Hoping to make a new car purchase in the next few months - focus is on either the Outback or Forester - PROBABLY looking to get a 2014 model - have a few on the line with less than 10,000 miles on them. Today for the first time drove one of each. While visually I like the Outback much better, I felt like I sat better in the Forester. Outback felt LONGER. But better pick up. D said that the backseat was more comfortable in the Outback. Foresters seem to be a little easier to find.
Not sure what to do!
Give me your pros/cons of either. Honesty appreciated.
2015 model Outback has significantly better gas mileage than 2014 due to complete overhaul of the transmission to CVT from in-line 4. If you go with the 2014 Outback, you should be able to negotiate a good price based on the remodel. No change in Forester models from 2014 to 2015. Personally, we picked the Outback over the Forester for what felt like a more comfortable ride on long trips.
H just went through this last September… test drove both as well as a couple of other cars. What it boiled down to was, he felt like the field of vision was better on the Forester, which is what he went with. He just felt safer with a better field of vision.
I have a 2011 Outback (previously had a 2001 Outback). The Outback grew a lot in size between those years. I recently had a loaner Forester when mine was getting maintenance done, and I found the front seats a lot less comfortable in the Forester.
I love, love, love my Outback. I don’t think it’s too big, I like the in-between size as I like having a car I can haul stuff in. The back seat is so easy to put down and I really like the nice tray in the trunk area.
I didn’t drive the Forester, so I can’t compare but I wanted a little bit bigger car as I had a Honda Odyssey before. I think I get good gas mileage, usually about 27/mpg.
I think you have to consider the fit of the primary driver.
I have a 2010 Forester.
I drove both when looking. What it came down to was: I was more comfortable with my positioning, visual perspective and reach (to the cup holder, radio control, etc.) in the Forester.
My previous car was a Forester. Loved the AWD. Loved that is was easy to park (compared to my minivan now).
Did not like that the particular years model I had was prone to a very expensive to fix problem (I forget now what it was). I remember that it was well known on Subaru forums but never mentioned by Consumer Reports. That whole experience has jaded me on CR.
Also be aware that driving either a Forester or an Outback will make some people assume you are a cruncy granola type.
I was searching for an Outback but wound up with a Forester instead. It was a better deal, and I’ve had a Forester before and liked it very much. I also got the Eyesight module which has been interesting.
When I called my insurance company to add the car and told them it had Eyesight, the person I was speaking with was so excited and exclaimed, “Have you tested it?!” I’m like tested it! No of course I haven’t tested it, like how, driving it into a brick wall?! lol
You probably can’t go wrong with either one. I did like the driving position of the Forester for me personally, and the Outback was so long I would’ve had trouble fitting it into my garage.
@scholarme, lol, I was just debating about adding my 2 cents about Subaru assumptions. They are not common where I live but DD liked the look and we bought her a used one. She went to college near Atlanta and after a year or so she found out that many people in the Atlanta area think that women who drive Subarus are lesbians.
We had a good laugh about it and DD thought it was funny to be able to blame her lack of boyfriend on her car. Then we got new neighbors from Atlanta who are a Subaru driving lesbian couple. We waved politely and said hello to them but didn’t have much contact. When DD came home from college with her Subaru, they immediately came over and introduced themselves to her
Last things first. We bought a used 1997 Legacy Outback wagon (I think that was its name) that just died a year ago. D drove it her senior year of HS and history teacher was kind enough to tell her they were called “Lesbarus.” Who knew Lesbians were such astute consumers?
I picked up my 2015 Forester in December. I drove the Outback and Forester and felt I could see better in the Forester and it was slightly cheaper. Also liked that it was shorter. I didn’t notice much of a difference in driving, they were both very different from my old Passat wagon. I also drove the VW Tiguan but the visibility was not great. We keep our cars a long time and I wanted all the latest safety features and got Eyesight. Our other car is a 2008 MiniCooper and I can see not taking that on an extended road trip, but would like to know why people feel Forester isn’t a comfortable car. The old VW was more fun to drive, but Forester feels luxurious to me. I have loved it this past snowy winter - heated seats, quick defrost and remote start. I’m a little disappointed that all cars seem to have been on a diet of steroids. Compare the new Forester to the original.
For subaru in the media, check out the dog commercials on YouTube and random scenes in the show Portlandia. I’d plaster NRA and Vote Republican stickers on the back, but I’m afraid it would cause accidents as drivers behind me swerved to avoid grappling with the validity of their preconceived notions. Safety first - as any Subaru driver would tell you.
I have had both, granted they were much, MUCH older models. I liked them for different reasons. I still have my outback 2003 LLBean edition and will keep it FOREVER. Son drives it as much as I and beat the heck out of it last winter for his rotation up near Asheville, NC. He was up on the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere and the AWD kept him going up and down for 8 weeks in terrible weather. Just put new brake pads on since they were shot but it’s still working.
After all these years and stinky boys driving it, the car still smells like leather, new car smell. So weird. But it is comfortable for long drives and has 2 sun/moon roofs that I love. The roof rack has come in handy so many times and the long bed is great for moving bookcases, hutches and chairs. Boys put a 12 foot Christmas tree in the back many times. It still handles great around the curves, and has some pick-up. What can I say I LOVE MY SUBARU!
The lesbian couple up the street from me have a Honda Pilot and a Camry. The young doctor and his wife across the street from them have an Outback and my S has an Outback (and last I looked he wasn’t a lesbian.
I also always thought the Forrester looked like a hearse.
I suppose with all the glass, if you squint the Forester might resemble one of those Victorian British horse drawn hearses. Now I am going to work at erasing that image from my mind.
I am fulling willing to embrace the granola stereotype - I mean, I LOVE granola and even make my own! So I’m qualified, right?
I would be the primary driver. I’m typical in size - 5’7, normal weight, generally fit so currently no trouble getting in and out of a car (though I’m not fooling myself - I’d like this car to carry me into my 60’s so I know that things could change).
My desire is to have a little bit of the “higher up” feeling - like a small SUV. Though the salesperson said they are equal in height, she said the Forester seats are more upright - and I think I felt that and liked that. Admittedly, she put me in the ugliest interior Outback so it was hard to like it when all I could see was this dark, black cloth seating/trim. I definitely need a lighter interior. Heated seats are a must - leather would be nice though I’m not finding so many equipped with leather (and we won’t likely buy brand new - we prefer to get a nearly new, low miles car).
The one thing someone mentioned above I’ll have to measure out is length for garage space. H already mentioned that he might have to clean out my space in front of my current car in order for the Outback to fit.
Going to check out that Eyesight thingy…
(and going to add - just because I can’t let it pass by me…the thought that people stereotype a car to lesbians - or any other gender/race, etc. - is SO disturbing to me - shame on them!)
I am a small person and chose the Forrester (2014) because visibility was much better for me. The little triangle on the door window is a window and that made a huge difference for me. The car runs great, handles great in snow, and meets our needs.
If you are big people, however, it might be too small. Previous year models are definitely narrower–too narrow for all but slim people.
The only thing I don’t like about my Forrester is the fabric seats are somewhat scratchy and polyester-y. I miss the velour of my old car. Not a fan of leather, but it’s available.
Test driving the Outback last year felt a little bit like driving a tank. It’s loud and solid, a heavy car for the footprint it has. But I also liked it and wouldn’t mind having one!
Neither car is luxurious. Both are serviceable and do what they say they are going to do. One of each!!
I’ve had both, currently have a Forester and love it. I bought my Outback used for $6700 and drove it for five years. I gave it to my daughter and it was totaled while parked in front of her house by a drunk driver (nobody was hurt.) Her insurance company gave her $7200 for it!
