Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
21 -23 City / 26 -28 HWY
Horsepower
173 -230
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Shannon L
One of the best running cars around.
Very reliable and smooth driving car. Runs great and it's a great size. Not too big not too small. Perfect. I love the color of it ( it's silver) I named it Suby! LoL. There was a small wire problem but it was a very easy fix. Now we're back on the road and I had other cars I could have gotten but this one really truly caught my eye .
accountCircle Kathleen D
Safety, comfort and reliability. Stable AWD. Easy maintenance.
Purchased used; is actually 2005 model with all the best features. Less than 53K original miles. One owner, personally known to me. No complaints.
accountCircle Am B
Most Subaru's are on the road for more than 10 years and they are often handed down when the owner is ready to buy a new Subaru.
I like that it has the ground clearance for me to travel on roads that are rough. I hate that it doesn't have a USB port so I can't charge my phone or listen to podcast in the car.
accountCircle Marcia E
All wheel drive when in snow. Good four door stability. Rear window wiper.
A subaru is a subaru! Very dependable when living in snow bound mountainous area.
accountCircle Summer S
The Subaru Forester is a GREAT family vehicle, for commuting & taking kids to activities.
I love my Subaru Forester - it's easy & comfortable to drive & to ride in, gets decent mileage, and has enough cargo space to carry what I need to. Everything works well, and it drives GREAT in the snow.
accountCircle Lisa L
I feel safe and stylish in my Subaru
I love my Subaru Forester. It is reliable, comfortable, and stylish. With this car I can easily transport people, pets, groceries and other items - even bicycles - whenever I need to, wherever I need to go. Fuel economy is good, and I enjoy the dependable, pleasant reputation Subaru has. It is a car I can trust, I feel very safe in a Subaru.
accountCircle Debbie M
All wheel drive takes you over snow, ice rocks, dirt and more.
I love the all wheel drive which is great in the mountains. My Subaru is reliable for everyday and on long trips. Maintenance is not too costly. Subaru also keeps its value compared to other vehicles. Heat and air work well. Car is roomy to haul lots of stuff.
accountCircle Dee L
All around well equipped vehicle.
My forester is great on gas mileage. I only had to do general maintenance on my vehicle brakes, oil changes, tires. Very roomy and great trunk space. The sunroof feature are nice, sound system works great. Good in bad weather and bumpy roads and driving up hills. Also great looking and stylish vehicle.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Shari H
It can take a beating and it keeps on running. It handles really good in the snow and the rain.
It has all wheel drive so it can go pretty much anywhere. It's like a mini truck when need be. It drives really well. It's good on gas.
accountCircle Ana P
The vehicle really does not have too many highlights.
My car is a used car however it has problems with the engine, the cruise control, and the catalytic converter. The car makes strange sounds and takes a while before picking up the speed. Sometimes the brake pad and the accelerator lock up on me when I am trying to reverse and parallel park into a spot which makes me think the car is just not safe to have my children in.
accountCircle Ruth O
Great in the snow and rain.
It's very reliable and handles well in the rain and snow. I feel safe. It's easy to drive and maneuver and backing up and parking is a breeze. However the gas mileage isn't very good and sometimes acceleration is slow, especially on hills. It is roomy and great for families and dogs. The seats lay perfectly flat which makes it great for hauling things as well.
accountCircle Tyler C
Decent all around, could be a little better on gas but it is a good car.
Decent on gas, plenty of legroom, heated seats and a lot of room in the hatch. The engine is strong and the car has been reliable. The only downside is the all wheel drive and having to change out 4 tires for and inspections versus 2 on a rwd. Comfortable seats for long range drives.
accountCircle Kelly C
You do not have to be a Forester to drive the Subaru Forester!
Love the interior room for the size of the car. However, the interior is not as sturdy as I'd like. And the doors and frame are not as heavy/sturdy as I'd like. Good gas mileage. I do like the view available from the configuration of the windshield and windows.
accountCircle Maria J
Stay away from this model!.
Like subaru but forester turned out to be low end. Loved my outback. Dislike that it is so basic and have had nothing but problems with it. Do not feel it is a trustworthy vehicle.
accountCircle jesse g
My car gets me where I need to go and I can plenty with it short of it being a truck.
It does great in the snow and rain but it uses way too much gas. But most annoying is the stupid faulty diagnostics kit.
accountCircle Thomas C
Good for rolling hills. I live in an area with a lot of hills. The all wheel drive comes in handy in bad weather. The Forester is a perfect size for a small SUV.
I like the all wheel drive but the car has terrible mileage. Subaru has a problem with their gas gauges. They are not accurate

Subaru Forester Models

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

car
2.5 X
173 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5 X w/Premium Pkg
173 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5 X L.L. Bean Edition
173 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.5 XT Limited
230 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2006 Subaru Forester Owner Reviews

4.36
138 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 57%
4 stars 26%
3 stars 16%
2 stars 0%
1 star 1%
accountCircle Mary C on April 1, 2021
Dependable Car in the Subaru Forester
I love my Subaru Forester, it has been extremely dependable since I purchased it with very good gas mileage and low maintenance
accountCircle Judth C on March 25, 2021
This car is very reliable. The only major breakdown I've had with it is a wheel bearing went out.
This is the most dependable car I have ever owned. I've had only one major breakdown and very few miscellaneous repairs. What I don't like about this particular vehicle is that there is only one keyhole to unlock the car. Only on the driver's side - none on passenger side.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Lisa C.

It is reliable, functional, and has good trunk space.. I can depend on it to get me too and from work without worrying about breaking down, it also has good gas mileage. I also trust the brand name and would recommend it.

likeFilled Gavin T.

Very comfortable and able to be daily driven. Lots of space for travelers, as well as a great stereo system. The car also has decent gas mileage for both automatic and manual transmissions. The vehicle also is convenient and Subaru has lots of new pieces that can be swapped for old.

likeFilled Brooke R.

Its AWD, its has 4 doors so if I need to pick up others I don't have to get out, its has a lot of trunk space with compartments, it has a really good engine in it, I don't feel cramped in it I as drive. It has decent gas mileage on it.

likeFilled Melissa S.

Good gas mileage. Rugged. Fold down split seat allows you to transport quite a bit of material. Multiple electrical ports., all wheel drive, tilt steering wheel, adjustable seats. Dome lights in each cargo area, halogen driving lights and fog lights.

likeFilled Karen W.

Very reliable, rides great, low maintenance. This Subaru has been a great car. Rides very smooth, and everything works great. Having a wagon is very helpful for shopping. Rack on top is great for outdoor activities.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Lisa C.

It is an older version and it does not have the technology available today in newer cars. It does not have a backup camera or sensors to warn of cars coming up behind or beside you. It is a bit noisy driving on highways.

dislikeFilled Gavin T.

The 5 speed transmission model is not very suitable for the highway. If you want it to be more practical on the highways, a 6 speed is recommended. Otherwise, the vehicle is very owner-friendly in terms of performance.

dislikeFilled Brooke R.

If the check engine light comes on I cannot use cruise control and I do a lot of driving for work and long distance driving. The gas mileage could always be better. When replacing parts some of them seem a little but more expensive than other companies.

dislikeFilled Melissa S.

The ride on the car is a bit truck like, somewhat stiff, it is a compact SUV so although it meets my individual needs it would probably be too small for a larger family. The Subaru's tend to have head gasket issues around 200,000 miles. They also throw lights on and disconnect the cruise control when there is a minor repair needed.

dislikeFilled Karen W.

There really are no cons. It is a great car. The only con I can think of is headlight lens fog up with moisture. We have tried many things to fix this however, not much success. This car really has been great.

Ranks #6 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2006 Subaru Forester has an average owner rating of 4.36 out of 5 which ranks it #6 of 19 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
4.54
2
car
4.52
6
car
4.36

Ranks #6 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2006 Subaru Forester has a combined MPG of 28 which ranks it #6 of 19 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
38 MPG
2
car
34 MPG
6
Tie
car
28 MPG

Is The 2006 Subaru Forester A Good Car?

Yes! I love it. This car drives well and I feel safe with any weather conditions when on the road. It is spacious and has good storage throughout the car too.
Kennedy V.
This is the second Subaru forester I have owned. My first one was a 2001 and had many problems. This vehicle is my favorite. I have a massive sunroof, heated seats and the only issue I have had to... Read More
Hanna F.
Absolutely. In my over 20 years of driving and tons of vehicles, it has been my all around favorite. I use it for off-roading, kid hauling, camping. I use it for everything!
Yolo M.
Yes, I have never had a problem. I purchased as a new vehicle, and there have been very few repairs needed during the thirteen years that I have owned this car.
Micah S.
We have had to do a lot of repairs, some have been very expensive. I do not think I would purchase another one in the future.
Chase K.
Yes the forester is a good vehicle and is and has lasted for more than 12 years. It gets me where I need to go which is what you need in a car
Chi J.

How Reliable Is The 2006 Subaru Forester?

It is very reliable. The only fixes are the ones that come with age. Very sturdy car overall. Also loving the all wheel drive!
Kennedy V.
The only issue with my vehicle has been normal wear and tear. I haven't had anything awful happen. My most expensive fix were the struts and strut mounts, again this car was 15+ years old at the time.... Read More
Hanna F.
I have over 220,000 miles on it and it is spectacular! Yes, it is reliable. . The issues I have for it is that it does have an oil leak and loses radiator fluid.
Yolo M.
Yes, it is very. reliable. I have had no problems, only ones caused by human error--the detailer worker accidentally left the dome light on. It caused the battery to run down because we didn't see... Read More
Heidi B.
It has had several problems. A lot of suspension issues which are expensive. The shocks had to be completely replaced. The air/heat does not work right. Power steering pump went out. Quite a few... Read More
Fatih E.
Currently it doesn't have a battery but when it does have a battery it is very reliable and has no other problems than that
Mona J.

Is The 2006 Subaru Forester A Good Value?

I paid a little over 5,000 for mine. I have had it for a year and this is my second Subaru. Subaru's will also hold their price over time, which is good for resale!
Kennedy V.
I paid $7,000 for it with 131k miles. I have put about $2000 worth of work into it (including a new stereo with apple CarPlay. I plan to have this vehicle till it dies, or give it to my cousins.... Read More
Hanna F.
I do not know how much it currently costs, I think about $5,000. I purchased it for $8500 in 2013. Yes, I think it is a good value.
Yolo M.
I don't remember how much we paid for it, probably about $15,000. It is a very good value because it will last for many more years.
Zion L.
We bought it used so I am not sure what the new asking price was. It would have been a good value if we hadn't ended up with one that has so many problems.
Victoria H.

Related Articles for 2006 Subaru Forester

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2006 Subaru Forester transmission fluid capacity?

Answer: The 2006 Subaru Forester has a transmission fluid capacity of up to 10 quarts, or over 5 pints. This vehicle uses atf 4, or dexron ViAutomatic transmission fluid. You can find these at most automotive parts and...

2006 Subaru Forester: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The tire pressure for the 2006 Subaru Forester iS32 psi while the tire size is p215/60r16 and the wheel size is 17 inches. If You need to reset the tpms on the car after buying new tires then it will not be...

2006 Subaru Forester: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2006 Subaru Forester has a 2.5 L 4Cylinder engine that needS5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil. The amount that it takes iS4.5 quarts with a filter and the torque for the drain plug iS33 ft/lbs. 5W-30 means that 5...

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