Aside from lackluster acceleration, there's a lot to like about the 2022 Subaru Forester. This crossover SUV delivers the feel and rugged attitude that buyers want, along with a comfortable cabin and plenty of features for the price.
Part of the fifth Forester generation introduced for 2019
What is the Forester?
The Subaru Forester can go places most compact SUVs cannot thanks to its higher-than-average ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. It's also packed with standard safety features and offers a generous amount of cargo capacity. What it doesn't offer is anything in the way of quick acceleration, and we think it's more than a little underpowered.
For 2022, Subaru will be focusing on the Forester's off-road credentials. The new Forester Wilderness raises the ride height by 0.5 inch, giving the vital mechanical components underneath a little more breathing room in heavy snow, over larger rocks or while climbing steeper grades. You also get chunky off-road-friendly tires, underbody protection, unique transmission tuning, increased towing capacity (to 3,000 pounds) and increased weight capacity for the roof rails. Inside, bronze accents set the Wilderness apart from other Foresters.
Edmunds says
We like the Forester for its adventure-friendly personality, standard safety features and comfortable interior, though it's not one of our top three compact SUVS. If you wish the Forester had a bit more off-road ability, then you might want to wait for the new Wilderness model, which will accompany the rest of the 2022 lineup when it debuts this fall. Check back with Edmunds to stay on top of updates on the upcoming Subaru Forester.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.99 per gallon for regular unleaded in Florida.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Subaru Forester from 2008-2022.
$525/yr
vs. $465/yr for Average Compact SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).
1.07x/yr
vs. 1x/yr for Average Compact SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).
15%
vs. 11.5% for Average Compact SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
2022 Subaru Forester Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
We are normally a Honda family (2 V6 Accords) but this time we went for a small SUV and chose the Forester Limited. I added the ONLY package available with upgraded Harmon Kardon audio, upgraded Starlink and RAB (Reverse Automatic Braking) which keeps you from a collision with an object or car when reversing by automatically STOPPING the vehicle. I compared, carefully, the CR-V and the … Forester in similar trims and the Subaru came out ahead. Safety equipment was similar, but Subaru had more for the money with EyeSight and adaptive cruise which is usually only available in more expensive vehicles. The upgraded audio and screen size is important to me. The screen in the Subaru in this level of trim is 8.0 and Honda is 7.0. The difference is visible. Edmund's even said the Honda system is a bit clunky to use. Subaru is smooth and easy. The interior feels cavernous with plenty of headroom, and plenty of elbow room. My wife likes it because of easy of entry. The panoramic moonroof is bigger than Honda. Even though the cargo area is a tad smaller than the Honda, if the package is that big then I have a pickup truck. It will more than suffice for groceries and whatnot. I like the idea of full time AWD X Drive with selectable mode which is only available in the highest trim level in Honda. The seats are black leather which will be a challenge in Arizona but covers will handle protecting your skin from hot surfaces and preserve the leather from skin oils and dirt. Handling is sure and precise. The suspension feels taut and ready. Finally, the 4-cylinder Boxer engine is willing, but I think Subaru could do better, but around town it's more than capable. If you're not driving with your foot in it, the gas mileage is reasonable, but a tad less than Honda. This would really perform with a V6 or a turbo. The 7-speed CVT transmission tends to upshift quickly when left in automatic but is manually selectable and responsive. We ordered it in Brilliant Bronze Metallic. SO many white and silver cars out there. We wanted something that stood out. We just felt that we got more bang for the buck with the Subaru Forester in Limited trim.
My Perfect SUV
5 out of 5 stars
Weekend Warrior, 08/01/2022
2022 Subaru Forester Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
The Forester Premium is my perfect SUV.
Who I am:
6'2" with an unusually tall torso and short limbs. Without height adjustment, I cannot fit in almost any car with a moonroof. Even "luxury" cars tend to be a hard fit.
I do a good amount of hiking on the weekends, and I work from home, so my dream SUV can do some off-roading but has to double as a daily driver.
My last car was a 2011 … Honda Civic. I needed something with more hauling ability and modern safety features.
My family had a 2020 Forester, so I already knew I loved this vehicle. The 2022 is better all around.
Pros of the Forester:
I have ample headroom, with the moonroof, even in the passenger seat without height adjust. If I really stretch my posture I can just touch my head on the liner. Normal people who are 6'6-6'8 probably fit in the Forester.
Seating position is tall, and visibility is great. My girlfriend transferred from a subcompact Honda Fit and felt instantly comfortable. Don't forget the backup camera, blind spot warning lights on the rearview mirrors, and so on. The Forester Premium makes you feel safe in so many ways. (Premium adds rear cross-traffic alert, a must in my opinion.)
Telescoping steering wheel and lumbar support are good for my abnormally short limbs. This car can suit anyone, and the Premium's now-standard driver's seat memory is great.
Great MPG. Rated at 26 city, 33 highway, 29 combined. My 2011 Honda Civic was rated at 26/34, for comparison. In practice the Forester's numbers tend to be on the low side, especially because you'll naturally want to enjoy the auto A/C. But the Forester also has a big tank. With a 16.6gal tank and an engine rated at 29mpg, you could cruise close to 500 miles on a tank if you tried. Zombie survival territory.
2022 facelift is all good. Eyesight cameras are now integrated into the windshield. Formerly they sat a few inches behind the windshield so they could get dirty and you'd have no idea. The front end looks better. The suspension has a better tune. The 2020-2021 model was slightly tuned for off-road, and actually did not handle city speed bumps. The 2022 glides over bumps like a luxury car.
Good power. Sure, the towing is weak at 1500lbs but most Forester fans are hauling bikes and kayaks, not horse trailers. The Wilderness is rated at 3000lbs which usually means an aftermarket transmission cooler is all you'd need to upgrade - but talk to a mechanic. The Forester's CVT is so smooth, it can cruise up an off-ramp and hit the speed limit like nothing. I guarantee most of the complaints are because CVT gearboxes don't "kick" you like a manual shifter would. Hit the Sport button (SI-drive) if you want the engine louder.
Forester's adaptive cruise is second only to self-driving cars. Once the Subaru detects a vehicle ahead, it will maintain distance and slow down if the car ahead slows. But it can also do start-stop traffic automatically. And when you change lanes, it automatically resumes your set speed. On a long trip, the adaptive cruise is a life-saver.
The Forester even has Auto Vehicle Hold. Basically if you're stopped at a train hit AVH and it'll hold the brake so you don't have to shift into Park (which is technically illegal in most states!). If you're at a stoplight on a hill it'll also do the brakes for you (AVH will automatically release the brakes when you apply gas).
2022 Forester improves touch points over the 2021, less plastic more rubberized or fabric surfaces. Compared to the 2016 era when the steering wheels were cheap plastic, the 2022 feels like a luxury vehicle.
In independent tests, the Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive regularly outperforms rival AWD platforms. Whether it's rain, snow, or getting to a camping spot down a rough trail, the Forester is best-in-class. You can look up videos online where the Forester even beats some "real" 4WD platforms on difficult off-road tasks. This isn't a military jeep or anything, but it is surprisingly rugged for such a refined SUV.
Cons of the Forester:
Head unit is awful to set up. The #1 complaint on any Subaru forum is that when you unplug your phone from Android Auto or Apple Play, the radio automatically starts playing. Why!? Make a habit of turning the volume to 0 before you unplug your phone, and the radio will start up silent. If you use Sirius (why?) you can tune it to channel 0 which is intentionally silent. Once you figure out the quirks, it's fine for daily use. But the moment you need to change something on the head unit, good luck. It's like a 1990s DVD player menu.
Electronics are a bit dumb, in all aspects. The rear hatch has a LOT of quirks about security where it won't open when you expect it to. I get that it's a security issue, but there needs to be an override. Sometimes you'll realize even though you've been vacuuming your car for an hour and the driver's door is open, the doors are locked, so the hatch refuses to open. Or something. It's not always clear what the programmer was thinking. With some troubleshooting, you'll eventually get it, but there will be annoyances.
Rear headroom just "normal" compared to the front. As said I have an abnormally tall torso so it's a tight fit for me in back. A normal 6'2" person might fit okay. Taller people are going to be cramped. But for a family with two adults in front and kids or dogs in back, it'll be great.
Overall:
Once you learn the Forester's quirks, it's an easy SUV to love. Plenty of interior room, for the driver and for cargo. Great visibility, high driver position, and modern safety features. Engine is plenty for a daily driver or light off-roading. Great gas mileage and a big tank mean zombie survival range if you're gentle on the pedal. There's nothing exciting about the Forester, just like there's nothing exciting about a hammer. It's not the tool, it's what you do with it. The Forester is my daily driver, and the Forester is also there when I'm facing a poorly maintained trail on my way to a campsite. I love it.
2022 Forester Wilderness
5 out of 5 stars
Jim B., 02/22/2022
2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
Love the car. Everything I hoped for, large doors, easy in an out. I'm 6'3" and have lots of headroom in both front and rear seating, go figure! It sits high with lots of glass all the way around. Just a great car, no buyers remorse from me.
1st Subaru and we love it
5 out of 5 stars
Rick DeWolfe , 02/23/2022
2022 Subaru Forester Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
We ordered a new Forester due to lack of this vehicles on dealer lots and while we drove used Foresters after spending some time in ours it surpassed our expectations. The room it has coupled with visibility from the drivers seat is fantastic. Then the ride is very smooth and it handles great as well. Our Touring has the 2 tone brown / black leather interior with white exterior and … coupled with all the standard features at this price really made us think why didn't we buy one sooner. Lastly, Foresters are written up for being slow and under powered but in real world we think it is more than powerful plus you get fantastic mileage with. AWD
Top 10 Best Compact SUVs | Ranking the Best Small SUVs of 2021
At Edmunds, we are big fans of the compact SUV. With enough room and comfort for passengers and good fuel economy, compact SUVs are a great choice for shoppers looking for an SUV that can do just about anything. In this video, Ryan ZumMallen from Edmunds presents our ranking of the Top 10 Best Compact SUVs and what makes each one different. From the popular Toyota RAV4 to… the off-roading Jeep Wrangler, Ryan runs down our list of what we consider the best small SUVs you can buy. This is our ranking of the Top 10 Best Compact SUVs.
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