2022 Subaru Forester

Single naturally aspirated 2.5L flat-4 is standard across the entire 2022 Forester lineup, including Wilderness — no turbo or higher-output option was offered this model year.

Same 2.5L FB25 flat-4 across all 2022 trims produces a flat, modest torque peak typical of a naturally aspirated engine in this class.

182 hp moving roughly 3,500-3,600 lbs through a CVT yields leisurely acceleration; this is among the slowest vehicles in the compact SUV class.

Reviewers describe the naturally aspirated flat-4 as adequate but unremarkable — no turbo lag since it's NA, but the engine has to work audibly hard under harder acceleration or highway passing.

Subaru's Lineartronic CVT uses simulated step-shift points to suppress the classic CVT 'rubber-band' drone and behaves well at steady cruise, but at least one outlet noted a noticeable ratio-change thud around 40 mph.

Standard Forester towing is modest even for the compact SUV class; only the new-for-2022 Wilderness trim doubles it to 3,000 lbs via a revised cooling package and hitch reinforcement.

Subaru's Symmetrical AWD is standard on every 2022 Forester trim with no FWD option, and Premium trim and above add X-MODE with Deep Snow/Mud drive modes plus hill-descent control.

The base Forester's 8.7 in of clearance is already class-competitive, and the new-for-2022 Wilderness trim adds real off-road hardware — 9.2 in clearance, dual-function X-MODE, a front skid plate, all-terrain tires and improved approach/departure angles (23.5°/25.4°) — genuine credibility well beyond a pavement-only crossover, though short of a body-on-frame off-roader.

The 2022 US-market Forester is offered with only the single 2.5L naturally aspirated flat-4 across every trim — no turbo, hybrid or PHEV option this model year; Subaru did not add a Forester Hybrid to the US lineup until the 2025 redesign.

Solid for a gas compact SUV, aided by a modestly powered, naturally aspirated engine and Subaru's efficient CVT gearing; the taller, all-terrain-shod Wilderness trim gives up 3 MPG combined.

Above-average city economy for an AWD-only compact SUV.

A strong highway figure for the class, one of the better-cruising gas compact SUVs.

A mid-pack range for the segment, limited by a modest 16.6-gallon tank despite good combined economy.

Reasonably low running cost for the class, consistent with its above-average combined MPG and use of regular fuel.

The 2022 Forester's sole engine runs on regular 87-octane unleaded across every trim, with no premium recommendation or requirement.

NHTSA's 2022 testing gave the Forester the maximum 5-star overall rating, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side, and 4 stars rollover — the rollover sub-score is the only non-perfect figure, typical for a tall crossover.

The 2022 Forester earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (its 4th straight, 16th overall) with Good ratings across small-overlap front (driver and passenger), original moderate-overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraints; the newer, tougher updated moderate-overlap and updated side tests came back Marginal and Acceptable respectively, which is why it falls just short of a perfect score despite the award.

EyeSight (AEB, full-range adaptive cruise with lane centering, lane departure warning) is standard on every trim including base — unusual generosity for the segment — but Blind-Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are not available at all on the Base trim and only optional (as part of a package that also adds Automatic Emergency Steering) on Premium, becoming standard from Sport up.

IIHS rated the standard EyeSight front crash prevention system Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle (avoided collisions at both 12 and 25 mph), Superior for daytime pedestrian detection, and Superior for nighttime pedestrian detection with the high-beam-assist credit — the top tier across all three sub-tests.

Blind-spot detection with lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert is unavailable on the Base trim at any price and only an optional package on Premium (bundled with Automatic Emergency Steering and a power liftgate); it's standard, alert-plus-AES, from Sport trim up. Coverage is real but gated behind trim/package choice on the two most accessible trims.

Lane-centering steering (part of Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control) is standard across every 2022 Forester trim via EyeSight, and reviewers describe the highway tracking as smooth and confident rather than prone to ping-ponging.

EyeSight's Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control covers the full speed range including stop-and-go and integrates smoothly with lane centering; the CVT pairing makes speed transitions notably seamless, and reviewers rank it among the best in the mainstream segment.

Subaru offers no hands-free highway driving system on any 2022 Forester trim; EyeSight requires hands on the wheel at all times, and the 2022 press kit's feature list includes no BlueCruise/Super Cruise/FSD-equivalent.

IIHS rated the curve-adaptive LED projector headlights Good — the top rating — as standard equipment across all six 2022 trims (Base through Touring), a key factor in the Forester qualifying for Top Safety Pick+.

The Forester is consistently singled out in the compact SUV class for class-leading outward visibility — a tall, upright greenhouse and thin pillars give an unobstructed view with no camera-compensation needed to offset blind zones.

IIHS rated the Forester's LATCH system "Good" with credit for extra usable positions — anchors are easy to locate and reach, and the wide rear door openings make installing multiple car seats straightforward.

Forester is a two-row, five-passenger compact SUV with no third-row option on any 2022 trim.

Forester's tall, boxy greenhouse gives class-leading front headroom on trims without the panoramic moonroof.

Above-average front legroom for the compact SUV class.

Tall roofline and high seating position give the Forester some of the best rear headroom in the compact SUV segment.

Roomy second row relative to the vehicle's compact footprint, a frequently praised trait in reviews.

No third row is offered on the 2022 Forester in any trim or generation configuration — it is strictly a two-row, five-seat SUV.

Solid for a compact SUV but modest against the framework's SUV-wide band, which spans up to full-size SUVs; the panoramic moonroof on the volume Premium trim slightly reduces the base trim's figure.

Competitive maximum cargo capacity for the compact SUV class with seats folded flat.

Practical but conventional storage — reasonably sized console bin, door pockets and a low, wide cargo floor, without any standout innovation like a giga-console or onboard power inverter.

Front and rear seats are comfortable and well-cushioned for most trips; cloth upholstery on lower trims is serviceable rather than plush, and reviewers rate comfort as solid but unremarkable.

Composed, absorbent ride over rough pavement thanks to generous suspension travel and tall sidewalls, without being especially plush or wallowy.

Average for the class — some CVT drone under hard acceleration and moderate wind/road noise at highway speed, not a particularly hushed cabin.

Heated front seats arrive on the Premium trim and up, but a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats are reserved for Limited and Touring — key comfort features are gated well above the base/volume trims.

Entry Base trim MSRP plus mandatory destination charge for the refreshed 2022 model year.

Premium is Forester's traditional highest-volume trim, adding keyless entry, panoramic sunroof and privacy glass over Base for a modest step up.

Blended estimate from two industry trackers reporting average annual repair costs of roughly $540-630 for the Forester, extrapolated to 5 years; both figures track repairs rather than full scheduled maintenance.

Foresters have historically posted above-average compact-SUV resale; industry 5-year depreciation estimates cluster in the low-to-mid 30% range, implying mid-60s retention.

Standard industry-floor basic warranty term, unchanged for the 2022 model year.

Standard industry-floor powertrain warranty, matching most non-Korean mainstream brands.

No complimentary scheduled maintenance is included (unlike Toyota/Hyundai/Kia rivals); coverage is limited to 3-year/36,000-mile roadside assistance plus a bundled STARLINK Safety Plus connected-services trial (and a shorter Security Plus trial on equipped trims) — basic coverage only, no maintenance visits or charging credits.

$29,320 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (65% retained, or about $19,058) leaves about $10,262 in depreciation. Add the projected $3,100 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $13,362 in total.

Consumer Reports' predicted reliability model, built from 2019-2021 Forester owner survey data (same fifth generation, carry-over powertrain into 2022), rated the 2022 Forester as more reliable than the average new vehicle and the top-rated compact SUV overall. That is tempered by J.D. Power's 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study, where Subaru as a brand scored below the industry average and no Subaru nameplate won a segment award, so the two major predictive sources diverge at the brand level even though the model-specific CR signal is strong.

Subaru's multi-year standing is genuinely mixed depending on the study: Consumer Reports placed the brand 7th of 24 automakers (score 59) in its 2023 brand reliability report, a respectable but not top-tier showing, while J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study had Subaru scoring below the industry average for six consecutive years through 2022. That combination reads as solidly mid-pack rather than elite, despite the brand's strong reputation among owners.

NHTSA lists a single recall for the 2022 model year: an insufficient weld allowing water intrusion into the transmission range/inhibitor switch, which can knock out the reverse lights and backup camera (notice mailed January 2024). That's a minor, non-powertrain-failure recall rather than a systemic or safety-critical issue, consistent with a fairly clean recall record for the generation, though CVT-related TSB activity across the fifth generation keeps this short of a top score.

The 2022 Forester's naturally aspirated 2.5L FB25 (with direct injection since the 2019 redesign) resolved the head-gasket failure mode that plagued older EJ-series Subaru engines by routing coolant away from the head gasket and using a timing chain, and it lacks the excessive-oil-consumption reputation tied to 2011-2018 FB25 units. The Lineartronic CVT paired with it, however, carries an ongoing owner-reported pattern of shudder/hesitation complaints spanning 2017-2022 models, with Subaru extending powertrain warranty coverage on affected units — a real, unresolved mark against long-term durability confidence for this specific powertrain pairing.

Reviews split on the cabin: Consumer Reports called the furnishings 'fairly basic' with a noisy cabin, while Edmunds and U.S. News praised the material variety and touch points as competitive-to-strong for the price, noting the 2022 model reduced hard plastic in favor of rubberized and fabric surfaces versus 2021. That lands squarely in the 'competitive with expected hard plastics in low-touch zones' band rather than class-leading or cheap-feeling.

No pattern of assembly complaints (panel gaps, rattles) surfaces in owner or reviewer sources for the fifth-generation Forester beyond the isolated CVT/drivetrain shudder noted above; general consensus (Edmunds, U.S. News) describes solid, consistent build quality for the segment.

Subaru has repeatedly topped J.D. Power's Customer Service Index for satisfaction with dealer service among mass-market brands across the years surrounding this model's ownership window, reflecting both a dense, established nationwide dealer footprint and consistently strong service-experience scores.

RepairPal puts the Forester's average annual repair cost at $632, above the $521 compact-SUV segment average, with roughly average unscheduled-repair frequency (0.4 visits/year). Subaru parts are widely stocked with a large enthusiast aftermarket, but the above-segment-average repair cost keeps this out of the top band.

The volume Premium trim carries the 8-inch Starlink touchscreen; the base trim makes do with a smaller 6.5-inch unit.

Subaru's Starlink interface is functional but has been criticized for sluggish response and a dated menu structure; reviewers rate it below segment leaders like Toyota's or Hyundai's systems.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not offered on any 2022 Forester trim — only wired projection via USB. Subaru did not introduce wireless phone projection until the 2023 Outback.

Built-in navigation is standard only on the top Touring trim (optional elsewhere); voice control is functional for basic commands but most owners default to phone-based voice assistants and maps.

A 9-speaker, 576-watt-equivalent Harman Kardon system is available on the Touring trim and delivers strong sound; base/mid-trim systems are adequate but unremarkable.

The 2022 Forester retains analog gauges flanking a small multi-info LCD display rather than a full configurable digital instrument cluster on any trim.

2022-era Starlink infotainment received limited software/map updates rather than comprehensive over-the-air whole-vehicle updates typical of newer EV-focused platforms.

The MySubaru app supports remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle locate and alerts; core functions require a Starlink Safety Plus/Security Plus subscription after an initial trial period.

Dual USB-A ports up front (with rear USB on higher trims) but no wireless charging pad was offered as a factory option on any 2022 Forester trim.

Proximity keyless entry with push-button start and remote start arrive from Premium up, but a hands-free/power liftgate is reserved for Limited and Touring — no phone-as-key offered.

A rearview camera is standard fleet-wide, and rear cross-traffic alert/blind-spot detection is available from Premium and standard on Sport and up, but no 360-degree surround camera was offered on the 2022 model year.

No head-up display is offered on any 2022 Forester trim.

Wide door openings, a high seating position and 39.4 in of rear legroom make loading kids and car seats easy; LATCH anchors are accessible without being buried in seat bolsters.

EyeSight driver-assist (adaptive cruise with lane centering, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning) is standard on every 2022 Forester trim including the base, and the vehicle earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for a fourth straight year.

Good rear-seat space and a usable cargo hold support multi-hour family trips, but cloth seats and heated-seat/climate features gated to upper trims, plus moderate road noise, keep it from excelling.

Excellent outward visibility from a tall greenhouse, light controls and a smooth (if unexciting) CVT-and-boxer powertrain make the Forester relaxed and low-fatigue in daily traffic.

EPA-rated 26 city/33 highway/29 combined mpg on Base/Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring AWD trims is about average for a gas compact SUV, with regular-grade fuel keeping running costs reasonable but unremarkable.

A compact footprint and tight-for-class 35.4 ft turning circle make the Forester easy to park; the lack of a 360-degree camera on any trim is the main knock for tight urban maneuvers.

The volume trims are rated to tow just 1,500 lbs (only the new-for-2022 Wilderness trim reaches 3,000 lbs), and there is no bed or heavy-duty payload rating — this is not a work-capable vehicle in its mainstream configuration.

Subaru's naturally aspirated boxer engine and standard symmetrical AWD have a strong reputation for long-term durability and being ranked the most reliable compact SUV by Consumer Reports for this generation, even though the Forester isn't marketed as a work vehicle.

Standard roof rails allow crossbar/rack accessories, but there is no onboard power outlet, dedicated tie-down/cargo management system, or upfit ecosystem aimed at jobsite use.

Adaptive cruise with lane centering (standard EyeSight) reduces highway fatigue and the 29-combined-mpg rating gives a solid cruising range, but moderate cabin noise and a coarse engine at sustained highway speed cap the score.

Standard symmetrical AWD, X-MODE with hill descent control, and 8.7 in of ground clearance (9.2 in on the new-for-2022 Wilderness trim) give the Forester genuine light off-road and foul-weather capability well above typical compact SUVs.

60/40 split-folding rear seats, a low, wide cargo floor and standard roof rails handle typical road-trip and outdoor gear well, though maximum cargo volume (69.1 cu ft) is modest next to larger SUVs.

Reviewers note noticeable body roll in corners and dynamics that don't encourage spirited driving; the Forester is planted and confident in a straight line but unremarkable when pushed.

Steering is accurate enough for daily use but widely described as numb, with little road feedback transmitted to the driver.

No major complaints about brake feel or fade in period reviews; pedal response is adequate and stopping performance is in line with compact SUV norms, without being a standout.

The naturally aspirated 2.5L boxer-four paired with a CVT is smooth but underpowered, with reviewers describing acceleration as "gutless" and merely sufficient for everyday use.

The boxer engine has a distinctive, mildly characterful growl under load that reviewers note favorably, offset by typical CVT drone during hard acceleration.

A tight turning circle for the compact SUV segment aids low-speed maneuverability.

A commanding, upright seating position combined with a huge, high greenhouse gives excellent outward visibility and easy ingress/egress, widely praised as one of the Forester's strongest traits.

Consistently described as dull and appliance-like on-road, prioritizing utility and outdoor capability over driver engagement.

Base trim includes standard AWD, the full EyeSight driver-assist suite (adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep) with an all-new camera/software for 2022, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto — content several compact-SUV rivals reserve for higher trims.

Standard AWD at no upcharge (versus ~$1,200-1,500 AWD options on RAV4/CR-V) and standard driver-assist tech keep content-per-dollar strong, though modest power (182 hp) and a CVT-only lineup temper the value case against segment leaders.

Six well-spaced trims (Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, Touring) span $25,195-$35,295, including the off-road-focused Wilderness variant and a loaded Touring flagship, covering budget to premium buyers within one body style.

114,096 units sold in 2022 — Subaru's best-selling nameplate and one of the fastest-selling vehicles in the US that year (~14.7 days average time-to-sell) despite chip-shortage inventory constraints, though still trailing segment volume leaders like the RAV4 and CR-V.

Subaru holds a loyal, safety- and outdoors-oriented following with strong repeat-purchase rates, but it is a mainstream rather than aspirational brand and doesn't carry a luxury halo.

2022 fell mid chip-shortage: Subaru kept manufacturer incentives among the lowest of any brand, and Foresters commonly sold at or above MSRP with dealer markups in many markets, leaving buyers little room to negotiate.

2022 is a mid-cycle refresh of the 5th-generation Forester (launched 2019) — new front fascia, an all-new EyeSight camera/software, and the addition of the Wilderness trim — but the platform and interior architecture are three years old with no full redesign imminent.

Earned its 16th consecutive IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2022 and is broadly recommended (85% owner recommend rate on KBB, generally positive Consumer Reports coverage), but buff-book reviews were mixed on driving dynamics and infotainment usability, and it's rarely the outright pick over class leaders like the RAV4 or CR-V in head-to-head comparisons.