2017 Kia Sportage vs 2017 Subaru Forester
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2017 Kia
Sportage
5/10
Cheap, well-equipped, and unglamorous — just make sure the engine has already been inspected or replaced before you sign anything.
VS
2017 Subaru
Forester
7/10
A honest, capable compact SUV with a famously long-lived boxer engine, undermined by a CVT you must actually maintain and a passenger airbag sensor that loves to cry wolf.
Milo scores the 2017 Subaru Forester higher — 7/10 against 5/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Kia Sportage |
Subaru Forester |
| Known failure points | 6 | 6 |
| NHTSA complaints | 398 | 580 |
| Safety recalls | 4 | 1 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 48 | 68 |
| Cheap to own | 55 | 58 |
| Fun factor | 38 | 42 |
| Holds value | 42 | 74 |
| Enthusiast cred | 15 | 35 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2017 Kia Sportage
Theta II 2.4L GDI engine oil consumption / rod bearing wear leading to knocking or seizure
$0–$7,0000k–60k mi
2017 Subaru Forester
CVT (TR580/Lineartronic) chain tensioner wear and valve body issues leading to shudder, hesitation, or failure
$150–$5,50060k–100k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2017 Kia Sportage
A 2017 SX or SX Limited with the turbocharged 2.0L engine, AWD, and documented proof the Theta II/KSDS software campaigns and HECU brake recall were completed — this sidesteps the worst of the fire/engine-knock horror stories.
✅ 2017 Subaru Forester
2017 Forester 2.0XT Touring — turbocharged FA20, 250hp, leather, panoramic roof, and it's the last year Subaru offered the turbo before killing it in this generation. Genuinely quicker and more fun without sacrificing the practicality.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.