Subaru Forester S5 2.5i-S (2018-2022)

4.1 out of 5 stars

What is it?

This is the latest iteration of the legendary nameplate that is the Subaru Forester.

It’s been slightly refreshed for 2022 with some slight cosmetic changes and the inclusion of features like Active Lane Keep Assist.

It’s a popular choice for families here in Australia as an affordable, capable and safe daily driver.

There’s sharp competition in the form of the Toyota RAV 4 and the Mazda CX-5, however neither of these claim to be as offroad-focused as the Forester.

I wanted to find out whether this refreshed Forester was worth buying as a daily family runabout and whether it still lives up to its legendary overlanding status.

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Build Quality

4.2 out of 5.

Subaru have traditionally always felt a little ‘tinny’. but the new Forester is changing that. No, it’s not Audi levels of solid in its overall feel, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

Around the exterior trim, pieces look and feel tightly bolted to the body of this SUV. There isn’t a thread out of line along the stitching, and buttons have a satisfying spring to them when pressed. Although, don’t press too hard on the climate controls, as that whole panel in our test car moved a little too much for my liking.

Over coarse sections of road, the Forester doesn’t rattle like it used to in previous generations. It certainly feels like Subaru has upped the ante in its build quality process, and this is especially apparent in the new Forester.

How Much Does it Cost?

4.4 out of 5.

This is the second most expensive Subaru Forester you can buy, coming in at $44,190 before on-road costs. The hybrid variant sits at the top of the tree, sneaking in at just under $50,000 before on roads.

You receive upgraded wheels, interior trim, a 2.5L engine, a sunroof, creature comfort features like heated seats and an upgraded speaker system.

Sure, you can live without these upgrades, but this certainly does show the Forester in its best light. It makes daily driving feel like less of a chore, as you’re surrounded by a more plush version of this affordable family SUV. Not to mention, that Harman/Kardon speaker upgrade certainly is worth it if you love your music

Warranty and Servicing

4.5 out of 5.

All Foresters are covered by Subaru’s 5 year/unlimited kilometre warranty, and come with a capped price service program that again covers 5 years or 62,500km.

Here’s a breakdown of each service interval and cost over 62,500km or 5 years of driving:

Service intervals are a little short, and I would have liked to have seen coverage extend a little beyond 62,500km of driving. However, Subarus don’t have a reputation for being all too expensive to service out of warranty.

Noise Level

4.2 out of 5.

Since there’s a lack of turbocharging and this is a petrol engine paired to a single-gear CVT automatic gearbox, this isn’t the quietest engine option.

At low rpms and under mild acceleration, the Forester is indeed a quiet car. However, step deeper into the accelerator and you can’t avoid the unmistakable drone of a single-gear, high-revving petrol motor straining to deliver all of its power.

What was a stand out was the upgraded Harman/Kardon speaker system. There’s even a speaker added to the boot for maximum immersion. I had a $100,000 Land Rover on test at the same time as this Forester, and I have to say that this speaker system absolutely outperformed the Land Rover’s speaker system by a country mile.

It came down to the clarity, power and bass that meant the Subaru’s speaker system could produce superior sound than that of a car double its price.

Braking

4.2 out of 5.

This isn’t a hefty SUV, so braking isn’t a chore for this particular family car.

I felt confident and comfortable bringing the car down to a stop. It’s certainly a vehicle that’s approachable and easy for a range of drivers - even first time drivers - to operate.

Subaru have fitted their ‘EyeSight’ camera safety system to the Forester, which automatically detects any obstacles that might pose a threat. It’s active and warns you before deploying the brakes autonomously, which is a nicer experience than just activating before warning you, a habit older versions of this safety system used to possess.

Acceleration/Power

3.4 out of 5.

At 136kW and 249Nm, this isn’t a powerhouse of an engine, but it is enough for daily driving and light off-roading needs. Like many other buyers, I would have liked to have seen the return of a turbocharger to the top-of-the-range petrol motor.

Despite feeling strong enough to allow the Forester to feel brisk, I could only imagine it feeling a little strained when faced with a school holiday-packed car.

Power is delivered instantly thanks to the lack of said turbocharger, however peak power is produced high up in the rev range. This means you’ll need to endure higher revs to squeeze maximum power when facing overtakes or long, steep inclines.

Gear Shifting

4 out of 5.

There are no gears to shift through in the Forester, even if Subaru provides a set of paddle shifters on the steering wheel. There are artificially programmed gears to move through, however you can tell they’re not really there and that it’s just a way to manually adjust engine rpms.

Instead, this single-gear CVT gearbox finds the optimal rev range and holds that rev through to its top speed.

It’s a despised transmission purely because of its tumultuous reliability in other cars, however in the Subaru I found it to be the perfect pairing. I certainly enjoyed the lack of gear changes and the way the gearbox kept revs as low as possible, despite this being a petrol motor.

Suspension & Handling

4.3 out of 5.

I was exceptionally comfortable during my time in the Forester. It’s not as plush as the more expensive Land Rover I had the same week, but the Subaru manages to avoid translating the worst parts of the tarmac through to the cabin.

A flat four engine has a lower centre of gravity than a traditional inline motor, which helps with cornering and handling. Add in Subaru’s ‘Symmetrical AWD’ system and you have a distinct grip that doesn’t skip a beat, even when being pushed.

Off-road, the Forester managed to behave extremely put together across sand, rocks and gravel. I’d love to see more ground clearance and grippier tyres to really enjoy these dirt trails.

Fuel Efficiency

3.5 out of 5.

Combined fuel efficiency is claimed to be 7.4L per 100km. I saw an average of around 10L per 100km during my time with the Forester.

It’s not the most efficient engine by comparison to the hybrid engine option, however it can return a low enough fuel consumption figure over long distance drives.

Interior Design

3.7 out of 5.

There hasn’t been a massive overhaul of the Forester’s interior for this generation. There’s still that three digital display set-up alongside the most amount of buttons I’ve encountered in a car’s interior.

Subaru has hesitated to implement that futuristic and forward thinking vertical screen found in the Outback, and instead have kept the multiple screen setup. I’m certainly more of a fan of the Outback’s interior over the Forester’s, however it means you don’t have a shortage of information or control over your car’s individual features.

There’s plenty of light that can enter this interior via a large glass sunroof and tall side windows. Analogue dials are still used in Subaru’s interiors, which are easy to read and aren’t a low point by any means.

I think Subaru could use a lesson in minimalism to reduce the number of buttons in here, however they could fall into the trap that VW has by eliminating all ease of use from their cars by doing so. Many of our Forester owners on Instagram mentioned they loved the interior design of this beloved SUV, so I’ll trust long term owners that this is a user-friendly setup enjoyed by the masses.

Boot Size & Comfort

4.3 out of 5.

There’s 498L of boot space with all seats folded up and a total of 1740L space available when the second row is folded.

Part of the Forester’s appeal is its boxy, almost station wagon-like proportions. It allows for plenty of vertical space and a flat load floor to make ingress and egress a breeze. Add the fact that you can electronically fold the seats from the boot in a 60:40 split, and you’ll absolutely understand why families have been buying generations of Forester for their daily driving needs.

Front row seats provided plenty of comfort and support over long periods of time, and the same can be said for the second row.

Five adults can enjoy being carted around in the Forester, however it would be more comfortable for four adults as that middle seat can feel like a bit of a squeeze, thanks to a raised transmission and exhaust tunnel.

Features

4.5 out of 5.

There are a lot of features included with the purchase of a 2022 Forester 2.5i-S. I certainly enjoyed everything from the heated leather seats through to that impressive speaker system.

Additionally, a suite of safety features and an all-wheel drive system headline the reasons why you’d consider buying a new Forester.

You can see the full list of features from this car in the list below:

Buy it, Consider it, or Leave it?

There’s a strong reason why Forester buyers constantly upgrade their cars to the next generation. It’s for the same reason that Porsche buyers head for the next generation of 911.

There are no dramatic updates and no gimmicky attempts at innovating; it really is an example of automotive evolution.

It’s the combination of space, reliability, all-wheel drive and comfort that makes the Forester so appealing. Against the Toyota RAV 4 and Mazda CX-5, the Forester complements a more adventure-focused family simply because it’s a tried and tested vehicle many Aussies rely on to drive across a variety of terrain.

It’s not an aggressive off-roader, but you should definitely buy the Forester over its competitors if you’re someone who needs all of those previously mentioned qualities that make this Subaru so appealing. Consider it if you want a more tarmac-focused SUV, as a Mazda CX-5 for example will be more driver-focused with sharper driving dynamics and a turbocharged engine.