It sat flat in passing lane changes and displayed minimal body roll in hard, back road cornering.Ĭonsidering that it would appear to be top heavy, its stability was surprising. On the road, the Forester handled far more ike a car than an SUV. Those controls, for audio and climate, are big, easy to figure out, easy to use. A brushed-metallic treatment surrounds the dials and knobs of the center console. The flat top dash is bisected by a dimpled swath of soft material that continues its horizontal flow to the upper doors front and rear. The interior remains basic with three gauges behind the wheel — one for fuel and temperature, another for the speedometer, and a third for the tachometer. That’s a spacious bin for weekend hauling.
Inside, it has been made roomier with an extra cubic foot of space up front, 3 more cubic feet in the middle, and, with the 60-40 split rear seats folded down, 5 extra cubic feet of cargo space, up to 64 cubic feet. The front corners have been rounded, and the grille has been given a broad horizontal cast. Knowing that they shouldn’t tinker with the basics of a stable workhorse, Subaru’s redesign of the Forester for 2003, which c arries over into 2004, did little to alter the appearance of the car. For those who like the earlier powerplant, the 165-horsepower engine will continue to be offered. The company’s literature says the turbo Forester 'enhances sporty driving while fully preserving the … crossover SUV design approach' — meaning you get your standard box but it comes with a bigger punch. This will represent Subaru’s attempt to stand in two worlds, one of dependable utility, the other of snappy performance. For 2004, Subaru will offer a new Forester with a 2.5-liter boxer engine that is turbocharged and produces 210 horsepower. For others, however, a turbo boost would be a good thing and that’s why what looms is so appealing.
I also found the stick shift to be a bit sloppy, reminding me of long-throw cars of yore rather than the quick-click shifters that many cars feature today.įor some people — and fans of the car, as it exists, are myriad — basic, dependable power is all that is sought.
SUBARU FORESTER FORUM MANUAL
Indeed, the 2.5-liter boxer engine in the test model produces only 165 horsepower and, coupled with the standard five-speed manual transmission, it is part of a powertrain that lets you know it’s working very hard for you when the car is fully loaded and pulling out to pass or to climb long grades. Known for reliability, safety, and economy, it was not a car to inspire lovers of design grace or those seeking high performance. The Forester, introduced in 1997, has been among the best of them. Among them are the Suzuki Vitara, Toyota RAV4, Suzuki XL-7, Saturn Vue, Jeep Liberty, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Mitsubishi Outlander.
SUBARU FORESTER FORUM DRIVERS
These are cars that haul people and goods through all sorts of weather, are not gas-guzzlers, do not threaten other drivers with their bulk, yet offer at least a touch of the utility of their larger brethren. If there can be said to exist 'politically correct' SUVs, the popular Forester, which accounts for nearly a quarter of Subaru’s 175,000 annual sales, would stand square in their midst. They are not the folks who would buy this week’s test car, the 2003 Subaru Forester XTS, a capable, dependable, roomy box of a car. That’s why the rally-inspired WRX was brought to these shores and why — hold on to your seats here — a 300 horsepower version of the WRX is coming soon to a showroom near you. Beloved for its utility and its full-line all-wheel-drive systems in regions where the snow flies and ice forms on the roads, the company needs a new edge where the roads stay dry and weather isn’t a seasonal challenge. Subaru is reaching for power — turbocharged power — in an effort to broaden its national appeal.
SUBARU FORESTER FORUM HOW TO
How to praise a car when a powerful alternative waits in the wings?
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