Pros and Cons: Is the 2022 Subaru Forester a Good SUV?
The chances are high that if you’re shopping for an SUV, the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness is on the list of options. It’s one of the most popular vehicles on the market, and for a good reason. However, with every vehicle comes incredible things and things that aren’t. In any trim, the Forester has broad appeal thanks to a spacious and well-finished cabin, good cargo room, easy-going road manners, and solid fuel economy. It also packs a fair bit of value and is one of few choices in the category with standard all-wheel drive. The Wilderness trim adds to all those desirable qualities with added off-road capability and increased towing capacity. More than badging and cladding, opting for the Wilderness trim brings real mechanical upgrades to back up its rugged looks. And thanks to revised gearing with peppier acceleration, the upgrades help make the Wilderness trim a better choice for on-road use. Other trims get more minor upgrades this year, which combined with the Wilderness trim should help ensure the Forester retains its spot near the top of its class. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still room for improvement. Here are four things we like about the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness, and two we don’t.Pros: Higher SUV, more ground clearance
With the Wilderness trim, customers receive longer springs and shock absorbers. Together, these result in more ground clearance, which is already good for other trims. Forester Wilderness models get 9.2-inches of clearance, up from the 8.7-inches other models have. In addition, the re-tuned suspension makes high-speed bumps hardly noticeable from inside the cabin.Pros: Better tires for a better drive
Standard 2022 Subaru Forester models use 17-inch all-season tires. However, the Wilderness trim trades those in for a set of 17-inch Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires. More importantly, the Yokohama tires have a “knobbier” tread pattern, which provides a better grip for driving off-road. They’re the perfect option for this compact SUV as it takes on dirt, gravel, or other unpaved surfaces. Cars.com also noted that the Wilderness tires are reasonably quiet even while driving off-road, and the automaker includes a full-size spare tire.Also Read: Tips & Tricks: Top 5 End of The Year Car Buying Tips
Pros: Forester Wilderness models can tow more
Off-road capability isn’t the only thing that receives a boost with the Wilderness trim. Towing capacity goes from 1,500 pounds to 3,000 pounds, double the other Foresters. Revised gearing, an external transmission oil cooler, a reinforced transfer case, and a more robust radiator fan help keep the engine cool, making the Wilderness trim more capable.Cons: Disappointing MPG
The penalty for the Wilderness’ increased throttle response and acceleration is a big loss in fuel economy compared to a conventional Forester. Wilderness trims get an EPA-estimated 28 mpg on the highway, 5 mpg is less than other trims. The combined EPA rating drops by 3 mpg, going from 29 mpg to 26 mpg. Urban explorers will suffer the least, with a 1 mpg drop in city driving. Still, the combined fuel mileage is better than competitors: The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands gets 23 mpg combined and the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk has a 21-mpg rating, respectively.Cons: Same Old Forester Downsides
As much as we like the improvements brought with the Wilderness package, the newest Forester remains saddled with some of the same drawbacks we’ve griped about with other Foresters. These include limited cabin storage and an awkward information display on top of the dashboard.Tags: 2019 Subaru Forester Touring, 2020 BMW iX3, 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, 2020 dodge charger, 2020 EQC, 2020 Ford Super Duty, 2020 Honda Pilot, 2020 Kia Optima, 2020 Mercedes Benz, 2020 Nissan Versa, 2020 Subaru WRX STI, Audi SUV, BMW, Brandon K. Hardison, Chevrolet Car, Chevrolet Sonic, Dodge charger, electric vehicles, honda, Honda Pilot, Hyundai SUV, Mercedes Benz, Nissan Rogue, SUV, upcoming car, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line, Volvo Car
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