Subaru Forester

This popular small SUV delivers a combination of roomy interior, excellent visibility, commendable fuel economy, simple controls, comfortable ride and responsive handling. The 2.5-liter four cylinder, combined with the continuously variable automatic transmission yielded 28 mpg overall, which is among the best in class. But acceleration isn't exhilarating and the engine's noise isn't the most pleasant. The cabin is roomy with a particularly generous rear seat and very easy access. The controls are simple to use including the infotainment system which is also compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The EyeSight suite of forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist is standard. Updates for 2020 include a standard rear-seat reminder system. A mild freshening for 2022 includes a revised exterior and the addition of an off-road oriented Wilderness trim with additional ground clearance and all-terrain tires.

Rear seat room is spacious, and there is plenty of cargo space. Even with the standard all-wheel-drive, fuel economy from the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously-variable transmission (CVT) tops the class at 26 mpg overall; a manual transmission is standard. A turbocharged XT model is available, sacrificing some fuel economy, but delivering more effortless power. Handling is nimble enough and very secure, but the Forester isn't particularly sporty to drive. Ride comfort lost some of the cushiness of earlier Foresters, but it still offers decent isolation from road bumps. Indeed, luxury isn't part of the equation for this no-nonsense car. Interior furnishings are fairly basic and the cabin can be noisy. The standard cloth front seats come up short on support, but the optional leather ones are better. The 2014-2015 Foresters have either a rather rudimentary infotainment system or a particularly confounding optional navigation system. The Starlink touchscreen system introduced for 2016 brought Subaru into modern times, with full-featured connectivity that is much easier to use. Crash-test performance is impressive and the affordable EyeSight suite of safety gear adds forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking; we recommend getting this system.