Unlike the towering ride height of other SUVs, the Forester actually has a low seating height, maybe just a tad higher than a conventional car. The dash and controls are more car-like compared to other SUVs with the steering wheel and gear shifter within perfect reach. Space is a bit of a premium, but it’s adequate fore and aft, the rear passengers getting individual headrests and three-point seatbelts for all.
With its family-friendly configuration, the designated driver won’t feel left out at all. Driving fun is still the main draw here thanks to the most balanced and vibration-free four-cylinder engine I’ve ever tried. At idle, the 2.5-liter “boxer” never hints at its performance potential, but bleep the throttle at bit and there’s an immediate surge. Could this be the turbo? No, the initial sensation’s the 2.5-liter at work. Once the Forester reaches 3,600 rpm there’s a powerful tug as the engine unleashes 326 Nm of torque. At 5,600 rpm—it literally reaches warp speed. Before you know it, you’re hitting 140 km/h and simply running out of road.
Once you turn the corner though, the Forester manages to obey—feeling surefooted and confident. Aside from the engine’s low center of gravity, Subaru employs symmetrical all-wheel drive that delivers unbelievable grip making the Forester a sturdy companion whatever the weather, whatever the corner. There’s some tire squeal, but it’s down to the nature of the M+S tires. Perhaps a switch to performance radials will quell this. On the road, the Forester feels mightily composed and softly sprung, surpassing the ride quality of any other compact SUV out there.
Ultimately what gains my respect for the Forester is that Subaru didn’t take any shortcuts in developing it. Other companies may skimp on here and there, but true to the brand, it’s one engineering marvel. It blends the best attributes of a compact SUV with those of a sports car. In the end, this singularity and focus in design is what draws me to any car. And the Forester delivers that. At the same time, it doesn’t remove flexibility out of the equation, as it’s a commendable family car for any sort of occasion. What do I think about the new Subaru Forester 2.5XT? A Crystal Gray Metallic, please. I sure hope Subaru accepts souls as I’m a bit wee short on cash.
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| The Forester's interior is simplistic and straight forward. The driving position is more carlike than SUV, and the gauges are simple but easily readable. |
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| Though we're not fans of the beige color scheme, we certainly like the amount of space the Forester offers. It's child-seat friendly too with both LATCH and ISO-FIX attachments. |
