Overview & Reviews

For 2012, the Subaru Forester now comes with a standard height-adjustable passenger seat and a new optional navigation system with added functionality.

• Standard all-wheel drive
• Roomy cabin with ample cargo space
• Comfortable ride
• Strong turbocharged engine on XT trims.

• Unimpressive fit and finish.
• Outdated four-speed automatic transmission dulls fuel economy and acceleration

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 22.00

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  Lots of room - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By azrebel51 - September 7 - 1:32 pm

  I checked out some other choices before I decided on this car. I am 52, I have bought 11 new vehicles so far in my life.This is great my best so far. Very little road noise, very smooth ride. Doors are solid. Great visibility. Basic stereo sounds very good. The clearance is terrific, great for exploring in rural Arizona, where 4 x 4 is not needed but added clearance is. Seriously this is the most happy I have ever been with a vehicle in my life. My first Subaru, my first Japanese vehicle.

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  Great value, decent mileage - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By hdlarkin - June 21 - 6:24 am

  The Forester replaced a 2006 Mazda5 plagued with rear suspension problems. Tempted by the 33 mpg claim, I looked at the new Escape, but couldnt find real-world mileage reports and, in August, dealers were asking $25K+ for 2WD. I found a 5-speed Forester for $18.5K, and bought it. The 27 mpg estimate didnt thrill me, but its actually done much better; at 4K up to 31 highway and ~22 city, though highway mileage drops quickly above 65 mph. This is a little better than the Mazda got, plus, with AWD, I can get out of the garage when theres more than 3 inches of snow, which was tough for the Mazda. I had a 96 Outback that held up very well for more than 100K miles, and hope this will as well.

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  Does the job! - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By sciencwriter - July 24 - 6:09 pm

  I leased it about 2 1/2 years ago and just bought out the lease. It is not beautiful nor is it elegant, but it does the job. I live at the end of a dirt road in Vermont with a daily round-trip commute of about 50 miles. It always starts and it makes it through the deep snow, better than our Toyota 4Runner. Even with my canoe on top, it handles okay--not as well as my old Morgan +4 but that wouldnt have made the grade in Vermont. Runs much better with a little extra air in the tires. All in all, I find it practical, serviceable, and reliable. This is contrary to some of the other reviews but maybe I just got a good one--or they got bad ones.

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  RAV4 wouldve been a HUGE mistake! - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By coastie463 - September 25 - 10:46 pm

  I was either looking into buying the Forester or the RAV4, and Im very glad I went with this car. I drove a RAV4 4CYL as a rental car for a long duration. It had a comfortable ride, got great gas mileage for a small SUV, was well equipped, had good front and rear leg room, and the performance was surprisingly good for a 4CYL engine. Sounds like a great car until you come to the driving dynamics: its boring. And lets not forget the rear horizontally opening door with the exterior mounted spare tire. I feel like I might accidentally swing the door in to my childs face if Im not careful. The Forester is everything the RAV4 is plus monumentally better driving dynamics and overall value.

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  2012 subura forester - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By sewkraz - February 27 - 10:17 am

  drives well and is comfortable. what is not nice is the high pitched wind noise coming from the roof with the wind that sound s like your heat is on full blast above your head. The suv whines on acceleration.

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  Do not buy this car - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By starfool - January 26 - 7:57 pm

  I bought my 2012 Forester about a year and a half ago. It started to have starting issues about 3 months ago. It wont start right away, sometimes it takes a few tries holding the key for about 10 seconds. I took it to North End Subaru and they tried a few things that didn’t work, and then told me it is normal. I then took it to Prime Subaru. They couldnt find anything wrong but gave me a few tips to try. They didnt work, I called back, they also told me that the problem is normal. It does always start eventually, but it just doesn’t seem normal to me. I have read reviews of people who have had similar problems for both the 2012 & 2013 models.

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  Intrusive Seat belt chime - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By moi12 - December 23 - 12:40 am

  This is my partners car and they are enjoying it VERY much. However, Im glad Im not the one driving it, because of the stupid seat belt chime - see below.....

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  A Fine SUV Choice - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By mr_ruez - September 20 - 10:04 am

  When it comes to finding a small AWD wagon with a sunroof and manual transmission, there are only two choices. One is the Jeep Patriot, but that car had some quality control issues that Im not sure were overcome, plus it looks like a toaster on wheels. The Forester fits the bill - not too fancy, not too plain, just right! There is plenty of room for full sized people. The black fabric on the seats and doors has subtle copper colored accents that add a nice look. You get easy entry and exit due to the large doors and seat height. Once behind the wheel it drives sporty with very few blind spots, and the huge sunroof brings in the great outdoors!

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  2 Foresters in the garage - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By superblue - May 25 - 12:30 am

  4yr ownership of 2008 version sold us. Its price is nice, not the most technically advanced in the segment. Nice ride, spacious great, for a small family that requires wagon utility, that can handle rough weather, is reliable, and safe. We got the alloy wheel-package.

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  good value in its class - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By health - April 16 - 8:19 pm

  Large sun roof, alot of features for the money, gas milage has exceeded expectation. 5 speed is fun to drive.