Hey everyone, I’m pretty sure I’ll be shopping for a new car soon and could use some advice. If this isn’t the right place for this, just let me know.
My Nissan Versa finally gave up on me, so now I need something reliable. My boyfriend and I love the outdoors, so we’re leaning towards a Subaru. We live in central NC and take frequent trips to the mountains for hiking. Eventually, we want to move closer to the mountains and do more camping and road trips. We also need a car that can handle kayaks and road bikes.
Good gas mileage, visibility, and durability are super important to me. I had my Nissan for just under five years before the transmission failed. I know Foresters also have CVT transmissions, so I’m a little concerned. Anyone had issues with that? Would love to hear your pros and cons before I make a decision. Thanks in advance!
Subarus are great if you really need all-wheel drive, but if you don’t, you’re gonna take a hit on gas mileage for no reason. A lot of people buy them thinking they need AWD for trips, but unless you’re regularly driving through snow or rough terrain, it’s not a must-have.
They’re not as reliable as Toyota or Honda, but they’re still solid cars compared to a lot of others. Foresters are made in Japan, so the quality is consistent. Subaru’s CVT is way better than Nissan’s, so you don’t have to worry as much about that.
If you take long trips, Subaru’s adaptive cruise control is really nice. Plus, visibility in a Forester is one of the best in its class. But if gas mileage is a big concern, you might wanna check out the Toyota RAV4 Prime. It’s a hybrid, so it’ll save you more on gas. Too bad Subaru doesn’t make a hybrid Forester.
@Keir
Thanks! The RAV4 and CR-V are also on my list, but it’s been hard to find good discussions on them. My daily commute is short, but I hate spending money on gas. Right now, we stick to well-paved park trails because my Nissan couldn’t handle anything rough. It struggled on steep roads and shook on dirt paths.
We’d definitely go on more adventurous trips with a better vehicle, but you make a good point. Our weather in NC is usually mild, so maybe AWD isn’t as necessary as I thought. I’ll look more into the RAV4, especially the hybrid. Appreciate the insight!
@Ezra
One thing to consider—the Forester has way more cargo space than the RAV4. I’ve been looking at SUVs, and most of them struggle to fit a modern stroller and a dog at the same time.
Subaru does a great job with cargo room. The only downside to the Forester is the engine—it’s not super powerful. Can’t tow much and doesn’t have that fun-to-drive feel. But from a practical standpoint, it’s one of the best cars I’ve owned.
Every car has its issues, but Nissan’s CVTs have been a mess. Subaru’s reliability has improved, though, so as long as you keep up with maintenance, you should be fine. A well-maintained Forester can last over 10 years.
@Dior
That’s exactly what the tow truck guy told me! I hit 140k miles, and he said Nissans tend to have problems after 100k. I never had issues before this, but the CVT failure was a dealbreaker for me. Good to hear Subaru’s is better!
@Ezra
CVTs can last a long time if they’re built well and maintained properly. Subaru had some issues from 2010-2015, but they’ve gotten better. Just get the transmission fluid checked every 30k miles, and you should be good.
Dealerships can be hit or miss when it comes to transmission maintenance, so finding a good independent mechanic can help. And yeah, in the US, manufacturers don’t push CVT maintenance as much as they should, which leads to failures down the line.
I’ve got a Forester and love it. Great for hiking and camping. Also, the turning radius makes city driving easier, and it has a good balance of cargo space and legroom.
Gas mileage is decent but nothing amazing. The CVT helps, but it makes the car feel a little sluggish.
One small annoyance is that it’s a bit taller than it needs to be, which makes using roof storage slightly inconvenient. The big windows are great for visibility but can turn the car into a sauna on hot days. Window tinting helps a lot.
If you’re looking at the Forester, maybe check out the Outback too. Sometimes they’re priced close, and you get extra room. For road trips, that extra space can make a difference.
@Zadie
Honestly, if I had to do it again, I’d get an Outback. Smoother ride, quieter, and more towing capacity. Pretty much the same storage space too.
Soren said: @Zadie
Honestly, if I had to do it again, I’d get an Outback. Smoother ride, quieter, and more towing capacity. Pretty much the same storage space too.
Yeah, if I were buying today, I’d probably go for the Outback too. No regrets, though—the Forester was the better fit for me at the time.
I’m 6’7” so the extra headroom in the Forester was a huge plus. That, and the AWD. Great for long drives, but when I move with all my stuff, the engine struggles a bit when passing.