Subaru Forester SUV (2013-2019) - Practicality & boot space
The Subaru Forester has decent boot space with easy access and rear seats that fold with one press
Practicality is key when it comes to family crossovers, so it’s not too surprising to find the Forester gives a pretty good account of itself here. The upside of its somewhat dull and uninspiring exterior is that there’s plenty of space for passengers and luggage inside.
Subaru Forester interior space & storage
Thanks to the Forester's boxy shape, there's plenty of headroom inside the car and enough space for three adults in the back – although it's a bit of a squeeze. It’s easy to find a good driving position thanks to a steering wheel that's adjustable for rake and reach, plus some highly adjustable seats. There are a two cup-holders in the centre console and the door bins can accommodate large water bottles with ease.
Boot space
The boot has 505 litres of luggage room, expanding to an impressive 1,592 litres with the seats folded down. This is almost identical to the capacity of the Mazda CX-5 and beats the Ford Kuga (406 litres) and VW Tiguan (470 litres). The boot opening is wide and has a fairly low loading lip.
The rear seats split and fold 60:40, and while they don't lie completely flat, a flap of carpet covers the gap between the boot and the seatbacks, so items can slide over it. One particular neat feature is a single-touch rear seat folding mechanism, as well as rear seatbelts that stay out of the way of the seats to prevent a tangle. There isn't enough room for a full-size spare wheel, but a temporary space-saver is stored under the boot floor.
Towing
Petrol Subaru Foresters equipped with the six-speed manual gearbox can haul a trailer, horsebox or caravan weighing up to 1,800kg. Go for the more expensive Lineartronic CVT auto and that total increases to 2,000kg. The electronic stability control programme that has been designed with towing on mind - it compensates for the extra weight and pendulous effect of a trailer.
