If you’re looking for a good used compact SUV, the 2016 Subaru Forester might be just what you’re looking for. Sure, it’s five years old. But by most accounts, this version of the Forester is affordable, reliable, and has enough recent tech to keep a family happy and connected on the road. What do reviews say about the 2016 model of this popular SUV? What does it have to offer?

The 2016 Subaru Forester

The 2016 Subaru Forester is a good find if you’re looking for a solid used SUV. If you’re looking for practicality more than style, according to U.S. News, the 2016 Forester has a spacious interior that’s well-made. It also has all-wheel drive standard, which is a huge bonus, particularly for those who drive regularly in inclement weather.

Subaru didn’t focus on trying to make the 2016 Forester look sporty like the rest of the pack. The automaker kept its attention on design and functionality. The 2016 Forester offers well-used space along with big doors and windows. It has a great view, and it’s highly accessible with plenty of passenger space.

This Forester gets 26 mpg overall and 35 mpg on the highway. Under the hood, it has either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 170 hp or a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder XT engine that gets 250 hp. They are paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that works very well. There is also a manual transmission that was only available with the base and lower trims according to Consumer Reports.

The 2016 Forester has a backup camera standard and the available safety features within the EyeSight suite. It includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure, and more.

According to Consumer Reports, the 2016 Forester provides a firm ride and it isn’t as nimble as some of its peers, but it handles securely. The interior isn’t luxury and it’s not exactly quiet either, especially when accelerating. But its functionality and fuel economy makes it worth a look.

How it’s both affordable and reliable

When it comes to reliability, the 2016 Subaru Forester has an above-average rating from CR. They gave it a predicted reliability rating of four out of five. The only problem spots it showed on their list of 17 categories were brakes and power equipment. CR defines power equipment as lights, alarms, and other vehicle accessories.

 With a three out of five in reliability from J.D. Power, the 2016 Forester has a better predicted reliability rating than rivals like the Jeep Compass and the Mitsubishi Outlander.

If you’re looking for a good used SUV, the 2016 Subaru Forester offers a lot for the money and is an affordable option. According to CR, the midrange Forester 2.5i Premium offers heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, and a nice big sunroof for a good price.

There’s lots of technology to enjoy

At almost five years old, the 2016 Subaru Forester may not have the latest tech but it has a good amount of tech that’s recent enough. According to CR, the base model is equipped with a 6.2-inch touchscreen surrounded by user-friendly manual buttons for tuning and volume. 

Upper trims come with a bigger 7-inch touchscreen with touch-sensitive buttons in place of the manual ones. They also have Subaru’s Starlink Connected telematics. Built-in navigation was an option on higher trims.

CR liked the system’s bigger fonts and simple menus. The screen is shiny and catches the sun, making it hard to read at times. The on-screen items are closely packed together making it hard to pick the right one while you’re driving.

You do have to install an app on your phone to use the telematics, and the controls on the steering wheel are limited. You can’t pick music or make a call from there. Still, the system is easy to use and offers full voice control to pick music, control climate, and dictate text messages. 

All in all, you could do a lot worse than the 2016 Subaru Forester if you’re searching for your next used SUV.