlanist]

Great video. The thing I wished you did though was when you spoke about the interior I wish there was a camera showing whatever button or screen you where talking about

[edmey]

You should have a close up on the controls rather than a focus on the driver.

[melvinmurkelson]

It would be nice to have a camera on the console and dash features while you are talking about them.

[MetaView]

I wish the rear quarter window sill stays flat all the way to the back. The lifting line might look nice, but reduces visibility.

[joshhuber]

I can't wait till the 2020 Subaru Outback comes out

[sshamon]

Love the redisign. Looking forward to purchasing the Limited trim soon. My only gripe are the ugly rims.

[eganfo]

I wish you had a camera over your shoulder for this review. I feel like I'm missing stuff when you're taking about the what you see from the driver's seat. Very informative video.

Did this trim not have DriverFocus or did you cover that feature in a different video?

[tommymas]

Just upgraded to a 2018 XT Touring from the 2014 XT Touring I had. While I like the new platform, the turbo engine, sportier suspension and bigger brakes sold the deal for me. Hopefully, they will bring back the XT in the next several years. Mazda CX-5 just introduced their turbo and I can see Forester owners heading there.

[drchulo]

Please show us a Premium trim level in comparison. Or difference between trims. Thanks

[Teranimar]

Thank you for providing this informative and well prepared demo, Onward!

[hrundgren]

I noticed that in the US you guys now get 182 HP on the 2019 model, that is not too bad. It must be a step up from the previous motor. Here in Europe we still get the 149 HP motor. I would be ok with that 182 HP on a Forester. I drive the 2014 XV, coming from a 2008 Forester XT. At first I was pining for a Turbo and did miss the XT a lot but after a break in period the XV feels ”OK” and does really well for that low output. I would not say it is zippy but it sure ain’t slow after I got used to the paddles. It handles really well in city traffic and is very stable on the highway though with four pax and a K9 passing other cars takes a bit longer than with the XT....

I would welcome those 30+ extra HP in the European XV or perhaps the Levorg 170HP turbo. I don’t get why they don’t offer that as an option. Loved the Forester, really like the XV. Future car for me is either a 2019 XV, 2019 Forester XE or one of the last XT’s if I can find one. Should the 182 HP motor become available over here I would settle for that.

I need a little more cargo space at times but apart from that the XV ticks all my boxes - though a somewhat more zippy motor would be great too. The new cargo bay on the XV is better and with a few more HP I could opt for a newer XV further down the line.

[benbaker]

I'd like to see a forester premium vs outback premium

[bowlingbrawn]

I test drove one of these recently and I found the following issues, and was wondering if anyone else noticed the same?:

1. At higher freeway speeds (70-80mph) this vehicle seemed very unstable. The car felt as if it was going to lose control if I wasn’t holding on to the steering wheel firmly. It was windy today too, but I test drove two other SUVs today (Mazda CX-5 & Cadillac XT5) in the same conditions and on the same stretch of freeway, and did not have that problem.

2. The engine noise definitely makes its way into the cabin. I did not enjoy listening to the boxer engine growl when starting up from a full stop.

3. The rear seat cushions seem to be sub standard. They did not provide much cushion or thigh support.

[dimension]

Good review, just disappointed that there is no longer a turbo option, the XT was really nice.
I love how the new Subaru looks and the interior is definitely very luxurious on the touring model, just disappointed that they couldn’t get more HP out of the engine. I think Subaru could easily push 200+ go on the 2.5i.

[RetrieverTrainingAlone]

Does it come with a full size spare tire that matches the other 4 tires?

[anderss]

WRONG about the angles. They are actually less off-road oriented than older models (at least worse than the 2015). However, they are very, very similar.

[gaylenrussell]

I have watched a ton of these reviews but nobody has taken one up a mountain pass to see if they stack traffic up behind them. Is there one like that?