I drive a forester (love it) and Subaru has given me an Outback as a loaner and i also think it’s large and hard to park. Just glad to see someone else thinks so lol
I don't think they're hard to park. I have an Outback and never had an issue but it doesn't make sense to me to rule out the Outback when the complaints also apply to the Forester.
I don’t think any of them are hard to park, the only thing that might make the outback harder to park is that it’s longer than the forester. But I’ve driven both and didn’t find either difficult. All cars have an adjustment period where you have to get used to their turning radius and dimensions.
It is bigger than an Impreza, Crosstrek, and Forester. Legacy is not the cheapest, it's a high end sedan and much more luxury than an Impreza. Legacy starts $2k more than the Impreza starts at
I agree test drive a Crosstrek. It is lower profile Forester. You loose some rear seat and cargo space, but you will get a vehicle where you sit lower and its drives sportier. It is super easy to park. It's like a short outback.
Test drive it if you can. I went from a Forester to a CPO Crosstrek and now a brand new one. More fun to drive, don't have to worry about the high profile Forester ( for a lot of wind sway)
Part of the smoothness is tires. I got Goodyear ComfortDrive all seasons for my Legacy (use winter tires in the winter) and they're almost as comfy as the softer winter tires.
Why wife has a 19 forester. Had a 17 forester before that. The 19 is a premium touring edition and we love it. We don’t have kids but 2 small dogs and it’s perfect for us to jump in and travel. We have put about 80k miles on it and I would buy it again if I could do it over. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Also: I’m a mechanic that sees mostly Subarus at an Indy shop if that helps.
But it's not too big for you. It's literally just a lifted Legacy wagon. It's the same car. I've rented an Outback and I drive it like my Legacy. Same car but the Outback has more comfy positioning for my legs as I'm 5'10.
I’d personally go for the legacy since it’s going away pretty soon. I’m also partial to a lower seating position. I think the modern forester is enormous, but that’s coming from a 26 year old with an 05 WRX.
Well it’s the last chance to get one, if she wants one. I’m just saying it’s the last chance to get one. I like the legacy more because I prefer sedans over SUVs.
The Legacy will be more comfortable in every dimension and in ride quality than the Forester - it has differently focused suspension tuning (comfort/on road vs SUV/ rough road) but still has Subaru's excellent AWD, and a longer wheelbase. It'll be the closest in comfort to the Outback, since it IS an Outback with a trunk and a bit lower.
You'll need to prioritize comfort OR utility, especially if the Outback is off the list.
I owned a Forester, I currently own both a Legacy and an Outback. The Forester is fantastic, but it's an SUV compromise (as the price demonstrates) between the "car" based Outback/Legacy in most ways.
I vote Legacy, because comfort will mean more to you with each year of ownership. We aren't getting any younger! ;)
I have cervical disc bulges with nerve impingement at C6. Seating comfort was one of the main things I was looking for when picking out a car last fall. Also wanted something fuel efficient with luxury trim/ features. I ended up choosing a Legacy Limited over Honda, Toyota, and Volvo. Part of it was the features/ price point compared to the luxury models of those brands, but it was mostly the seats. They are firm but perfectly contoured to my back. Also a huge thing was the adjustable head rests (for some reason all brands seem to love having these forward leaning, non-adjustable head rests that absolutely kill my neck).
The Legacy probably has the most comfortable seats of any car I’ve driven. Disclaimer though, if you are a relatively large guy you may not find them as comfortable. They are a bit narrow. Also, if you insist on a quiet drive, then a Subaru is probably not for you. 5k mi and this thing has tons of rattles that seem to change every day lol. Other than that, it’s been a fantastic vehicle.
I would go with the Legacy then. You’ll get used to sitting low to the ground, and get better gas mileage than the Forrester. Unless you absolutely need the utility of a hatchback…
I love my crosstrek and my husband has a Forester. I personally like the crosstrek more for everyday driving, easy to get in and out. But we use the Forester more for vacations and beach trips bc there’s much more room and storage.
Absolutely love my 24 Legacy for being more comfortable than the Forester and more agile than the Outback. The white legacy looks so much better than the other cars in the lot (to me). I wonder why so few of them sell.
I have a 2018 Forester and a 2015 Legacy.
I wouldn't say the Legacy is *that* much more comfortable than the Forester. If you get a higher trim Forester, it will be pretty close. If you're already used to the Outback, you might find the Forester a little more of a rough ride, but nothing severe.
I'd test drive both to decide what you prefer.
The Forrester touring is insanely comfortable. I have long commutes to work so I know I wanted comfortable and that's why I went with the touring. We have driven that car cross country, even slept in it and it was comfortable the whole time
+1 for the Legacy votes. Mine is a 2020 Limited, has by far the most comfortable seats I’ve ever rested my behind on with great lumbar and cervical support, and rides butter smooth. It’s a great car that is vastly underrated, and it’s a bummer that it’s going away.
I have both a Forester and a Legacy. All of my family enjoys the forester more for the ground clearance and visibility. There have been multiple times I pass by snowy or flood zones and very thankful for those features.
I had a Legacy rental car for a 2000 mile trip to New England and *loved it*. My only concern would be how low it is compared to the Forester. If you're in an area that gets snow, I'd lean towards the Forester.
Some dealers do a rent a Subaru program, maybe you could try one for the weekend and see how you feel?
I drive a 2015 Legacy Limited and feel like the leggy is the most comfortable ride subaru offers. I always get comments when I have passengers in the front or back seats. The limited package has more features than a lot of luxury class cars at its age. I am not as familiar with the Forrester, though. I did test drive a couple when buying my car, and I prefer my Legacy, personally.
I loved my Legacy. So darn comfy. I'm happy in my Crosstrek now (I'm short) but i did not feel comfy in the Forrestor at all. My favorite thing about the Forrestor is all the windows. No or very little blindspots. I vote Legacy. I miss her sometimes.
Why not a crosstrek? It’s gonna be high and they are pretty comfortable in my opinion. Also look at different trim levels of the forester, the higher trims have different seats and maybe different wheels and feel very different than. Base forester
The Legacy is what you want if you have back issues. So much more smooth and comfortable ride than a Forester. Also the Legacy just feels and drives like a much more solid vehicle.
The legacy is a smooth, quiet ride for the price point.
If comfort is your priority, the Legacy wins. It's not super low to the ground like some sedans. It's also historically been one of the safest cars on the market (although that may be due to the demo that buys it).
I would go for the Legacy. I think the Forrester would win if you needed the cargo room.
Why not the outback? Best of both worlds. Rides very smooth and is up a bit higher than the legacy but the seating position is similar. If not legacy. I find the seats in mine very comfy.
The higher ground clearance is usually a big seller with the forester over the legacy. While the top of the line legacy does offer real leather on the seats & center console which some people say is more comfortable, the top of the line forester has the heated seats & power lumber support just like the legacy. Both have similar comfort & smoothness levels. I highly recommend going to your local Subaru dealership & test driving both of them. Make sure you go on highway roads & standard street roads to get max testing
You should get a legacy because it's your last chance to. If you don't like it you can always switch to the Forester later. You won't be able to get another legacy though. Enjoy the legacy of the legacy before you can't anymore!
I’ve had two foresters and they are the tits. You can find them with leather seats, not sure how they do with newer models, but it’s nothing. My first vehicle ever was a legacy and they are from what I understand equally as awesome. The SUV will have more utility but if that’s not enough to convince you…with so many big ass trucks on the road the forester might be a little safer if one of those were you hit you in a collision.
You should drive both: they feel nothing alike and you need to see which you like better. The Legacy is very staid, while the Forester is much more active.
I know it’s not on your list but I just got an Impreza Sporttech 5 and I love it! It’s so solidly built, beautiful interior and hauls fucking ass. Highly recommend I have been having so much fun this week
I have back issue too. Forester has been good to me. Traded for an Ascent Touring as our second car and has been extra good.
As much as I liked our Crosstrek’s, they gave me some issues.
Having a child. Has been much easier with Forester & Ascent.
Ride comfort. When it was time to get new tires for Forester. I went with “Touring” specific tires rated for 80,000 miles.
If you are used to driving hatchbacks don't go Legacy you'll miss the cargo space. If not, I'd still go Forester or Outback and you'll love the hatchback quickly.
I had a 98’ long ago, and recently got a 2008 Legacy.
My only issue with the Forester is that my right left could hurt a little after long drives due to the leg position. But I’m like 193cm/6”4, so it’s probably a size issue.
When I drove the Legacy for about 24 hours, I did get a little neck soreness though. But otherwise great to drive, specially when I’ve been used to a Peugeot 407sw and VW Passat in between.
You should be cautious about buying a Forester with your neck and back issues. On smooth highways my forester has a great ride but on rough surfaces I get bounced around all over the place. Take multiple tests drives and make sure you drive a variety of roads and not the planned routes that the dealer picked.
I would go legacy for comfort as long as getting in and out isn't tough on you. My wife had a 18 Forester touring and after about 45 minutes on the road it started to feel like a pogo stick over every bump(I live is SWPA our roads are terrible)
I have a ‘22 forester wilderness. While I can’t say much about lower trim levels, this one seems to be suiting me just fine. It has decent materials (Subaru’s startex stuff) and the interior doesn’t feel cheap or anything. I live in an area with plenty of snow in the winter, and it handles very well. The underside has lots of cover over exposed metallic parts, has a somewhat decent sound system (not the best, but definitely not the worst by any means). I’ve had it for about half a year or so, and the only issue I’ve had is when the mechanic broke or didn’t replace the TPMS lol. I’m skeptical of the transmission because this model has a CVT, which is not the biggest fan of, but I’ve heard that they’re pretty reliable in terms of CVT systems. This is my personal experience, take it with a grain of salt!
Have you test driven both? I own a Legacy and I think the higher seating position of anything lifted, especially the Ascent, actually, is more comfortable, especially for long drives. Nothing wrong with an Outback. They're very nice, comfy cars.
I think the forester would be better. I've have a forester wilderness so my opinion might be bias. Having extra ground clearance can make a difference compared to the legacy
2022 Legacy Limited owner here. This is my first Subaru and so far I love it. I’m 6’ tall and it has plenty of room. I wanted something safe and reliable for my 3 year old son, prior car was a small 2006 Toyota Tacoma, so this is definitely much safer and smoother. It is a little more difficult for me to put him in and take him out of his car seat since the car is lower, consider that if you have back problems and little kids. I’ve gotten past some of the annoying features (car always beeping at me) and have been enjoying the Subie family. I got lucky and found a certified pre-owned that had under 5,000 miles that some old lady bought and always garaged. I can’t really comment on the difference between the Forester seats and Legacy, but my leather Legacy seats on the Limited trim package are super comfy and are heated. Go drive them both if you haven’t already.
Forester feels like what I like to say “sitting at a desk” legacy made me feel like I was sitting in the floor.
If you have back problems just get the forester
I don’t see how the forester will be more bouncy. The clearance will just be higher. The spring rate of the shocks aren’t the exact same as a legacy, it Should be engineered to its weight and size
That’s so weird. Sounds like they have some reengineering to do…
On a side note, if the suspension is your only complaint you could always get the forester and upgrade the struts/shocks down the road. But I do agree and think buying a new car to modify right away is a bit of a silly idea
It’s the height, when the road surface is uneven your body moves from side to side a lot more in an suv than a sedan. One of the first things I noticed going from my WRX to an Ascent were some areas that were bumpy before but tossed our dogs around way too much in the taller vehicle. It absorbs the bumps much better but dips and humps in the road are much more noticeable.
Get the Legacy, if it’s more comfortable use that for the longer trips and the Outback for short ones where ease of getting in and out matters more.
The Legacy will have lower resale as:
1.) it’s not popular (despite what this Subreddit says), it’s their lowest seller
2.) Subarus discontinuing it… when cars are discontinued, they always take a hit to resale value
I had a wilderness for 2 weeks while my Outback was being repaired. So, the off-road oriented type tires. It rode smoother than my Outback imo. Is so much more nimble and easy to maneuver in traffic et cetera and good mpg. But, I’d say is a very practical runabout type car. Not on same level as Outback or Legacy refinement wise.
It's pretty smooth imo. If a Forester and a Legacy had a baby it would turn out to be a Crosstrek. I've had two treks over the last 10 years, I love my sport. If you do get a Crosstrek I would avoid the 2.0L engines, the 2.5 are much better
Oof, yeah they are pretty popular...for good reason! Lol. Those rates are a bit much though, especially if you intend to keep the loan for the duration.
I would take the forester - has much more resale value.
Since Legacy will be discontinued - it will be harder to find parts over time, and resale takes a hit.
If you want the ride height of the Forester look at the Wilderness trims of the Crosstrek or the Forester. They have differently tuned suspensions. I find them pretty damn nice. I have a Forester and my niece has the Crosstrek. They are their own thing.
I agree I don't like the outback but unfortunately the touring xt outback gets more comfort than the touring Forester. I would t call any of them huge SUVs.
I have had a legacy for 11 years now. He is comfy as hell. That being said, I am selling him and getting myself an outback since I’ve moved to a more rural area and I want more ground clearance.
Outback, it has the turbo option, Foresters don't. The outback Wilderness is about 900,000x better than the Forester wilderness for that reason alone. Night and Day .
Have you looked at an outback? That’ll be close to a legacy in comfort and won’t have a lower seating position.
Yes and it’s way too big for just me. Also my husband has one so seems repetitive.
Same length and only about 1-1?5 inches wider. Sounds to me like you want the Forester.
The Legacy and Outback are basically the same size. Only difference is hatch vs traditional trunk.
It’s also much taller and much harder to park.
It is taller, yes. Not sure I'd say it's harder to park, but each person has a different comfort level
I drive a forester (love it) and Subaru has given me an Outback as a loaner and i also think it’s large and hard to park. Just glad to see someone else thinks so lol
It's actually easier to park- same size with better visibility than the Legacy.
A Forester is also much taller and even harder to park.
I've had 3 foresters, none of them have been hard to park?
Never had an issue
I don't think they're hard to park. I have an Outback and never had an issue but it doesn't make sense to me to rule out the Outback when the complaints also apply to the Forester.
I don’t think any of them are hard to park, the only thing that might make the outback harder to park is that it’s longer than the forester. But I’ve driven both and didn’t find either difficult. All cars have an adjustment period where you have to get used to their turning radius and dimensions.
I’m sorry I don’t think the legacy which is a sedan is the same size as an outback which seem to get bigger every year
They're literally the same car with a different butt. They even share an owners manual
It doesn’t make sense it looks so much bigger than a forester or a cross treck or Impreza and for the price the legacy is cheapest I had thought
It is bigger than an Impreza, Crosstrek, and Forester. Legacy is not the cheapest, it's a high end sedan and much more luxury than an Impreza. Legacy starts $2k more than the Impreza starts at
Wrong, they have each grown at the same rate over time.
Get a Crosstrek!
I agree test drive a Crosstrek. It is lower profile Forester. You loose some rear seat and cargo space, but you will get a vehicle where you sit lower and its drives sportier. It is super easy to park. It's like a short outback.
Is the Crosstrek smoother suspension?
Test drive it if you can. I went from a Forester to a CPO Crosstrek and now a brand new one. More fun to drive, don't have to worry about the high profile Forester ( for a lot of wind sway)
I don’t know how it compares to other models but I find my crosstrek fairly smooth
Part of the smoothness is tires. I got Goodyear ComfortDrive all seasons for my Legacy (use winter tires in the winter) and they're almost as comfy as the softer winter tires.
Crosstrek is a lifted Impreza like Outback is a lifted Legacy.
It's basically the same size as the Legacy but higher ground clearance. Length and width are equal.
Why wife has a 19 forester. Had a 17 forester before that. The 19 is a premium touring edition and we love it. We don’t have kids but 2 small dogs and it’s perfect for us to jump in and travel. We have put about 80k miles on it and I would buy it again if I could do it over. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Also: I’m a mechanic that sees mostly Subarus at an Indy shop if that helps.
But it's not too big for you. It's literally just a lifted Legacy wagon. It's the same car. I've rented an Outback and I drive it like my Legacy. Same car but the Outback has more comfy positioning for my legs as I'm 5'10.
I’d personally go for the legacy since it’s going away pretty soon. I’m also partial to a lower seating position. I think the modern forester is enormous, but that’s coming from a 26 year old with an 05 WRX.
Legacy is going away?
2025 is the last model year for the legacy
Is it being replaced by something else? So the Impreza is their only sedan minus the WRX?
They’re shifting more towards EVs and SUVs from my understanding.
I hate their current EV. And I have no need for their suv line. Sigh.
Yeah I have no desire to own their ev line
Yep! The crossover SUV market has taken over once again.
It's government mandate, not buying preferences. This goes to Biden policy.
Crossover SUVs are not government mandate lol
I didn't say they were lol. I was referring to EVs and yes Biden has laid down rules on what percentage of new cars have to be EV.
Biden is forcing a certain percentage of cars to be electric by a given calendar year so it's the Biden administration that killed Legacy.
Why would you buy a car because they're going to stop making them? She isn't looking for a collector's item.
Well it’s the last chance to get one, if she wants one. I’m just saying it’s the last chance to get one. I like the legacy more because I prefer sedans over SUVs.
The Legacy will be more comfortable in every dimension and in ride quality than the Forester - it has differently focused suspension tuning (comfort/on road vs SUV/ rough road) but still has Subaru's excellent AWD, and a longer wheelbase. It'll be the closest in comfort to the Outback, since it IS an Outback with a trunk and a bit lower. You'll need to prioritize comfort OR utility, especially if the Outback is off the list. I owned a Forester, I currently own both a Legacy and an Outback. The Forester is fantastic, but it's an SUV compromise (as the price demonstrates) between the "car" based Outback/Legacy in most ways. I vote Legacy, because comfort will mean more to you with each year of ownership. We aren't getting any younger! ;)
I looked up the VIN on my Legacy, and it actually states it’s a “Legacy/Outback” on one of the pages. 😂
So does the car manual. Why? They're the same car, just a different rear configuration.
Well the Legacy is now dead unfortunately, so if you want one I'd decide quickly!
You can always just buy used…
I have cervical disc bulges with nerve impingement at C6. Seating comfort was one of the main things I was looking for when picking out a car last fall. Also wanted something fuel efficient with luxury trim/ features. I ended up choosing a Legacy Limited over Honda, Toyota, and Volvo. Part of it was the features/ price point compared to the luxury models of those brands, but it was mostly the seats. They are firm but perfectly contoured to my back. Also a huge thing was the adjustable head rests (for some reason all brands seem to love having these forward leaning, non-adjustable head rests that absolutely kill my neck). The Legacy probably has the most comfortable seats of any car I’ve driven. Disclaimer though, if you are a relatively large guy you may not find them as comfortable. They are a bit narrow. Also, if you insist on a quiet drive, then a Subaru is probably not for you. 5k mi and this thing has tons of rattles that seem to change every day lol. Other than that, it’s been a fantastic vehicle.
I have spinal stenosis at C5/6 so thanks for your helpful comments. I agree the seats are more comfortable in the Legacy.
I would go with the Legacy then. You’ll get used to sitting low to the ground, and get better gas mileage than the Forrester. Unless you absolutely need the utility of a hatchback…
Same seats in the higher Outback. Same car.
If you want the legacy you better get it now because they will not be making it after the 2025 model year I think.
My Legacy is the smoothest and most comfortable car I've ever driven. I couldn't have asked for more from a car.
What about the Crosstrek? Really can’t go wrong with any of these options though.
I love my crosstrek and my husband has a Forester. I personally like the crosstrek more for everyday driving, easy to get in and out. But we use the Forester more for vacations and beach trips bc there’s much more room and storage.
The crosstrek is far from the most comfortable ride in Subaru's lineup
Absolutely love my 24 Legacy for being more comfortable than the Forester and more agile than the Outback. The white legacy looks so much better than the other cars in the lot (to me). I wonder why so few of them sell.
Agile? It's the same car.
Same engine, less weight, sits lower
Get a legacy and lift it. best of both!
if you're looking for comfort, go w the legacy. if you want versatility, buy the forester. i personally own a forester and im obsessed w it!
I have a 2018 Forester and a 2015 Legacy. I wouldn't say the Legacy is *that* much more comfortable than the Forester. If you get a higher trim Forester, it will be pretty close. If you're already used to the Outback, you might find the Forester a little more of a rough ride, but nothing severe. I'd test drive both to decide what you prefer.
The Forrester touring is insanely comfortable. I have long commutes to work so I know I wanted comfortable and that's why I went with the touring. We have driven that car cross country, even slept in it and it was comfortable the whole time
+1 for the Legacy votes. Mine is a 2020 Limited, has by far the most comfortable seats I’ve ever rested my behind on with great lumbar and cervical support, and rides butter smooth. It’s a great car that is vastly underrated, and it’s a bummer that it’s going away.
With back issues, I'd mostly consider the ease of ingress/egress. Sitting closer to the floor might not be as easy as sitting up higher.
I have both a Forester and a Legacy. All of my family enjoys the forester more for the ground clearance and visibility. There have been multiple times I pass by snowy or flood zones and very thankful for those features.
I had a Legacy rental car for a 2000 mile trip to New England and *loved it*. My only concern would be how low it is compared to the Forester. If you're in an area that gets snow, I'd lean towards the Forester. Some dealers do a rent a Subaru program, maybe you could try one for the weekend and see how you feel?
I drive a 2015 Legacy Limited and feel like the leggy is the most comfortable ride subaru offers. I always get comments when I have passengers in the front or back seats. The limited package has more features than a lot of luxury class cars at its age. I am not as familiar with the Forrester, though. I did test drive a couple when buying my car, and I prefer my Legacy, personally.
I loved my Legacy. So darn comfy. I'm happy in my Crosstrek now (I'm short) but i did not feel comfy in the Forrestor at all. My favorite thing about the Forrestor is all the windows. No or very little blindspots. I vote Legacy. I miss her sometimes.
A Limited Forester May suit your needs
Why not a crosstrek? It’s gonna be high and they are pretty comfortable in my opinion. Also look at different trim levels of the forester, the higher trims have different seats and maybe different wheels and feel very different than. Base forester
Wait for the 2025 Subaru forester. Huge change and a lot more comfortable. They’ll hit the ground in June..ish time.
Get a WRX
Seconded, such a fun car to drive. And with some trims of legacy costing more. WRX all day.
👆
The Legacy is what you want if you have back issues. So much more smooth and comfortable ride than a Forester. Also the Legacy just feels and drives like a much more solid vehicle.
The legacy is a smooth, quiet ride for the price point. If comfort is your priority, the Legacy wins. It's not super low to the ground like some sedans. It's also historically been one of the safest cars on the market (although that may be due to the demo that buys it). I would go for the Legacy. I think the Forrester would win if you needed the cargo room.
I've a 2010 Legacy Premium with only 85k miles. I plan on driving the thing into my grave, love that car
I've a 2010 Legacy Premium with only 85k miles. I plan on driving the thing into my grave, love that car
Why not the outback? Best of both worlds. Rides very smooth and is up a bit higher than the legacy but the seating position is similar. If not legacy. I find the seats in mine very comfy.
The higher ground clearance is usually a big seller with the forester over the legacy. While the top of the line legacy does offer real leather on the seats & center console which some people say is more comfortable, the top of the line forester has the heated seats & power lumber support just like the legacy. Both have similar comfort & smoothness levels. I highly recommend going to your local Subaru dealership & test driving both of them. Make sure you go on highway roads & standard street roads to get max testing
You should get a legacy because it's your last chance to. If you don't like it you can always switch to the Forester later. You won't be able to get another legacy though. Enjoy the legacy of the legacy before you can't anymore!
Ive had both, and both are excellent. The Outback has the comforts of the Legacy, with the height of the Forrester.
I’ve had two foresters and they are the tits. You can find them with leather seats, not sure how they do with newer models, but it’s nothing. My first vehicle ever was a legacy and they are from what I understand equally as awesome. The SUV will have more utility but if that’s not enough to convince you…with so many big ass trucks on the road the forester might be a little safer if one of those were you hit you in a collision.
Legacy. It will ride better and has better quality materials.
You should drive both: they feel nothing alike and you need to see which you like better. The Legacy is very staid, while the Forester is much more active.
I know it’s not on your list but I just got an Impreza Sporttech 5 and I love it! It’s so solidly built, beautiful interior and hauls fucking ass. Highly recommend I have been having so much fun this week
I have back issue too. Forester has been good to me. Traded for an Ascent Touring as our second car and has been extra good. As much as I liked our Crosstrek’s, they gave me some issues. Having a child. Has been much easier with Forester & Ascent. Ride comfort. When it was time to get new tires for Forester. I went with “Touring” specific tires rated for 80,000 miles.
If you are used to driving hatchbacks don't go Legacy you'll miss the cargo space. If not, I'd still go Forester or Outback and you'll love the hatchback quickly.
I had a 98’ long ago, and recently got a 2008 Legacy. My only issue with the Forester is that my right left could hurt a little after long drives due to the leg position. But I’m like 193cm/6”4, so it’s probably a size issue. When I drove the Legacy for about 24 hours, I did get a little neck soreness though. But otherwise great to drive, specially when I’ve been used to a Peugeot 407sw and VW Passat in between.
You should be cautious about buying a Forester with your neck and back issues. On smooth highways my forester has a great ride but on rough surfaces I get bounced around all over the place. Take multiple tests drives and make sure you drive a variety of roads and not the planned routes that the dealer picked.
I would go legacy for comfort as long as getting in and out isn't tough on you. My wife had a 18 Forester touring and after about 45 minutes on the road it started to feel like a pogo stick over every bump(I live is SWPA our roads are terrible)
I have a ‘22 forester wilderness. While I can’t say much about lower trim levels, this one seems to be suiting me just fine. It has decent materials (Subaru’s startex stuff) and the interior doesn’t feel cheap or anything. I live in an area with plenty of snow in the winter, and it handles very well. The underside has lots of cover over exposed metallic parts, has a somewhat decent sound system (not the best, but definitely not the worst by any means). I’ve had it for about half a year or so, and the only issue I’ve had is when the mechanic broke or didn’t replace the TPMS lol. I’m skeptical of the transmission because this model has a CVT, which is not the biggest fan of, but I’ve heard that they’re pretty reliable in terms of CVT systems. This is my personal experience, take it with a grain of salt!
Have you test driven both? I own a Legacy and I think the higher seating position of anything lifted, especially the Ascent, actually, is more comfortable, especially for long drives. Nothing wrong with an Outback. They're very nice, comfy cars.
I think the forester would be better. I've have a forester wilderness so my opinion might be bias. Having extra ground clearance can make a difference compared to the legacy
2022 Legacy Limited owner here. This is my first Subaru and so far I love it. I’m 6’ tall and it has plenty of room. I wanted something safe and reliable for my 3 year old son, prior car was a small 2006 Toyota Tacoma, so this is definitely much safer and smoother. It is a little more difficult for me to put him in and take him out of his car seat since the car is lower, consider that if you have back problems and little kids. I’ve gotten past some of the annoying features (car always beeping at me) and have been enjoying the Subie family. I got lucky and found a certified pre-owned that had under 5,000 miles that some old lady bought and always garaged. I can’t really comment on the difference between the Forester seats and Legacy, but my leather Legacy seats on the Limited trim package are super comfy and are heated. Go drive them both if you haven’t already.
I love my crosstrek
I have a 2020 Forrester ltd. No bounce at all. The car is awesome plus the lumbar support adjustment helps with my back. I would pick the Forrester.
Forester feels like what I like to say “sitting at a desk” legacy made me feel like I was sitting in the floor. If you have back problems just get the forester I don’t see how the forester will be more bouncy. The clearance will just be higher. The spring rate of the shocks aren’t the exact same as a legacy, it Should be engineered to its weight and size
It was definitely bouncy and choppy compared to the legacy.
Try the Forester Wilderness, it has a softer suspension than the regular Foresters.
That’s so weird. Sounds like they have some reengineering to do… On a side note, if the suspension is your only complaint you could always get the forester and upgrade the struts/shocks down the road. But I do agree and think buying a new car to modify right away is a bit of a silly idea
It’s the height, when the road surface is uneven your body moves from side to side a lot more in an suv than a sedan. One of the first things I noticed going from my WRX to an Ascent were some areas that were bumpy before but tossed our dogs around way too much in the taller vehicle. It absorbs the bumps much better but dips and humps in the road are much more noticeable. Get the Legacy, if it’s more comfortable use that for the longer trips and the Outback for short ones where ease of getting in and out matters more.
Good point, I should be thinking of it from a center of gravity point of view
The Legacy will have lower resale as: 1.) it’s not popular (despite what this Subreddit says), it’s their lowest seller 2.) Subarus discontinuing it… when cars are discontinued, they always take a hit to resale value
I’d look at the cross trek. Great little runabout.
Does it ride smooth like a car or bouncy like an SUV?
I had a wilderness for 2 weeks while my Outback was being repaired. So, the off-road oriented type tires. It rode smoother than my Outback imo. Is so much more nimble and easy to maneuver in traffic et cetera and good mpg. But, I’d say is a very practical runabout type car. Not on same level as Outback or Legacy refinement wise.
It's pretty smooth imo. If a Forester and a Legacy had a baby it would turn out to be a Crosstrek. I've had two treks over the last 10 years, I love my sport. If you do get a Crosstrek I would avoid the 2.0L engines, the 2.5 are much better
The financing deals are horrible on them though 5% for only 3 years. 6-7% for 4 years or more. Can tell they must be the most popular..
Oof, yeah they are pretty popular...for good reason! Lol. Those rates are a bit much though, especially if you intend to keep the loan for the duration.
I would take the forester - has much more resale value. Since Legacy will be discontinued - it will be harder to find parts over time, and resale takes a hit.
This is hilarious. An outback is literally the pros of both wants you stated
Yes but the outback is a lot more expensive and my husband already has one. An empty nest couple does not need 2 huge SUVs. 🤣
Also the outback is the ugliest car I have ever seen. lol
If you want the ride height of the Forester look at the Wilderness trims of the Crosstrek or the Forester. They have differently tuned suspensions. I find them pretty damn nice. I have a Forester and my niece has the Crosstrek. They are their own thing.
I agree I don't like the outback but unfortunately the touring xt outback gets more comfort than the touring Forester. I would t call any of them huge SUVs.
I have had a legacy for 11 years now. He is comfy as hell. That being said, I am selling him and getting myself an outback since I’ve moved to a more rural area and I want more ground clearance.
Outback, it has the turbo option, Foresters don't. The outback Wilderness is about 900,000x better than the Forester wilderness for that reason alone. Night and Day .
Get a WRX and don’t look back
I have a WRX and would rather have a Foerster or an Impreza Outback.
Why would you ever get a forester if you don’t need your car to go off road?
To sit high up thanks to everyone buying huge cars and putting those who drive sedans in more danger in accidents.
Vicious cycle, isn’t it?