I was excited about the 2025 Forester until I saw it...

[izzyman]

I've had 4 Foresters now. Current model is a 2021 Sport, which is literally (chef's kiss) perfect.

I took at look at a '25 Forester and was shocked to see (essentially) an I-Max screen in the middle of the dash...

And no knobs. All you have is a massive touch screen for most controls -- which means you have to LOOK at the screen to change settings.

It seems to me a company that is so focused on driver safety would not change core interior controls so you have to take your eyes off the road to use them. Currently, I can -- without looking -- reach for a knob and turn the temp up or down, fan control up or down, volume, reboot the radio, etc -- all without looking at the console.

Some of this is available on the steering wheel too, but what is Subaru thinking putting everything in touch screen?

Far less than ideal. I am very disappointed.

 

[Jkb242]

I've had 4 Foresters now. Current model is a 2021 Sport, which is literally (chef's kiss) perfect.

I took at look at a '25 Forester and was shocked to see (essentially) an I-Max screen in the middle of the dash...

And no knobs. All you have is a massive touch screen for most controls -- which means you have to LOOK at the screen to change settings.

It seems to me a company that is so focused on driver safety would not change core interior controls so you have to take your eyes off the road to use them. Currently, I can -- without looking -- reach for a knob and turn the temp up or down, fan control up or down, volume, reboot the radio, etc -- all without looking at the console.

Some of this is available on the steering wheel too, but what is Subaru thinking putting everything in touch screen?

Far less than ideal. I am very disappointed.

 

[Jkb242]

I have the 2021 Forrester Touring. I think the 2025 uses the same screen no knobs completely touch screen. I would suggest the extended electronics warranty otherwise if it fails under normal warranty period it’s a $2k replacement.

 

[Chip86]

I just bought one, my first Subaru. I mostly like it, but can validate the need to take eyes off the road to use the touch screen. I have also had to consult the voluminous, poorly indexed manual to figure out how to do some things. Part of that is just the increased technological load with each new generation of cars, but I think Subaru should devote some effort to simplified ergonomics. I hope that Subaru’s reputation for reliability carries over to this model and year.

One tacit admission that the car is loaded with gee gaws was the dealership’s offer to have an employee whose only job is to explain and demonstrate features spend an hour with me after I had driven the car for a week. Kudos to the dealer, but the need for this tells you something about ease of use. On the other hand, if you wade through all the settings menus, you can dial many things in exactly how you want them.

 

[Gordon Cash]

I completely agree about the touch screen. I have a 2024 Legacy. I would gladly have paid an extra $1000 to have it retrofitted with knobs and a smaller touchscreen, but that option is simply not available. BTW, Subaru (and everyone else) have gone to touchscreens instead of knobs because it’s cheaper.

 

[Cow Number 2]

I agree with with the original post concerning the user-UNfriendliness of the giant infotainment center. There is way too much information packed into the screen to safely use it at 75 miles per hour in traffic--or even driving around town at rush hour.

After driving my new 2024 Legacy for about 5 months, I still struggle with quickly finding and implementing the commands I am looking for because: eleven touch "buttons" are only 1/2 inch wide (or high), and six "real" buttons are flush with the panel and are essentially disguised in black. Often two presses are required to implement a command because i miss the first press because the car is moving or I am trying to press while also trying to scan the road. Some of the buttons are at knee level!

When you add to the above, the painfully slow response of the screen, which keeps your eyes off the road even longer as you confirm your command was implemented, you realize the interface is just downright poorly designed. It might even be considered unsafe, given the application includes humans with children moving at 75 mph.

I thought engineers and interface designers were suppose to build off the known conventions developed over years of research and successes. Yes, move forward, but do so without throwing out what works well.

I want my information chunked. I want a group of knobs and buttons for my climate control separated from my vehicle information display screen. I want my main operating screen to be simple and include real buttons and knobs for navigation. Give me knobs and rocker switches for key commands that I will use the most. Take cues from race cars, where the driver must observe performance parameters and physically interact with car while driving at 150 mph.

The interfaces in my 2017 Forester, 2020 Forester, and my wife's 2021 Ascent were fundamentally better than beautifully-coined "I-MAX" screen in my 2024 Legacy (in my informed opinion anyway).

Yes, by all means modernize the look and feel of interfaces, make dashboard stylish, but don't overlook the fundamentals of usability while doing so.

Cow Number 2

 

[izzyman]

I'm glad I'm not thr only one. I really think Subaru screwed the pooch on this. It's not safe and is nowhere near usable. I don't need a video game console in my car.

 

[Dick Foster]

Isn't that what voice command is for? Just saying.

 

[izzyman]

Isn't that what voice command is for? Just saying.

it doesn't work for everything, and with a speech impediment it doesn't work at all.

 

[Captain Spalding]

I wanted to get a Forester for my daughter before she went off to college out of state. After researching the 2025, I bought a ‘24 for her three months earlier than I had planned, because the 2025’s were starting to appear on dealer lots in mid-May.

I think the trend towards big touch screens by manufacturers isn’t driven by consumer demand. I think they are just cheaper to produce.

 

[Dick Foster]

I wanted to get a Forester for my daughter before she went off to college out of state. After researching the 2025, I bought a ‘24 for her three months earlier than I had planned, because the 2025’s were starting to appear on dealer lots in mid-May.

I think the trend towards big touch screens by manufacturers isn’t driven by consumer demand. I think they are just cheaper to produce.

Why would you think bigger is cheaper? I'm my experience in electronics LCD displays were priced by the area ie square inch or square cm.

 

[izzyman]

I wanted to get a Forester for my daughter before she went off to college out of state. After researching the 2025, I bought a ‘24 for her three months earlier than I had planned, because the 2025’s were starting to appear on dealer lots in mid-May.

I think the trend towards big touch screens by manufacturers isn’t driven by consumer demand. I think they are just cheaper to produce.

I don't think it's either consumer demand or cost, it's more likely perception of a trend in auto design.

It could be cost as everythign gets programmed into the system and there are no mechanical knobs to go bad, but I can't see that since bigger display = more $$$ Bigger the display, the more it is per size.

It is a bad idea no matter what. I cannot get over the salesman's face when I asked how to change the drive mode without looking at the panel.

 

[rclark]

I do like my '24 Forester . I like the knobs and I think they are safer too. The 'screen' may eliminate some 'parts' and wiring (so probably cheaper to produce) as now all controls in 'software'. But I (and my wife) don't like it. We sold our 2018 CrossTrek to my parents (they really like it and need it for safe winter driving for one thing and ease of getting in and out of) . So we took a look at the new Crosstrek (on-line) and discovered they went to that ugly monstrosity in the center of the console since we bought the '18'! Ugh. We decided to do 'without' a Crosstrek.... Might get an older one, but we can wait. Subaru shot themselves in the foot (at least for my generation).