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
Subaru Forester vs Land Rover Defender Comparison
Subaru Forester
Land Rover Defender
2024 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
7.9
0.0
Based on the Subaru Forester 2.5i-S (AWD) STI SPORT
Based on the Land Rover Defender 130 P400 OUTBOUND LE13 (294kW)
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
$38,690 - $50,140
$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
Jack Quick
Assistant Production Editor
Jack Quick drove this car and these were their findings:
Hits
- Turns heads
- Ginormous boot
- Effortless highway cruiser
Misses
- Only has five seats
- Large rear blind spots
- More standard equipment expected
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 2024 Subaru Forester is available in the following exterior paint colours, depending on the 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
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Ready To Buy
Specs
| Type | ||
| DIRECT FUEL INJ | TURBO DIESEL DIR INJ, TURBO DIRECT F/INJ, TWIN TURBO GAS D/INJ, SUPERCHARGED DIR INJ | |
| Size (cc) | ||
| 1995 - 2498 | 1997 - 5000 | |
| Size (L) | ||
| 2.5L, 2.0L | 3.0L, 4.4L, 5.0L, 2.0L | |
| Induction | ||
| FLAT 4 | DIESEL TURBO 6, TURBO 6, TWIN TURBO V8, SUPERCHARGED V8, TURBO 4 | |
| 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 | |
