Subaru Forester

Of the modern-era Subarus, the Forester has been the model that most closely reflects the character that the brand was built on: inexpensive, capable, utilitarian, slightly unconventional, and unconcerned with appearances. A Subaru among Subarus, this grungy earth child has been happily chugging along on the crunchy fringe of the compact SUV market. For 2009, the Forester has undergone a redesign that has made it larger, more SUV-like, and, well, more normal. And although the new Forester looks a lot different from the previous model, it manages to retain many of its predecessors strengths while expanding its appeal.

With its all-new body, the Forester goes from mutant station wagon to mainstream compact crossover. Its significantly longer, wider, and taller.

All of that makes for additional cargo space (enough for 4590 granola bars with the rear seats up!) and a much roomier cabin. The 3.6-inch-longer wheelbase helps alleviate the formerly cramped rear seat, and access is much improved. The previous models low cowl is gone, but otherwise Subaru managed to preserve the Foresters best-in-class outward visibility, particularly to the rear. A navigation system and dealer-installed Bluetooth join the options list, while side curtain air bags, stability control, panic brake assist, and an auxiliary audio input are now standard.

As much as the Foresters looks have changed, its driving demeanor really hasnt. The most noticeable difference is that the car seems a lot quieter on the freeway. The output of the base 2.5-liter boxer four is altered only slightly (its down 3 hp, up 4 lb-ft of torque), and the available turbo engines numbers are unchanged, although its torque curve is flatter.

Despite the new cars 100-to-150-pound weight gain, the base engine is still up to the task of moving it along, and the turbo once again provides welcome and well-integrated extra urge for the Forester XT. Both engines could use an extra gear (or two) for their automatic transmission, which is only a four-speed. The base engine at least can be paired with a five-speed manual; the turbo cannot.

The chassis, which is related to the new Imprezas, switches from struts to control arms in the rear suspension. The new layout no longer impinges on cargo space, but we didnt find any great dynamic benefits, as the Forester understeers readily. It also could use firmer damping and more precise steering. The new Forester has a bit more ground clearance than before (now 8.7 or 8.9 inches, depending on the model), which emboldened Subarus PR team to have us take a run up a steep, rutted dirt road covered with loose rocks. Sure enough, the Forester churned its way to the top, while a Honda CR-V bogged to a halt halfway up.

Often, adolescence brings a physically gawky stage, but in the case of the Forester, which just turned eleven years old, the opposite is true. With this redesign, the Forester has finally shed its dorky appearance and donned a handsome (if somewhat derivative) new suit of sheetmetal. Evidently, Subaru was tired of swimming outside the mainstream with its lower, smaller, more wagonlike entry, watching the CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 run away from the Forester in sales. Size and styling were two major factors keeping people out of the Forester, and Subaru has effectively addressed both. At the same time, the company has added standard safety gear yet lowered the price. It ought to be enough to move the Forester out of its granola-chomping niche.