Car financing: 2021 Subaru Forester Premier

The 2021 Subaru Forester Premier: before you buy

We are a rental company, not a dealer, so there is no 2021 Subaru Forester Premier for sale by us right now. We are not a lender and do not arrange loans. A monthly rental can cover the time while you arrange financing with your bank. Before you buy the 2021 Subaru Forester Premier, see the figures and the checks worth doing.

A buyer's checks

Owners filed 210 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility/wiper, unknown or other and electrical system; have those parts checked. In Ontario, a used car needs a Safety Standards Certificate to be registered. Look at the tires, brakes and battery; they are costly to replace. Check whether every recall was done, by the VIN, before you pay.

The numbers in plain words

The powertrain here is the 2.5L 4-cylinder with all-wheel drive and an automatic (CVT). It runs on regular gas. All-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels, which helps on snow and wet roads; good tires still matter most.

Fuel use is rated 8.2 L/100 km combined, so 300 km needs about 25 litres. At our price setting, it costs about $12.71 to drive 100 km. At US fuel prices, the EPA estimates US$2,300 a year for 15,000 miles.

What to expect from the Forester

Its SUV body gives a high seating position and an easy load height.

Who rents the Forester

Its all-wheel drive suits winter roads and trips to ski country. It suits anyone who needs a car for a few days, a week or a month without buying one.

Try before you buy

Rent the Forester for a week, or up to 365 days, before you commit to buying one. Drive the Forester on your commute before you commit to it. Rent first, buy later: a week with the Forester answers the big questions.

Money matters

The EPA estimates US$2,300 a year in fuel for 15,000 miles at US prices. Ask what a set of tires costs for this trim; sizes and prices vary. A pre-purchase inspection is a small cost next to the price of the car.

Year and trim

If two trims share a powertrain, the difference is equipment, which you can check in person. Write down the VIN of any car you consider; it unlocks the recall and service history. Look at a few listings of the same year and trim to get a feel for fair prices.

Talk to a person

Send a request to rent the model you are thinking of buying.