Overview of the Subaru Forester
Subaru joined the 'soft-roader' SUV club in 1997 when it used the platform of its famous Impreza small car as the basis for the Forester.
The model has become the Japanese brand's most popular model in Australia, as well as being one of the country's favourite SUVs.
Currently into its fourth generation, an all-new Forester has been unveiled and is due in late 2018.
SUBARU FORESTER GENERATIONS (SINCE 2002)
2002-2008
2009-2013
2013-2018
2018 (September) onwards
RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Consumption
2.0L 4-cylinder turbo diesel: 5.9 to 6.4 litres per 100km
2.0L 4-cylinder petrol: 7.2 litres per 100km
2.5L 4-cylinder petrol: 8.1 litres per 100km
2.0L 4-cylinder turbo petrol: 8.5 to 9.3 litres per 100km
= Highly economical.
= Good economy.
= Average fuel use.
= Heavy consumption.
Servicing
Capped-price servicing program up to 3 years or 75,000km. Every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever is sooner. Each service currently costs between $311.74 and $581.24 depending on engine/variant. Subaru Forester parts and equipment can be found on Gumtree.
SIMILAR MODELS TO SUBARU FORESTER
Honda CR-V
Mazda CX-5
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen Tiguan
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: SUBARU FORESTER (2013 ONWARDS)
The first check with any second-hand Subaru is of the service record. These engines are generally tough but use small oil pathways, and when these block with dirty oil, terminal damage isn't far away.
Like a lot of modern engine designs, the 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine can also consume a little oil between services. Subaru is not on its own here, and it's a fact that the latest engines with their low-friction designs aimed at saving fuel can use some oil.
Similarly, with modern engine designs, a lack of proper servicing can lead to a build-up of sludge and even higher oil consumption. Check the service record for gaps and check the dipstick for thick, black oil that suggests missed oil changes.
Some owners also report that the CVT transmission can be slow to select gears - particularly reverse - from park. Subaru dealers have been re-flashing the on-board computer to fix this, but in some cases the delay gradually gets worse again as time and kilometres pass.
While the Forester is all-wheel drive it's not a heavy-duty off-roader, so make sure it hasn't been used as one.
