Skip advert
Advertisement

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

Carbuyer Rating

2.9 out of 5

Owners Rating
Be the first to review
Practicality & boot space Rating

3.5 out of 5

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.

Advertisement - Article continues below

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.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Top 10 best used SUVs 2024
Top 10 best used SUVs
Best cars
5 Feb 2024

Top 10 best used SUVs 2024

Subaru Forester SUV review
Subaru Forester SUV
In-depth reviews
18 Jul 2023

Subaru Forester SUV review

Most Popular

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
28 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
best electric cars
Best cars
28 Mar 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024