QUALITY | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
modern interior that affords unobstructed visibility and loads of space
Motor Trend
The Forester is one of the most spacious vehicles in the segment
Edmunds
On paved road, the ride was refined and relatively quiet.
Boston Globe
The back seat is now something of an amphitheater—legroom is vast, and egress will brighten the faces of octogenarians.
Car and Driver
Average interior materials
Automobile Magazine
The 2013 Subaru Forester has far more space inside than most people will appreciate just looking at it from the outside. Its seats are well-placed and not too high, the cargo floor is low and flat, and it holds not only four full-sized adults--or, in a pinch, five--but a remarkable amount of their gear. The tailgate opens wide and high, making loading easy, and the rear seats fold down easily, with one-touch folding an available option. Some reviewers find the front seats not to their liking, calling them both short and flat, especially for taller, longer-limbed drivers.
Road trips in a 2013 Forester are comfortable and fairly refined, though it's far from the quietest crossover in the class. The ride is surprisingly supple and well-damped, but road noise intrudes and wind roar around the door mirrors continues to challenge Subaru's engineers. Befitting its utilitarian character, the mirrors themselves are large, well-located, and very usable--but they're noisy as a result.
As one of the older cars in the class, the Forester's interior plastics show its age. While they look good, and are undoubtedly practical and easy to clean, there is little soft-touch plastic and there are large swathes of very plain gray textured or silver flat plastic. Many Subaru owners will prize practicality over style and feel-good materials, but the standards among compact crossovers are rising fast, and other competitors simply have nicer, more stylish, more pleasing interiors.
Conclusion
The 2013 Subaru Forester is comfortable to ride in, but its interior materials and noise suppression are now below average.
