The Showroom
  • Showroom
  • Latest Posts
  • Restyle Guides
  • Contact
  • Visit our Store
No Result
View All Result
  • Showroom
  • Latest Posts
  • Restyle Guides
  • Contact
  • Visit our Store
No Result
View All Result
VIP Auto Accessories Blog
No Result
View All Result

5 Subaru Forester Mods Every Owner Should Make

The Subaru Forester is a great SUV to begin with, but that doesn't mean it can't be made even better.

Jason Prott by Jason Prott
January 7, 2020 - Updated on February 15, 2023
in 2020, Brands, Forester, Guide, Subaru
5 Subaru Forester Mods Every Owner Should Make
7
SHARES
24.6k
VIEWS

Finding the right Forester was step one, now it’s time to personalize it and make it work for you. Subaru Forester mods can help increase comfort, safety, and performance. These modifications are ideas every owner should consider when starting the journey with a new Forester. Every change might not make sense for your build, but use this as a guide to start personalizing your Subaru.

Window Tint

If you’re wondering how to make a Subaru Forester look cool then window tint is a good option. Your Forester has factory tinted glass, but it doesn’t cover every window, and what is covered might not be dark enough for your liking. We recommend evaluating the glass on every car purchase. Typically the front windows of a new car have very little, or no tinting at all.

Subaru (and every other automaker) do this to abide by state laws. The vehicle could be sold in any state, so they adhere to the strictest auto tinting regulations. If you want all windows to match you can have it applied to the front driver and passenger windows only. This should create uniform coverage around the vehicle.

You can also choose to have all the windows tinted to an even darker VLT (visual light transference) level. We use tint with a VLT of 5%, 20%, or 35%. The lower the number, the darker it is. Whichever direction you go make sure you’re aware of the laws in your area.

Pro Tip: A poor quality job will bubble and discolor over time. Make sure your window tint installer has a good warranty to protect your investment.

Leather Seats

Factory leather is only found on the Limited and Touring trims. If you own any of the other models you’re not out of luck. Leather can be added to any Forester for less then you might expect. Subaru Forester mods like custom leather can even add some increased value to your vehicle if you are looking to sell it later on.

Katzkin offers vehicle-specific kits that replace factory cloth with the leather of your choice. You can design it yourself, or choose one of their preset designs. There are designs that even match the Forester Sport’s orange accents.

No matter what design you choose, these are full seat coverings, not seat covers. They are specifically engineered to completely replace your Forester’s cloth seats. The upholstery is removed from the cloth factory seat and it is replaced with Katzkin leather. Make sure you find a preferred Katzkin installer for a professional installation.

Body Side Molding

Whether you’re looking to overcome your fear of crowded parking lots, or spice up the exterior of your Forester, body side moldings are a great choice. Body side moldings can protect you from shopping carts, door dings, and other scratches. They’ll take the hit instead of your car, and replacing them is far cheaper than fixing your door.

They come in several different styles and are applied with a simple no-drill installation that many owners will be comfortable doing themselves. They add some visual style making your modified Subaru Forester look more appealing.

Floor Liners

If you’re rolling with carpet mats you’re doing it wrong. Every car should have floor liners. Subaru offers their own (see left) through your dealership but their floor coverage isn’t as robust as the WeatherTech FloorLiner (see right).

Subaru OEM Floor Liner for Forester
WeatherTech FloorLiner for Forester

We recommend any liner over a generic mat. Liners will keep messes off your floor and make cleaning them up much easier. They help to insure a clean interior when you sell or trade in your Forester in the future.

Receiver Hitch

There’s a reason you bought an Subaru, and it wasn’t to stay home all day. Adding a receiver hitch to your Forester means you can attach a cargo or bike carrier for maximum carrying capacity on your adventures.

Receivers come in 1.25 or 2 inch variants, so make sure you select the size that matches your intended use. The Forester has a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, so pulling lightweight aluminum boats and some pop-up campers is an option.

Pro Tip: Unsure what size hitch to get? It’s always better to go bigger, especially if you’re going to be towing something.

This post contains affiliate links to products we recommend. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission.

Tags: leathersuvtint
Previous Post

2019 RAM 1500 – 6-Inch Lift Build

Next Post

2020 Ford F150 XLT – Blackout Build

Jason Prott

Jason Prott

Jason is the Marketing Manager at VIP Auto Accessories in St. Louis, MO. He is passionate about personalizing his car and home, and spent the last 9+ years entrenched in the auto industry. He currently drives a Ford Maverick.

Related Posts

Custom 2025 GMC Yukon Denali with blackout trim and matte black paint protection film.
2025

The Greatest 2025 GMC Yukon Denali Blackout Build

by Keven Gilbert
April 28, 2025
Full view of a Sterling Metallic Grey 2025 GMC Yukon Denali with custom black chrome delete trim.
2025

The Best 2025 GMC Yukon Denali Chrome Delete Build

by Keven Gilbert
April 22, 2025 - Updated on April 28, 2025
Matte military green 2024 Tesla Cybertruck wrap.
2024

Wrapping the Cybertruck with Matte Green Vinyl

by Keven Gilbert
February 26, 2025
Custom 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offroad build with matte ppf and a lift kit.
2025

The Ultimate 2025 Land Cruiser Offroad Build

by Keven Gilbert
February 21, 2025 - Updated on March 14, 2025
GMC Sierra 2500 HD Denali with chrome delete trim and a vader chrome grille.
2024

2024 GMC Sierra HD 3500 With Chrome Delete Trim

by Keven Gilbert
January 24, 2025
Next Post
2020 F150 Blackout Build Hero

2020 Ford F150 XLT - Blackout Build

Latest

Custom 2025 GMC Yukon Denali with blackout trim and matte black paint protection film.

The Greatest 2025 GMC Yukon Denali Blackout Build

April 28, 2025
Full view of a Sterling Metallic Grey 2025 GMC Yukon Denali with custom black chrome delete trim.

The Best 2025 GMC Yukon Denali Chrome Delete Build

April 22, 2025 - Updated on April 28, 2025
Matte military green 2024 Tesla Cybertruck wrap.

Wrapping the Cybertruck with Matte Green Vinyl

February 26, 2025

Follow us on Facebook

VIP Auto Accessories Blog

We're on a mission to make everyone proud of what they drive, and we've been hard at work for 45 years.

Follow Us

Categories

As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com

Contact Us

Visit our online store to learn more

© 2024 VIP DISTRIBUTING CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Showroom
  • Latest Posts
  • Restyle Guides
  • Contact
  • Visit our Store

© 2024 VIP DISTRIBUTING CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.