Subaru Forester

2001 Subaru Forester The Subaru Forester, released in the US in 1998, is a lightweight, small crossover SUV (or arguably a station wagon) based on the Subaru Impreza. As with all Subaru models marketed in the United States and other international markets since the early 1990s, the Forester is equipped with an all-wheel drive drivetrain. Subaru advertising employed the slogan "SUV tough, Car Easy" to appeal to the SUV-oriented market; and to this end, the Forester has features associated with SUVs such as a large, boxy cargo area and more ground clearance than other Subaru models (although it employs a car-like unibody chassis, rather than the body-on-frame construction associated with trucks and larger SUVs). The Forester, up until recently was also sold in India as a Chevrolet alongside other Chevrolet models sold there, however since General Motors no longer holds an ownership stake in Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, this arrangement is in question. The Forester is produced at the Gunma Yajima plant in Japan.

In 2003, a turbocharged Forester, the XT, was released alongside the naturally-aspirated X and XS in the United States as a 2004 model, however the same model had been available since the late 1990s elsewhere in the world. The XT model features a 2.5 L turbocharged engine mated with the same Mitsubishi TD04 turbocharger used in the Subaru Impreza WRX. In fact, the engine in the 2004 to 2005 Forester XT is identical to the American market Subaru Impreza WRX STi except for using the smaller TD04 turbocharger from the WRX, a smaller intercooler, different exhaust system, and different engine management programming.

The 2003 Forester features weight-saving refinements such as an aluminum hood, perforated rails, and a hydro-formed front frame. The Forester was Car and Driver magazine's Best Small SUV for 2004, 2005 and 2006.

In 2006, the turbocharged engine (powering the Forester XT) was awarded International Engine of the Year. This engine is also used in the Subaru Impreza WRX, as well as the re-badged Saab 9-2X.

2006-present

US

For 2006, the Forester exterior was updated with an arguably more upscale look. Just two models are produced:

• 2.5 X - naturally-aspirated 2.5 L flat-4, 173 hp (129 kW)
• 2.5 XT Limited - turbocharged 2.5 L flat-4, 230 hp (171 kW)

Australia

The Forester has three main models available in Australia:

• X - naturally-aspirated 2.5 L flat-4, 121 kW (162 hp)
• XS - naturally-aspirated 2.5 L flat-4, 121 kW (162 hp)
• XT - turbocharged 2.5 L flat-4, 169 kW (226 hp)

The difference between the X and the XS is the styling of the car through its accessories. Both the XS and the XT come with the option of having a "Luxury Pack" fitted - allowing for leather seats and a sunroof. Besides the difference in engine between the X or XS when compared to the XT, there are other minor styling differences like the addition of a MOMO steering wheel as standard on the XT model.

Gallery

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  1999 Subaru Forester S

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  2001 Subaru Forester

• 2004 Subaru Forester.jpg

  2004 Subaru Forester

• Subaru Forester X 2006 front right.jpg

  Subaru Forester X 2006 at the Melbourne International Motor Show

• Subaru Forester XT 2006 front right.jpg

  Subaru Forester XT 2006 at the Melbourne International Motor Show

Awards

• Winner Australia's Best Recreational Four Wheel Drive in 2000
• Winner Australia's Best Recreational Four Wheel Drive in 2001
• Winner Australia's Best Recreational Four Wheel Drive in 2002
• Car and Driver's Best Small SUV 2004
• Car and Driver's Best Small SUV 2005
• Car and Driver's Best Small SUV 2006

Trivia

• In India the Subaru Forester is marketed as a Chevrolet Forester, and has a naturally-aspirated 2.0 L flat-4 engine rated at 120 hp.
• Richard Hammond (of Top Gear fame) said of the Forester XT that it will "take years off the family man". This was in response to the shape that appealed to the typical "family man" along with the sporty engine that appealed to a younger demographic.

External links

• The Subaru Forester Owners Forum
• Offroad Subarus (take your Subaru, including Forester, off-road)
• Chevrolet Forester (India)
• Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Review