2019 Subaru Forester

Pros: Excellent passenger and cargo room; abundance of standard safety features; nice ride/handling balance

Cons: Lackluster throttle response; observed fuel economy fails to match EPA estimates; engine stop/start system is a bit clunky

CG Says: The Subaru Forester is redesigned for 2019, gaining more horsepower, a bit more interior room, and new technology and safety features. Rear-seat legroom grows by a little more than an inch and cargo room is increased by 1.4 cubic feet. The revised 2.5-liter horizontally opposed “flat four” engine gets a 12-horsepower bump, from 170 to 182. However, the more powerful 2.0-liter turbo engine offered on the previous-generation Forester is no longer available. The 6-speed manual transmission option has also been dropped; the sole transmission is a CVT automatic. Like almost all Subarus, the Forester has standard all-wheel drive. The base model now has standard EyeSight, a suite of safety features that includes forward collision warning and mitigation, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Lead-Vehicle Start Alert, which beeps to let you know if the vehicle ahead of you in traffic moves away from a stop and you don’t. Available only on the topline Touring model is Subaru’s new DriverFocus system, which gives visual and audible warnings for driver drowsiness and inattention. Other available features include reverse automatic braking, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, steering-linked adaptive headlights, hill-descent control, and panoramic sunroof. Despite a somewhat lackluster powertrain, the redesigned Forester builds on the strengths of the previous-generation model. It packs even more room inside its sensibly sized exterior dimensions, gains several desirable new features, and maintains the pleasant ride/handling balance of its predecessor. If you prefer a compact crossover SUV that’s a little bit more on the “car-like” side, the Forester should definitely be on your shopping list.