Should I buy a 2019 Subaru Forester? | Auto Expert John Cadogan

Getting a lot of enquiry about the new Forester - understandably. So let's answer a typical Forester question from you.

"What’s your unbiased view of the Forester? The spec we're looking at is the Premium. I like the constant AWD, safety features, new kid-friendly back seat (air vents + power outlets) and proper device integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto).

"We hope to keep the car 10 years so in particular concerns are the longevity of the CVT drivetrain and the likelihood of a better-than-standard 3-year warranty. I do wonder whether the reputation of CVTs & the lacklustre warranty are linked...

"Other queries: servicing costs and intervals after 3yr. Servicing costs are pretty hefty anyway: $346.39, $584.45, $346.39 at 12 month/12,500km intervals. Even worse, the pricing is dealer based so could vary anyway. Lastly: should we get a 2018 or 2019 build?" - Patrick

Easy answers first - 2018 versus 2019 build: Doesn’t matter. The vehicle was released in July here in Australia.

CVT reliability and short warranty: Is there a conspiracy? No - from January 1, all Subarus in Shitsville come with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Warranty has nothing to do with reliability, and everything to do with marketing. That’s a common misconception outside the industry.

Subaru CVTs seem reasonably durable - I don’t think they’re totally suited to regular heavy towing, but towing well under the maximum braked towing limit, or even occasional heavy towing will be fine.

The servicing costs have been capped for five years now, too, to go with the warranty.

Forester has the easiest lineup on earth to understand because there’s only one powertrain (2.5 direct injected boxer four with CVT and Symmetrical AWD) and four spec levels. For comparison, CX-5 has four different engines, five spec levels, 2WD and AWD versions, and manual plus auto in some variants. It’s a brain-bender.

Forester performance is within a bee’s dick of a Mazda CX-5 2.5-litre atmo, but the Hyundai Tucson 1.6 turbo is slightly in front (mainly because it’s a lighter vehicle and the turbo gives it killer mid-range delivery).

In their quest for simplification, Subaru has dropped the diesel, manuals and the turbo XT variants. And that’s a shame.

In practice with the Forester the only difference as you step through the range and pay more money is the spec level (leather trim, better infotainment screen, GPS, etc.) and Subaru’s website is good at laying out the key differences between the variants and the pricing.

The range goes 2.5i, 2.5i L, 2.5i Premium and 2.5i-S, and it spans about $8000 from the bottom to the top.

The value proposition across the range is solid. But you have to realise that base model Forester is better than base models of the others because it effectively already has the big engine (compared with the two-litre entry engine in a Tucson, Sportage and CX-5, for example).

Forester already has AWD, too, and the others are 2WD in the base models. Some of the others have base model manuals, and in others the full safety suite is either optional or not available in the base - and it’s standard in the Forester.

You have to remember value is not just low price. It’s what you get for what you spend.

Forester is essentially the same size as CX-5, Sportage and Tucson, which are also all worth a comparative drive - if only to confirm you’re making the right choice.

People make a big deal out of AWD, but it’s really only an advantage at low speeds in slippery situations. For normal driving it’s unnecessary. By the time you’re doing 50-60km/h - AWD/2WD makes no difference.

CVT integration is good. Fuel economy: Good. The CVT is going to save you 6-10 per cent on fuel compared with a conventional auto transmission.

One thing I don’t like is the re-start on the auto engine stop-start. It’s a bit harsh, and also not quick enough to fire back up in some situations. You can be off the brake and on the gas, and waiting a fraction of a second for the engine to start up, in situations where you want to get off the line quickly.

The only way to beat this is either turn it off pre-emptively, or reduce brake pressure slightly, in anticipation of getting going (this causes the re-start) and then take off normally.

There’s a heap of legroom in row two, and also headroom throughout (because the roofline doesn’t taper rearwards - so it’s quite practical there, and that also applies to the loadspace, which is quite versatile).
Big, lanky tyeenaged kids; future basketball stars: No problem.

So new Forester is old Forester, only better, essentially, and with a longer warranty - but there’s less choice in the powertrains. Definitely it’s on my preferred five-seat SUV list. Full review to come.

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