Subaru Forester hybrid running costs, insurance, warranty & tax
The Subaru Forester hybrid's reputation for reliability are big plus points, but company-car and other tax costs are high
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | 2021/22 company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19-20 | 5yrs / 100,000 miles | 1yr / 12,000 miles | From £2,618 / £5,237 |
The Subaru brand's fabled reliability brings peace of mind, but high CO2 emissions make this extremely expensive as a company car. Private owners might feel stung by high road tax, too.
Subaru Forester hybrid insurance group
The Forester e-Boxer falls into insurance group 23, which is a slight rise on previous ratings. That's lower than the Kia Sportage in group 25, but higher than the Ford Kuga in group 20.
Warranty
Previously, all Subarus were sold with a five-year/100,000-mile warranty. This has since dropped to a industry-standard three-year/60,000-mile guarantee covering the entire car. It's a shame, because the lengthy cover was a big positive for customers; the current setup trails the seven-year/100,000 mile policy you get with a Kia – so if you plan to keep your car for a long time, the Sportage might be a better bet. The Subaru’s hybrid system's battery is covered separately for eight years and 100,000 miles.
Servicing
The Forester needs to be serviced every 12 months or 12,000 miles. The Sportage has slightly shorter 10,000-mile intervals, while the Kuga needs to rock up at the dealer only every two years or 18,000 miles.
Road tax
You have to fork out a hefty first year registration fee of £1030 because of the Forester’s poor emissions – and despite the fact it's now hybrid-only. Be careful not to add metallic paint to XE Premium trim because that will push the list price beyond £40,000 and land you with a £560 annual bill to pay between years two to six of ownership. Every other Forester just pays the alternative fuel road tax (VED) rate (it is a hybrid) of £170.