Subaru Forester 2009
By Benjamin Cyr
Bigger, better looking and less expensive
In general, the new generation of a vehicle looks more interesting, is usually more spacious and sophisticated than the previous offerings. The retail price, however, goes up by a few percentages, especially with remodelling. In this case, Subaru surprises; the 2.5X version sells for $25,795, which shaves $1,000 from the 2008 tag. To add another welcome surprise, our try-out Touring version (panoramic sliding roof, 16 inch rims, electrical package, front wiper defrosters, anti fog lights, rear seat with reclining back) retails for $27,795. Excellent value, considering Subaru's great all-wheel drive. For those who want more luxury, a Limited version goes for a few thousands more as does those of the XT version.
The 2009 Forester's bigger size adds a negligible amount of weight. The driving experience remains interesting and the size does not encumber one in the city. As to comfort, all passengers will appreciate the extra cab room, namely the rear seat occupants.
No vehicle reaches perfection and the Forester has its problems. The main flaw pertains to the 4-speed automatic transmission. The current norm sits at a five-speed minimum to fully exploit the power range and diminish fuel consumption. The lengthy gear strokes hamper speed with the Forester fully loaded. The Boxer motor does not develop enough torque for clean passing. Note that XT version (turbo compressed with 224 each), will rid you of any problem related to acceleration, in gear or not, and allow the Forester to give you surprising performances. I would strongly suggest a manual transmission when running an atmospheric version.
Therefore…
Let's end on a positive note. This Forester dominates its predecessor and deserves consumer consideration. The enticing base price accessible to many and the expanded interior volume will undoubtedly bring new buyers to Subaru. Here's hoping that the new turn taken spreads to the rest of the Japanese builder's fleet. |
Previous page 
