2018 Subaru Forester

Pros: Respectable fuel economy for the class; large windows all around make for excellent visibility; generous passenger room both front and rear

Cons: Middling acceleration with base engine; CVT transmission exacerbates engine noise; wind noise; some lackluster interior materials

CG Says: The Subaru Forester has few changes for 2018. Subaru’s Active Torque Vectoring, which enhances handling, is now standard on the top-line 2.0XT Touring. EyeSight safety system is now standard on 2.5i Touring and 2.0XT Touring models. Also, a 2.5i Black Edition is a new model with unique interior and exterior trim. Forester is a crossover compact SUV. A 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder powers 2.5i models, while a 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is in 2.0XT versions. The 2.5-liter engine is paired with a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic transmission. The turbo 2.0-liter is only offered with a CVT. All-wheel drive is standard. Though it feels a bit more “car-like” than many compact SUVs, Forester offers competitive passenger and cargo room, along with welcome available features such as hill-descent control and Subaru’s EyeSight system with pre-collision braking and lane-departure warning. Performance of the 2.5-liter engine with the CVT doesn’t peg the thrill meter, but that powertrain delivers good fuel-economy numbers and adequate power. Plus, the starting price for 2.5-liter models is still well under $25,000. Turbocharged XTs have more pleasing performance, but cost more to buy and feed with no gain in utility.