Subaru’s 2019 Forester comes with a refined 2.5L four-cylinder boxer engine. Although it gains overall performance and efficiency from the previous year, it still lacks oomph compared to rivals like Mazda, Kia, and Honda, which offer turbocharged engine options.
Key Points
- The 2019 Subaru Forester‘s single, 2.5L boxer engine option makes 182 horsepower, 12 more than the previous year.
- Fuel economy for the 2019 Forester comes in at 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, according to EPA estimates.
- The 2019 Subaru Forester lacks the acceleration of turbocharged rivals like the Mazda CX-5 but still reaches zero to 60 in 8.3 seconds.
- 2019 Forester does have an engine-related recall, involving a PCV valve that could cause loss of power.
- The annual repair cost for the 2019 Subaru Forester is approximately $632, according to Repair Pal.
- Buyers who want more horsepower or better fuel economy should consider options from Mazda, Honda, and Toyota.
2019 Forester’s 2.5L Engine Offers Less Than Thrilling Ride but Meets Most Buyers Needs, Say Auto Critics
The only engine option available in the 2019 Subaru Forester is a 2.5L four-cylinder boxer engine. Compared to the base engine of years past, this newer engine makes gains in key areas. It has an aluminum block and heads, direct injection, and electronic throttle control.
The updated engine produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb.-ft. of torque. That extra power and torque improve the Forester’s performance in every driving scenario, especially in urban driving environments.
Another improvement that comes with this engine is acceleration. The 2.5L boxer brings the 2019 Forester from zero to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds. That’s 1.1 seconds faster than an AWD 2019 Nissan Rogue. The Forester also beats the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox by four-tenths of a second.
On the other hand, turbocharged rivals have the 2019 Forester outmatched. The 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature is 1.9 seconds faster from zero to 60 mph.
Although this 2.5L is more powerful than the previous base engine, it is still lacking in overall grunt, say some auto critics. Car and Driver notes the 2019 Forester’s boxer unit offers “not exactly thrilling performance, but it’ll meet the needs of most buyers.”
Producing 29 mpg Combined, the 2019 Forester’s Engine Has Good Fuel Economy, But Not as Good as Competitors
Another key area that the 2019 Forester’s new engine excels in is efficiency. This SUV is equipped with a 16.6-gallon fuel tank. In terms of fuel economy, the updated 2.5L engine gets an EPA estimated 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.
Those numbers are pretty respectable, but they are mediocre in the big picture of this class. This is because a number of the 2019 Forester’s rivals are available with hybrid technology.
For example, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid gets 40 mpg combined. There’s also the 2019 Nissan Rogue Hybrid, which gets 34 mpg combined.
On the bright side, the 2019 Forester has a powertrain performance management system with an “intelligent” setting where throttle inputs are smoothed out to help save fuel.
The boxer engine only needs 87 octane fuel. In addition, it will need 4.4 quarts of 0W-20 synthetic engine oil. Subaru recommends oil and filter changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
2.5L Boxer Engine Can Last up to 250,000 Miles, But it Still Suffers from the Excessive Oil Consumption Problem of Past Foresters
The quality and reliability of Subaru engines have gotten noticeably better over the years. The 2.5L engine in the 2019 Subaru Forester is no exception.
Like any vehicle, if you do regular maintenance, it will last. With the 2019 Forester, the boxer engine under the hood can last up to 250,000 with regular care. Included with that is an annual maintenance cost of $632 according to Repair Pal.
While this engine is a step forward in reliability and quality, it does still tend to use oil heavily. This is a trademark problem of many Subarus old and new. Just remember to regularly check your oil and make sure the levels are good.
The 2.5L boxer was also subject to a recall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall was issued for a PCV valve being at risk of separating. This could cause a loss of power.
2019 Subaru Forester’s Sole Engine Options is Sufficient for Most, but Rivals Offer Better Higher Fuel Economy and More Horsepower
The 2019 Subaru Forester does a lot of things very well. The model is great off-road, extremely safe, and has excellent storage.
However, while its updated boxer engine is more powerful than the old 2.5L unit, it is still relatively underpowered.
But if your heart is set on the 2019 Forester, its engine will get the job done with decent fuel economy and adequate horsepower for everyday commuting. If that’s not good enough, we recommend looking at a Mazda or Toyota.
Photos: Subaru
