2025 Forester

[mikemm]

I am looking at the 2025 Subaru Forester. I like the vehicle but have seen several negative comments about the audio system and not having knobs and concerns abiut safety issues with having to use the touchscreen. I am hoping there are some people on this forum who have this model and year who can share their input.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Defender13]

I've had my Forester Premium since September of last year, loving it. It does have a volume know and if you push it in it mutes the system in case you need that quick. Due to the size of the screen I haven't experienced any safety issues, but most of the controls are on the steering wheel. My only complaint is that when driving with gloves I occasionally change the source instead of skipping forward. Obviously I wouldn't recommend changing playlists in rush hour traffic, but on long highway drives I can take short glances and find what I need without to much trouble, especially the more familiar I become with the system.

 

[mikemm]

I've had my Forester Premium since September of last year, loving it. It does have a volume know and if you push it in it mutes the system in case you need that quick. Due to the size of the screen I haven't experienced any safety issues, but most of the controls are on the steering wheel. My only complaint is that when driving with gloves I occasionally change the source instead of skipping forward. Obviously I wouldn't recommend changing playlists in rush hour traffic, but on long highway drives I can take short glances and find what I need without to much trouble, especially the more familiar I become with the system.

Appreciate the post and your experience

 

[TNForest]

You can use voice command for just about everything, don’t even have to look at the screen.

 

[mikemm]

Thanks TNForest - I am looking forward to getting the Forester

 

[TNForest]

Thanks TNForest - I am looking forward to getting the Forester

You are welcome. Lots of great “how too” videos on youtube!

 

[Dr. Bear]

I am looking at the 2025 Subaru Forester. I like the vehicle but have seen several negative comments about the audio system and not having knobs and concerns abiut safety issues with having to use the touchscreen. I am hoping there are some people on this forum who have this model and year who can share their input.

Thanks in advance.

I purchased a 2025 Forester Premium last August and find it very satisfying. Several of the knobs missing from the touch screen are replaced with steering wheel controls and voice commands.
The audio quality is relative. I own a 2013 Outback and compared to that car' s sound system, the Forester's sounds great, having an HD setting for radio stations that broadcast in that manner. The touch commands can be a bit poly and slow but usually responds in a timely manner.
I needed to replace a vehicle but, if I were you, I would get a 2026 hybrid as it has better pickup and a bit better gas mileage.
I find auto stop-start to be less than useless as I am not in an urban area.
I highly rate the Forester's driveability. It is amazingly comfortable and handles really well. Local driving gets me 29-30MPG and pure open highway/freeway has been as high 37.
My overall satisfaction is very, very high. Hope that helps.

 

[Dick Foster]

Auto stop eliminator plugs into the CAN buss and puts an end to autostop if you want it to.

 

[SJUMBA93]

Auto stop eliminator plugs into the CAN buss and puts an end to autostop if you want it to.

I am not familiar with this product. Do you have a link?

 

[Dick Foster]

I am not familiar with this product. Do you have a link?

Autostop Eliminator - Disable The Auto Start Stop Feature

The Autostop Eliminator is an intelligent tech device for your car, truck or SUV that will safely disable auto start-stop feature and remember your preference

www.autostopeliminator.com

I think that's it anyway. Good videos on how to install in various makes, models and trim levels. It's a snap to install, does not affect warranty and you can unug it and take it with you should you sell or trade the car. It works a treat too. If I turn it off it stays off but if I turn it back on its back to stock behavior untill I turn if off again.

 

[Grumpy1950]

The upper trim levels of the 2025 Forester (Limited and Touring) with the driver monitoring feature allow you to set both Start/Stop and AVH to default to your preference of settings via the infotainment system menus. You will still be able to override the defaults if you need to via the touch screen buttons if need be. They will revert to their default settings when you restart the car again. Hopefully, this will eventually find its way into all models and trim levels via firmware update in the future.

 

[Dick Foster]

Reverting to normal on upon shutdown and restart is precisely what Autostop eliminator prevents. Turn it off and it stays off until you purposely enable it again. That is unless the battery is removed or disconnected. Then you'd have to disable it once more.

 

[mikemm]

I purchased a 2025 Forester Premium last August and find it very satisfying. Several of the knobs missing from the touch screen are replaced with steering wheel controls and voice commands.
The audio quality is relative. I own a 2013 Outback and compared to that car' s sound system, the Forester's sounds great, having an HD setting for radio stations that broadcast in that manner. The touch commands can be a bit poly and slow but usually responds in a timely manner.
I needed to replace a vehicle but, if I were you, I would get a 2026 hybrid as it has better pickup and a bit better gas mileage.
I find auto stop-start to be less than useless as I am not in an urban area.
I highly rate the Forester's driveability. It is amazingly comfortable and handles really well. Local driving gets me 29-30MPG and pure open highway/freeway has been as high 37.
My overall satisfaction is very, very high. Hope that helps.

This helps a lot. Really appreciate your input

 

[mikemm]

I purchased a 2025 Forester Premium last August and find it very satisfying. Several of the knobs missing from the touch screen are replaced with steering wheel controls and voice commands.
The audio quality is relative. I own a 2013 Outback and compared to that car' s sound system, the Forester's sounds great, having an HD setting for radio stations that broadcast in that manner. The touch commands can be a bit poly and slow but usually responds in a timely manner.
I needed to replace a vehicle but, if I were you, I would get a 2026 hybrid as it has better pickup and a bit better gas mileage.
I find auto stop-start to be less than useless as I am not in an urban area.
I highly rate the Forester's driveability. It is amazingly comfortable and handles really well. Local driving gets me 29-30MPG and pure open highway/freeway has been as high 37.
My overall satisfaction is very, very high. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the reply. Great info on the Forester

 

[mikemm]

Autostop Eliminator - Disable The Auto Start Stop Feature

The Autostop Eliminator is an intelligent tech device for your car, truck or SUV that will safely disable auto start-stop feature and remember your preference

www.autostopeliminator.com

I think that's it anyway. Good videos on how to install in various makes, models and trim levels. It's a snap to install, does not affect warranty and you can unug it and take it with you should you sell or trade the car. It works a treat too. If I turn it off it stays off but if I turn it back on its back to stock behavior untill I turn if off again.

I assume this is the feature that stops the engine at stop lights to save gas. I am not a fan of that feature. Sales person showed how it can be easily disabled each ti,e you start the car. My wife felt taxation was annoying. We looked at the 2025 Rav 4 today since we own the 2011 which has been a very reliable car. The Rav has the same feature and you disable it the same way. I will say I love my 2011 Rav. However the 2025 Rav did not seem to be as solid as the Forester. I appreciate the comments as I am not seeing anything negative on the Forester.

 

[Dick Foster]

I assume this is the feature that stops the engine at stop lights to save gas. I am not a fan of that feature. Sales person showed how it can be easily disabled each ti,e you start the car. My wife felt taxation was annoying. We looked at the 2025 Rav 4 today since we own the 2011 which has been a very reliable car. The Rav has the same feature and you disable it the same way. I will say I love my 2011 Rav. However the 2025 Rav did not seem to be as solid as the Forester. I appreciate the comments as I am not seeing anything negative on the Forester.

They all have it due to gubberent mandate. A gubberment who knows nothing about cars and even less about how to save fossil fuels. In fact they know a whole lot of nothing about almost everything except waste, fraud and corruption about which they are the world's top experts.

 

[Grumpy1950]

What I was trying to explain in my previous post was that if you temporarily override the settings you programmed for default operation of the auto vehicle hold and start/stop functions via the touchscreen menus, the temporary override will be cancelled when you shut off the car unless you manually cancel it before that. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Dick Foster]

What I was trying to explain in my previous post was that if you temporarily override the settings you programmed for default operation of the auto vehicle hold and start/stop functions via the touchscreen menus, the temporary override will be cancelled when you shut off the car unless you manually cancel it before that. Sorry for the confusion.

It's pretty clear. If you want autostop stopped get autostop eliminator.
You're not by any chance my friend Grumpy, in Phoenix that I used to go rock crawling with, are ya?

 

[Grumpy1950]

It's pretty clear. If you want autostop stopped get autostop eliminator.
You're not by any chance my friend Grumpy, in Phoenix that I used to go rock crawling with, are ya?

Sorry, no. I'm in PA.

 

[Grumpy1950]

The following You Tube video may clear this up: