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Subaru Forester Review

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2007 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Limited
2007 Subaru Forester 2.5 X


See also the main fact sheet for the Subaru Forester.

High Points

Low Points

  • The three rear headrests block rearward vision (The Detroit News)
  • Stiff suspension makes for a rough ride (Kelley Blue Book)
  • Less refined than the Honda CR-V (Kelley Blue Book)

Performance and Handling

Subaru's 2.5L V4 turbocharged Boxer engine

Gas Mileage

As seen on Autos.com, in the compact SUV MPG rankings, the 2007 Subaru Forester is in 19th place with 22/29 MPG.

Safety

The Subaru Forester comes standard with the following features:

  • 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS)
  • Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
  • Daytime Running Lights
  • Driver and front-passenger front airbags
  • Front seat-mounted head/chest side-impact air bags
  • Active front-seat head restraints
  • LATCH system: Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
  • Safety brake pedal system
  • Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column
  • Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame body structure

Reliability and Maintenance

Subaru's warranty provides its 2007 vehicles with BASIC COVERAGE for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Subject to the exclusions listed in this warranty, it covers the entire car. WEAR ITEM COVERAGE is 3 year or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Items covered are brake pad/shoe linings, clutch linings, and wiper blades. POWERTRAIN COVERAGE for all models is 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Subject to the exclusions listed in this warranty, it covers the major powertrain components listed below.

Interior and Comforts

The Subaru Forester is not a tall vehicle, compared to the typical SUV. Yet its seating position is high, providing more of the commanding view that many buyers seek in an SUV. Forward visibility is less likely to be obstructed by other vehicles than it is in the typical sedan. Indeed, visibility is great in all directions. The driver peers through an expansive windshield and big side glass with thin A-pillars. A wide rearview mirror and big outside mirrors provide an excellent view rearward. The driver's seat is simple to adjust, but it can be tailored for a wide variety of tastes and sizes, and it has good bolstering. The adjustable steering wheel has good range.

A new center console has more storage space and a sliding armrest that's just right for elbow resting. It also has an extra set of cup holders that can be flipped forward or back for use by either front or rear-seat passengers. The base Forester 2.5X now has a net pocket on the front-passenger seatback, and the seat fabric has been upgraded.

Rear-seat passengers get good leg and head room, even with the optional moonroof, and now they get even more thigh support. The bottom rear cushion has been extended forward two inches, without reducing leg room, and Subaru has added a fold-down armrest with storage in the rear seatback. Materials inside the Forester have been steadily upgraded over the years, to the point where all are decent quality. The instrument panel and controls are efficiently designed. Three big HVAC knobs make it easy to adjust temperature and airflow. The upgrade stereo in our 2.5XT Limited produced good quality sound, and like most things on the Forester, the buttons are better than ever (in this case, bigger). The gauge cluster is highly legible.

The optional leather interior looks and feels stylish. In 2006, the Forester L.L. Bean added a new MOMO wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel and matching shifter handle. The water-resistant surface on its cargo area floor and rear seatback has been expanded to the cargo area sidewalls. All these touches are nice, but Forester's interior materials are good in all cases, and we'd rather put the extra money for the L.L. Bean package toward the higher-performance XT turbo.

The Forester has great cargo capacity for its size. Lowering the 60/40 split rear seat increases that capacity from 32 cubic feet to 56.4 cubic feet. That's comparable or slightly less than compact SUVs like the Ford Escape or Honda CRV, and those who put a premium on cargo space should note: The lower headliner on Foresters equipped with the moonroof robs more than a cubic foot of cargo volume.

The standard retractable cargo cover sits high enough to accommodate taller objects like a big cooler. There are now more hooks and tie-down options than ever in the Forester's cargo hold. A side storage pocket contains a 12-volt power outlet, and there's another 12-volt outlet in the front center console.

Exterior

The 2006 Subaru Forester has been restyled front and rear, though those who know the Forester won't confuse it with any other car. The new grille is a bit larger, and the headlights and taillight clusters have been reshaped. The net effect is slightly more serious, perhaps more rugged, maybe a bit less frumpy.

Subaru fanatics, and believe us, there are plenty of them out there, will immediately notice the new Forester's slightly taller stance. With adjustments to the suspension, ground clearance has been increased from 7.5 inches to 8.1 inches (7.9 inches on the 2.5 XT Limited) to enhance all-road driving capability. That half-inch is a significant difference.

The Forester isn't likely to turn a lot of heads, although it's sculpted aluminum hood, and particularly the working air scoop on the 2.5XT Limited, subtly scream for attention. Compared to the typical mid-size SUV, the Forester is a small vehicle, but it makes efficient use of interior space. It is, by intent, a fairly boxy machine, and its beauty lies more in its functional design. Despite its upright shape, the Forester is impressively aerodynamic, with a sedan-grade 0.36 coefficient of drag. Other things equal, the more aerodynamic a vehicle is, the less wind noise inside and the better its fuel economy.

The standard roof rack remains flat black. Yet for years, less-expensive Foresters had unpainted gray lower body cladding that only cluttered up the car's shape. For 2006, the lower bumpers and protective cladding are painted to match the body on all variants except the L.L. Bean Edition, which has a contrasting metallic finish down low. It's a welcome improvement, and gives the vehicle a classier look. All Foresters except the base 2.5X also get larger body-color side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

Styles and Options

The Subaru Forester is available in 3 trims: 2.5 X, 2.5 X L.L.Bean Edition, and 2.5 XT Limited.

Main Competitors

External Links

WikiCars Contributor Favorites

Subaru Manufacturer Sites

Community Sites

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