2019 Subaru Forester Video Review

Two redesigned compact SUV competitors are squaring off this week at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, and both models are headed in opposite styling directions. While the 2019 Toyota RAV4 got more trucky, Subaru softened the lines of its Forester for 2019.

Related: More 2018 New York Auto Show Coverage

Outside, the 2019 Forester wears a more athletic and less boxy design, with sharper side sculpting, more pronounced wheel arches and a trimmer rear end. Subaru’s signature hexagonal grille is also bolder, and the front end now looks more like other new Subaru designs, such as the Impreza and Crosstrek.

A new Sport trim joins the lineup and adds a black-framed grille, black 18-inch wheels and a rear roof spoiler, along with orange accents on the black body underguards and roof rail mounts.

Inside, there’s a bit more room for people and stuff. The 2019 Forester rides on a new platform that the automaker says translates into additional rear legroom and more cargo space in back. Cargo loading should also be easier with the 2019 model’s wider liftgate; the opening is 5.3 inches wider than the 2018. Subaru also says that the stiffer new global platform will improve noise levels, a common complaint among Forester owners.

Watch the video for more of our Forester impressions at the 2018 New York auto show.

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