Object of Envy

July 05,2008

The Subaru Forester was once considered by many as an automotive oddity. On one hand, it looked like a station wagon with its low roofline and cladding-less body. On the other, it seemed like a sport utility vehicle with its increased ride height and all-season (M+S) tires. The few that got them bought into a new craze way back in 1997 (the year the Forester was launched)—the crossover. This was a class of vehicle that seamlessly blended the best attributes of a passenger car with those of a SUV, years before BMW even dreamed up their X line of vehicles.

The rather odd approach coupled with looks that equaled something like that of a farmer’s implement certainly didn’t do wonders for it, and despite being a much more driver’s SUV, sorry, crossover than the RAV4 or CR-V, it didn’t quite catch on as a choice for Joe and Jane. A full eleven years since its initial launch, Subaru has finally taken the wraps off the all-new Forester and the results are something of a compromise, but not in the way that you’d expect.

Breathe easy Scooby fans, the compromise didn’t come in the realm of performance. Like before, the all-new Subaru Forester retains its car-like demeanor thanks to underpinnings shared with the highly capable Impreza hot hatch. That said, thanks to some tweaking to the MacPherson Strut / Double Wishbone set-up, the Forester ended up much more comfortable than the already surprisingly comfortable Impreza. The two Boxer four-cylinder engines are lifted straight off the Impreza too: a 2.0-liter (150 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 196 Nm @ 3,200 rpm) and a 2.5-liter turbo (230 hp @ 5,200 rpm, 320 Nm @ 2,800 rpm). Unlike Subaru’s entry-level hatch though, the Forester comes equipped with a sole transmission: a four-speed automatic with Prodrive’s Sportshift manual override. Both Foresters are quick and brisk, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 12.7 seconds (7.9 for the 2.5XT) and achieving a top speed of 185 km/h (207 for the 2.5XT).

So, if the compromises didn’t come from the performance aspect, where did it end up? In the packaging—which is actually a good thing for prospective compact SUV buyers. While the old Forester looked like a station wagon on stilts, the all-new Forester looks much more like a conventional sport utility vehicle. Side-by-side with the older model, it’s apparent that the Forester took on a lot of heft: it is 110-mm taller, 45-mm wider and 90-mm longer at the wheelbase than before. Despite losing the aluminum hood, gaining more high-tensile steel in the body and more features, the addition to the weight are just about fair: 80 kilograms for the 2.0X and 25 kilograms for the 2.5XT.

Those counting the pounds may find the 80 kilograms a bit of a concern, but you do have to consider the fact that the improvements have been made to features on almost all fronts. For instance, both the 2.0X and the 2.5XT have 6 airbags as standard as well as four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, EBD and brake assist. Even the VDCS or Vehicle Dynamic Control System has been plopped in as standard. For utmost driving comfort, all models get tilt/telescopic steering column with a thick-rimmed three-spoke wheel at the end with satellite audio switches. Even power adjustable driver’s seats, cruise control and an extra-large moon roof is found across the line.

Impreza owners will certainly find the Forester’s cabin very familiar as the entire front-end has been lifted off the hatchback. The trademark wing motif has been retained, and this frees up a lot of knee space upfront. Even the three-cluster gauges have migrated onto the Forester as well, though the styling is fancier with, dare I say it, Toyota-like styling.

At P.1698-million, the range-topping 2.5XT is certainly reserved for a select few. However, noting that both the Toyota RAV4 4WD and Mitsubishi Outlander GLS Sport are in this price range, the Forester trumps them with much more equipment. It comes with everything the 2.0X has with the addition of HID headlamps, body-colored mirrors, aluminum finished door handles and 17-inch alloys on the outside and leather seats, a sub-woofer equipped system. Meanwhile, the P 1.288-million 2.0X’s impressive list of standard features put it ahead of the similarly priced Honda CR-V and even the prehistoric range-topping Ford Escape while having more features and coming with all-wheel drive as standard!

At the end of the day, it seems that while everyone else is busy perfecting the crossover, Subaru has moved the goalpost forward by developing a much safer, capable and comfortable car without sacrificing everything that the Forester stands for.

By Ulysses Ang

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.