- Highs Plenty of cargo space, comfortable two-row layout, smooth ride.
- Lows Poky acceleration, base model is spartan, not as cool as the Outback wagon.
- Verdict For those who like their Subarus with boxy SUV styling and upright seating positions, the Forester delivers.
Overview
Combining Subaru's outdoorsy image with the practicality of a compact crossover has made the Forester SUV a success, but its middling flat-four engine delivers tepid acceleration that tempers its desirability. The 2022 Forester benefits from a styling makeover that gives it a more trucklike appearance, but the cabin remains as comfortable and practical as ever—exceptionally airy and rife with convenient storage cubbies. Like most other Subarus, the Forester is fitted with all-wheel drive as standard. Key rivals such as the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 offer similar traits, but both are offered with more powerful gasoline and hybrid powertrains that leave the Forester feeling underpowered by comparison. Still, for buyers who find Subaru's adventurous aura appealing, the Forester will be a satisfactory choice.
What's New for 2022?
Subaru has refreshed the Forester SUV for 2022 with blockier-looking front headlamps, a reworked grille, and new wheel designs. A Wilderness trim joins the lineup and, like the Outback Wilderness, it adds additional ground clearance and a rugged appearance package. Inside, the Forester benefits from new optional gesture controls for the climate control system and a panoramic sunroof as standard equipment on all but the base trim. The EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features gets upgraded camera sensors, which Subaru says broadens the system's field of view, expands its operating range, and introduces a new Automatic Emergency Steering system to the mix. All models now come with a torque-vectoring system, Subaru's SI-Drive driving mode selector, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, and an auto start-stop feature for the four-cylinder engine.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2022 Subaru Forester starts at $27,070 and goes up to $36,420 depending on the trim and options.
While the Limited and Touring trims are much fancier, we think the Premium model offers the best mix of value and features. The exterior upgrades—17-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and body-color sideview mirrors—make it look less like a rental car and the interior includes luxuries such as a panoramic sunroof, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, reclining rear seatbacks, an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and a six-speaker sound system.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All Forester models are powered by the same 2.5-liter flat-four-cylinder engine that makes 182 horsepower and can tow 1500 pounds. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) routes the engine's power to Subaru's trademark all-wheel-drive system. At our test track, our 2022 Forester Wilderness test vehicle required 8.0 seconds to reach 60 mph—not exactly thrilling performance, but it'll meet the needs of most buyers. Those looking for more oomph should check out the Honda CR-V or the turbocharged versions of the Mazda CX-5 and the Kia Sportage. For an SUV without any sporting intentions, the Forester's handling is competent. The ride is compliant and refined, the steering is accurate, and the brakes are adequately strong for emergency stops.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
With EPA fuel-economy ratings that match much of the compact-crossover segment (26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway), the Forester will likely satisfy buyers seeking efficiency. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, our Forester Touring test vehicle missed its highway-fuel-economy rating by 1 mpg, returning 32 mpg. However, that figure matches the result that the CR-V Touring and the Toyota RAV4 Adventure delivered. For more information about the Forester's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Forester's cabin is a straight-forward, frill-free affair with a good driving position and great outward visibility. Our Touring model's interior was nicely finished with caramel-colored leather on the seats, door panels, and dash; textured plastic trim layered on the rest of the cabin looked and felt of high quality, too, while glossy-black plastic on the center stack and the chromed and matte-metallic plastic trims spruced things up quite well. The back seat is plenty spacious (there is no third-row option), and even adults should find the bench seat a comfortable perch for road trips. We fit 11 of our carry-on suitcases behind the back seat and a whopping 23 with the back seats folded. That's more than either the CX-5 or the RAV4 could muster, but the CR-V maxed out at 25 carry-ons with its rear seats stowed.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All Forester models come standard with a touchscreen infotainment system using Subaru's latest Starlink interface. Base, Premium, and Sport models come standard with a 6.5-inch display, but a larger 8.0-inch unit is optional on the Sport and standard on the Limited and Touring models. Two USB ports are provided for front-seat passengers; two more are optional and reside on the back of the center console, giving rear-seat passengers a way to juice their smartphones. Navigation is optional, but for those who decide to stick with a lower model, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are both standard and can provide turn-by-turn directions broadcast from the user's device. Onboard Wi-Fi via a 4G LTE data connection is standard on all but the base Forester.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
All models come standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite of camera-based driver-assistance features. For more information about the Forester's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Forester's warranty is basic, and buyers will be paying out of pocket for maintenance visits. Rivals such as the Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson—both of which offer a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty—and the RAV4—which offers two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance—provide more value here than the Subaru.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $33,945/$36,015
Options: Audio and Navigation package, $1850; engine skid plate, $220
ENGINE
DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 152 in3, 2498 cm3
Power: 182 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 176 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.4-in vented disc/11.2-in vented disc
Tires: Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015
225/60R-17 99T M+S 3PMSF
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 104.9 in
Length: 182.7 in
Width: 72.2 in
Height: 68.9 in
Passenger Volume: 108 ft3
Cargo Volume: 27 ft3
Curb Weight: 3659 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 8.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.3 sec @ 86 mph
100 mph: 24.1 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.7 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.9 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 115 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.77 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 22 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 28 mpg
Highway Range: 460 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 26/25/28 mpg
Shopping Tools
Similar Vehicles
2024 Honda CR-V
2024 Mazda CX-50
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan
2024 Mazda CX-5
2024 Ford Bronco Sport
2025 Hyundai Tucson
2024 Toyota RAV4
2024 Kia Sportage
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander
2024 Ford Escape
2024 Dodge Hornet
2024 Nissan Rogue
More From Subaru
2024 Subaru Solterra
2024 Subaru Ascent
- View 2024 Ascent Details
Starting at $35,740 · 6/10
- View 2023 Ascent Details
Starting at $35,120 · 6/10
- View 2022 Ascent Details
Starting at $33,970 · 6/10
- View 2021 Ascent Details
Starting at $33,345 · 6/10
- View 2020 Ascent Details
Starting at $33,005 · 6/10
- View 2019 Ascent Details
Starting at $32,970 · 9/10
2024 Subaru BRZ
- View 2024 BRZ Details
Starting at $31,315 · 10/10
- View 2023 BRZ Details
Starting at $29,615 · 10/10
- View 2022 BRZ Details
Starting at $28,990 · 10/10
- View 2020 BRZ Details
Starting at $29,745 · 8/10
- View 2019 BRZ Details
Starting at N/A · 8/10
- View 2018 BRZ Details
Starting at $26,455 · 8/10
- View 2017 BRZ Details
Starting at $26,315 · 7/10
2024 Subaru Crosstrek
- View 2024 Crosstrek Details
Starting at $26,540 · 8.5/10
- View 2023 Crosstrek Details
Starting at $24,870 · 8/10
- View 2022 Crosstrek Details
Starting at $24,320 · 8/10
- View 2021 Crosstrek Details
Starting at $23,295 · 8/10
- View 2020 Crosstrek Details
Starting at $23,155 · 8/10
- View 2019 Crosstrek Details
Starting at $22,870 · 8/10
- View 2018 Crosstrek Details
Starting at N/A · 8/10
- View 2017 Crosstrek Details
Starting at N/A · 7/10
2024 Subaru Impreza
- View 2024 Impreza Details
Starting at $24,115 · 8/10
- View 2023 Impreza Details
Starting at $20,815 · 6/10
- View 2022 Impreza Details
Starting at $20,290 · 6/10
- View 2021 Impreza Details
Starting at $19,720 · 6/10
- View 2020 Impreza Details
Starting at $19,595 · 6/10
- View 2019 Impreza Details
Starting at $19,480 · 7/10
- View 2018 Impreza Details
Starting at N/A · 7/10
- View 2017 Impreza Details
Starting at N/A · 7/10
2025 Subaru Legacy
- View 2025 Legacy Details
Starting at $26,040 · 7.5/10
- View 2024 Legacy Details
Starting at $26,015 · 7.5/10
- View 2023 Legacy Details
Starting at $25,415 · 7.5/10
- View 2022 Legacy Details
Starting at $24,490 · 7.5/10
- View 2021 Legacy Details
Starting at $23,820 · 7.5/10
- View 2020 Legacy Details
Starting at $23,645 · 7.5/10
- View 2019 Legacy Details
Starting at $23,055 · 6/10
- View 2018 Legacy Details
Starting at N/A · 6/10
- View 2017 Legacy Details
Starting at N/A · 5/10
2025 Subaru Outback
- View 2025 Outback Details
Starting at $30,290 · 9/10
- View 2024 Outback Details
Starting at $30,240 · 9/10
- View 2023 Outback Details
Starting at $29,620 · 9/10
- View 2022 Outback Details
Starting at $28,820 · 9/10
- View 2021 Outback Details
Starting at $27,845 · 9/10
- View 2020 Outback Details
Starting at $27,655 · 9/10
- View 2019 Outback Details
Starting at $27,320 · 7/10
- View 2018 Outback Details
Starting at N/A · 7/10
- View 2017 Outback Details
Starting at N/A · 6/10
2024 Subaru WRX
- View 2024 WRX Details
Starting at $33,855 · 8/10
- View 2023 WRX Details
Starting at $31,625 · 8/10
- View 2022 WRX Details
Starting at $30,600 · 8/10
- View 2021 WRX Details
Starting at $28,420 · 7/10
- View 2020 WRX Details
Starting at $28,395 · 7/10
- View 2019 WRX Details
Starting at $28,080 · 7/10
- View 2018 WRX Details
Starting at $27,855 · 7/10
- View 2017 WRX Details
Starting at $27,515 · 6/10