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SubaruForester e-Boxer (2019-)

Available new
Medium/Large SUV
Full hybrid

£37,990Typical price

Test score

where to buy or sell

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Now in its fifth generation, the Subaru Forester – launched in 2019 and facelifted in 2022 – is a mainstay of the mid-size SUV market. Unique for its ‘flat four’ engine format and all-wheel drive, the current Subaru Forester moves into hybrid territory thanks to new ‘e-Boxer’ power. But is it a match for SUV rivals like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and VW Tiguan? Find out in our full Subaru Forester review.

pros

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cons

What's included?

What is it?
What’s it great at?
What’s it like to drive?
How reliable are Subaru cars?
How comfortable and spacious is it?
How economical is it to run?
How safe is it?
Is there anything I should look out for?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Comfort and practicality
Brand reliability 0-4 years

Mar 2024First reviewed by Which?
Nov 2019Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test cars

19 Oct 2023

Ease of driving

Overall
Visibility
Smoothness of power delivery
Driving stability
Cabin layout

How we test ease of driving

To find out how easy a car is to drive, we assess cars across a number of areas from visibility and handling to the layout of the cabin and how smoothly the engine delivers its power.

Performance

Overall
In-gear acceleration
Brakes

How we test performance

We test braking distances and whether the effectivess of the brakes fade with repeat use. Performanc is based on in-gear acceleration.

Comfort and practicality

Overall
Entry and exit
Seat comfort
Ride quality
Quietness
Seat space
Boot space (large cars, SUVs and MPVs)

How we test comfort and practicality

Comfort and practicality includes how easy it is, or not, to get in and out of the car and the maximum height of occupants. We also measure road, wind and engine noise and assess how well the car deals with bumps from large potholes to jittery surfaces like cobble stones.

Euro NCAP

How we test euro ncap

Any car that receives a rating of three stars or less from Euro NCAP is made a Don't Buy. If a car has been available for more than four years and has not been tested by Euro NCAP, it cannot be a Best Buy.

Which? safety

Brand reliability 0-4 years

Overall
Petrol reliability

How we test brand reliability 0-4 years

Our reliability ratings are based on the feedback from tens of thousands of UK motorists, as collected in our annual Which? car survey. We divide all reliability feedback into three age groups: cars aged up to four years, five to nine years, and 10 to 15 years.

Brand reliability 5-9 years

General
Class	Medium/Large SUV
Luxury	No
Convertible	No
Availability	Available new
New price	£37,990 - £40,990
Fuel type	Full hybrid
Tested fuel efficiency	31 to 34.4mpg
Length	4,625 to 4,640mm
Width (excluding wing mirrors)	1,815mm
Width (including wing mirrors)	2,075mm
Height	1,730mm
Driver max height
Second row passenger max height
Boot space with seats up
Boot space with seats down
Number of seats	5
Folding rear seats	Yes
Isofix attachments	Yes
Turning circle	11.6 m
On sale date	25 November 2019
Lowest pence per mile cost	£19.49

Latest tested engine
Engine name	2.0ie Platinum Lineartronic
Fuel type	Petrol-Hybrid
Capacity and power	2-litre (150hp)
Transmission	CVT (Continuously variable transmission)
Driven wheels	Four-wheel-drive (4WD)
Fuel tank capacity	48 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway (mpg)
Tested fuel economy: Combined (mpg)
Cost per mile	21.63p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£71
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Extremely Low (trace)
CO level	Extremely High
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	209
Well-to-wheel (WTW) CO2 (g/km)	243
Official fuel economy: WLTP	34.7
Official Euro emission level	Euro 6d
Braked tow load (KG)	1870kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	750kg
Engine test date	27 October 2022
Test programme	2017

Engine two
Engine name	2.0ie Platinum Lineartronic
Fuel	Petrol-Hybrid
Capacity and power	2-litre (150hp)
Transmission	CVT (Continuously variable transmission)
Driven wheels	Four-wheel-drive (4WD)
Fuel tank capacity	48 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway
Tested fuel economy: combined mpg
Cost per mile	19.49p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£71
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Extremely Low (trace)
CO level	Extremely High
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	190
Well-to-wheel (WTW) CO2 (g/km)	224
Official fuel economy: WLTP	34.7
Official Euro emission level	Euro 6d
Braked tow load (KG)	1870kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	750kg
Engine test date	10 March 2021
Car test programme	2017

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SubaruForester e-Boxer (2019-)

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What's included?

Test results

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Suggested Alternatives

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