Review of 2023 Subaru Forester reveals strong family carrier

Despite still having a CD player, the 2023 Subaru Forester keeps pace with its rivals courtesy of strong safety credentials, spacious cabin and confident driving dynamics.

The 2023 model year Subaru Forester.

WALK down history lane and in 1997 when the Subaru Forester was first launched we lived in a different world.

Tik Tok was a sound produced by clocks, Facebook related to photo albums and the millennial bug was threatening to bring the world to its knees. Holden’s Commodore and the Ford Falcon were also leading the sales charge in Australia, and the Mitsubishi Magna was also still in the mix.

After 25 years and four generations, the Forester has achieved more than 300,000 sales.

Covid and stock shortages saw the Forester unavailable for a short time, but 2023 models have now arrived.

Minimal changes have been made to the 2023 Subaru Forester.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

KEL: Preconceived perceptions of Subaru have always been good. Looking similar to previous test drives, the new Forester appears to be more of the same?

GRANT: There are some minor changes across a seven-model line-up. We sampled the most expensive petrol model that is just over $50k drive-away. A hybrid variant with the same features costs an extra $3000.

KEL: Airy with impressive vision from the front, it’s a spacious SUV which feels well put together.

GRANT: Small A pillars and large front windows deliver an impressive outward view. As the top Forester it comes with some nice kit, and interestingly has a CD player.

KEL: Our teenage son does have a record player with a vinyl collection so it was right up his alley.

GRANT: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as digital radio, are among the standard features so it’s not behind in terms of infotainment – it’s just an interesting inclusion considering most manufacturers dropped them years ago.

While it still has a CD player, the Subaru Forester comes with smartphone mirroring apps Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE?

KEL: The leather seats were comfortable, and my primary functional needs were met with heated seats, good centre cup holders and bottle slots in the doors.

GRANT: One of my favourite inclusions was also standard, and that’s dropping the rear seats 60-40 via an electronic toggle switch in the boot. We’re always loading sports equipment so it’s great to be able to sling in a surfboard or bike quickly.

KEL: Splitting the infotainment and vehicle information to a small screen on top of the dash made operations simple. Shortcuts to find things quickly on the main touchscreen were easy to navigate and separate controls for the aircon meant you didn’t have to go back through the main menu – a lot of the new generation cars have opted for minimalism over functionality and made the latter harder than it needs to be.

GRANT: Another boon for those travelling long distances or off road is the full-size spare. A lot of SUVs now favour space-savers or repair kits to gain additional boot space.

Kel and Grant Edwards.

WHAT DID YOU LOATHE?

KEL: While overall functionality was good, the slot in front of the shifter wasn’t wide enough to properly house a mobile phone.

GRANT: Only USB-A ports were also available. The symmetrical USB-C is becoming standard fare across newer generations.

KEL: A lot of the manufacturers have head-up displays and digital instruments for the driver. The Forester felt more old-school.

GRANT: Technology has moved quickly and Subaru has been slow to move in this realm previously in the past.

Under the Subaru Forester bonnet is a tried and tested 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine.

HOW WAS THE DRIVE?

KEL: Nothing scintillating, the Forester does the job nicely.

GRANT: With famed full-time all-wheel drive, the four-cylinder engine is matched to a continuously variable transmission. Accelerate too hard and it will whine under the strain before catching up to driver expectations.

KEL: Some of the safety features were interesting. I liked how it knew when you weren’t looking at the road and delivered a warning.

GRANT: Despite not being a fully-fledged off-roader, the Forester will go where many others dare not travel. It has X mode where the driver can choose between snow, dirt and mud conditions. The tech within then helps manage the throttle, transmission and traction control to deliver the best grip.

WOULD YOU BUY ONE?

KEL: Given the escalating prices being charged now, I didn’t mind the Forester for value. It didn’t feel cheap, and while there was nothing outstanding at the same time I felt it was a solid drive with great internal space.

GRANT: Prices for the Forester have risen by about 10 per cent over the past three years. Rivals have grown more in some cases. Ageing gracefully, it remains a safe bet for the growing family when it comes to reliability, space, features and performance. It also offers more off-road prowess than the hefty amount of soft-roaders on the market.

Originally published as Review of 2023 Subaru Forester reveals strong family carrier