Check out the Kelley Blue Book video on the 2022 Subaru Forester! Similar to the Outback, the 2022 Forester model year now debuts the Wilderness trim which gives the Forester more off-road capability, and honestly looks pretty good. There’s a slight 1/2 inch suspension lift raising ground clearance to 9.2 inches, matte black body cladding and wheels, this anti-glare strip on the hood, trim specific grille, these cool fog lights, a skid plate…
The Forester being Subaru’s best seller, this wilderness trim adds some extra umphhh to it’s line-up. Fans of this compact SUV will still appreciate it’s wide opening cargo area yielding 26.9 cu-ft and with the rear seats dropped, 69.1 cubic feet. There’s also convenient lights and hooks for lighting and hanging. There’s also available underfloor storage adding to the cargo space usability, but our Wilderness trim has a spare tire instead because you never know how hard you’ll be adventurin’! For storing smaller items there are multilevel pockets on the front seat backs, a decently sized center console area, cupholders with a removable divider perfect for my huge phone, and a phone den that’s too small for my huge phone but has adjacent usb ports. Even for me at 6’4”, I fit back here just fine. The seats even recline for more comfort and the backs of the front seats are soft. I’ll add there’s available USB ports and rear vents… even though the vents should be standard. Up front seating is comfortable and the driving position is commanding. Tall sun visors to keep out the sun, interesting texture on some areas but soft materials where you need them, and on the wilderness trim there’s StarTex waterproof seats. Waterproof seats are great too because being in the wilderness can get a bit messy.
You’ll also notice that there’s an embossed Wilderness logo and orange stitching that goes with all the gold pieces in this trim. There’s gold everywhere! In its least expensive form, a base Forester starts at just under $26 grand ($25,895) not including destination charges. Standard features include 2 usb ports, automatic climate control, automatic headlights, and a 6.5 inch screen with the easy to use StarLink infotainment system with apple CarPlay and android auto smartphone integration.
Every Forester gets Subaru’s symmetrical all wheel drive system. The active torque vectoring uses the brakes to redirect power to the tires with the most grip. With the AWD system and it’s tall ground clearance combo, the Forester out-SUV’s most of its competition. For altered throttle response there’s Subaru’s Intelligent drive settings, but for X-mode which gives you additional drive modes for better traction, you’ll have to spring for the Premium trim.
A big part of why the Forester is so popular is its road manners. It really does drive like a car, but it’s an SUV. Visibility is great, and the steering is light but responsive. The Forester really is a joy to drive. Thanks to the AWD system, composed handling, and a reassuring brake feel, you’ll be confident to take this up to your next adventure. These components help make up for the lack of power propelling the Forester which is a naturally aspirated 2.5 L boxer 4-cylinder engine making (182 hp/ 176 lb-ft) linked to a CVT, yup CVT, offering driver selectable ratios. When you get on the gas, the CVT reacts quickly to get your revs up, but that power delivery is rubbery, and the CVT tries to emulate traditional gear shifts of an automatic… but to me it’s just loud CVT noises.
Keeping you safe on the road is Subaru’s standard suite of Driver Assist technology dubbed EyeSight. If you plan on towing, the Wilderness trim can tow up to 3000 lbs, while all other trims will only do a modest 1,500 lbs. Ascending the trim ladder you’ll find features such as keyless entry, Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, power tailgate, panoramic moonroof, heated seats, 8-inch infotainment screen, and dual zone climate controls. For visual aesthetics, consider the Sport trim.
Coming in at a little under $30 and a half thousand dollars it has orange accents throughout, black exterior trim, a roof spoiler, and 18-inch wheels. Choose the top of the line touring trim with its leather leather upholstery, premium audio system and heated steering wheel, you’re looking at close to $36 grand. ($35,995) Before looking to grab a Subaru, it’s good to consider alternatives such as the Nissan Rogue, Chevy Equinox, or the Honda CRV. For more off-road offerings, there’s also the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road, Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, and Mazda CX-50.
00:00 2022 Subaru Forester
0:28 Exterior
1:15 Interior
4:38 Driving Impressions
5:55 Engine
8:23 Competitors
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