An Incredible 9th Straight ‘Car of the Year’ Win for the Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester earned “Best Small SUV” nine years in a row from Consumer Reports.
Written by Lisa Steuer McArdle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
We rely on our cars, and that is probably why
Subaru
advertises itself as dependable. It isn't merely advertising either.The
Subaru Legacy got Consumer Reports' approval
this year, and its other cars have been doing well too.The real proof of Subaru's commitment to excellence, though, is the Forester. It has consistently beat out all other cars in its class in an annual report by Consumer Reports.
The Subaru Forester and the CR list
Consumer Reports
issues its recommendations on cars every year. They list the 10 they think are the best of that year's models.The Forester earned “Best Small SUV” nine years in a row. That means that they passed Consumer Reports rigorous testing for nine straight years, and this year was even more rigorous than most.
Their testing covers drivability, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety. Any car that gets in the top 10 picks has forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection as standard on all their trims. This year, top picks needed highway-speed AEB.
Ultimately, each car gets points in each category. The car with the most overall points is the top car in its category. The Subaru Forester got 90 out of 100 this year, and it beat out 17 other compact SUVs for the honor.
What did CR love most about the Subaru Forester?
The features that put the Subaru Forester on the top 10 list last year are still there. Subaru freshened the appearance a little and added a Wilderness trim that has more ground clearance and all-terrain tires.
The rear-seat reminder system was added in 2020. The lane-assistance feature has remained the same, too.
Other things that they approved of was the Forester's strong fuel economy and efficient, spacious design.
Consumer Reports emphasized the upright shape of the Forester. They feel it gives users more cabin space and cargo room than its competitors.
They also highlighted the tall roof and large windows that give drivers a wide view of their surroundings. When you add that the latest Eyesight suite for safety features comes even on the lowest trim, you get an extremely safe car.
Another thing they found attractive about this year's model is the supple handling and enhanced handling. They gave it a 90 out of 100 for the road test.
Forester reliability
Consumer Reports tracks changes in reliability over the years for their cars by surveying 300,000 vehicles to discover how well cars last. They collect data from owners of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 models and analyze it to come to this prediction.
The Forester seems to be lasting well, especially the 2020 models. They ranked it four out of five for reliability.
This means that a new Subaru Forester is unlikely to break down right when you need it, and it probably won't need expensive repairs for many years to come. Not only does that save you money, it lets you relax.
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