The Subaru Forester is one of the most iconic crossovers of all time. Since its introduction in the late 90s, the car has built a reputation for impressive off-road capabilities, including good ground clearance and an efficient all-wheel drivetrain. As a result, it stands as one of the best-selling cars in Subaru's product line.
The 2023 Subaru Forester excels in not only off-road performance but also interior comfort. Following a major upgrade, the vehicle returns to the market with a comfortable interior, more cargo space, and many high-tech features. Here's an in-depth review of the car's interior features and cargo handling capability.
Interior
The cabin is simple, well assembled, and made of quality materials. Its straightforward design allows sufficient outward visibility. Additionally, the possibility of seat adjustment enables you to customize your driving position accordingly.
Cabin Size and Configuration
Unlike most SUVs, Subaru Forester has a two-row seating arrangement and can accommodate five occupants. The back row is the most spacious, with a bench-like, foldable seat. Two sets of latch connectors on the bench seat provide a way to easily strap your children when onboard the car and help keep them safe.
The front seats offer 41.2 inches of headroom and 43.3 inches of legroom, while the rear seats have 39.6 inches of headroom and 39.4 inches of legroom. Taller occupants shouldn't worry either, as the cabin offers a shoulder room of 58.1 inches in the front and 57.2 inches in the back seat.
Interior Aesthetics
The interior décor on the door panels, dashboard, steering wheel, and seats is stylish. All these features have cloth upholstery on the standard trim and caramel leather on the higher trims. The rest of the cabin features textured plastic surfaces, a glossy center console, and predominant matte plastic to add to the aesthetic appeal.
Interior Tech and Amenities
The 2023 Subaru Forester's cabin has executive amenities and technological inspiration. Although the front seats are manually adjustable on the standard trim, you can upgrade to a higher trim for power-assisted seat adjustment.
All Forester models have a touch-screen infotainment system integrating Subaru's STARLINK interface. The Base and Premium trims have a 6.5-inch screen. In contrast, the Sport, Limited, and Touring trims have a larger 8-inch screen. The touch screen is intuitive and easy to navigate, with all controls having clear labels for easy control.
The car's navigation system is among the best, accepting built-in voice command prompts. A digital integration system lets you select your favorite music from a smartphone to make rides more enjoyable. In addition, the SUV has two USB ports in the front and rear and super-fast Wi-Fi connectivity.
Interior Features Across Various Trims
Subaru has six trims for the 2023 year model: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. Depending on your preferred trim, you'll find various interior features to suit your preferences. That said, high-end trims boast optional features unavailable on lower-end trims.
The Forester Premium has considerable interior upgrades beyond the Base trim. The cabin features heated front seats, a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, and a lumbar support system to avoid straining the lower back. The steering wheel has a leather-trimmed cover and silver stitches. The inner door handles are chrome, and the central dashboard has a black, silver finish.
The Forester Sport, as the name suggests, features a youthful interior. The cabin has a predominant dark gray theme with orange stitches on most accessories.
The Forester Wilderness has a rugged design extending to the interior. Besides the interior features on the Limited trim, you'll find upgrades such as water-resistant seat covers and all-weather mats.
The Forester Limited incorporates all interior features of the Premium model. Notable upgrades include Multimedia Plus entertainment, perforated leather-trimmed seats, a silver metallic finish of the center console, and a leather-wrapped gear lever. Finally, a dual-zone climate control system ensures automatic air circulation within the cabin.
Forester Touring is the top model in the 2023 Subaru lineup. It features all the standard and optional features available in the Limited trim. Moreover, the car boasts an exclusive interior upgrade — a gesture control mechanism. The built-in feature enables you to regulate the cabin temperature using hand gestures.
Forester Touring has leather-trimmed upholstery like in other trims, but you can choose a black or saddle brown color. The outboard rear seats have a heating mechanism, while the cabin and cargo area boast impressive LED lights for illumination.
Cargo and Storage Space
The 2023 Subaru Forester shines as a cargo hauler. A well-crafted cargo trunk makes the car ideal for carrying luggage and other accessories. Although the estimated cargo volume is 28.9 cubic feet, you can fold the back seat for a generous 74.2 cubic feet of cargo space. Moreover, a 1,062-pound payload means you can conveniently load carry-on suitcases and camping gear.
The Subaru Forester also excels when it comes to towing capability. The car has a towing rating of 3,000 pounds on the Wilderness trim and a 1,500-pound rating on other trims. So, if you're planning a camping adventure, you can tow a trailer or a small popup camper loaded with outdoor gear.
Subaru offers other incredible storage solutions to help you maximize storage space. For instance, a high roof design on the hood can carry a tent, bike, ski, and other light accessories.
Similarly, a cargo net helps you secure the cargo to prevent it from sliding during transit. You can use the net in two ways: anchor it on each side of the cargo trunk to avoid back-and-forth movement or lay it on the floor to prevent items from rolling over.
You can also install a cup and phone holder on the center console. The phone holder secures your smartphone in landscape or portrait position, while the cup holder is handy when sipping a drink as you drive.
The Subaru Forester also has a portable, lightweight pet kennel. Its collapsible design means you can mount it for your pet to enter within minutes. Straps and hooks are also available to ensure the kennel stays secure while the vehicle is in motion.
Explore the World in the 2023 Subaru Forester
The 2023 Subaru Forester is a well-known off-road SUV. However, the automaker seeks to inspire customers by having a spacious cabin and many interior amenities. In addition, you can now carry extra cargo and haul a trailer, thanks to enhanced cargo-handling capability. Apple Subaru in York, Pennsylvania, has the latest arrivals of the Subaru Forester. Contact our dealership for assistance selecting a suitable trim.
