Subaru Forester 2002-2008 used car review

The Subaru Forester is rugged and spacious for a small SUV.

Richard Edwards

Expert Reviewer | Auto Media Group

Exterior

Drive

Safety

Value

Interior

Overall score , 3.3 out of 5

The good

Spacious, airy interior
Good off-road ability for a small SUV
Practical load space

The not-so-good

Reliability issues with early versions
Noisy engine

Inside and out

On the road

Safety

Reliability

Cost of ownership

Buyers’ guide

Variants

Timeline

Details

Review vehicle

2004 Subaru Forester XS

Price

$5,250 to $14,000 for models that have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km

Engine

2-litre four-cylinder, 101kW/186Nm (claimed)

Transmission

Four-speed automatic, all-wheel drive

Fuel economy

9.6-litres per 100km (claimed)

Fuel type

Regular

Servicing

10,000km or Six months

Safety rating

Four-star Used Car Safety Rating

Spare wheel

Space saver

Length

4455mm

Width

1735mm

Height

1650mm

Towing capacity

730kg (unbraked), 1400kg (braked)

Turning circle

10.9m

Image gallery

Richard Edwards

Expert Reviewer | Auto Media Group

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