Some vehicles seem to have it all together. These cars perform well, offer tons of extras, and don’t break the bank to buy. Some consumers feel the 2021 Subaru Forester is one such vehicle. It’s a compact SUV that does well in road and safety tests.

It comes with a resume chock-full of must-have amenities and presents incredible value with an affordable price range. But in some review comparisons, the Subaru Forester lands in the middle of the lists. So what’s holding it back and keeping it from enjoying the number one spot at the top?

What everyone can love about the 2021 Subaru Forester

Even if you’re not a compact SUV enthusiast or aficionado, the 2021 Subaru Forester might just grab your attention. There’s plenty to love, starting with the standard all-wheel drive, impressive fuel economy, and great safety ratings.

It’s a smooth-riding crossover with enough chops to venture off the pavement without missing a beat. And from behind the wheel, the Forester excels at handling, steering, and braking.

Those consumers who love their Subaru Foresters also appreciate the increased cargo space, roomy cabin feel, and high-quality materials. This year’s model comes with EyeSight, the Subaru suite of driver aids, and smartphone integration.

The 6.5-inch touchscreen is easy to navigate, as well. New for 2021, the Forester adds standard steering responsive LED headlights and auto high beams. The Limited trim level also gets a seven-speed manual mode for the CVT. There really isn’t much to find disappointing about this hearty Subaru. 

Why the 2021 Subaru Foreter has mediocre predicted reliability ratings

With so many bragging rights and shiny stars on its report card, it’s hard to see how the Subaru Forester can rank in the middle of the compact SUV class among critic comparisons.

According to experts at U.S. News, the moderate to poor predicted reliability rating brought this crossover down a few notches. They also suggest that a very average and lackluster acceleration holds it back from ranking higher among the steep competition of compact SUVs. 

Great, but maybe not the best on this list

U.S. News called out the 2021 Subaru Forester when the critics recently put together a new comparison roster of new SUVs. This pool of contenders presented as the best, but with price tags of $25,000 or less.

The team ranked the 15 best SUVs based on overall review scoring as well as the more affordable price points. Because of the few setbacks the Subaru Forester has in reliability and acceleration, it comes in ninth on this list.

Of course, it’s still a great crossover for $24,795, despite its middle-of-the-pack title and a 7.7 out of 10 score. And while predicted reliability is important, is it enough to dissuade you from buying a Subaru Forester?

The 2021 Subaru Forester is priced for incredible value

The 2021 Subaru Forester might not be number one on this particular list, but it still presents incredible value at the consumer level. The base model has an MSRP under $25,000.

The Premium trim starts at $28,845. And the Sport variation is just slightly over $30,000. Buying a Forester is even more appealing with its high resale values.

The Forester won Kelly Blue Book’s 2020 Best Resale Award and the Lowest Five-Year Cost to Own Award for its class. This kind of value might far outweigh any mediocre ranking for acceleration or predicted reliability.

If you’ve had your eye on a Subaru Forester, you likely won’t be disappointed. There’s plenty to like about this capable and well-equipped Subaru.