7.9
2025 Subaru Forester review
Subaru has dusted off the STI badge for a new special-edition Forester, but it's not everything it's cracked up to be.
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Max Davies
2023 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Land Rover Defender Comparison
Subaru Forester
Deal Available!
Land Rover Defender
2023 Subaru
Forester
vs
2024 Land Rover
Defender
Select Variants...
How they stack...
CarExpert Score
CarExpert has rated other vehicles in the suv medium category, between scores of 7.2 and 8.8.
0.0
7.9
8.2
0.0
Based on the Subaru Forester 2.5i-S (AWD) STI SPORT
Based on the Land Rover Defender 110 P400e X-DYNAMIC SE PHEV
Best suitable for...
Driving the family
Off-roading
Long distance drivingAwards
We don’t have any awards for Subaru Forester. The Land Rover Defender won the Best 4WD SUV award in 2023.
'23
Best 4WD SUV
Towing
Fuel Efficiency
48L - 63L
322 to 466 km
89L - 90L
303 to 1179 km
ANCAP Safety Rating
Warranty
5 year
warranty
warranty
5 year
warranty
warranty
MSRP
-
$92,626 - $317,592
Save with CarExpert
CarExpert's Take
Max Davies
Marketplace Journalist
Max Davies drove this car and these were their findings:
Hits
- Quality, premium-leaning interior
- Sportier handling
- STI appears again...
Misses
- ...like this?
- Hardly a special edition
- Dreary CVT
Matt Campbell
Senior Contributor
Matt Campbell drove this car and these were their findings:
Hits
- Excellent refinement, comfort
- Still big on cool factor
- Powerful, mostly efficient PHEV
Misses
- Don’t expect to achieve claimed economy
- Boot space impacted by battery placement
- Battery arguably too small for this application
Standard Features
| Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | ||
| Wireless phone charger | ||
| Powered tailgate | ||
| Rear air vents | ||
| Adaptive cruise control | ||
| Climate control | ||
| Reversing sensors | ||
| Reversing camera | ||
| Autonomous emergency braking | ||
Optional Features
NA
- Anti Theft Wheel Nuts (+$80)
- Intrusion Sensor (+$1,001)
- Secure Tracker (+$910)
- Wi-Fi Enabled with Data Plan (+$600)
Colours Available
The 2023 Subaru Forester is available in the following exterior paint colours, depending on variant.
- Crystal White Pearl
- Ice Silver Metallic
- Brilliant Bronze Metallic
- Crimson Red Pearl
- Autumn Green Metallic
- Horizon Blue Pearl
- Cascade Green Silica
- Magnetite Grey Metallic
- Crystal Black Silica
- Sapphire Blue Pearl (NEW)
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Ready To Buy
Specs
| Type | ||
| DIRECT FUEL INJ | TURBO DIRECT F/INJ, TURBO DIESEL DIR INJ, SUPERCHARGED DIR INJ, TWIN TURBO GAS D/INJ, TURBO CDI | |
| Size (cc) | ||
| 1995 - 2498 | 1997 - 5000 | |
| Size (L) | ||
| 2.5L, 2.0L | 3.0L, 5.0L, 2.0L, 4.4L | |
| Induction | ||
| FLAT 4 | TURBO 6, DIESEL TURBO 6, SUPERCHARGED V8, TURBO 4, TWIN TURBO V8 | |
| Camshaft | ||
| DUAL OVERHEAD CAM | DUAL OVERHEAD CAM | |
| Valves/Ports per Cylinder | ||
| 16 | 16 - 32 | |
| Power | ||
| 110kW - 136kW | 183kW - 467kW | |
| Power RPM | ||
| 5800 - 6000 | 4000 - 6000 | |
| Torque | ||
| 196Nm - 239Nm | 400Nm - 750Nm | |
| Torque RPM | ||
| 4000 - 4400 | 1250 - 2500 | |
| Bore Stroke | ||
| - | - | |
| Compression Ratio | ||
| 12.1 - 12.5 | 9.5 - 15.5 | |
