Trying to get a car for my longtime girlfriend (we’re both 67) has been quite the process. We’ve both had muscle cars since our teens, but now I’ve moved to a truck, and she’s considering a small SUV since her Camaro is getting harder to get in and out of. We’ve test-driven a few options and recently ruled out the RAV4. Now it’s between the Forester and a Bronco Sport with a 2.0L engine.
The Forester was great to drive, though we found the leather seats a bit firm. The cloth seats in the Premium trim were softer, but it lacked some of the features in the Limited. She’s also not a fan of everything moving to screens instead of physical buttons, which is a concern for her. I’m used to it because I’ve been in IT for years, but she’s still adjusting.
I think the hesitation is more about leaving behind the feel of a sports car with its snug seat and simple controls. The Forester handled really well for me, but when she was driving, she had the salesman and me on edge. She was taking sharp turns at speed and flying down straightaways at 80+, completely unfazed. She’s used to a stiffer ride and was surprised when we pointed out how fast she was actually going.
I wasn’t crazy about the Bronco, but I admit it had a more connected feel to the road, probably because of the different transmission setup. It’s our first time driving a CVT, and while I didn’t mind it, she felt like the car wasn’t responding properly. I had to keep pointing out that she was actually moving faster than she thought, especially on the highway.
We’ve never owned a Subaru, but we know they have a good reputation. This car needs to last, though.
Do we even fit the Subaru crowd? I thought the car was solid, but she’s unsure about the touchscreen controls and the way it drives. I figure she’ll get used to both in time, but I’m wondering if we should keep looking. Feels like screens are taking over everywhere anyway. This will likely be her last car, and she barely put 40K miles on her 2015 Camaro.
Nothing beats the visibility in a Forester. It’s easily the best in its class. I feel like the Forester and Bronco are two completely different cars, though. If you can afford it, I’d go for the Touring model.
I’ve been driving Subarus for 35 years (currently in a Forester, used to have an Outback), but I still test other brands just to see what’s out there. What keeps me coming back is the AWD and Subaru’s safety record.
The Forester is the better choice overall. The only downsides are the windshield issues in older models and the huge screen replacing physical buttons. But I wouldn’t touch the Bronco Sport—just not a good car.
If you’re both driving the Forester, or if you park in tight spaces often, go for the Touring over the Limited. It has memory settings for the driver’s seat and power-folding side mirrors, which the Limited doesn’t have.
A family member around your age just got a 2025 Touring and loves it. They said the lumbar support is way better than in my Limited. They also had no issues getting used to the screen—barely took any time at all.
I was in the same boat, trying to decide between these two. Ended up with the Forester, and I’m really happy with it. The Bronco felt fun but didn’t seem as practical for long-term use.