Our 2019 Subaru Forester long-term take a look at automotive has been a pack rat for many people on workers at Autoblog. We’ve stuffed in tenting gear, tires, landscaping provides and far more over a lot of months. Nonetheless, we haven’t given it a correct baggage take a look at till now.
West Coast Editor James Riswick has examined a lot of compact crossovers that the Forester competes towards together with his personal set of baggage: Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However since our long-term Forester lives in Michigan, we’ll be utilizing the identical set of baggage that we’ve used for all different midwest baggage checks.
Right here’s what we’re working with: Two carry-on suitcases sized (24 inches lengthy, 15.5 large, 10 deep); one carry-on suitcase (21.7L x 13.7W x 9 D); one medium-size suitcase it’s a must to examine (24.5L x 16.8W x 11.5D) and two bigger, full-size suitcases (33.8L x 21.5W x 13D) and (28.1L x 18W x 10.5D).
This era of Forester and its extra conventional crossover form means it has a substantial amount of baggage capability for its general footprint. Sunroof-equipped fashions (like our Touring) are available in at 33.0 cubic-feet of area behind the again seat. If you happen to skip the sunroof, you achieve 2.4 cubes, however the area on the prime of the ceiling is mostly pointless except you’re chill with zero rearward visibility.
Our Touring mannequin comes with a pleasant powered hatch that may be opened through the fob, inside button, exterior lid button or a kick movement underneath the bumper. The kicking is mostly dependable, however has annoyed once in a while with a refusal to just accept our kicks. The cargo cowl that comes commonplace is just a little difficult to function and feels just a little flimsy. Unusually, there are two items of cloth that have to be pulled taut. The extra commonplace, bigger piece that covers a lot of the cargo space will be yanked ahead and slot right into a neat groove, however the piece on the opposite facet of the curler have to be delicately positioned in a pair slots proper close to the rear seats. If you happen to’re too quick, you could be compelled to climb into the cargo maintain to get it proper.
For the file, this piece exists due to the again seat’s reclining performance and guarantee there is not a spot between the upright seat and the duvet.
Now, let’s chuck some suitcases in it.
All three carry-on suitcases and the medium suitcase match neatly tucked underneath the cargo cowl. There’s oodles of room in entrance of them, which ended up being lots for the flamboyant bag (22L x 8.8W x 12D). Nonetheless, you’ll be able to clearly match far more round all these suitcases.
Shifting alongside to the full-size suitcases, these additionally match comfortably underneath the cargo cowl. Nonetheless, there’s not sufficient room on prime of them to suit any of the smaller carry-ons. Time to lose the duvet.
With this restriction gone, all three carry-on suitcases match properly on prime of the full-size suitcases. You possibly can see out by the big glass window simply tremendous, because the suitcases hardly eke into sight. As soon as once more, the Forester’s giant home windows pay nice dividends for visibility.
The one different spot to place a bag or suitcase of worthwhile dimension is on prime of the suitcases, although. This does vastly inhibit the view rearward and permits for the opportunity of the additional bag flying into the cabin. Sadly, the sliver of area left in entrance and simply to the facet on the ground isn’t significantly helpful. These spots are finest reserved for reward baggage or different miscellaneous gadgets on a highway journey.
5 suitcases for a crossover that matches 5 individuals is completely acceptable and glorious in our e book. If there are solely two alongside for the journey, the rear seats will be felled with lever pulls within the cargo maintain or pull tabs on the seatbacks themselves (word that the lip you see there’s from the all-weather cargo mat that’s simply pushed down with issues on prime). This reveals a cavernous and tall 70.9 cubic-foot cargo maintain. Or in the event you skip the sunroof, 76.1 cubic-feet. That quantity is unmatched by another crossover in its class. Nonetheless, the Forester isn’t primary for area behind the second row — the Honda CR-V takes that crown.
