Well I just returned to a freelander having been away for a few years
I traded in a forester 2011 with just 26k on the clock, the excellence I hear of must have missed the build of my car
I had a few problems in my 6 months ownership and it turned me off the car
Paintwork is at best ok at worst thin and low quality
Constant AC problems, fuel consumption was ok but very narrow power band
And and engine that now and again on start up sounded like it was about to self destruct, flimsy plastics for interior that marked all the time.
I like the car but fell out of love with it and decided to return to Land Rover.
So far so good I am enjoying the XS I have purchased.

V40, I assume your Forester was last generation. Looked at one before I bought the Freelander and wasn't convinced, largely because I wanted an auto. They persisted with the really old 4EAT which was very inefficient. The new Lineatronic (CVT) is incredibly efficient in terms of mpg and also has an 8 speed manual mode with paddle shifters.
Presumably, your Forester was diesel, hence the narrow power band remark. The XT power band is exceptional due to the twin scroll turbo and it still manages to beat the FL2 in real world fuel consumption.

Subaru paint is soft like all Japanese cars, but at least it's easy to polish out the swirl marks without resorting to a DA polisher! My last Forester ( 2nd gen) never broke down in 7 years and only required a replacement clock bulb in that time.
I agree about interiors, but the current Forester is a huge improvement over the previous model and you have to remember it is getting on for £10k cheaper and does everything the FL2 does.

The FL2 is a great car, but frankly the replacement Discovery Sport is just too expensive, particularly if it's only the interior quality (and 7 seats) that is significantly different. I suppose you could say the same about the Evoque - an awful lot of money for a RR quality interior in a car with no room and dreadful visibility. My sister's neighbours have on their drive a full fat RR, an Evoque, a Mini Cooper and a Mercedes E Class AMG estate. The only use the Evoque gets is to take the kids to and from their private school. I hope the Discovery Sport is not going in that direction as it seems JLR are making the most of repositioning Land Rover products which will increasingly have little or no mention of Land Rover on them, being Range Rovers or Discoveries (and it's a moot point whether the Defender will ever be replaced at all).

Mine was a diesel
The spares availability is also poor
Having to wait for parts on order,
Prices too
AC condenser gen subaru £280
After market from same maker as genuine was £85 delivered
Low rent is how I'd describe the quality.
Shame as I really liked the car but fell out of love pretty quickly and traded it in.
We did approx 11k in it in the 6 months.
The depreciation was alarming so glad I moved it on.

I had a high opinion of the Forester, especially the boxer diesel, really surprised by your review.

Iain

Iain
I had 3 times when I started the car it sounded like the big ends had gone
I suspected an injector not functioning
It was enough to switch it off sharpish. Then it was ok on re start
The car rtn'd 40-44 mpg
I paid 17k in February and got the best offer of 12 in October
I wanted rid so traded it in.
Paint was incredibly soft
Dash parts scratched very very easily.

GeorgeG wrote:

The only use the Evoque gets is to take the kids to and from their private school.