Looking for a family car and my wife really likes the Forester. We tried a 2021 Premium, and she liked the visibility. It’s between this and a CRV, but the Honda costs more. I’ve heard mixed things about Subaru reliability and long-term costs, and we plan to keep it at least 10 years. Anyone here have experience with these?
@Grey
Subaru maintenance tends to cost more because of the AWD system. Honda’s AWD is more of an extra feature, while Subaru’s entire brand is built around it.
Clarkson said:
@Grey
Subaru maintenance tends to cost more because of the AWD system. Honda’s AWD is more of an extra feature, while Subaru’s entire brand is built around it.
Exactly.
@Grey
That’s not a huge difference… about a couple hundred per year. I’d be curious to see if it’s consistent or if some people get hit harder than others.
@Grey
Yeah, that’s like $10 a month. Not really a dealbreaker.
Had mine since 2018, kept up with regular service. Just passed 120k km. Only issue was a thermal control valve and an AC sensor, both covered under warranty.
2016 Premium, got it in 2017 with 35k miles, now at 105k.
Replaced a few wheel bearings under warranty, had an oil leak fixed, and dealt with a few recall repairs. One wheel bearing is acting up again, but I’ll swap it myself. Replaced AC clutch and relay myself for about $130 in parts.
Did a full round of fluids recently (CVT, diffs, brake), plus spark plugs and belt. Would’ve been pricey at a shop, but I’ve built up my tools over time. Next up is a valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seals since I noticed oil in there ($50 in parts).
This car has needed more work than my Hyundai, which has just been basic maintenance. But it’s been paid off for years, it kills it in the snow, and doing my own work has saved me from those big repair bills.
Might want to check insurance costs too. My Forester is way cheaper to insure than my neighbor’s CRV. CRVs and RAV4s are getting stolen like crazy right now, but no one’s out here stealing Foresters.
Honestly, you can’t really go wrong with the Forester, CRV, or RAV4. They’re all solid and last a long time.
For me, comfort was a big factor. I sat in a RAV4 and it just wasn’t right for my back. My wife hated the CRV’s seat. Small stuff like that can be a dealbreaker.
I might be biased since we have three Subarus, but I’d test drive all of them and go with what feels best.
Got a 2015 non-turbo. Just regular oil changes and one big issue—a transmission solenoid valve went out at 122k miles. Also need to swap out my AC blower resistor since my fan won’t blow on the highest setting. Haven’t bothered yet since it’s a quick fix.
I have a 2005 Forester XT I bought with 130k miles. Did some mods (bigger turbo, STi 6MT swap, etc.) but replaced the short block before daily driving it.
These engines have a rep for blowing up, but I’ve had it for 12 years, put 100k miles on it, and it’s still solid. Just kept up with oil changes, a few axle boots, and some small leaks. No major breakdowns.
It’s been through every kind of weather except arctic. The only time it left me stranded was my fault—an intercooler hose popped off because I didn’t tighten it enough. Fixed it in an hour and drove home.
We have a 2021 Forester Sport with 44k miles and a 2023 CRV Sport Hybrid with 22k. Both have been problem-free, just regular oil changes and tire rotations.
I feel like the Subaru has better build quality and more standard features for the price. The CRV gets slightly better gas mileage and has a bit more power, but it’s missing some features that come standard on the Forester.
The CRV has had some reported issues, but ours has been fine. I’d test drive both and compare what matters most to you.
My 2019 Forester Touring just hit 105k miles. It’s been cross-country a few times, through extreme heat and cold, and off-road.
No unexpected repairs. Just tires, brakes, and maintenance. Averages about 24mpg. Still looks and drives great.
2015 Premium, still going strong. Never had a check engine light since I bought it in 2018. Biggest repair was replacing the exhaust. Other than that, just brakes, oil changes, and servicing at the dealer once in a while.
Bought a 2021 Sport brand new. Bad luck—CVT needed replacing at 30k km. Warranty covered it, but I was not happy.
Subaru ACs are kinda hit or miss. I’ve had to get mine fixed twice in my 2017 Forester.
Meanwhile, my wife’s CRV has been running perfect.
2020 Forester… just regular maintenance, no problems.
2021 owner here. MPG has improved after hitting 30k miles. Love the safety features and visibility. Only downside is road noise on highways, and it’s a magnet for bugs in the summer.
- Had to replace a wheel bearing, lower control arm, and muffler (rust). AC went out too. Sitting at 61k miles now, and I’ve kept up with all maintenance. Kinda frustrating, but no major issues.
Consumer Reports just dropped their list. Over 10 years, a Honda might cost about $1200 less than a Subaru to maintain.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-maintenance/the-cost-of-car-ownership-a1854979198/