Subaru Forester Subaru Forester 2014

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Subaru Forester Specs at TrueDelta: Powertrains and tires by trim level (2014)

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2014 Subaru Forester specs.

2014 Subaru Forester Specs - Exterior and Interior Dimensions

Body 4dr SUV
Wheelbase 103.9 in
Length 180.9 in
Width 70.7 in
Height 66.4 in
Curb Weight 3366 lb.
Fuel Capacity 15.9 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 41.4 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 57.0 in
Legroom, Row 1 43.0 in
Headroom, Row 2 39.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 56.5 in
Legroom, Row 2 38.0 in
Total Legroom 81 in (over 2 rows)
Cargo Volume, Minimum 34.4 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 74.7 ft3

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TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2014 Subaru Forester

2014 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearComment
2014 Beyond visibility, people buy crossovers to get more space for people and cargo. As in previous Subaru Foresters, the 2014's ceiling is cathedral-high. I could have worn a top hat inside. If you're very tall, and have been seeking a compact vehicle in which you'll easily fit, you've found one. If, on the other hand, you've been seeking expansive elbow room, the Honda CR-V has more of it. And legroom? A combined (first and second row) figure of 81 inches tops every other compact SUV, including the otherwise segment-leading Honda (79.6 inches) and Toyota RAV-4 (79.8 inches). The Chevrolet Equinox offers another tenth of an inch, but with a 188-inch length (vs. the Forester's 181) and 4,083-pound curb weight (vs. the Forester 2.5i's 3,366) it's not truly compact. Subaru has worked no such miracles with shoulder room. At 56.5 inches, the Forester's is typical of the compact crossover class. Add in a small driveline hump (absent in the Honda) and three adults won't happily share the rear seat for long. But how many car owners put three adult-sized people in the second row for long, anyway? Measurements don't tell the entire story. The Honda's rear seat cushion is too low to the floor to provide adults with thigh support, and its rear seatback can be reclined to only two nearly identical positions. In constrast, the Forester's passengers enjoy a comfortably high rear seat that reclines through a broader range. One negative for rear seat comfort: unlike the Ford Escape (but like nearly all other compact crossovers, including the CR-V), the Forester has no rear air vents. Thanks to the tall, square rear body, cargo space is also the best in the segment, though not by as large a margin as the rear seat. Up front, there are plenty of bins in which to stash your stuff. see full Subaru Forester review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2014 Subaru Forester

2014 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2015 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
I'm 6'3" and often don't fit comfortable in vehicles. I found this had a very nice amount of front seat room. The center console tends to stay out of the way as well, some newer designs have the center stack moving into where my right knee would be. It's a very noticeable improvement over my previous 2009 Escape. I actually found the Forester more comfortable for me than the Outback. I was expecting the opposite. see full Subaru Forester review
2015 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
After looking at Explorer's, I was surprised how much more room the Forester had in the back seat. Granted it doesn't have a third row, but if you don't need a 3rd row, the Forester is hard to beat in this segment for rear seat room. We can put a forward facing child seat in the back, move the front seat up a about 2 inches from all the way back and there's still plenty of front passenger room and my 1.5 year old son can't kick the back of the seat. see full Subaru Forester review
2014 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
Excellent rear seat comfort and rear seats are 60/ 40 and easy to fold flat. rear seats also have recline function which is nice ... excellent leg room see full Subaru Forester review
2014 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
Huge rear seat for the car's size see full Subaru Forester review
 

2014 Subaru Forester 4-door SUV Specs - Powertrains and Tire Sizes

Trim 2.5i 2.5i Premium 2.0XT Premium 2.5i Limited 2.5i Touring 2.0XT Touring
Standard Engine 2.5L H4
DOHC-4v
170 hp@5800
174 lb-ft@4100
2.5L H4
DOHC-4v
170 hp@5800
174 lb-ft@4100
turbocharged
2.0L H4
DOHC-4v
250 hp@5600
258 lb-ft@2000
2.5L H4
DOHC-4v
170 hp@5800
174 lb-ft@4100
2.5L H4
DOHC-4v
170 hp@5800
174 lb-ft@4100
turbocharged
2.0L H4
DOHC-4v
250 hp@5600
258 lb-ft@2000
Standard Transmission6-speed manual6-speed manual8-speed manually-shiftable CVTCVTCVT8-speed manually-shiftable CVT
Optional Transmission(s)CVTCVT    
Standard DrivetrainAWDAWDAWDAWDAWDAWD
Standard Tires225/60HR17 tires225/60HR17 tires225/55HR18 tires225/60HR17 tires225/60HR17 tires225/55HR18 tires

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TrueDelta Reviews the Powertrain of the 2014 Subaru Forester

2014 Subaru Forester Powertrain: Pros
YearComment
2014 Last year's Forester XT paired a 224-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four-cylinder engine with an antiquated four-speed automatic. The 2014 has a smaller engine--a 2.0-liter--but it's good for 250 horsepower. Even better for performance and fuel economy, it's paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). With a conventional automatic, engine speed (and thus output) drops with each shift. The fewer the gears, the more dramatically it drops. The CVT has a much broader range than the old four-speed transmission and, with no discrete gears to shift among, can hold the engine at its power peak when maximum thrust is called for. Some drivers don't care for CVTs, as they can thwart a sense of connection with the engine and even make acceleration sound and feel unnatural--the dreaded "rubber band" effect. The Subaru unit, though not quite as direct in feel or as quick to react as Honda's, is among the better examples of the bunch. Paired with the turbo engine, it largely avoids undesirable slipping sensations. Take advantage of the Sport or Sport+ driving mode, and the CVT mimics a six-speed or an eight-speed conventional automatic transmission, respectively. Manual shifts can be summoned via the lever or paddles mounted to the steering wheel. These modes also significantly quicken throttle response; in the default, "Intelligent" mode, the Forester XT feels considerably less alive.Thanks to this new powertrain, the Forester XT is about as quick as an affordably-priced compact SUV gets. Judging from various road tests, it will get to 60 mph in a bit over six seconds, while the heavier, CVT-free Ford Escape will take nearly seven. So why isn't powertrain performance closer to the top of this list of "why to buys"? Partly because performance doesn't rank among the key reasons people buy this sort of vehicle, and the Forester does so well in the areas that tend to be top priorities. But also because this powertrain accelerates the Forester so smoothly that there's little thrill to be had from the experience. If you want performance for practical reasons, such as passing on a two-lane highway, the Forester will deliver. If you're seeking thrills, not so much. No need, practical or otherwise, for a rocket ship? Then the regular, 170-horsepower Forester should do. The turbo does have a bit of a fuel economy penalty, especially on the highway. Its EPA fuel economy ratings are 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, vs. 24/32 for the non-turbo engine. The Escape checks in at 21/28. These EPA ratings assume a casual driving style. With any turbo a heavy right foot will dramatically reduce fuel economy. see full Subaru Forester review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Powertrain of the 2014 Subaru Forester

2014 Subaru Forester Powertrain: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2015 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
When shopping for a new SUV, I was adament I didn't want a CVT. However many manufacturers are starting to use them.I really liked the Forester and decided I would "deal" with a CVT. After having it for a few months, don't even notice it anymore except when rapidly accelerating to get on the highway. Honestly if they offered a 6speed traditional automatic transmission, I would probably take the CVT because of MPG gain. We also have a Nissan Altima with a CVT, the Subaru's is superior. It is able to make a surprisingly amount of torque at low RPM considering the engine size versus vehicle size. If you hate CVTs, give this a try, you might be content with it. Don't expect sports car performance, but the power is adequate. see full Subaru Forester review
2014 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
I was sceptical at first of the CVT but now I really enjoy it. However CVT is extremely noisy below 10 degrees Celsius and whines like a sick cat see full Subaru Forester review
2014 4dr SUV turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4
8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
Very quick. Fun to drive. Still a bit high up to really trust the cornering, but feels good under heavy acceleration. see full Subaru Forester review
2014 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
All wheel drive system is great. Hard to get the car stuck in snow. see full Subaru Forester review
2014 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
I've got the "base" 2.5 litre 4-cylinder "boxer" motor with standard AWD and the Continuously Variable Transmission. The powertrain IS powerful - even with just 170 HP on tap, I've got no issues with acceleration. The engine pulls smoothly (although sometimes noisily at higher RPM) and it's easy to get up to speed. The CVT is great... It takes a moment to get used to the "non-shifting" feel - not feeling the shift between gears. But, again, smooth and easy. Subaru has programmed some shift "feel" into the unit, so it's not like a solid ROAR of engine noise all the time. It "feels" like there is a shift between first and .. 2nd? and then onto "third"... Have yet to achieve the "promised" MPG levels, but I've got a bit of a heavy foot and have been using the A/C almost non-stop since day one - I live in the desert area of Southern California. Have not had any slippage or loss of traction - but I've played on some loose dirt roads and never lost any control. see full Subaru Forester review
2014 Subaru Forester Powertrain: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2014 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
Sometimes the engine gets a bit LOUD when you're accelerating. The CVT can be a bit .. touchy .. and can sometimes lurch from a stop. But otherwise, the powertrain is great. see full Subaru Forester review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Tires of the 2014 Subaru Forester

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2014 Subaru Forester MSRP and Invoice Prices

Body Trim Base Price Invoice Destination
4dr SUV 2.5i 21,995 20,811 825
4dr SUV 2.5i Premium 23,495 22,176 825
4dr SUV 2.0XT Premium 27,995 26,232 825
4dr SUV 2.5i Limited 27,995 26,222 825
4dr SUV 2.5i Touring 29,995 28,051 825
4dr SUV 2.0XT Touring 32,995 30,836 825

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