The 2022 Subaru Forester facelift, shown late last year, builds on the foundations built by its predecessor with a variety of small modifications meant to make it a somewhat sharper-looking, safer vehicle to transport your family about.
The 2022 Subaru Forester is a large and secure five-seat wagon with standard all-wheel drive that is quite handy. The Car Connection has awarded it Best Car to Buy twice.
It receives a redesigned front with a larger grille for 2022, as well as a new model named the Wilderness. Automatic emergency braking is available on some models.
So, what has changed? New headlights, bumpers, and wheel designs have been introduced, and the suite of Eyesight driving assistance has been upgraded to include lane-centering, lane-departure prevention, and autonomous emergency steering. Inside, there’s a revamped instrument panel, as well as gesture control for the air conditioning.
The Subaru Forester 2022 is a new mid-size hard-top four-door all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle from Japanese automaker Subaru. It replaces the previous-generation 2019 Subaru Forester and functions as a scaled-down version of the third-generation 2020 Subaru Legacy. The new Subaru Forester 2022 is built on the same platform as Legacy and Impreza.
Subaru has a long history of producing tough-driving vehicles that are also practical for the client. It’s no surprise, therefore, that when the new Subaru Forester debuted in 2022, we thought we’d tell you what makes the new model so unique.
The exterior of the 2022 Forester has been updated to give it a more truck-like look, but the cabin remains as comfy and functional as ever—exceptionally roomy and replete with useful storage compartments. The Forester, like most other Subarus, comes standard with all-wheel drive.
Key competitors such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 share comparable characteristics, but both are available with more powerful gasoline and hybrid powertrains, making the Forester appear underpowered in contrast. Still, for consumers who like Subaru’s adventurous image, the Forester will be a good pick.
What Is New about 2022?
The Visual acuity suite of vehicle technologies receives improved video sensors, which Subaru claims broaden the system’s field of view, increase its operational range, and add a new Automatic Emergency Steering system to the mix. The models now have torque vectoring, Subaru’s SI-Drive driving mode option, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, and an auto start-stop capability for the four-cylinder engine.
Subaru officially updated the Forester SUV for 2022 with new front headlights, a redesigned grille, and new wheel styles. The Wilderness trim, like the Outback Wilderness, adds greater ground clearance and a rough aesthetic package to the lineup.
Additionally, the Forester has new optional gesture controls for the temperature control system and a panoramic sunroof as standard equipment on all trims save the basic.
Since the Limited and Touring trims are more luxurious, we believe the Premium model provides the best value and features. The exterior upgrades—17-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and body-color side-view mirrors—make it appear less like a rental car, and the interior includes amenities like a panoramic sunroof, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, reclining rear seatbacks, an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and a six-speaker sound system.
Real-World MPG and Fuel Economy
The Forester will likely please consumers looking for efficiency, with EPA fuel-economy figures that equal much of the compact-crossover class (26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway). Our Forester Touring test car got 32 mpg in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, 1 mpg less than its highway fuel-economy rating. However, that figure is consistent with the results of the Honda CR-V Touring and Toyota RAV4 Adventure.
Transport, Ambience, and Convenience
The Forester’s interior is straightforward and uncomplicated, with a solid driving position and excellent outward view. The rear seat is quite roomy, and even adults should find the bench seat to be a pleasant place to sit on long road journeys. We were able to stow 11 carry-on luggage behind the back seat and a whopping 23 when the back seats were folded. That’s more than the CX-5 or RAV4, but the CR-V has a maximum capacity of 25 carry-ons with the rear seats folded.
Performance, Engine, and Transmission
The Forester’s handling is adequate for an SUV with no sports goals. The ride is smooth and elegant, the steering is precise, and the brakes are powerful enough for emergency stops. A 2.5-liter flat-four-cylinder engine produces 182 horsepower and has a towing capacity of 1500 pounds. Our Forester Wilderness test car took 8.0 seconds to reach 60 mph on our test track.
Accessibility and navigation systems
Every Forester models include a touchscreen infotainment system with Subaru’s newest Starlink interface as standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard on higher-end models, but are optional on lower-end variants. Except for the basic Forester, all models come included with Wi-Fi through a 4G LTE cellular connection. Two USB ports are offered for front-seat passengers, with two more available as options on the back of the center console.
Driver-Assistance and Safety Features
Subaru’s EyeSight suite of camera-based driver-assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, comes standard on all Forester models. Visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for further information on the crash-test findings.
- Automatic emergency braking is standard.
- Lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist is standard.
- Adaptive cruise control is standard.
Protection plan and Service Protection
The Forester’s warranty is minimal, and customers will have to pay for maintenance visits out of pocket. Rivals like the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson include a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The RAV4 comes with two years of free scheduled maintenance.
- The limited warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles.
- The powertrain warranty is valid for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
- There is no free planned maintenance.
Summary
The 2022 Subaru Forester must be considered if you want the greatest all-wheel-drive system available in a five-seat crossover. If you never travel offroad, you won’t benefit from the system’s finest function, but it will still increase stability in rain or snow. The cargo hold is enormous. The acceleration is decent, and the CVT is one of the finest on the market.
