[aggrex]

Nearly every U-tube video out there pounces on the “slowness” of the 2.5 which as an FW owner I can’t quite agree. Sure it can use some more “beans” but driver skill and timing will keep one engaged. MT clocked 60mph @8.5 sec which is respectable from an otherwise 5-star vehicle. Might be old news but the ‘22 FW did the deed in 8.1
2023 Subaru Forester Touring First Test: Dog Slow to the Dog Show

2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness First Test: No Real Surprises, Except That MPG

The off-road Forester lives up to its name.

www.motortrend.com

 

[adc]

Yea..lack of HP gets old. Its fine for 95% of people..at least. If you need more the Forester is not your thing.

 

[jwblaser]

I couldn't agree more; a lot of what I read and saw in the reviews don't seem to be accurate. I've had my 2023 Forester Sport for about a week and couldn't be more pleased with it. On my first 100 miles of local driving I got nearly 29mpg. We did our first road trip today - 5 hours to DC and I got 34mpg (with cruise control set at 68mph and lane departure assist on). In terms of power, there was nothing lacking while merging and passing on the NJ Turnpike. For the merges, I tried both Intelligent and Sport modes and had no problem merging with either. I did notice more pickup in Sport mode; so with it being so easy to switch between the two, I will probably go to Sport for merges (although I definitely don't feel that I have to). All of the passing I did was in the SI mode and I didn't have any difficulty getting the needed pickup at any time. I was really impressed with the responsiveness, handling and ride of the Forester. The surefootedness of the AWD system is evident all the time. The comfort, visibility and all the safety features made driving it a real pleasure. This past week confirmed that I made the right choice in choosing a Forester. Thus far, the only thing I wish I had was a front-view camera, but I think that is due to my having driven a Kia Optima SXL with a 360 view camera for the last 5 years. In considering those reviews about the Forester being underpowered; maybe the reviews are really more subjective than we think or the reviewers are just spend too much time in high-powered BMW and Porsche SUVs?

 

[TJMA]

The people that review cars and trucks these days think all vehicles have to have 700 horsepower to be any good.

 

[FozzyX3]

The people that review cars and trucks these days think all vehicles have to have 700 horsepower to be any good.

I call it The DeMuro Effect. Ol' Doug himself even admits that any car with a 0-60 over 6.9 seconds gets a 1 out of 10 for acceleration. If Doug had been around when the '04 FXT hit the US it would have only earned a 2.

 

[Fibber2]

I have old Motor Trend articles from both my 1979 Datsun 810 (a leftover bought in 1980) and 1979 Ford Fiesta (bought in 1979). It was a good year for us newlyweds, and we were flush with cash. The Datsun, with it's L24 in-line EFI OHC 6 cylinder was the speed-demon of the two, doing 0 => 60 in around 11 seconds, the Fiesta taking a still-respectable for the time 14 seconds or so.

Today the world is full of sub 4 second performers, many of them electric. And any Subaru seems slow and behind the curve. Then again, I'm retired and more interested in fuel economy than sprints (at least most of the time). I'm OK with Forester Slow.

 

[FozzyX3]

I'm OK with Forester Slow.

At least it's not FB20 Crosstrek slow.

 

[FFTR]

What I don't get is why reviews don't harp on the other vehicles for being slow. My research shows the Forester is competitive within its class.

RAV4 ICE 8.5 seconds.
mazda CX-5 non turbo 8.7 seconds
nissan Rouge 8.2 seconds

 

[aggrex]

Perhaps the “testers” are too busy whining about the perceived CVT drone and simulated gear shifts

 

[adc]

At least it's not FB20 Crosstrek slow.

I had a '19 Crosstrek 2.0. I honestly did not find it slow. I used to redline it all the time. It pulled willingly to 6K rpm

 

[Campster]

They just repeat the same thing over and over again regarding power. I just ignore. Couldn't be happier with my 2020. Never once felt it underpowered.

 

[2WheelsGood]

If I had a dollar for every time I was stuck behind a 300+ HP car going under the speed limit, well, my slow-arse Forester would be paid off.

The reality is that probably 98% of the people on the road have never floored their car. 0-60 times are meaningless if you don’t actually go past 1/4 throttle.

I’m not saying that I wouldn’t want a few more ponies under the hood, but when the urge for speed hits me, I’m looking for two wheels anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[FozzieBalou]

For the most part, bigger HP numbers are primarily for bragging.

Last week, I test drove a 2011 Outback with the 3.6 motor. I was reminded of my original 2013 test driving when buying my 2014 and another 3.6R and the off-the-line grunt. And I also test drove the XT with the 2.0 turbo. Yes, that off-the-line lunge was night, but not really needed in my daily drives. The "basic" 2.5 motor and CVT does quite good at getting ahead at a light, getting up to highway speeds to merge onto the freeway, easily hitting 70+ mph to merge in with traffic on the I-10 freeway without issue.

Like others, the competition is - for the most part - usually about 1/2 second difference to 60.... When I was reading an old MT test of the 2014 Forester Touring vs Mazda 5 Grand Touring, Ford Escape SE (with 1.6 ecoboost turbo) and ... oh, the RAV 4 - there was less than 1 second between the fastest (Mazda at 8.1) and slowest (Escape and Forester at 9) and the RAV 4 was 8.9 .... and the real world is even less about that absolute value. And I remember the other competition being about the same - between 8 and 9, maybe 9.5 seconds, to hit 60 MPH.

But the Forester's strength is not really about how fast it hits speed, but rather that you can move it during ugly weather when most of the competition is slipping and sliding and can't grip even a bit.

Oh, and remember also that the Forester is going to be heavier even if just because of having all the "stuff" needed for the standard AWD system.

 

[Black21Limited]

I had a '19 Crosstrek 2.0. I honestly did not find it slow. I used to redline it all the time. It pulled willingly to 6K rpm

I had an Impreza loaner, and at first it seemed underpowered, but once I figured out the sweet spots, it wasn't too bad. Just have to wind it up a bit.

My 2.0 neon was the same. From 3000 to 6750 rpm, it could pull pretty well. There were times a bit higher rev limiter would have been nice.

I have found the Forester moves off the line better if you put it in Manual mode(paddle shifter models), "S", and do not smash the pedal to the floor. It does better leaving room to modulate the throttle a little.

Most "testers" just smash it to the floor. My experience is it seems a bit flat keeping it at WOT.

Total lack of driver skills IMHO. It's not like car that's slow it's the over paid bozo behind the wheel.

 

[Menel]

What I don't get is why reviews don't harp on the other vehicles for being slow. My research shows the Forester is competitive within its class.

RAV4 ICE 8.5 seconds.
mazda CX-5 non turbo 8.7 seconds
nissan Rouge 8.2 seconds

from the article

Despite the fact that this ain't a sporty Subie, out on our signature figure-eight course the Forester's time of 27.3 seconds was on pace with the 2023 Honda CR-V AWD and 2022 RAV4 TRD Off-Road (27.4 seconds and 27.1 seconds, respectively).

The Forester Touring we tested needed 8.5 seconds to run from 0 to 60 mph and 16.5 seconds to cross the quarter-mile, which is on par with key competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, and almost a full second quicker to 60 mph than the woefully underpowered Hyundai Tucson.

 

[TJMA]

Maybe put a Hellcat motor in it !

 

[2WheelsGood]

Maybe put a Hellcat motor in it !

But then it will be in the shop every week like your average Chrysler product.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[FozzyX3]

Maybe put a Hellcat motor in it !

Or better yet an LS swap. Because when the "answer" isn't Miata, it's LS swap.