Family Car Review: 2024 Subaru Forester Sport AWD SUV
A spacious and practical family AWD SUV
By Tace Clifford
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The 2024 Subaru Forester Sport is a favourite with our family. The Forester and Outback are popular vehicles for families because of their very generous legroom and boot space. Let's see how this flash-looking 2024 Subaru Forester Sport, with its black-and-red contrast trim inside and out, fares as a BabyDrive and put it through our family car testing with child seats and Thule prams.
BabyDrive Verdict
This five-seater Subaru Forester Sport is available in six different variants. The base model Forester 2.5i AWD costs $43,595, followed by $44,625 for the Forester 2.5i Luxury AWD, the mid-range Forester 2.5i-L AWD costs $46,067, and the Forester 2.5i Premium 4WD costs $48,979. I am driving the Forester 2.5i Sport AWD, which costs $50,819, and the top-spec Forester 2.5i-S AWD, which costs $52,395.
Let's see how practical the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport is for families…
When it comes to installing child seats in the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport, there are ISOFix points in both outer rear seats. They are not within plastic guides, but behind flaps of the seat base fabric and they are nice and easy to connect.
All three rear seatbacks have top tether anchorages, which are clearly labelled and easily accessible through the boot.
The three child seats fit nicely across the rear seats of the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport. I installed two forward-facing child seats and a rear-facing infant capsule behind the driver.
With three child seats fitted in the back, the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport provides excellent legroom for front passengers. We could fit a 184cm driver in front of the rear-facing Infant Capsule and taller front passengers in front of the forward facing child seats.
The 2024 Subaru Forester Sport's rear occupants are kept comfortable with air conditioning vents in the back of the central console, so rear passengers can stay comfortable while driving along. There are also USB-C sockets for charging their devices too.
Rear passengers have good storage in the Subaru Forester, with cup holders in a fold-down armrest in the central seat back. Coffee cups and kids' drink cups fit in them well!
There are multiple map pockets on the back of the front seats. They are large enough to hold books, purse, toys an iPad, and they have a phone pockets too.
The door bins in the front of the Forester will hold a refillable water bottle and an iPad fits as well, and there is storage in the handle wells.
The central console has some practical everyday storage.
There are two cup holders, each holding a reusable or disposable coffee cup. Behind the cup holders is a good central console box.
In front of the cup holders is a phone tray.
A lined glasses case in the ceiling and a good size glove box that will hold a wallet and iPad with the manual.
The 2024 Subaru Forester's boot has generous storage space. The boot floor is nice and flat and carpeted, great for transporting a medium-sized family dog or an emergency nappy change.
… with the back wheels on, it will fit in the Forester boot with four shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
… fits in the boot of the Subaru Forester with nine shopping bags.
The Subaru Forester's boot can accommodate two 90L and two 40L Thule Chasm duffle bags.
The 2024 Subaru Forester Sport has had a technology upgrade since I last drove one. The Forester has two media screens. The large main media screen in the dash and a smaller one above where certain features are housed.
The main media system is easy to navigate using the colourful icons.
It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allows you to access your phone's messaging, navigation, and listening apps while driving.
Within the settings screen, you can customise many aspects of the car.
Including the sound, so those with noise-sensitive kids can turn things down or off.
When you put the Forester in reverse, the main camera image fills the main screen and a smaller angled image is shown on the top small screen.
The small screen at the top of the dash also shows your aircon and date and time etc.
The climate controls are on the central dash and are easily used while driving.
The interior of the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport has some fancy red details, with contrast stitching and details on the steering wheel, gear knob and dials.
The same red highlights and trims are used on the outside of the car to add a sportier look and attention to detail.
The Forester is a fantastic family car to drive. Subaru has reduced engine noise and vibration in this updated 2024 model, which makes a difference. It's a lovely, comfy, and fuss-free ride without being disturbed by engine, road, or vibration. Visibility is good, and I can see out of the rear window even with three child seats installed in the back. There is a rear camera you can turn on any time you are maneuvering and the Forester Sport has a tight turning circle so it is easy to park and maneuver in school and supermarket car parks.
The 2024 Subaru Forester Sport now has a 1.8-tonne towing capacity, which is ideal for families with trailers. The Subaru Forester AWD is also very capable on dirt and gravel roads.
Overall, the 2024 Subaru Forester makes a very practical BabyDrive for those looking for a five-seat AWD family car. Three child seats fit in the back, there is ample legroom, and the boot can hold a double Thule Urban Glide 3 pram.
The 2024 Subaru Forester Sport has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and scored 94% for adult occupancy and 86% for child occupancy. It also has seven airbags as standard.
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags and a driver knee airbag are standard.
BabyDrive Indepth
BabyDrive Indepth - Storage
How big is the boot of the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport?
The Forester's boot has generous storage space. The boot floor is flat and carpeted, which is great for transporting a medium-sized family dog or an emergency nappy change.
… with the back wheels on, it will fit in the Forester boot with four shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
…fits in the boot of the Subaru Forester with nine shopping bags.
The 2024 Subaru Forester Sport's boot can accommodate two 90L and two 40L Thule Chasm duffle bags.
How good is storage in the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport?
In the front of the 2024 Subaru Forester, the door bins will hold an iPad with a refillable water bottle and there is storage in the handle wells.
There are two cup holders, each holding a reusable or disposable coffee cup. Behind the cup holders is a good central console box.
In front of the cup holders is a phone tray with USB, USB-C and 12V sockets.
There is a lined glasses case in the ceiling and the front visors are extendable to shade your face from the sun while driving and they have lit vanity mirrors.
A good size glove box will hold a wallet and iPad with the manual.
Rear passengers have good storage in the Subaru Forester, with cup holders in a fold-down armrest in the central seat back. Coffee cups and kids' drink cups fit in them well!
There are multiple map pockets on the back of the front seats.
They are large enough to hold books, purses, toys, and iPads, and they have phone pockets, too.
The rear door bins in the Subaru Forester will hold a refillable water bottle and there is storage in the handle wells.
BabyDrive Indepth - Noise
How noisy is the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport, and how easy is the media screen to use?
The Subaru Forester Sport has had a technology upgrade since the previous Forester I drove.
The Forester has two media screens. A large main media screen in the dash and a smaller screen above it where certain features like time, climate etc are displayed.
The main media system is easy to navigate using the colourful icons on the touch screen.
It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allow you to access your phone's messaging, navigation, and listening apps while driving.
Within the settings screen, you can customise many aspects of the car.
Including the sound, so those with noise-sensitive kids can turn things down or off.
When you put the Forester in reverse, the main camera image fills the main screen and a smaller angled image is shown on the top small screen.
The small screen at the top of the dash also shows the climate, date and time, etc.
The climate controls are on the central dash and are easily used while driving.
The 2024 Subaru Forester Sport has EyeSight technology, which combines several safety features. When the cruise control is on, it constantly scans the road in front of you and provides a visual on the driver's display screen. It beeps constantly on motorways, especially as cars come in and out of its range in front of you, which can get a bit much, especially on long drives.
The Forester's indicator sound is not too loud, so it did not disturb my kids while sleeping in the back.
The Forester's windows and doors open quite wide, are not too loud or noisy to open and close, and do not baby-wake!
Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!
That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.
If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?
It’s where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?
A lot of these noises come with the increase in technology and especially linked to safety features and alerts. For me these all have their place.
Another thing I have realised is I spend my time in a lot more places where small children roam, parks, beaches, play gyms, swimming lessons, daycare centre etc. I have become more aware that when I’m reversing or manouvering in the car parks I have to tripple check for small children running around behind me or being in my blind spot when reversing. For this I LOVE reversing cameras, I just don’t like their beeping sounds!!
I have become so much more aware of safety and potential accidents or hazards since having a child and so I love the peace of mind that I get from the cameras and sensors combined with my own vision from windows and mirrors as I don’t trust cameras alone.
The Forester is a quiet and smooth drive, especially with the reduced engine noise and vibration. Apart from Eye-Sight beeping, there are no real baby-waking noises.
BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats
How many child/baby seats can you fit in the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport?
When it comes to installing child seats in the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport, there are ISOFix points in both outer rear seats. They are not within plastic guides but behind flaps of the seat base fabric, and they are nice and easy to connect.
All three rear seatbacks have top tether anchorages, which are clearly labelled and easily accessible through the boot.
The three child seats fit nicely across the rear seats of the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport. I installed two forward-facing child seats (one 0-4 years, one 0-8years) and a rear-facing infant capsule behind the driver.
Three child seats fit really comfortably in the back, with excellent legroom for the front passenger. We could fit a 184cm driver in front of the rear-facing Infant Capsule and taller front passengers in front of the forward-facing child seats.
There is lots of space to insert Bub into their child's seat from outside the car and from inside, and there is room to feed Bub in the back if only one child seat is installed.
Australia being a country of weather extremes- blazing sun and torrential rain, mean you may find it easier to put Bub into their seat from inside the car sometimes. If it’s hot you can get the air-con going, cool the car down and not stand out in the sun while you fasten them in or shelter from the rain and not get soaked yourself whilst you’re doing it. So it is important to test whether Bub can be easily installed from either direction!
There are handles above both rear doors, which you can use to hang a toy to keep little rear-facing passengers entertained.
BabyDrive Indepth - Drive & Comfort
How comfy is the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport?
The Forester's rear occupants are kept comfortable with air conditioning vents in the back of the central console, so rear passengers can stay comfortable while driving along. There are also USB-C sockets for charging their devices too.
The rear seats are very comfortable for passengers who are not in child seats and have great legroom. You can sit between two child seats, but it's a shoulder squeeze!
In the Sport model the seats are upholstered with water repellent cloth seat trim, which may help to prevent staining from kids' spills.
The front seats are equally as comfortable and look great. Both front seats have electronic adjustment in this Sport model.
There are four air-conditioning vents across the front of the dashboard, one on either side of the media screen and one at each end of the dashboard.
Rear passengers also have air vents, in the back of the central console box.
The climate controls are below the media screen and really easy to access and use while driving.
There are no built-in window shades in the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport, so you do have to add your own after-market rear window shades. There are handles above both the rear doors so you can hang a child's toy.
Visibility is excellent in the Forester; even with three child seats installed in the back, you can see over them and out of the rear window.
The cameras in the 2024 Subaru Forester Sport also help to make maneuvering and parking easy.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Bub has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually, I dread parking in our tight apartment block carpark, but the Suabru Forester Sport is easy to reverse park!
Scoring 94% for Adult Occupancy Protection and 86% for Child Occupancy Protection.
Of the child occupancy protection, ANCAP wrote:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year old and 6 year old dummies was GOOD and maximum points were scored in these tests.
The Subaru Forester is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on the rear outboard seats and top tether anchorages for all rear seating positions.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed that most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, though one of the convertible seats in rearward-facing mode and one of the booster seats could not be correctly installed in the centre rear position.
Seven airbags come as standard in the Subaru Forester; there is a driver’s knee airbag as well as dual frontal airbags and front side airbags and side curtain airbags for the front and the rear side passengers.
Automatic high beam, fatigue detection and reversing collision avoidance (auto brake) are not available on base variant but standard or optional on higher variants.
All models of the Subaru Forester also come with ‘EyeSight' Driver Assist system as standard, which consists of adaptive cruise control, emergency lane keep assist, lane departure warning, lane sway warning, lane keep assist, lead vehicle start alert, pre-collision braking system, pre-collision brake assist, pre-collision throttle management, brake light recognition, speed limiter, electronic throttle control system (ETC), X-Mode and tyre pressure monitoring system.
The 2.5i-L and 2.5i Premium models come with a driver monitoring system called Driver Focus that includes drowsiness warning, distraction warning and facial recognition.
These two models also have an adaptive driving beam (ADB), front view monitor (FVM), reverse automatic braking (RAB) and side view monitor (SVM).
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub’s asleep!
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About Tace Clifford
Tace Clifford founded BabyDrive in 2017 after discovering a huge information gap in mainstream car reviews that left new parents and expanding families in the dark when it came to one of the biggest purchasing decisions of their lives.
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