2004 Subaru Forester Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
19 -22 City / 23 -27 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
165 -210
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Jenna M
A grocery-getter with a turbo, a real gem.
With it being 15 years old, of course the maintenance has to be kept up with. But overall the car has been so safe and fun, I absolutely would own another. Not only does it handle extremely well for an SUV/wagon, but it is surprisingly quick and is a real sleeper.
accountCircle Robert M
Clean, stock, quick Subaru forester xt
Reliable, 5 speed manual, turbo, clean little car. Purchased car to modify but we ended up liking it completely stock. I tinted the windows. I enjoy the safety of AWD, and the speed of turbo. Fuel mileage is good lower than the class of car but it's fun to drive. Subarus are usually rated pretty high in crash test.
accountCircle Mary L
So far so good: hoping for a long future together
I have recently needed to repair the AC, control arm and spark plugs and wires. It is comfortable and reliable otherwise. I have only owned the vehicle for 6 months. It has had the timing belt replaced before I acquired it. I am happy with it overall.

Subaru Forester Models

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

car
X
165 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
XS
165 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
XS w/Premium Pkg
165 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
XS w/Prem Pkg & Lthr
165 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
XT
210 HP 21-21 MPG 5 Seats
car
XT w/Prem Pkg & Lthr
210 HP 21-21 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2004 Subaru Forester Owner Reviews

4.67
3 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 67%
4 stars 33%
3 stars 0%
2 stars 0%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Jenna M on March 4, 2021
A grocery-getter with a turbo, a real gem.
With it being 15 years old, of course the maintenance has to be kept up with. But overall the car has been so safe and fun, I absolutely would own another. Not only does it handle extremely well for an SUV/wagon, but it is surprisingly quick and is a real sleeper.
accountCircle Mary L on April 4, 2020
So far so good: hoping for a long future together
I have recently needed to repair the AC, control arm and spark plugs and wires. It is comfortable and reliable otherwise. I have only owned the vehicle for 6 months. It has had the timing belt replaced before I acquired it. I am happy with it overall.
View All Reviews (3) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2004 Subaru Forester has an average owner rating of 4.67 out of 5 which ranks it #1 of 16 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2004 Subaru Forester
4.67
2
car
2004 Scion xB
4.52
3
Tie
car
2004 Honda CR-V
4.49

Ranks #6 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2004 Subaru Forester has a combined MPG of 27 which ranks it #6 of 17 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2004 Scion xA
38 MPG
2
car
2004 Scion xB
35 MPG
6
car
2004 Subaru Forester
27 MPG

Is The 2004 Subaru Forester A Good Car?

Yes. It is very reliable and dependable and still holds good gas mileage after having 150,000+ miles on it. n
Michaela A.

How Reliable Is The 2004 Subaru Forester?

It has had a couple pulley and suspension issues with the engine compartment and the wheels respectively but apart from that it runs good as new
Gene A.

Is The 2004 Subaru Forester A Good Value?

I bought mine used for just over $5,000- I believe it was a great value for how well the car has held up
Kaitlyn H.

Related Articles for 2004 Subaru Forester

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Best Subaru Forester Year

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2004 Subaru Forester mass air flow sensor location?

Answer: The 2004 Subaru Forester mass air flow sensor is on the throttle body. But what does a mass air flow sensor do exactly. Well Your mass air flow Sensor (MAF Sensor) is a piece of technology within Your engine...

What's the 2004 subaru forester xt oil capacity?

Answer: The 2004 Subaru Forester takeS4.0 liters (4.2 quarts) of 5W-30 engine oil. With a dry filter, You'll need about 5 quarts. Subaru recommends replacing this fluid every 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever You...

What's the 2004 subaru forester coolant type?

Answer: The 2004 Subaru Forester coolant type is ZereX1 Gallon Green 50/50 Coolant/Antifreeze. If You need to do a coolant change on the vehicle then You will first need to open the hood and find the radiator. It will...

2004 Subaru Forester: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The 2004 Subaru Forester can use tires that range from 15 inches to 19 inches. You'll find that these can vary with trim. We'll cover the two United States domestic market ones. First, all tires on this vehicle...

2004 Subaru Forester: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2004 Subaru Forester has a 2.5 L 4Cylinder engine that needS5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil. The capacity for the vehicle iS4.2 quarts with a filter. For 5W-30 the 5 is for the thickness or the viscosity of the...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Not Rated

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety