The Wilderness model has a dedicated transmission and all-wheel-drive system, driving modes for deep mud and deep snow, automatic low gradient control, 17-inch alloy wheels wearing Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires, and a 180-degree front-view monitor. Among the optional extras are the powered tailgate, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, rear parking sensors with reverse automatic braking, and a 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
Sport trim gains that upgraded display and the extra driver aids, while adding 18-inch alloy wheels, and hill descent control for the all-wheel drive system. This model is eligible for blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, Automatic Emergency Steering, upgraded driver’s display, powered tailgate with automatic close and height memory, and a rear center console with two more USB ports. These are standard in Premium trim, along with heated side mirrors, panoramic powered moonroof, keyless entry/ignition, heated front seats, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, illuminated vanity mirrors, reclining rear seats, and Wi-Fi. Before that, the only options for the base trim are roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels. Higher trims bring the usual nicer appointments, with the Wilderness receiving its own set of dedicated features. It’s optional in Premium trim and standard above. Working at speeds up to 50 mph, it helps with evasive steering maneuvers. And the engine stop/restart function doesn’t save enough fuel to justify living with the thunk that occurs when the engine kicks back in.Īutomatic Emergency Steering is a new driver assistance feature this year. It sounds its warnings a little too soon. The lane-keeping assistance system is one of them. While we’re picking nits, there are a couple of functions we usually turn off when we’re in a Forester. At least the one in the Forester has been engineered to be as effective as possible.
But they’re inexpensive compared with other more preferable setups. These tend to react slower to throttle inputs and can also drone annoyingly. We realize most people buying a new Forester won’t care, but the automatic transmission is of the continuously variable variety. It also wears all-terrain tires to cope with any off-road adventures its owners will embark upon. The new Forester Wilderness variant debuts this year with slightly more ground clearance compared with a regular Forester: 9.2 inches to 8.7. Those occupants will also appreciate a generally comfortable ride quality.
This sure-footedness brings some compensation for what is not a great amount of power, but enough to pull the Forester uphill with a full complement of people and stuff. It’s a standard feature with every 2022 Forester. In corners, the outside wheel turns a little faster, bringing the Forester sweetly around the turn. Driving the 2022 Subaru ForesterĪctive torque vectoring means the all-wheel-drive system can adjust how much power goes to each rear wheel. We’ve given our 5-Year Cost to Own award for compact crossovers to the Subaru Forester five years in a row, the most recent being 2021. It’s at this point in most of our reviews where we would normally say that the Honda has the best resale values. The Volkswagen Tiguan (another contender in the $27k bracket) is big enough to offer a third seating row.īefore buying, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to find out what others in your area paid for their new Forester. The Toyota RAV4 is another giant among compact crossovers, priced from around $27k, and offering hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.
The Hyundai Tucson is also in that ballpark, and comes with a lot of standard equipment, plus an unbeatable powertrain warranty. The Mazda CX-5 is priced similarly and feels great to drive. The Honda CR-V starts at just under $26k and is simply a quality product. Having all-wheel drive already puts a 2022 Forester at an advantage over the competition, but the many rival compact crossovers also have their own plus points. And the top Touring trim is $35,295, which is about as much as anyone can spend on a new Forester, since all the usual extras come as standard in this model. The new-for-2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness starts just below $33k. It has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $25,195, plus a destination charge. The most basic version is called just the Forester, no other initials or names.