Curious to know...

[andryea]

I've been a loyal Subaru owner for over thirty years. Recently we purchased a gently used 2020 Forester Premium and senior retired our 2013 model which I loved. I do not love this 2020 version for many reasons and for the first time, sorry I bought it.

As I consider whether or not to sell it or to buy another or to just get used to it I wonder. Is there a particular model year that you'd recommend looking for or staying away from? Are there some model years that are more problematic or troublefree? Which model year/s did Subaru just get it wrong between 2013 and 2025?

 

[bmart]

I would suggest hunting down a low mile version of the generation you like. I have owned Subarus since 2000...and still have my first one. The older ones are far superior, in my opinion. Once they started to hunt Honda/Toyota for market share, everything went to crap.

Set up notifications on cars.com and hunt down small dealers. That is how I found all of mine, all very low mileage and in great shape.

 

[andryea]

When you say older ones and generations what do you mean exactly. How old? What are the generations?

 

[bmart]

You need Google...not me. lol Do a search. Subaru changes "generations" on their models on 5 year intervals. For U.S. Legacies, Gen 3 is 2000-2004, Gen 4 2005-2009, and so on. While changes are made inside of generations, they're basically the same vehicle. I have 3 Gen 3s and 1 Gen 4. They are lovely cars to drive and easy to work on. Nearly zero electronics/driver aids...which is perfect for me. 2010 on things started to go sideways with much bigger vehicles, more electronics, and that dreaded CVT transmission.

 

[Stormy]

we don't know how long you have had your new car, but be sure to give it some time. If its just a personality clash, give it time. I recently handed down my beloved 2010 forester to the grand kids, and purchased a 2024 base model forester. Its been about a year, and I am slowly liking it better, but it has felt like a stranger to me at times.. The higher ( but safer) hood irritates me, and all the tech gizmos on even this base model will take forever to learn. So it still feels a bit like a stranger to me, but its growing on me. I REALLY appreciated this cars abillity to STOP just yestereday in a life or death situation. Yes, its growing on me faster now, and eventaully I may love it just as much as my 2010.

 

[manicmechanic007]

To me, they are all the same car underneath
The newer ones, I do not enjoy either, with the CVT transmissions
The old ones, I put two kids through college doing head gaskets on them
take your pick

 

[Daniel Renaud]

I would suggest hunting down a low mile version of the generation you like. I have owned Subarus since 2000...and still have my first one. The older ones are far superior, in my opinion. Once they started to hunt Honda/Toyota for market share, everything went to crap.

Set up notifications on cars.com and hunt down small dealers. That is how I found all of mine, all very low mileage and in great shape.

My it's about 4K now it's a 2020 Outback white pearl will be 2.9K if i didn't had to moved to another state I don't use the car often I won't buy a 2026 Outback to big to me like an Acsent size with more black plastic around the car.

 

[chasfish]

I've been a loyal Subaru owner for over thirty years. Recently we purchased a gently used 2020 Forester Premium and senior retired our 2013 model which I loved. I do not love this 2020 version for many reasons and for the first time, sorry I bought it.

As I consider whether or not to sell it or to buy another or to just get used to it I wonder. Is there a particular model year that you'd recommend looking for or staying away from? Are there some model years that are more problematic or troublefree? Which model year/s did Subaru just get it wrong between 2013 and 2025?

Check carcomplaints.com for problems with Subarus and any other car. The battery drain issue for Subarus overshadows everything. I think they issued a tech bulletin and or a very weak recall effort. I own a 2018 forester touring and pretty happy with it. But I don’t know if I would ever buy another Subaru.