Subaru Forester

2009 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. 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).

See Wikicars' comprehensive Subaru_Forester Review.

Recent Changes

• For the 2009 model year, the Subaru Forester is an all-new generation. Officially unveiled (in the internet automotive blogosphere, anyway) on the eve of Christmas 2007, the new third-generation Forester rides on an all-new platform featuring a 3.6-inch longer wheelbase (103.0 in) equipped with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (as standard) driven by a choice of a naturally aspirated and turbocharged / intercooled 2.5-liter Boxer engines. The Forester will be on sale in the US market by spring 2008. [1][2]

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• Several elements of the Forester were redesigned for 2006, including the headlights, taillights, grill and dashboard. In addition, its 2.5L engine was boosted from 165hp to 173hp and its turbocharged engine has increased from 210hp to 230hp. In addition, one of its trim lines, the XS, has been removed from production.

Styles and Major Options

Currently, the Subaru Forester is available in three trims: the Forester 2.5 X, Forester 2.5 X L.L. Bean Edition, and Forester 2.5 XT Limited. All trims come equipped with Subaru's standard Symmetrical All Wheel Drive, and all are powered by a 2.5L 173hp engine, with the exception of the XT Limited, whose engine is turbocharged to produce 230hp. There is also an optional Premium Package which is only available for the 2.5 X.

Pricing

Today's actual prices for the Subaru Forester can be found at CarsDirect.

Forester Trims
2.5 X	2.5 X w/Premium Package	2.5 X L.L. Bean Edition	2.5 XT Limited
MSRP
$21,795	$24,145	$26,895	$27,895
Invoice
$20,452	$22,569	$25,001	$26,005

Gas Mileage

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Trim
2.5L 173hp manual	2.5L 173hp auto	2.5L 230 turbo hp manual	2.5L 230 turbo hp auto auto
MPG
20/27	20/25	17/24	18/24

Reliability

While there have been complaints of transmission problems with vehicles with the turbo/5-speed combination, most have been fairly reliable. Interior build quality has been known to show wear early on, with Car and Driver's long term test car showing premature interior wear and squeaks and rattles at 40,000 miles. Long term durability is impeccable, as revealed at www.Edmunds.com, and www.Carsurvey.org

Safety

The Forester has received superb marks in crash tests performed by the NHTSA, scoring 5/5 stars in every category but Rollover Rating, for which it earned 4/5 stars. The following safety features are also standard on every trim:

• 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
• Daytime Running Lights
• Driver/Passenger Front Airbags
• Seat-Mounted Side Impact Airbags
• Side Impact Bars

Photos

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  1999 Subaru Forester S

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  2001 Subaru Forester

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  2004 Subaru Forester

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  Subaru Forester X 2006 at the Melbourne International Motor Show

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  2006 Subaru Forester interior

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  2001 Subaru Forester

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  2006 Subaru Forester

Third Generation Development Prototypes

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Colors

Colors for the Forester can be found at CarsDirect.com.

Main Competitors

• Toyota RAV4
• Ford Escape
• Jeep Liberty
• Chevrolet Equinox
• Mazda Tribute
• Nissan Xterra

Hybrid Models

There are no plans for hybrid models of the Forester.

Resale Values

Kelley Blue Book estimates that the Forester will have have a better resale value than the Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute, yet still trail behind the Honda CR-V in this category. Automotive Lease Group rates the Forester's resale value at 3 stars out of 5.

Criticisms

• "...the three rear headrests block your [the driver's rearward] vision." - The Detroit News
• "Because the Forester delivers a choppier ride than some rivals with more vibration, it might not appeal to those who favor an always-gentle road experience." - Kelley Blue Book
• "Refinement is roughly on par with the competitive Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute, but it falls short of Honda's CR-V." - Kelley Blue Book

Previous Generations

Second Generation (2003-2008)

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 also features weight-saving refinements such as an aluminum hood, perforated rails, and a hydro-formed front frame.

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

Worldwide

Up until recently, the Forester was also sold in India as a Chevrolet alongside other Chevrolet models sold there. This model featured a naturally aspirated 2.0 L flat-4 engine rated at 120hp. However, since General Motors no longer holds an ownership stake in Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, this arrangement is in question.

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.

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

External links

• Mainely Subarus Maine Subaru Enthusiast Car Club
• Official Subaru Forester Homepage and Next-Gen Countdown jp
• The Subaru Forester Owners Forum
• Offroad Subarus (take your Subaru, including Forester, off-road)
• Chevrolet Forester (India)
• Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Review
• 2009 Subaru Forester Unveiled
• The 2009 Subaru Foresters That Never Were: Ditched Designs
• 2009 Subaru Forester: US Spec Version Image Gallery

This page uses content from Wikipedia; see Subaru Forester, which includes these contributors.