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Writer's pictureMike Hagerty

What Makes A Subaru A Subaru: The 2021 Subaru Forester Sport


2021 Subaru Forester Sport front 3/4 view

Subaru makes a lot of vehicles. Probably more than you realize. There are nine Subaru models, not counting the performance-oriented STI vehicles. But if there's one that distills what Subaru has been about for most of its run, it's the 2021 Subaru Forester Sport.

2021 Subaru Forester Sport rear 3/4 view

The Forester is what the Outback was for many years before it went upscale ---a simple, rugged, reasonably priced, go anywhere, do anything station wagon/SUV (depending on how you look at it).

2021 Subaru Forester Sport hood up

2021 Subaru Forester Sport engine

Under the hood is Subaru's tried-and-true 2.5-liter four cylinder. It makes 182 horsepower, and is mated to a continuously variable transmission. Getting to 60 miles an hour from a standing start takes 8.5 seconds, which isn't fast, but it's not really slow either. It's fine. As usual, the payoff comes at the gas pump with an EPA fuel economy estimate of 26 miles per gallon city/33 highway.

2021 Subaru Forester Sport rear liftgate open

2021 Subaru Forester Sport cargo area

2021 Subaru Forester Sport interior

2021 Subaru Forester Sport rear seat

2021 Subaru Forester Sport front seats

The base price of the 2021 Subaru Forester Sport is $29,395. The window sticker is at the end of this review so you can see for yourself, but among the standard equipment highlights at that price are 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, privacy glass and a power panoramic moonroof, automatic climate control with air filtration and two rear seat USB ports.

2021 Subaru Forester Sport steering wheel and gauge cluster

2021 Subaru Forester Sport gauge cluster

2021 Subaru Forester Sport infotainment and HVAC

Our test vehicle had only one extra-cost option, the Subaru Starlink 8.0 Multimedia Plus Audio system, which swaps out the standard 6.5-inch display and adds a 576-watt, nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system bundled with reverse automatic braking and a power rear gate with height memory. That's $1,645. So, with $1,050 destination and delivery charge, the as-tested price of the 2021 Subaru Forester Sport is $32,090.

2021 Subaru Forester Sport front view

2021 Subaru Forester Sport side view

2021 Subaru Forester Sport rear view

If we're honest with ourselves, the Subaru Forester Sport is really all the vehicle most of us need for most everything we do---and it does all those things very well. Room for five people and their things, symmetrical all-wheel drive and a killer audio system for $32K and change is a big deal.



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