Subaru Forester II 2.5 i (173 Hp) Automatic

Subaru Forester:

The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV that has been manufactured by Subaru since 1997. The first generation was built on the platform of the Impreza in the style of a taller station wagon, a style that continued to the second generation, while the third-generation model onwards moved towards a crossover SUV design. A performance model was available for the second-generation Forester in Japan as the Forester STi.
The Forester was first introduced as the Streega concept at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show and became available for sale in Japan in February 1997, reaching the U. S. market later that year for the 1998 model year. As one of the first crossover SUVs, it was reportedly inspired by Volkswagen. Built in the style of a station wagon, the Forester featured a taller stance, higher H-point seating, and a standard all-wheel drive drivetrain. Subaru marketed it with the slogan "SUV tough, Car Easy". It utilized the Impreza platform but was powered by the larger 2. 5-liter DOHC EJ25D engine from the Subaru Outback, producing 123 kW at 5,600 rpm and 220 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm....(Read more on Wikipedia)

II Overview:

Subaru Forester (II). With 229 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1455 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. All‑wheel drive provides excellent grip, ideal for off‑road use. A sport utility vehicle offering higher ground clearance and versatile cargo space. A vehicle that combines characteristics of SUVs and hatchbacks for versatility. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

Community Verdict

This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.

Allowed: 36% Neutral: 9% Issues: 55%

2.6 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 11 discussions

Read What Owners Say

👎 NEGATIVE

My dad bought a ‘14 Forester new and it’s a major lemon (it was his first brand new car and he’s really stubborn). Several clutch replacements, just put another 6k into it for “mystery front end issues.” Keep your Accord, my grandmother drove one for 20 years, 270k miles.

👎 NEGATIVE

Loved my Honda CrV but wore it into the ground.. 16 yrs of driving everywhere. Just got a Forester, I'm kinda nervous after reading all this.. wish me luck, I loved my stereo in my Honda😒

👎 NEGATIVE

Yeah. I personally own a 2014 2.5i Premium. It's nothing but a maintenance headache. Every 3 months the car is in the shop, I bought it with about 129,000 miles on it less than a year ago. It now has 136,000 miles, and I have sank almost $3,000 into it. Stay away from the 2014 Forester at all costs, don't run, sprint away. I only payed about $11k for it, 1 owner, no accidents.

👎 NEGATIVE

Don't drop that much on a boxer with that many miles which probably has a CVT time bomb along with questionable headgaskets.

😐 NEUTRAL

Both will perform about the same on graded roads, with a slight nod to the Forester if you get the model with rear LSD. Neither model in those years have any kind of off-road biased traction control, so in bad conditions they can become 1WD. I had a WRX back in the day, and other than the weak transmission, it felt like a well built vehicle. I have actually been considering getting a Forester to

👎 NEGATIVE

I’ve owned an early 2000s Subaru, have a family member with a 4Runner, and rented a Honda Passport on travel for work. Here’s a summary of my observations. * Old Subarus are more reliable than today’s era. They tend towards oil leaks and gasket issues, so timely, routine maintenance is vital. AWD system is amazing. Seats suck. * 4Runner is not very comfortable and has worst mpg of the bunch. I

👍 POSITIVE

96 legacy wagon 5mt... half million miles on the odometer... sorry if I screwed the results..

👍 POSITIVE

I bought 2 early 90’s legacies when I was younger because for whatever reason there were always a ton available under 1500 dollars and I absolutely loved wagons. I only bought the second because the first was stolen. It was really common to find those legacies with well over 200k miles. My first had 460k before getting stolen. I always felt as if the reason they are deemed less reliable is the n

👍 POSITIVE

Part of what goes into the reliability is the AWD. My Impreza saved my bacon from a random patch of ice at 60 mph on the highway and then 30 seconds down the road I drive past an FWD sedan that had spun out into the barrier. AWD standard is a big deal, and the quality of the AWD as well. Subaru makes their cars practical for lots of situations. Maintenance is a big part of the equation but so is

👍 POSITIVE

I think older Subarus last a lifetime. I certainly can’t say that about newer ones…. I’m the type to buy a car, maintain it, and drive it until it simply gives up. I had a 2010 Outback limited 2.5. I loved that car. It was my first Subaru. Took me on countless adventures, I took it places a Subaru Outback probably never should have gone. I asked a lot of that car. And it was the best damn car up

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Adequate and balanced power output (173 hp) for versatile driving.
• All-wheel drive for superior traction in all conditions.
• Ventilated disc brakes for reliable cooling and stopping power.
• Standard trunk space (406 L) suitable for daily needs.

Cons:

• Previous generation model; may lack the latest driver-assist technologies.

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(II: 2002 - 2005).

General:
Brand:	Subaru
Model:	Forester
Generation:	II
Modification (Engine):	2.5 i (173 Hp) Automatic
Start of production:	2005
End of production:	2008
Powertrain Architecture:	Internal Combustion engine
Body type:	SUV, Crossover
Seats:	5
Doors:	5

Engine:
Power:	173 Hp @ 6000 rpm. Same horsepower
Power per litre:	70.4 Hp/l [Same length.]
Torque:	229 Nm @ 4400 rpm.
Engine Model/Code:	EJ253 More details about the engine EJ253
Engine displacement:	2457
Number of cylinders:	4
Engine configuration:	Boxer
Number of valves per cylinder:	4
Fuel injection system:	Multi-port manifold injection
Engine aspiration:	Naturally aspirated engine
Valvetrain:	DOHC
Engine oil capacity:	4 l
Coolant:	6.8 l
Engine layout:	Front, Longitudinal
Cylinder Bore:	99.5 mm mm
Piston Stroke:	79 mm mm
Compression ratio:	10:1

Performance:
Fuel Type:	Petrol (Gasoline)
Weight-to-power ratio:	8.4 kg/Hp, 118.9 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:	6.4 kg/Nm, 157.4 Nm/tonne

Space:
Kerb Weight:	1455
Max. weight:	2000
Max load:	545
Trunk (boot) space - maximum:	1525 l
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:	406 l
Fuel tank capacity:	60 l

Size:
Length:	4450 mm mm [Same length.]
Width:	1735 mm mm [Same width.]
Height:	1585 mm mm [Same height.]
Wheelbase:	2525 mm mm [Same wheelbase.]
Front track:	1495 mm
Rear (Back) track:	1485 mm

Powertrain:
Drive wheel	All wheel drive (4x4)
Number of gears	4
Transmission type	Automatic
Front brakes	Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakes	Disc
Assisting systems	ABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering type	Steering rack and pinion
Power steering	Hydraulic Steering
Tires size	215/60 R15
Front suspension	Spring Strut
Rear suspension	Double wishbone

Real owners, real reviews. Tell us about your Subaru Forester.

Subaru

Subaru is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Subaru Corporation , the twenty-first largest automaker by production worldwide in 2017.
Subaru cars are known for their use of a boxer engine layout in most internal combustion vehicles above 1,500 cc....Continue reading