Overview & Reviews

The base engine is enhanced this year with electronic throttle control, and a new four-speed automatic transmission is available. An air filtration system is now standard on all Foresters. Also new this year is the 2.5 XS L.L. Bean Edition, which includes a myriad of interior and exterior trim enhancements, rugged cargo area trim and a self-leveling rear suspension.

• Standard all-wheel drive, two engine choices, availability of upscale features, class-leading crash test scores.

• Price can be higher than some of the competition, tight on legroom in the backseat.

User Reviews:

Showing 121 through 130 of 134.00

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  Highly Recommended - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Steve H - December 19 - 8:40 am

  Being a previous truck owner, not sure why I waited to test drive a Subaru...now I dont want to drive anything else; 30 mpg, room for three pasengers and gear, off-road ability (had it in the mountains last week, got dirty quick, snow and mud couldnt stop it) and an overall driveability like no other vehicle I have ever had. It grips the road no matter what the weather is and lets not forget the five star crash rating.This vehicle has it all!

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  Subaru for ever. - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Josef Goralik - November 25 - 2:00 am

  After thorough research on Edmunds, talking to friends and comparing with RAV-4, CR-V, Audi and Escape, Subaru came out clear first for the money spent and buying experience.

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  Driving the Forester - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Frank Costanzo - November 10 - 2:40 am

  Its the perfect car for me. Short runs with an occasional long run. Good on gas. Fun to drive. Dashboard layout great. I like all the little amenities that come with this model such as storage spaces, seat adjustments, locking mechanism, etc. All well thought out and executed. Highly recommended for my type of driving.

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  SPORTS and Utility - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By FXTreme - November 1 - 1:50 am

  I just traded my 2003 Mazda Tribute for a 2005 Forester XT. Although the Tribute served us well, it wasnt exactly the "drivers SUV" as it was advertised. I needed a compromise. A car that will give us similar utility as the Tribute but also the driving performance of a sports car. When I test drove the XT, I knew right away that Ive found such a car. This car is as quick as it is fast with enough handling and braking to complement such beastly power (I think Subaru underrated the 210 horsepower). I may have sacrificed a little bit of passenger and cargo space, but the amazing performance, better safety rating, and slightly better gas mileage pretty much made up for it and then some.

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  Just bought 1 after a long search - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By warden - October 10 - 9:33 pm

  I just bought one after a long search for a new long distance commuting vehicle that can double as a hauler on the weekends. I selected this over a variety of small SUVs and cars. The Subaru stood out for its room, performance, MPG and price. I drive about 3000 miles a month on the highway and am 6 3" so many small vehicles didnt fit me. This one does and gets the mpg I need. It also gives me the AWD for bad weather and getting out to the highway over country roads.

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  a good family car - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By slipsheet - September 10 - 1:03 pm

  Purchased to add a second car to family for my wife. Hadnt needed two cars for previous three years as I was a night shifter. Primary factors driving this purchase were snow driving, safety and fuel economy. Additionally its a very good looking car. Car handled great in the one or two snowstorms we had this year. Also mpg is 10 higher than some of the slightly larger suvs in same market. We werent looking for a tank, just a car that handled better in the snow than our 00 Jetta. Backseat is a little tight for adults but the only person that uses it is our three year old in a car seat. We also shopped the Honda CR-V but chose this because it fit us better.

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  1st time Subaru owner - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By 1st time Subaru - July 19 - 10:00 am

  We tested the Honda Pilot and Toyota 4- Runner and ended up with the Subaru! Our second choice was the Honda Pilot. Thumbs down for the 4-Runner.

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  Lots of car for the money - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Scott - June 25 - 11:56 pm

  I purchased the Forester for my daily commute of 100 miles a day round trip. I gave up a perfectly good running Honda with 260K miles for the Forester and with the exception of gas mileage, I am very happy. The Honda was a consistent 32-36 mpg and this is around 24-26 on the highway, but with premium gas. Doing the math, that is comparable to 22-24 mpg running regular fuel. The car is FAST, fun to drive, practical, reliable (the Forester is built in Japan) and an excellent value for the money when compared to other vehicles. My ONLY complaint is the gas mileage. I would expect a little better with a 4 cylinder engine, but then again its a turbo and AWD. Passing on the highway is done with ease.

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  Great Little Arctic Urban Commuter Car - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By majort - June 18 - 1:16 pm

  The 05 Forester is a long overdue replacement for a 91 Suzuki Sidekick. The Forester is very solid, well-built, responsive and fun to drive. The driving position is excellent and the extra leg room up front is wonderful. The fit and finish seems very fine and so far I have not found any flaws needing correction. Gas mileage is super, even in an all city commuting usage. My Scottish Terrier enjoys the small back seat. The cargo area seems large enough to handle shopping and hualing duties.

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  8 Yr Review- My lemon is literally falling apart :( - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By truth_b_told - May 17 - 7:24 am

  It has taken me from point A to B and been reliable in that aspect..but Everything Else about it just sucks. Transmission constantly shifts and is starting to slip, Lack of power going through the Rockies, squeaks and rattles galore, horrible wind noise, will barely start in 20 degree weather, paint is chipping away all over the car, plastic interior is flimsy, speakers suck, and the list goes on. It hasnt been terrible, but it hasnt been good. I want to mention I have always garaged the car, maintained it since day one, here in CO we dont use salt on the roads so why the paint issue? It only has 78,000 miles on it. Check Consumer Reports, Im just waiting for head gasket to blow