Overview & Reviews

Subaru's well-regarded Forester crossover sport-ute has been completely redesigned to be an even more enjoyable addition to your family. Engineers have given the tall wagon more interior room, a stiffer body structure, a revised chassis and more standard feature content -- all while keeping exterior dimensions the same and reducing the curb weight by 90 pounds.

• Standard all-wheel drive, availability of upscale features, high safety scores.

• Only one engine choice, price can be higher than most of the competition.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 163.00

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  tips on equipping - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By twolvesfan - December 22 - 10:00 am

  i expected to buy an impreza wrx wagon for its performance, but ended up with the forester X instead. what really helps this car stand out is its space and utility (five people plus one bike fit comfortably inside over a three hour car ride), and its interior (far superior to the impreza, finish almost comparable to a luxury car). a little underpowered, but can still comfortably weave through highway traffic when needed. nothing you cant live without. get the pop equip pkg. also request the armrest extension; you wont know where to put your right arm without it.

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  lots of car/tall wagon/suv for your $$$ - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By smallfish - November 9 - 10:00 am

  put 1100 miles on my platinum silver forester 2.5X already. no problems so far. love the car. like the textured gray bumpers and side moldings which makes it look like a volvo cross county. like the heavy solid sound of the doors. base X model came with all the options i would ever need and use. although wish they had a moonroof option for the X. nice steel wheels even on a base model. lovely interior. sharp looking texturd soft vinyl trim all around. lots of car for your dollar.

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  Most reliable car Ive ever owned!!! - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By spunkyhorn - September 14 - 7:41 am

  I absolutely love my 2003 subaru forester. It has never left me stranded and has required the least amount of repairs of any car Ive owned. The only repairs that Ive done on it are wear out parts like brakes and rotors. Ive recently (105,000k) had the timing belt, water pump, and most of the fluids replaced just as a pre-emtive strike to keeping this vehicle running as best it can well into the 100ks.

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  yip-dee-doo for my subaru - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By dante inferno - September 9 - 10:00 am

  i really like this car

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  Genuine SUV - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Zeke3579 - August 29 - 2:00 am

  Wanted an SUV for toughness and abilities. Looked at practically all and listened to what everone said - carefully. Had owned a Subaru wagon previously so deliberately left that to last. Absolutely no comparison, even went back to refresh my memory of the best of the competition. The Forester is relatively simple (not all bells & whistles of say Ford Escape) but does it all so much better - eg, space, comfort, access, reliability etc, etc. Yes, it could be better as nothing is absolutely perfect but the topper is that it is the safest SUV on the road. That and its clear vision from anywhere inside means most to me, and my family.

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  Excellent Choice! - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By jmcdonald - June 21 - 2:00 am

  I researched long and hard for a new mini-suv and none compared to Subarus drive, interior, and special "extras" (ie, HUGE sunroof).Traveling the country on interstates, mountains, and trails through sunshine, rain, and snow, the AWD and handling has been exceptional, making for a fun and trusted drive.10K mi in 6mos and not a single rattle or problem. Even with only 165 hp, no problems passing or climbing hills. Love the interior styling and auto climate control--def. worth upgrading to prem leather pkg. Totally satisfied!

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  A wise choice and dun to drive! - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By DarwinTheDog - June 11 - 10:00 am

  When I decided to replace my Nissan Frontier I was a bit unsure about what type of vehicle would best suit my needs. I wanted more interior space, better gas mileage and a more comfortable ride. But I didnt want to give up having 4-wheel drive, and wanted to have some cargo room. I looked at the Ford Escape, Jeep Liberty, Toyota RAV 4, Honda CRV and eventually the Subaru Forester. The Forester is fun to drive (not like a sports car, but for a small SUV it handles very well), the fuel economy is good, it has great safety features (#1 small SUV in Insurance Institute Study), is reliable (according to Consumer Reports), and comfortable.

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  Joefs Subaru - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By joef - April 23 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle has great acceleration, corners well and handles well in snow and ice. The visabilty is fantastic. The interior is well defined. Every control is within reach.

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  A Great Little Wagon - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By joybell - March 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had two Subaru vehicles that lasted over 10 years without major repairs. I hope that my new Forester will be just as economical, reliable and practical to own. I really did not want an SUV, just a Japan-made Subaru wagon. I feel that is exactly what I got, with a bit of SUV styling. It certainly has a lot snappier engine than the older Subarus (1.8L) that I owned, which makes it more fun to drive. I am very happy and looking forward to many years of ownership of my 2003 Forester X.

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  Cant beat the value - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Crockett Actuary - March 5 - 2:00 am

  Great handling for an AWD vehicle. Great visibility, headroom (Im 64"), and front-seat legroom. Excellent cornering. Could use a tad more passing acceleration, but its only a 4- cyl, and is fine. Liked the pre-2003 exterior styling more (was more unique), now it looks like a Honda.