Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
20 -22 City / 23 -28 HWY
Horsepower
165 -210
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Shaun Caskenette
Maintainace
Yeah I recommend this vehicle

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 L.L. Bean Edition
165 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
XT
210 HP 22-22 MPG 5 Seats
car
XT w/Premium Pkg
210 HP 22-22 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Subaru Forester Owner Reviews

5.00
1 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 100%
4 stars 0%
3 stars 0%
2 stars 0%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Shaun Caskenette on June 9, 2020
Maintainace
Yeah I recommend this vehicle

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Moises R.

Pros: it is all wheel drive, good mileage to gas ratio, good interior space, easy to maintain, and very durable in terms of how many years it can go w/o issues w/ good maintenance. Cons: after around 200,000 miles the cooling systems of the car start to become issues like one issue after another, does not really cancel out noise too much, the nuts on the tires need a special key to unscrew which sometimes will not come with the car and finding a new one can be hard to find.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Moises R.

Cons: after about 200,000 miles the car starts to have issues w/ the cooling systems of the car like one after another, it also does not really cancel out noise too well, not the smoothest driving car, it also has a special key to unscrew the nuts (anti-theft nuts) on the tires which becomes an issue when you do not have one because they're pretty hard to find.

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2005 Subaru Forester has an average owner rating of 5.00 out of 5 which ranks it #1 of 20 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
5
2
car
4.64
3
car
4.53

Ranks #6 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Subaru Forester has a combined MPG of 28 which ranks it #6 of 20 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
38 MPG
2
car
35 MPG
6
car
28 MPG

Is The 2005 Subaru Forester A Good Car?

Yes. It's been my favorite vehicle I've owned so far. I feel safe driving it and its reliable. Only downfall is blown head gaskets are common.
Cianna E.
Yes very reliable in the snow. It is a very good family car to have with two young daughters. It's very good on gas.
Tara C.
It has been an excellent vehicle for me. It is comfortable for 4 and will fit luggage and coolers for road trips. It's great in snow and handles great in rainy conditions. I have just done regular... Read More
Karen B.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Subaru Forester?

It's been reliable for me. I haven't been stranded anywhere aside from a time I did something wrong. Blown head gaskets are a common problem with the forester from what i've heard. I've had to fix the... Read More
Cianna E.
Yes it is a very reliable car. The only problems when it rains a lot the wires get wet and it drives hard for a bit. But other than that the car is a very reliable car. I would recommend it to anyone.
Tara C.
It is very reliable, with over 125,000 miles other than regular maintenance service it's never left me stalled or out in the cold. It does have a slight oil leak. Drip which is a know issue on the... Read More
Karen B.

Is The 2005 Subaru Forester A Good Value?

My Subaru has a salvage title so I got it for a deal because of this. I do feel like they are more on the expensive side but for the quality and reliability I feel like it's a good value for what your... Read More
Cianna E.
I am not sure how much it cost brand new. But I know as of 2019 it was still worth 5000 from Kelley Blue book. Yes it is a good value.
Tara C.
I do not remember exactly what I paid for it - I suppose if someone bought one now it would be around 3,000 for a 2005. New ones are going to be over 23,000 but good value for the money comparing... Read More
Karen B.

Related Articles for 2005 Subaru Forester

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2005 Subaru Forester idle air control valve location?

Answer: The idle air control valve in the 2005 Subaru Forester sits on top of the throttle body between the air boxAnd distributor. All You will need to remove it is a flat blade screwdriver. Disconnect electrical...

What's the 2005 Subaru Forester coolant temp sensor location?

Answer: As the driver of a 2005 Subaru Forester, You may have found Yourself needing to know where to locate Your coolant temperature sensor. This sensor is found near the turbo engine of Your vehicle. You will need to...

2005 Subaru Forester: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The correct tire size used on the 2005 Subaru Forester is P215/60R16, the wheels are 16" in diameter with A6.5" width, and the recommended tire pressure to use is 29 PSI for the front tires and 32 PSI for the...

2005 Subaru Forester: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2005 Subaru Forester came standard with a 2.5L 4Cylinder engine but there was also the option to upgrade to turbocharged version of this engine. No matter which model You have they will both have an oil...

Does the 2005 Subaru Forester have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: The 2005 Subaru Forester comes equipped with a timing belt rather than a timing chain. The Forester did end up changing to the timing chain in the year 2012. One reason why it might have ended up changing is...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

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