Subaru Forester 4th Generation 2014-2018 (SJ) Review

There was a facelift for the 2017 model year and this model benefited from more safety and driver-assistance features and a subtle restyling of the front end, as well as new taillights and other small revisions.

Subaru keeps the overall shape of the Subaru Forester fourth generation's headlights but redesigns the lenses with a more aggressive C-shaped LED daytime-running-light pattern. There is a straight line at the top which now goes all the way to the outer edge of the headlight where the pre-facelift's turn signal used to be before it arcs down; said turn signal is relocated to the inner part of the lens, next to the grille¹. The new face also has a slightly different grille that retains its chrome surround but loses the prominent chrome bar running through the Subaru badge, underlined by a black mesh section. The new grille has a dark center bar and slats². The lower fascia is better suited to off-roading³.

Far fewer changes have been made to the rear, but the taillights are new. They retain their outline and position, but the lenses are rearranged with the turn signals and backup lights now in the bottom of the cluster instead of the middle. The upper red sections get C-shaped motives to mimic the "C" theme used in front¹.

The side profile is mostly the same, apart from the rather obvious changes to the taillights¹. There are new standard alloy-wheel designs and, in addition to the silver alloys, Subaru adds dual-tone and slightly darker options that work much better with both lighter and darker colors².

The interior is mostly carried over, but the steering wheel is restyled, with the horn pad now perfectly round and with a more alloy-look finishing applied on the side spokes; this satin-silver treatment is now also extended to the bottom-center steering-wheel spoke¹. A toggle button is added between the center vents to navigate the dashtop information display². The Touring trim's gauge cluster is upgraded with a much larger and full-color TFT display with a satin-silver brow between the main gauges; these gauges get blue accent rings on the inside and their needles now lie horizontally when at rest³.

There are two engines available - a naturally aspirated flat-four, and a turbocharged flat-four.

The base engine is Subaru's well-known FB25 2.5-liter flat-four sans turbo, also used in the Crosstrek. In the Crosstrek, it feels fine, but the engine is a bit out of its depth under the hood of a midsize crossover. The second engine is a smaller-capacity FA20F 2.0-liter flat-four but helped along by a turbocharger. Both models use a continuously variable transmission (CVT) sending power to Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, though the base 2.5L Forester can be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. All models come standard with an off-road button called X-Mode. While it can't do the Rubicon Trail, you'd be surprised how far 8.7 inches of ground clearance, smart power distribution, and a wheel-locking electronic nanny will get you. The moans and groans can be slightly disconcerting, but it's all worth it when the Scooby pulls itself over a tricky obstacle.

This section really shows you the difference between EPA ratings and real-world figures. According to the EPA, the 2.5 flat-four mated to a CVT should be the most frugal model, yet the real-world figures show the manual can do even better when driven carefully. The gas tank's size is 15.9 gallons, so you should get a reasonable range out of each of the models.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

All 2014 models come standard with all-wheel drive, ABS brakes, traction and stability control, seven airbags (including a driver's knee airbag), and brake assist. In terms of driver-assistance features, a backup camera is standard on all but the base trim, while a collision-mitigation system, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and xenon headlights are on the options list - and available on the Touring trim only. From 2015, the backup camera is standard across the board and the EyeSight driver-assistance features become optionally available on all trims except the base 2.5i, so you'll have to check whether these have been specified.

For 2016, the Starlink Safety Plus and Security Plus system is standard from Premium trim and up, and adds remote door unlocking, stolen-vehicle recovery, and a vehicle-location service. The 2017 facelift adds lane-departure intervention and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert to the optional EyeSight driver-assistance suite, while reverse automatic braking and adaptive LED headlights with auto high beams become newly available for the first time. Adaptive LED headlights are standard on the 2017 Touring. Only for the last model year - 2018 - is EyeSight standard equipment, and only on the Touring trims. This includes automatic high beams and automatic reverse braking.

The four basic trim levels are base 2.5i, available with the entry-level naturally aspirated engine only, Premium (available with both engines), Limited (2.5i only), and Touring (both engines). Cars equipped with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine gain "XT" monikers and a bit of extra equipment, as well as upgraded brakes and sportier suspension. Trim levels follow on each other with each succeeding trim level fitted with everything the preceding trim has, unless otherwise noted.

2016 Foresters all had access to an optional auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror. Along with the 2017 facelift, the entire range benefited from improved sound insulation and a quicker steering ratio, while the EyeSight driver-assistance suite gained additional features at the same time. Also, XTs received shift paddles and selectable driving modes.

There was only one special-edition Forester:

• 2018 Premium Black Edition. This limited-run package was based on the Premium trim and comes with all the Premium's standard features in addition to black-out treatment for its 18-inch alloy wheels, exterior trim, and grille. The upholstery is black cloth. The Black Edition also gets some extra equipment, notably the All-Weather package (heated front seats and mirrors), X-Mode enhanced off-road driving mode, hill-descent control, fog lights, and adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams.

The Forester is such an easy crossover to live with. To start, it's the perfect height from the ground - not too tall to make it difficult to get into, and just tall enough so you can see the road ahead perfectly. All Foresters also come with roof rails as standard, and there are loads of accessories available from both Subaru and third-party suppliers. With all the seats in place, the Forester has 31.5-34.4 cubic inches of cargo capacity, depending on the trim. The second row folds completely flat, creating 68.5-74.4 cubes. That's more than enough for a family of five. You could pack at least a week's worth of luggage in the trunk. The interior quality is typical of Subaru, which takes a similar approach to Toyota. The layout may not be interesting or trendy, but it's ergonomically superior and will last a lifetime. All of the major controls are easy to reach and use, but the touchscreen infotainment system can be dimwitted at times. Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were never made available on the Subaru Forester fourth generation.

The Forester has unusually short oil-change intervals of 6,000 miles, which should be reduced even further to 3,000 miles under strenuous use, including prolonged idling, sub-zero temperatures, and dusty conditions. Even so, the FB25 engine may need an oil top-up before the next lube service. Always keep an eye on the oil level and never let it drop to the minimum mark on the dipstick. The basic lube service shouldn't cost more than $200 at a Subaru dealership or around $130 at an independent shop. The brake fluid should be changed every 36,000 miles. A major service like the one at 60,000 miles typically costs around $1,200 at Subaru or $850 at an independent shop.

Subaru recommends that the CVT fluid should be replaced every 60,000 miles, be we'd halve that distance to 30,000 miles; we always recommend this for CVTs as this greatly prolongs their service life. Subaru CVTs are extremely expensive to replace if they fail, to the tune of $9,000. The spark plugs should be replaced every 60,000 miles and the air filter every 30,000 miles under normal operating conditions.

Subaru recommends highway all-season tires. Here is every model's tire size:

Technical Service Bulletins according to the NHTSA. Check service book for:

There aren't many 2014-2018 Subaru Forester recalls, as this crossover seems to be well put together, for the most part. 2014 to 2016 models had a brake-light switch recall. While there were no brake problems, the brake lights may not illuminate, but this was only part of the problem. Technically, it was also an ignition and transmission recall, even though it was not labeled as such. The brake light switch could have possibly been exposed to contaminants, causing failure of the brake lights and preventing the keyless ignition from starting the engine. It also stops models equipped with the CVT transmission from inadvertently shifting out of Park. 2015 to 2018 models were subject to an airbag recall, due to a malfunctioning occupant detection system. Roughly 18,000 2015 to 2016 2.0-liter models were recalled for a possibly cracked turbocharger intake duct, which can cause stalling problems. This was the only serious engine recall. 2018 models were recalled for a possibly faulty fuel pump that may fail and cause the engine to stall while driving, as well as incorrect tire information on the certification label.

These are the error codes you'll most likely encounter when shopping for a 4th-generation Subaru Forester:

• Code P0171 is shown when an oxygen sensor detects a lack of oxygen in the exhaust system.
• Code P0700 points to transmission control module failure.
• Code P0300 is the error code for an engine misfire.
• Code P0500 points to a faulty vehicle speed sensor.
• Code P0107 indicates that the reading from the MAP (manifold absolute pressure sensor) sensor is lower than usual.
• Code P0455 is the error code for a leak in the EVAP system. Code P0420 is related and points to a catalytic converter not working properly.
• Code P0971 indicates a high voltage on the pressure control solenoid.
• Code P0018 shows there is a problem with the crankshaft and camshaft alignment.

There were a few owners who complained about battery problems. This led many owners to believe they have ignition problems when it was nothing more than a flat battery. The other less-complained about issue is a headlight problem - that of headlights failing. There are two reasons why this could happen, though there are too few cases to find a proper explanation. The first reason is condensation within the headlight, while the second is high voltage. Some owners reported air conditioning, climate control, heater, and AC problems between 35,000 and 65,000 miles. Some owners simply had to regas the system ($20), while some had to replace the compressor ($1,200) or condenser. The worst year for air-conditioner problems was 2017.

Windshields also seem rather fragile and prone to cracking and it might be worth looking out for, especially since the windshields of Outbacks of the same era have a tendency to crack easily, even while the vehicle is parked. Wheel bearings don't always last well either, so be on the lookout for humming and whining sounds that worsen when going around corners. This should be tested on smooth roads at higher speeds.

That being said, many Forester systems operate perfectly:

Backup-camera and EyeSight problems on the Subaru Forester are rare and in the case of the former, it is often linked to the well-documented Starlink problems while, on the latter, it is usually nothing more than one of the external sensors that have become dirty.

Problems with the power liftgate, gas gauge, and power windows are rare in Subaru Forester models, and these items rarely fail.

There aren't any common Subaru Forester alternator, or starter/starting problems unless they are linked to a weak battery - which can happen from time to time.

The 2014 and 2015 models are the most problematic, followed by 2017. You have both the oil consumption and transmission problems to look out for, so rather avoid these years completely and save yourself the trouble. The base 2.5i looks a bit drab with its steel wheels and missed out on some notable standard features, as well as not being eligible for some optional extras. We'd avoid it in preference for the Premium, at least.

The Forester received the fewest complaints during 2016 and 2018. The complaints against these models weren't nearly as serious. We'd go for an XT model, purely because the CVT transmission works so much better with the turbocharged engine's low-down torque. It removes 90% of the incessant droning. The difference in the fuel consumption isn't that big and we'd happily pay the penalty not to have that droning sound as a constant companion. As for trim, we recommend going as high as you can within your budget. The Limited is the most balanced trim, but the Touring has the best interior for extended trips and the most comprehensive standard safety kit, with all of the important EyeSight features being standard on the 2018 model.

The 2014-2018 Subaru Forester was not Subaru's best effort. The Japanese company adopted CVT transmissions too soon in our opinion. Most of the problems haunting this car could have been solved by simply mating the engine to a torque converter automatic. Subarus are famously reliable, but the 4th-generation Forester has a few flaws you need to be aware of. If you can avoid them, you'll be getting a decent all-around SUV worthy of the famous badge.