Overview & Reviews

Subaru has made many small but significant changes to the Forester for 2006. Foresters with normally aspirated engines have a new variable valve-lift system that bumps horsepower from last year's 165 to 173, while turbo Foresters have a higher compression ratio and redesigned intake and exhaust components for a 20-hp boost to 230 and cleaner tailpipe emissions. The manual and automatic transmissions have also been updated for better performance, as has the suspension. Interested shoppers should also note that Subaru has simplified the Forester's trim levels, freshened up the exterior styling and added more thigh support to the rear seat.

• Standard all-wheel drive, two engine choices, availability of upscale features, class-leading crash test scores, rides and handles like a car.

• Costs more than many competitors, tight on legroom in the backseat.

User Reviews:

Showing 61 through 70 of 111.00

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  Happy with my first Subaru - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By Celia - December 14 - 3:26 pm

  We have only had the Forester for one month, but it has met all of initial expectations. Getting 27 - 28 mpg with mixed city and highway driving, with AC blowing in Texas heat, & driving the speed limit. Thought that I would own a RAV4 forever, but once they enlarged the size, I went looking elsewhere for the best combination of a 4 cylinder car, safety, & fuel economy. Ended up trading a Tacoma for it, and have not missed the truck as the roof rack & interior can handle what we used the truck for. Also purchased a Honda Fit at the same time to use as in-town car for better mpg, and are very pleased with this combination. But on highways/in rain, we definitely prefer the Forester!

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  Great Vehicle - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By jxlewis - October 20 - 1:16 pm

  Pros: Handling and traction in rain & snow. Cons: Noisy fuel pump. Drives and handles well. AWD provides great handling in the rain and snow. Ride is a little too hard over rough roads and RR tracks. Seats are firm and comfortable. Front seat space is adequate if youre not overweight, height no problem at 63". Rear seat leg space is inadequate. Console and controls are placed well and easy to adjust while driving.

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  Possibly the most functional car....not the best looking - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By dukedokken - October 6 - 3:19 pm

  Ive been the sole wonder of my 06 Forester XT. Theres been a few times when Ive wanted to trade it for something different to switch it up, but its almost impossible because you feel like youre getting less of a car. Pros. Panoramic Sunroof, heated leather seats, handles all real world weather conditions, reliable, XT is VERY fast, quiet, good sound system. reliable Cons maintenance can be pricey

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  Subaru Quality You Can Drive! - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By Jehan - August 13 - 7:16 am

  This is an outstanding car. Before you buy anything else, take it for a test drive. It really hugs the road especially in the rain. It is a comfortable ride ,not at all rough or truck-like.

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  Oz Subaru experience - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By Martin Berry - June 29 - 10:16 pm

  The Forester is great, traveling nicely on a recent trip to Cairns [about 3000 miles]. Gear shift is easy to use, the 2.5 petrol engine has plenty of grunt and the reinforced suspension is much stiffer than the old version. I like the versatility, storing lots of stuff in the back, carrying canoes on the top, driving long distances listening to CDs or the stereo etc. It is nearly as good as my wifes Outback, so that is saying something!

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  Fantastic car, but needs rear legroom - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By Mike - June 28 - 6:40 pm

  We bought this car because we needed extra room for a new baby which would be born a few months later. When we bought it we loved just about everything about it. The ride is terrific, the moonroof is the biggest Ive seen, the climate control is great. Once we had our baby, we were in for a big surprise - the rear seats are terrible for infant car seats! I tried putting the new infant seat in behind the driver seat (our older daughters seat is behind the passenger) and the only way it would fit was if I moved the seat so far forward and so far upright that it was no longer comfortable to drive. So now the infant seat is behind the passenger so the passenger will have to suffer.

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  Great Toy! - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By ASR - April 13 - 1:43 pm

  This car, with the turbo, has great acceleration. I drove both models and the turbo is a fun car to drive. The features I have are leather, AM/FM/6 CD entertainment, auto dimming mirror and compass, dual front airbags and side curtain airbags. The instrumentation layout is satisfactory and is ergonomically pleasing. The second row riders have room; I am 6 feet tall and had no problem getting in with the front seats at a reasonable set up for a driver. The only question you can ask yourself is about the over the shoulder seatbelt for the middle passenger. It can be somewhat difficult to use and has a tendency to curl. You really can push this car and have a ton of fun doing it!

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  Surprising Subaru - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By xtdriver - March 10 - 9:53 pm

  At my spouses behest we traded our Volvo XC 90 for the Forester XT. I wasnt initially enthused about this plan. However, after a weekend of driving this vehicle on hilly, curvy roads I became a convert. The XT is remarkably agile for a vehicle that has over 8 inches of clearance and the acceleration is stunning for a car with this much utility. Its essentially a station wagon with the heart of a rally car. How it feels on an extended road trip is the only factor that hasnt yet been put to the test. So far I am positively impressed.

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  Snow machine - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By ehibma - December 20 - 12:08 pm

  This is a solid machine, minus the head gasket issues. I did have to replace the head gaskets, but otherwise a great, reliable vehicle. This is my second Forester.

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  Faultless - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By Ken - December 12 - 7:43 am

  I have put approximately 2000 miles on this car and it has performed flawlessly. The upgraded interior and features remind me of a Volvo (I have owned 4). The performance and handling is like my old BMW 530i. It gets 31 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city, and uses regular unleaded. The car is well designed inside with lots of convenient features. The ride is very smooth. This car is a great alternative to a Honda or Toyota. Dollar for dollar it has more value, in my opinion, and it also drives better than a Honda CR-V or a Toyota RAV4.