2022 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its redesign in 2019, retained a somewhat dated appearance, largely carrying over from its previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim level appeared plain with its 17-inch steel wheels, but the overall look was clean and unpretentious. The Sport models added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with complementary paint colors like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other models like the Impreza and Outback, emphasizing its rugged SUV marketing despite its sedan-like underpinnings.

Inside, the 2021 Forester's no-nonsense mix of materials promised durability over aesthetics. The Sport trim added orange accents and cross-stitching to the otherwise utilitarian interior. Cloth upholstery was standard on Base, Premium, and Sport models, while Limited and Touring trims offered leather. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, included heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer. The interior design focused on functionality, with large knobs for audio and climate control, though the numerous buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

The 2022 Subaru Forester introduced new trim levels, including the Wilderness, which we tested in Bend, Oregon. Priced at $33,945, the Wilderness model featured white paint, a dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and an option package with navigation, a Harman Kardon sound system, and a power rear liftgate. The Wilderness trim added a suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding, giving it a rugged, albeit raccoon-like, appearance. Inside, the Forester emphasized function over form, with hard plastic and soft surfaces creating a cabin that felt both durable and somewhat dated. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, though the three display screens could be overwhelming.

Overall, the 2022 Forester felt well-made, with improved front styling in most trims. The Wilderness trim's cladding, matte-black hood decal, and copper-colored details were polarizing. The Wilderness model excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its longer springs, shocks, and 9.2 inches of ground clearance. The Forester Wilderness proved capable on forest roads, handling melting snow, soft mud, and eroded terrain with ease.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity compared to inline-four engines. The Forester had a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. While the engine offered adequate power for most situations, it lacked the thrust needed for highway merging and overtaking. The suspension tuning prioritized comfort over handling, resulting in significant body roll in corners and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode available for different surfaces. The Forester had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it more capable off-road than many competitors, though serious off-roaders might prefer the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Ford Bronco Sport.

The 2022 Subaru Forester retained the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The CVT and AWD were standard, with the Wilderness model featuring a design that increased initial torque supply by 25% and doubled the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA estimated the Wilderness model's fuel economy at 26 mpg combined, with our test vehicle averaging 25.9 mpg. The engine's performance was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT's eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive's Sport mode provided acceptable performance, though a turbocharger would have been welcome. The dual-function X-Mode system offered improved speed management during hill descents and a new "standby" setting. The Wilderness trim's re-tuned suspension, longer springs, and shocks improved ground clearance to 9.2 inches, enhancing off-road capability. The Forester Wilderness excelled in various environments, from town driving to off-road courses, though it struggled with engine power and wind noise at higher speeds.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel, though it could let in too much sunlight on hot days. Cargo space was generous, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Forester outperformed the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson in cargo space with the seats down but fell short with the seats up. It lacked a sliding second-row bench, but a power liftgate was available on higher trims. The interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average phone, and wireless charging was not available. A power-adjustable driver's seat was only available on the Premium trim and above. The large knobs for audio and climate control were user-friendly, but the numerous steering wheel buttons could be confusing.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit thanks to tall seating hip points. The Wilderness model featured water-resistant StarTex upholstery, all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable rear seatbacks, making it ideal for outdoor activities. However, the simulated leather did not absorb moisture, and the Wilderness trim lacked seat ventilation. The upgraded roof rails with integrated tie-down locations accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, suitable for a three-person roof tent. Comfort levels were high in both rows, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents and quick-charge ports for passengers. Storage space was decent, with bins in the armrests, bottle holders in the door panels, and dual front seatback pockets. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it. Folding the rear seats down provided 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof), making the Forester competitive with the roomiest compact SUVs.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims included navigation and dual rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and physical shortcut buttons, though the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also featured a secondary screen in the center of the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure. This setup seemed overly complex, as much of the same information could be displayed on both screens.

The 2022 Subaru Forester's base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. The Premium trim added access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting through an active Starlink plan. Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness model also included a 180-degree forward-view camera for off-roading. The test vehicle's Harman Kardon audio system produced clear, rich sound, and the navigation system was helpful, though a breadcrumb function would have been useful. The voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The PIN Code Access feature, standard on most Forester models, allowed drivers to leave the key fob in the vehicle and use a PIN code to re-enter, ideal for outdoor activities.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist system, which included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Additional safety features included steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beams, and a rear seatbelt reminder. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The EyeSight system performed adequately on the highway, though the lane-centering function's steering inputs felt jerky. The lead-vehicle start alert occasionally triggered false alarms.

The 2022 Subaru Forester introduced the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with twice the field of vision for improved accuracy and smoothness. The new Automatic Emergency Steering system operated at speeds under 50 mph to enhance stability during collision avoidance. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The system appeared more confident and suffered fewer false warnings. Standard and available safety features included a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. The Touring trim featured DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology that monitored for drowsiness and distraction, with a new gesture control function for climate adjustments. The 2022 Forester earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in all evaluations except rollover resistance, which received four stars. The IIHS had not yet rated the 2022 model, but it was expected to retain the 2021 model's "Top Safety Pick+" rating.