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2020 Subaru Forester
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By Denis Flierl Mar 31 2020 - 7:09am

With 2 Flaws Subaru Forester Still Makes The Best High-Tech Cars Under $36K List

Edmunds says the 2020 Subaru Forester makes its Best-5 High-Tech cars under $36,000 list. But it lacks two things.
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New Forester
Forester Cabin
Forester rear
Forester front

The Subaru Forester was redesigned for the 2019 model year change and the 2020 Subaru Forester is still getting accolades. The most recent recognition comes from Edmunds who picked their favorite high-tech vehicles priced under $36,000. They picked the Forester compact SUV and says it gets you the most for your money and still comes in under the average transaction price.

Along with Forester, the five vehicles picked needed to have the following features: traffic-adaptive cruise control, a 7-inch infotainment screen or bigger, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility, and a suite of advanced driver safety features to even make the list.

2020 Subaru Forester
The 2020 Subaru Forester excels in most areas of safety technology

The top 5 models with the best high-tech under $36,000 are the 2020 Nissan Versa SR with convenience package ($19,465), Kia Forte GT with GT2 package ($25,655), Mazda CX-30 Premium package ($29,300), Hyundai Tucson Ultimate ($33,020), and Forester Touring $35,605). All pricing includes destination and delivery fees.

The 2020 Forester excels in safety features offering Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist technology that includes an automatic braking system to help avoid a front collision and lane departure warning alerts. EyeSight is standard on all trim levels including its base model.

2020 Subaru Forester
Forester needs a larger touchscreen like Outback

Edmunds says the 2020 Subaru Forester makes the top-5 list and meets most of their criteria even in its base configuration, but lacks two things. Forester doesn’t offer a big enough touchscreen, and it doesn’t come with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The new Outback and Legacy have been upgraded with a larger tablet-style 11.6-inch full HD multimedia display, but Forester only has a 6.3-inch color multifunction display. The top-of-the-lineup Forester Touring trim still comes in under the $36,000 price and comes with extra like steering-responsive headlights, Subaru’s DriverFocus driver distraction monitor and reverse automatic braking.

More positive attributes and one negative

All Forester models come standard with all-wheel drive, 8.7-inches of ground clearance, and X-Mode for off-pavement excursions. Edmunds says the 2.5-liter Boxer engine is “underpowered” compared with other compact SUVs.

Even with its flaws, the 2020 Subaru Forester still makes the Best-5 High-Tech Vehicles Under $36K list. It offers compact SUV shoppers advanced technology found on more expensive luxury vehicles. Edmunds says, “The best tech is no longer relegated to the high-end cars.”

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates at Torque News!

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Comments

Neal Apfelbeck wrote on April 1, 2020 - 8:41am
My 2017 Subaru Forester Touring has blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert so I find it difficult to believe that the safety features were downgraded when they went to the new platform in 2019.
Zachary Hendrix wrote on April 1, 2020 - 4:42pm
It's actually available even on the premium model, and standard on everything else. They maybe think it doesn't have it because the icon is no longer housed on the mirror but on the side of the mirror. And an 8 inch Screen average at best but by no means is it too small, I actually have customers perfer it over the 12 inch screen in the outback. But then this article wouldn't get any clicks
Zachary T Hendrix wrote on April 1, 2020 - 4:47pm
An available 8 inch Screen is available and blind spot monitors are available on every trim except the base model. I read alot of reviews online and the lack of factual information online is infuriating.
Zachary T Hendrix wrote on April 2, 2020 - 8:48am
Both blind spot and a bigger screen are available, this is just wrong information
John F Krugh wrote on April 2, 2020 - 11:24am
As a seasond Subaru salesman, I just wanted you to know that the Forester Touring comes standard with both BSD & RCTA as well as an 8" screen.
Karen Johnson wrote on April 1, 2020 - 3:42pm
I have a 2020 Subaru Forester Limited and it has rear cross traffic alerts - loud ones! And if the screen were any bigger, it would be a further distraction while driving than the current sized one.
Steve alpert wrote on April 1, 2020 - 6:16pm
I absolutely loved my 2017 Forester touring, however Im totally unhappy with my New 2019 limited Forester. Major complaints; very poor acceleration, unexceptable engine noise, terrible gas mileage, engine auto stop/start feature, and on occasion intermittent failure's of several safety features. Safety feature failure's can be repaired, but the other items are unexcusable design failures. Especially when prior models didn't have those issues. Theses issues absolutely effect the driveability of my new 2019 limited Forester. I hope Subaru addresses theses issues, with the same efforts applied to even the simplest of any safety features Subaru promotes as a benefit to any vehicles "driveability".
Eric Robinson wrote on April 1, 2020 - 6:35pm
I have a 2019 Forester. I'd like to say, I don't give a shit about a large touch screen. People should stop fucking with electronics and start paying attention. Two, I'd like to meet the assholes who put the auto-stop-start feature on the car, and kick their asses. Enough with the "tech" unless it makes the car BETTER.
N wrote on April 1, 2020 - 10:23pm
My 2019 Forrester has blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, it's available as option that most dealer cars have. So yeah this article is wrong and Edmunds is wrong.