Besides great engineering, one of the things we like about this Japanese carmaker is that the company always sticks to the plan. The production cycle is always five years, while the fourth production year brings a mid-cycle update. Therefore, it’s easy to predict that the 2023 Subaru Forester, which will represent the fifth year of the current generation, will also be the last production year of the current model. After the 2022 refresh, it’s pretty much for sure that we won’t be seeing any updates.
Therefore, we count on familiar design and characteristics. This compact SUV has a lot of great things to offer, starting from the legendary all-wheel-drive system. It is a well-designed SUV, with a spacious and comfortable cabin, as well as a pretty long list of standard equipment. On the other hand, the main complaint goes to the engine, which feels a little bit underpowered.
As there are no significant changes to come, we expect that the 2023 Subaru Forester will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 Subaru Forester Design
As we’ve just mentioned, the 2023 Subaru Forester will represent the final production year of the current generation. Therefore, we don’t expect to see any changes. We are about to see a familiar design, based on Subaru’s well-known modular platform. The last year’s update has brought some slight styling revisions, as well as the new Wilderness trim. So, we have no doubt that these novelties will be applied to the next year’s model.
What separates Forester from most other compact SUVs is the fact that it actually offers a pretty good off-road performance. Of course, all-wheel drive is standard, while you may also count on a pretty respectable 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The recently introduced Wilderness trim comes with a few more upgrades. It feautures higher ground clearance (9.3 inches), all-terrain tires, additional skid plates etc.
Interior
Besides strong off-road capability, this SUV also offers a high level of comfort. That’s not only because of the soft suspension setup but also because of the well-designed and comfortable cabin. The interior looks pretty modern, especially when we compare it with some previous generations of Subaru models. Furthermore, the materials are fine, while the build quality is solid.
One of the things we like about this SUV is its excellent driving position. Combined with large glass surfaces, it ensures excellent visibility in all directions, which isn’t always the case with compact SUVs. Furthermore, the front seats are well-shaped and offer good comfort and support. The rear seats are very spacious and accommodate adults with ease.
When it comes to the cargo area, this SUV offers 28.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 74.2 cubic feet, which is pretty impressive for the segment.
Features
As we are talking about the final production year, it makes perfect sense to expect no bigger changes. So, all models are about to come standard with goodies like automatic climate control, a 6.5-inch touch screen, a four-speaker stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Among optional features, expect to find goodies like an 8-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, more USB ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and navigation, as well as a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and push-button start.
The same thing is with safety and driver-assist features. All models should come standard with a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane centering assist etc. Also, count on upgrades like driver drowsiness monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking etc.
2023 Subaru Forester Engine
Under the hood, the 2023 Subaru Forester is about to carry on with a familiar 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated flat-four engine, which puts out 182 horsepower. This amount of power is enough for daily commuting but we’ve noticed that the Forester struggles a little bit on the highway. It would definitely use a little bit more power. Still, the engine is refined and its low position provides a lower center of gravity, which positively affects the SUV’s handling. The engine comes in pair with CVT gearbox, which works surprisingly well.
When it comes to fuel economy, this SUV returns around 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. These numbers are really good, especially if we consider the standard all-wheel drive.
2023 Subaru Forester Release Date and Price
As there are no significant changes to come, we presume that the 2023 Subaru Forester will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year, with a starting price of around 26.500 dollars. Key competitors are models like Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue etc.
