subaru forester 2023 review australia

The 2023 Subaru Forester is the family SUV that trades drama for competence, then quietly outlasts your enthusiasm for school drop-off queues. Proper symmetrical AWD means it won’t spit the dummy at the first gravel road, and visibility is so good you’ll swear the pillars went on a diet.

The 2.5‑litre boxer four makes about 136 kW/239 Nm through a CVT and returns roughly 7–8 L/100 km in the real world, while the Hybrid is smoother around town but only a smidge thriftier. Ride comfort is plush, the boot’s about 498 L and the cabin’s genuinely roomy, with EyeSight safety and a 5‑star ANCAP rating keeping things calm. Ground clearance sits around 220 mm and braked towing is up to 1,500 kg, so camping gear and corrugations are fair game. New pricing hovered roughly $38k–$50k AUD depending on trim, while 2023 used examples on Tradingpost often land in the low‑mid $30ks to mid‑$40ks. Infotainment is fine rather than flash, and the engine’s more faithful than fiery—but as an all‑weather, all‑roads family bus, it’s about as dependable as a sausage sizzle at Bunnings.