Excellent handling,stability, grip in rain and snow. Your not afraid to make a quick turn with this car. You always feel in control when turning. Radio is great. Great off roads too. Can drive through and over just about anything within reason. Has a quick pickup with 1 person in car. Love all the little gadgets and options.

Clothe bucket seats are a little hard. Not extremely comfortable for long trips. Recommend the leather seats. Also the console where the automatic shift is uncomfortable for long trips because you tend to place your knee there for relaxation. They should remove that middle piece and that would give a lot more leg room for long trips. Speakers are placed to far down on doors. And not enough of them. Hard to pickup a good bass sound. Also it only has 1 cup holder in the front.

Overall this is a great car. No problems whatsoever. Have over 20,000 miles not even a year old. My first foreign car. I would recommend this car to anyone. Despite a few disappointments in perks. The car itself makes up for the weaknesses.

Handling, especially on snow and ice (I used to live in New England.)
Comfort
Size
Looks (sedate and sensible, not macho.)

gas mileage (I get average of low to mid 20's. I was hoping a car this size would get high 20's to low 30's.)

Have had the Forester for 1 1/2 years, 35,000 miles, am very happy with it. Never had a bit of trouble. Even if I were rich, I don't see the point of buying something more expensive. What would you gain by getting a more expensive all wheel drive car such as the Audi quattro or the Volvo Cross Country?

BTW, the header here describes the car as 4 wheel drive. Wrong. It is all wheel drive. There is a difference. And it's full time all wheel drive. You don't have to switch it between 2 and 4 wheel modes like to have to with 4 wheel drive cars.

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Demo'd the RAV4. Liked it well enough, but the looks turned me off. The car looks like a grown-up child's toy. Also, the handling didn't feel quite as steady, maybe because it rides higher than the Forester.

A lot of solid engineering and ergonomics for the money.
Full time 4 wheel drive gives maximum traction all the time.
Disc brakes on all 4 wheels stop right now - very short, with complete control.
Four wheel anti lock brakes.
Powerful but economical engine - pulls strongly at any rpm and delivers 22-26 mpg with the automatic.
Excellent front seats - lots of support, lots of seat bottom adjustment, nice fabrics plus seat heaters.
Great visibility even for very short drivers.
Surprisingly quick and predictable in corners if you don't mind some body lean.
Flat cargo space with seat backs down - easily holds a mountain bike witout removing the front wheel.
Full size spare inside under the floor.

I replaced the standard stereo with a Sony AM/FM/Cassette/10 CD Changer - much cheaper and possibly better than the Subaru upgrades.

It's just plain great - Subaru should let folks in on the secret.

I did a lot of web research with a Honda CRV in mind - didn't even consider Subaru. Reviewers from Canada, Britain, South Africa, Australia, etc. consistently gave the Forester higher marks than the competition.

You name it - Consumer Reports reliability ratings, crash test results - all point to Forester.

Fourteen months and 18,000 miles on the Forester - I'm considering a Subaru Legacy GT when my Acura needs replacement).

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Honda CRV

S+ Premium package is worth your money. You get side airbags and the largest sun roof you've ever seen. I like the fact that the vehicle has a lot of extras, 5 LARGE cup holders (this includes the middle console), lots of compartments, seat warmers, de-icer, fog lights, 6 cd changer in the dash (not in your trunk), etc. And these are standard features. You can get more with upgrades like the auto-dimming mirror.

With 5 adults, you can feel the engine working as it goes uphill. It's not tragic but it would be great if had more horsepower. I have to admit, it does have the most HP in it's class compared to the CRV and the RAV4, etc.

I'd recommend this to all outdoor enthusiasts. It's a fun mini-SUV. All the accessories make it fun to be in. You wonder how you survived without all the stuff. It's comfortable, drives like a car but can withstand the beatings. I've taken it up and down California from San Diego to Tahoe, in warm weather to snow w/o having to change anything or add chains, etc. You can even fit 2 mtn bikes inside the vehicle if you don't feel like attaching them on top or on the bike hitch. You definitely get the most bang for your buck here!

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CRV & RAV4. The Forester is slightly lower but does have more power. I'd rather be an inch or so lower and have the extra 20 horsies and vice versa. Also, the Forester seems to have more space inside compared to the RAV4. The RAV4 was very small and doesn't have a very strong engine.

comfortable ride--excellent power--seats fold down even with back area--
great visibility--fun to drive

gas mileage is 3-4mpg less than guaranteed
more variable speeds with windshield wipers ft/rr
back bottom bench needs to tilt upward for more comfort
stereo weak
needs to be spruced up and not so frumpy looking

I would recommend the Forester for its excellent handling in rain and snow and its excellent safety record--Also it is very comfortable on long trips
it has plenty of power--if one needs more then they probably aren't driving safely

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Rav 4--I liked the depth of the back space but the car seemed too small for my uses--it was fun to drive also

I love the power and handling of the Forester in comparison to my former '92 Loyale which was very underpowered. I enjoy driving the '00 more the '98 Forester, since there is more torque in the SOHC compared to the DOHC engine. The car acclerates well making it fun to drive on hilly and curvy roads. The AWD systems provides safety and confidence on snow covered roads. The fog lights are great for night driving and preferable to using the high beams in certain driving conditions. I like the concept of a car-based SUV. The Forester is comfortable and very practical.

One of the weakness of the car is the tires. The AWD system is tough on tires and they wear out fast. From what I have read in Subaru chat forums, I realize there are often alignment problems with these cars. Many drivers complain of uneven and premature tire wear. Both my '98 and '00 Foresters had alignments done before 31K miles. I notice that the Subaru facility is always offering a special deal on alignment service. I am haunted my past history with a Subaru Loyale where I had many, many expensive repairs after 90K. People rave about the reliability of Subarus, but I am skeptical. I intend to trade the car before I accumulate a high mileage.

When I first saw a tractor trailer with a delivery of Foresters in early '98, my impression was that the Forester was a very ugly car with a stupid name. Subaru exploits the environmental theme to the max, and the Forester model name is the ultimate example.

I was already driving a '92 Subaru Loyale which I planned on replacing with a "Sportute" in mid '98. I began shopping and price comparing. The '98 MT Forester L fit my requirements perfectly. I was absolutely convinced of my choice after a test drive.

In December 1999, I took advantage of the high resale value of my '98 and purchased a MT '00 L Forester.

I feel that this car is excellent value for the money and deserves the 5 star rating.

I am relieved that Subaru no longer makes Loyales. The Forester is a superior car. I will give a 4 star rating in hopes that the manufacturer will continue to improve and innovate. I look forward to driving something better tomorrow. I feel that Honda and Toyota are resting on their laurels and many of their cars are dated and boring.

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In early 1998, I did comparisons with Nissan's Pathfinder (too big and expensive), the Isuzu Rodeo (which needed hubs locked), the Honda CRV (where the dealer said I would have to wait several months), the Toyota Rav (too expensive and too small), a Jeep (too big and primitive), and the Kia Sportage (where not dealer was in the area and also required locking hubs to engage 4WD). Since I travel on varied terrain for my 30 mile commute to work, the AWD system is perfect. Most of the time, the vehicle is fine in FWD mode.

Great handling, car like performance. Better hp than Honda or Toyota. Large Moonroof. Off road people hate it.

Side rear windows seem to remain fogged in cold weather.

To those off road enthusiasts who gave this vehicle a low rating. They do not have the ability to comprehend that this vehicle is meant to replace a station wagon and not a SUV. Guess what? The market for station wagons have dried up and the functionality of the vehicle must be replaced by something. Therefor, vehicles (where insurance companies actually have them classified correctly as cars instead of SUVs) such as RAV 4 and CRV are created and marketed as such to take full advantage of the SUV label. An offroad reviewer critiquing this vehicle is equivalent to a freal film critic discussing the merits of Star Wars. Take it for what it is and your outlook on this vehicle will change dramatically. No one is going to give any creedence to your reviews anyway. I just had to comment because of this reasoning flaw that some people possess. This vehicle is 5 starts in my book. More hp, safer, superior on road handling, front and back disc brakes on the S model, Great,great sunroof. Improved styling for 2001. Compare the facts. Low resell value? Better check again.

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Toyota and Rav4. They are in the same class as pseudo off road vehicles.

-Cargo room relative to overall size of vehicle
-Numerous cubbie holes in floor of cargo area
-Full size spare which has saved me numerous times

-Placement of the single front cup holder (hopefully they fixed this in more recent iterations) Consensation from a cup of cold soda would literally drip directly into the CD player making it unusable for days at a time. HORRIBLE design flaw!
- Rear seat space is embarrasing. I try not to be the one to volunteer to drive groups of people.
- Driver's side leg room is probably fine for most but I'd pay cash for just 2 more inches. I have a 36" inseam and cocking my foot at the harsh angle to maintain pressure on the accelerator is trying. Don't think I could manage without cruise control.
- Weak front headlights. I'm always checking to make sure they're on.
- Inability to silence the entry/alarm alert.
- Horrible tires. This is the first car that I've ever even noticed the tire quality on. Horrible in snow, rain, cornering, sunny dryness, driving straight, etc. Bad tires. Really bad. (Bridgestone Dueller HT)
- Stereo is horrendous. It's the amplifier that's bad actually. There is a separate amp under the back seat. When I replaced it the sound improved 100% even with the same speakers.

This was the best quality mini-ute with the most amount of leg-room that I could find. Despite my longish list of complaints it is a decent vehicle. Would I buy it again? No. All my previous cars have been Hondas and I really miss the smoothness of the engine, the fit and finish.

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C-RV: Loved the interior room and the Honda-ness. The ONLY thing that stopped me from buying this was the smidge less front leg room.

Handling, AWD system, outward visibility, car-like ride, MPG rating (personally avging 27.5 doing mostly hwy driving). Huge moon roof available in S premimum. Manual transmission available thru out the model line.

Exterior looks more like a tall wagon than the typical testosterone layden SUV. Rear seat leg room is barely adeqaute.

Excellent all-around utility vehicle. This sporty SUV has car-like handling while still offering the cargo hauling utility of an SUV. In addition, it is more than capable of handling the off-road requirements of the vast majority of drivers. Meanwhile, the 165hp boxer engine makes the Forester one of the fastest in its class. Price wise, the Forester compares favorably when the competition is comparably equipped. All Subarus have gained a reputation for reliability while their AWD prowess makes them a favorite in snowy climates. The Subaru Forester also leads it's class in terms of both MPG as well as it's safety rating.

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Compare with Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Honda CRV, Toyota RAV-4. THe Subaru Forester is number one in terms of overall reliability and performance.

The Forester drives more like a car than a truck, has a car's MPG, with which I can easely do 30 MPG in the summer on the highway (worst was 21 MPG in the city). Pockets everywhere, full size spare, AWD that is more effective on rain, ice and snow than my previous Jeep Wrangler. Low ground clearance, but if I wanted more, I would have stayed with the Wrangler. Roomy behind the hatch, including a second (practical) cigarette lighter plug, and more pockets. Comes with a rack out of the show room.

Not anough leg room in the back, the back of the car is not really attractive, expensive Subaru parts, useless fog lights.

Just the best in it's class. Great MPG, drives better than CRV and RAV4, Comes with 5/manual, Wounderful accelarations (whishing for the TURBO version), AWD is seriously what everyone needs on the road (4WD is for off road only). Good ground clearance to go out on the dirt. Comes standart with a roof rack (that is usually an expensive option). In 3 1/2 years, I only had one problem, and it was a rock that went to the A/C cooling system. If I remember correctly, it was $700 to replace.

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CRV (drives lique a bus, and only came in automatic).
RAV4 (was too small).
A couple of bigger one with not that much more room. More ground clearance that will flip the truck on there back with a lot more ease, and terrible MPG.