2000 Subaru Forester Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
21 City / 27 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
165
Seats
5

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Jordan R
Amazingly reliable and safe vehicle.
Our Subaru Forester has been so good to us. The all wheel drive proved reliable in snowy flagstaff. Mine burns a bit of oil which means every couple weeks I'm putting more oil in but other than that no problems. We have driven across the country with it packed full of all our belongings with no issues. It really has tons of space in the back too. Comfort is decent, the seats kind of hug you in a nice way. We have put 229,000 miles on it and it's still going so, we are very happy with our decision to buy this workhorse.
accountCircle Robert A
Hope to drive until it becomes a classic.
This car is the definition of reliability. If it ever dies I want one just like it. The electrical system could be upgraded, and there could be a chime if you leave your lights on, but other than that, it is great. Just basic maintenance will do the trick.
accountCircle Maryellen C
The great gas mileage that the Forester gets, and the way it handles in the snow.
I like the way it handles when I'm driving, it's good on gas and great in the snow. There is nothing I dislike.
accountCircle Daniel G
Reliable smooth comfortable compact transportation.
So I would have to say that my Subaru Forester is a great running vehicle hardly ever having problems with it I love the features of the hidden cup holders very reliable all wheel drive never really had a problem with anything great on gas easy to haul groceries easy to do work I mean anna and it is got four door so I can fit the family so good stuff good stuff.
accountCircle Cheryl H
Subaru small but mighty great car.
Great turning radius, small car but big inside. Love the heated seats and the fact that I am up high instead of close to ground. When it gets old enough it does require some maintenance and will start to lag when picking up. Only had one major issue with the battery but resolves easily.
accountCircle Mary C
It has a back window wiper for the rain or snow to make it easier to see out.
I love my Subaru Forester it is comfortable to ride in, easy to drive, has a lot of space to put all of my groceries and the things I buy when I go shopping, it is also good on gas, and great in the winter, it has plenty of passenger room and very comfortable for them.
accountCircle Teresa K
As previously stated, it's a great size for my needs. But more important to me , I love that it was a gift from my sons!
Love it...the size is great not too big, but big enough...can transport larger things if necessary. Also love that it is pretty great on gas.
accountCircle phil l
Long lasting and durable work horse.
The car is a workhorse. It's lasted almost 19 winters and is still running strong. The only thing that it suffers from is rust from the winter in very common places across all subaru foresters of it's time. Other than that the thing is running strong still after almost 2 decades

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Daniel M
It has a rebuilt engine in it that had 90,000 miles on it
I hate it squeaks too much, and had a lot of miles on it to wear every week I'm working on it
accountCircle Tim P
All wheel drive is the best feature of this vehicle
So far this car has been very reliable and I have been happy with its performance. It's a little underpowered which makes it a little boring to drive but the all wheel drive makes up for it
accountCircle Alex A
Others should know it is a very safe car & has lots of space inside.
I like its safety & that it is "boxy". I dislike that it is not fuel efficient. It also burns more oil than I would like.
accountCircle Skyler J
The car has a huge trunk if traveling. Not enough leg room in back seat.
I don't have any problems with the car. I would just prefer a newer version. Subaru is a long lasting and very safe car for teenagers and adults with children. Not enough room in the back seat for taller people with long legs. Large trunk space for traveling

Subaru Forester Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
L
165 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
S
165 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2000 Subaru Forester Owner Reviews

4.10
21 Reviews
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5 stars 38%
4 stars 43%
3 stars 14%
2 stars 0%
1 star 5%
accountCircle Maryellen C on November 26, 2020
The great gas mileage that the Forester gets, and the way it handles in the snow.
I like the way it handles when I'm driving, it's good on gas and great in the snow. There is nothing I dislike.
accountCircle Hailey G on November 2, 2020
It's very reliable. It's not flashy by any standard, but it will get you to and from as long as you care for it well.
I like that it is reliable and has heated cloth seats. The only modern appliance I wish it had was built in navigation and a good music interface. I make do with a cassette tape player right now!
View All Reviews (21) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #4 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2000 Subaru Forester has an average owner rating of 4.10 out of 5 which ranks it #4 of 9 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2000 Toyota RAV4
4.47
2
car
2000 Honda CR-V
4.38
3
car
2000 Chevrolet Tracker
4.26
4
car
2000 Subaru Forester
4.1

Ranks #2 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2000 Subaru Forester has a combined MPG of 27 which ranks it #2 of 10 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2000 Toyota RAV4
29 MPG
2
car
2000 Subaru Forester
27 MPG
3
Tie
car
2000 Honda CR-V
25 MPG

Is The 2000 Subaru Forester A Good Car?

Yes, it is reliable and easily maintained. It has plenty of space for our kids and dog. Can take off road to go camping and things.
Rachel G.
Yes, reliable and sturdy. Although it doesn't fit the whole family. Also flimsy cup holders. But overall good
Jason F.
It's AMAZING. Been my car for a long time and I never plan to get rid of it. Its comfortable, hold everything I need it to. Great for my fluffy co-pilot. All around solid car.
Cordelia V.
Yes, it’s a good size and lasts for a very long time with little trouble. It also drives nicely and runs well as long as it’s well taken care of.
Holly A.
Yes my Subaru Forester is an excellent car., it is easy to maintain, great on gas and I love driving it.
Andrea S.

How Reliable Is The 2000 Subaru Forester?

Yes, my Subaru forester has been reliable to me for the time I have owned it. Besides these wearing out if tires, breaks and all the parts on the wheel assembly. Engine is in good shape.
Mickey D.
Yes, reliable. Needs better cup holders and mirrors. Husband drives it every day for minimum 2 hours.
Xavier L.
Yes very reliable, mine have 260,000 original miles on it and it is still running smooth and perfect. Few paint chip rust spots and I will need to get a new motor soon. But the car is in great shape.
Tammy A.
It’s had a few problems in the past couple years. Currently the steering wheel is a little wobbly when driving at speeds faster than 30mph. We also had problems with the car driving backward for a... Read More
Stacy B.
It is very reliable and I have no problems with it, I take it to my mechanic if I think there is something wrong, so I take good care of it so it doesn't give me any problems.
Lauren B.

Is The 2000 Subaru Forester A Good Value?

Mine was $3000. I believe it was a good value. We like to camp and hike and a vehicle like that not only has the room to fit us and the dog, it also will get us where we want to go.
Michelle A.
Cost us 2400. Pretty good value considering everything had been replaced. Vehicle Runs very well now.
Sara C.
I would say a 2000 Subaru Forester would cost you about 1,200. Great value. You can fix them easy and pretty cheap. Lots of parts all over the place for these vehicles.
Linda C.
The book value on my Subaru Forester is three thousand dollars which I think is a great value for the age of the car
Ali J.

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Frequently Asked Questions

2000 Subaru Forester: What is the size of the trunk and cargo space?

Answer: The 2000 Subaru Forester will have a trunk cargo area of 33.2 cubic feet but You'll be able to expand this to 64.6 cubic feet when You fold down the rear seats. There is a couple of latches and levers You're...

2000 Subaru Forester: What is the towing capacity including torque, payload, and tongue weight?

Answer: A 2000 Subaru Forester has a standard towing capacity of 2000 pounds, requiring a tongue weight of 200 lbs. The torque is standard at 166 ft.-lbs @ 4,000 rpm produced by the 2.0L DOHC engine and the payload...

2000 Subaru Forester: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The tire sizes on the 2000 Subaru Forester are 205/70R15, 215/60R16, 225/55R17, and 235/45R18. The tire pressure on this vehicle depends on the tire size. Don't let this discourage You, though. They happen to...

2000 Subaru Forester: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2000 Subaru Forester comes with two engine types, the 2.0 and 2.5 liters; however, for either, You're going to have an oil capacity of 4.2 quarts, and can use a variety of viscosity weights, from 0W-30 to...
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Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Not Rated

Side

Not Rated
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety