Which interior accessories are must-haves for the new Subaru Forester?

Question

Hey everyone! I just picked up my brand new Subaru Forester last week and I'm absolutely loving the ride so far. It’s such a huge step up from my old car, but since this is my first brand-new vehicle, I’m really motivated to keep the interior looking pristine for as long as possible. We’re a pretty active family—lots of weekend hiking trips and we have a golden retriever who goes everywhere with us—so I know the cabin is going to face some serious dirt and pet hair.

I’ve been browsing the official Subaru catalog, but I’m torn between the OEM all-weather floor liners and aftermarket options like WeatherTech or TuxMat. I also noticed that the center console is basically just a deep cavern, so I’m definitely looking for a tray organizer to keep my phone and sunglasses from getting lost at the bottom. Another thing on my radar is a good cargo protector, specifically one that covers the back of the rear seats when they're folded down for gear hauling.

I want to invest in pieces that are durable and fit perfectly without looking tacky. If you’ve recently decked out your Forester, what are the absolute essentials you'd recommend starting with? Are there any 'quality of life' accessories or hidden gems you’ve found that you now can’t live without?

OOO111 · Accepted Answer

Interiors wear fast. Basically, protection saves resale value!
- Subaru Forester Rear Seatback Protector J201SSJ000 ($90)
- Muslogy Center Console Tray ($15)
TuxMat Floor Mats for Subaru Forester are way better!

zirimnsxju · Answer

Sooo I've had Foresters for years and found the OEM mats didnt cut it for my muddy boots. I eventually switched to Husky Liners WeatherBeater cuz the high walls keep the carpet way drier. Also, I grabbed a Vehicle OCD Center Console Organizer Tray after losing my keys in that console hole too many times. It's literally a game changer for daily use!! Hope that helps.

qfdvfvrngh · Answer

Coming back to this thread after doing a deep dive when I got mine. Tbh, the market for floor mats is basically a war zone right now. I spent weeks researching 3D MAXpider Kagu Series Floor Mats vs the usual big names. I think the 3D ones have a wierdly cool textured look that feels way less "industrial" than some others, which is realy nice if you want to keep the interior feeling premium but still protected from dog mud. Also, with a Golden Retriever, youre definately going to want to look into door sills. I found that most people overlook the paint on the door frames until it's already scratched up by paws. I ended up looking at Subaru Door Scuff Protectors after seeing how much people complain about scuffs online. Not 100% sure if the aftermarket ones fit as well, but the OEM ones are okay? Maybe? Also, check out Meadowlark Dog Seat Cover with Mesh Window. It’s basically about finding that balance between the "rugged" look and not making the cabin look like a construction site. It's a wierd niche market but there's a lot of cool gear out there if you dig past the first page of Amazon.