2013 Subaru Forester consumer reviews

We're happy with the car. No happy with the dealer. We called the salesman 3 times and got no return call. Poor post sale customer support.

I like Subarus. I got my first one in 1985, and I have been driving them ever since. I live in Portland, Oregon where a lot of us drive Subarus. Portland can be wet (most of the time) and sometimes snowy. I know my new Forester is going to end up being as well loved for its winter work as my GL 10 and my '97 Outback. I took it out to the Coast on a maiden voyage of about 325 miles. It performed flawlessly through the Coast Range, hugged the curvy Highway 101 on the North Coast and sped me through the Tillamook Forest on a hot day with the air conditioner on high. It has great visibility. The boxy shape of the Forester is there for a reason. You can see out of it. I looked at the CRV but they charge a bundle for a camera to see out the back. I just look in the mirror in the Forester. It has big windows not a wall in back. I am short, and I love the 10 position driver's seat. I sit high in the Forester because of the ground clearance, but I can get the seat to elevate as well. The consequence is that I am able to see the edges of the car. So many cars just fall away outside the windshield. Where's the edge? You can't see it while driving. In the Forester, you can. Another plus is that the cab sits forward on the wheel base. There isn't a lot of car in front of the wheels to maneuver. This makes getting in and out of diagonal parking spaces, or tight places in parking garages easy. Cross-overs have grown tall lately. If you have ridden around in a car lately, this is probably all too apparent to you. Well, the Forester is 65" tall. It too has grown tall. I guess that the good thing about this is that you hold your own with the other cross-overs that cost two or more times as much as the Forester. These features make me feel safe in the Forester. It is also nice to step out of the Forester instead of rolling out of a lower car. My previous history with Subarus have made me a loyal fan. I looked at other makes this time finding the Toyota RAV 4 and the Honda CRV the most similar. Both are substantially more expensive. The RAV 4 is much smaller and the CRV is part-time four-wheel drive. I chose the Forester for its all-wheel drive, its ease of handling, and driver visibility. The price was right as well. I am happy with the car.