The 2014 Subaru Forester is a redesigned vehicle for 2014 with changes that make it better yet keep it in familiar territory. Losing the “it” thing that people love about a car is one of the dangers an automaker faces when doing a redesign, but Subaru pulls this one off nicely.
The fourth-generation 2014 Subaru Forester starts by getting bigger. It’s 1.4 inches longer, 0.6 inches wider and 1.3 inches taller than last year’s model but it doesn’t look drastically different. The grille is a little more standout, the A-pillars have moved forward some, and the hood is slightly higher, but there’s nothing dramatic to the exterior changes.
Once you’re inside the vehicle, the changes become more noticeable with a much roomier more spacious passenger compartment. Those relocated A-pillars help create an open view for drivers and passengers with windows that feel huge, but in the back is where you really get more room. Rear-seat legroom has gone up from 38″ to 41.7″ so even the tallest of rear passengers will be comfortable on a long ride.
If you’re looking for cargo space, then you’re going to be very happy with what this vehicle offers. They’ve increased it by 6 cubic feet so you’ll get 74.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded flat.
Subaru has also improved the fuel economy of the 2014 Subaru Forester. The 2.5-liter four cylinder CVT gets 24 city/32 highway for a combined rating of 27 MPG. This increase makes it the segment leader in AWD fuel economy with an improvement of 5 MPG over last year.
And how does the 2.5 liter four cylinder CVT drive? It gives you 170 horsepower to play with and feels well-powered with a surprising amount of torque from a dead stop, but acceleration is slow. This makes it a nice drive around town, but the lackluster acceleration does become noticeable in highway driving.
There’s also the benefit of AWD and a high ground clearance that will let you do some off-roading and help make sure you’re not stuck when the snow flies. No, it’s not a Jeep, but it’s still a good option for the more casual off-roader.
The 2014 Subaru Forester is a fabulous redesign that offers plenty of worthy improvement while still maintaining the essential Subaru-ness that fans of the brand have come to love.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
