2015 Subaru Forester — should you buy one?

Why people love the 2015 Subaru Forester

Owners rave about the 2.5L naturally aspirated engine paired with the CVT transmission—it's simple, with no turbo to fail, and gets honest 23–26 mpg combined depending on driving. The high roofline and boxy cargo area mean a college student can actually fit a dorm room's worth of stuff without renting a trailer. All-wheel drive is standard, not optional, so winter driving in New England or the Midwest feels genuinely safer than a sedan.

Common complaints and known issues

The CVT transmission starts showing shuddering or hesitation around 80k–120k miles, and Subaru extended the warranty to 10 years/100k for this defect, but repairs run $3,500–$5,000 out of pocket if you're over 100k. Water ingress into the door panels causes electrical gremlins and rust starting around 100k miles, especially in salt-belt states. Head gasket leaks have largely been resolved in this generation, but valve cover gasket seeping is common at 90k–110k miles.

Typical asking price

Under 80k miles: $14,500–$17,500. 80k–130k miles: $11,000–$14,000. Over 130k miles: $7,500–$10,500. CVT transmission history, accident reports, and regional rust significantly affect pricing; a clean Carfax from a dry state commands $2,000–$3,000 more than flood-zone vehicles at the same mileage.

Ranges are typical 2026 asking prices, not appraisals. The actual fair offer depends on this specific car's title history, accident record, and open recalls — which is what EstimateProof tells you.