Subaru Forester – Subaru Makes a Good Forester Even Better

Subaru is one of the auto manufacturers in the country that is blessed with a loyal following. They fill a particular niche in the market and consistently do it very well. As time passes, market forces demand updating and changes to models within the vehicle lineup to remain competitive. This time, it’s the Forester’s turn for modernization.

Subaru considers the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue as competitors. Though these position themselves as scaled down trucky types of vehicles, the Forester is often viewed as a ruggedized wagon. In reality, other than the shape of the sheet metal, they are very similar. In fact, Subaru went to great lengths to convince us that the Forester is significantly more rugged than the others.

The new Forester looks very similar to past models. It is a totally new vehicle that has been improved in many important areas. The body which was strong is now even stronger. The vehicle is slightly larger but, with clever packaging, rear seat leg room has been increased by over 4 inches, which is huge in the car world. The cargo area also benefits from a large unobstructed shape that leans to the functional side of the road rather than the stylish side. 2nd row seats fold flat and even the front seat back will fold flat, delivering a very large and very configurable interior space. The 2nd row seats also recline now for improved comfort.

The new forester has a quieter interior and the trim has been upgraded. The gauges have been modernized and a tilt/telescope steering column is now included in the upscale XT model. On the steering wheel, you’ll find both audio and cruise control buttons. New this year is a navigation system with a very wide 7.1 inch screen as well as satellite radio.

There are 3 trim levels, the base X, the X L.L.Bean Edition and the XT with turbo. Foresters continue with their powerful and reliable flat 4-cylinder engines. The naturally aspirated 2.5 liter version produces 170 horsepower and the turbo version of the 2.5 delivers 224 horsepower. Though a 5-speed manual is available, for my money the automatics are the way to go. Subaru engineers have really built excellent road manners and handling into the Forester and the turbo models have terrific acceleration.

All Forester models come with Subaru’s renowned AWD all-wheel drive system. It is an always-on technology which makes the Forester a favorite among those who live in places with winter weather or in the mountains. The Forester is also amazingly rugged. Our press introduction took us over mountainous terrain on the rugged side of Catalina Island that no sane Forester owner would ever take their vehicle on. We gutted our way up steep, rough, rock strewn paths that couldn’t be really described as a “road” and the Forester just got it done. Very impressive!

Regardless of where you live, the Forester is just a great all-around vehicle. It drives and handles like a car, is very tough, lasts a long time, is reliable, is versatile, performs well and starts at just a bit under $20,000. As good as the past model was, the new one is better, adds stability control and side curtain air bags standard and is $1,200 less than the old one…go buy one.