Subaru Forester
The healthy part of the trail mix |
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By Richard J. Newman
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NITS: The middle armrest was so low that I couldn't reach it even if I slouched. Anybody short enough to make use of it wouldn't be able to see over the dashboard.
G-FORCES: The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine gets the job done, but don't expect rapid passing or uphill acceleration. Except for some road harshness, handling was comfortable on both the highway and the back roads.
GIZMOLOGY: Climate controls were large, well laid out, and simple to use. But the radio knobs were small and somewhat annoying. A seek knob that you have to hold to the left or right–instead of just pushing once–was distracting.
KID MARKS: The Forester is ideal for families with one or two kids. Toddlers can climb in and out easily, and the pass-through door handles are easy for small hands to use. Cupholders were within easy reach of my 4- and 6-year-olds. The height of the tailgate is a nice plus–it's about waist high and flat, as convenient as it gets for stowing and retrieving a stroller.
HOT OR NOT?Not. The boxy design might add interior space, but there's nothing sexy about utilitarian looks.
ENVIROMETER: Not yet given a "green vehicle" rating by the EPA. Mileage is 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway: Additional details: http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions
/E-SUBARU-Forester-03.htm
CRASH COURSE: The 2003 Forester has not yet been crash tested by the government. The 2002 model, which was similar, earned 8 out of 10 stars on the government's frontal crash test, and 9 out of 10 stars on the side-impact test. Info: http://www.nhtsa.gov/
NCAP/Cars/1900.html.
The 2003 Forester has been rated "good" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the highest rating. See http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings
/ce/html/0214.htm
PRICE POINTS: Base prices range from $21,070 to $24,420. Price as tested: $25,970. (All prices include delivery fees.)
MORE INFO: http://www.subaru.com/home.html
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Model year tested: 2003
On my first ride in the Forester, I was taken aback by its rowdy relationship with the road. Bumps in the pavement seemed to reach right through the Forester's steering column to shake my hand. On tighter curves there was an occasional creaky groan. I wondered how such an unwashed vehicle was able to compete with the silky Toyotas and Hondas in its class.
But the Forester gets better and better as you get to know it, like a gruff woodsman who speaks little but turns out to have a heart of gold. By the time I had driven the Forester from New York to Boston and back, it felt as comfortable as an old pair of boots. Before long you stop noticing the Forester's rougher qualities, which after all reflect the sensibilities of the hardcore backpackers who have helped build Subaru's earthy image by driving the cars up and down mountains until they rust apart. And you quickly learn to appreciate the virtues of a vehicle that offers all-wheel drive, copious cargo space, and the kind of functionality you can actually use, yet has a conscience that forces it to make do with a thrifty 4-cylinder engine, even on the highest trim line. It is a car with a good work ethic.
Subaru considers the Forester a sport-utility, but that is a bit of a disservice, since the Forester has many of the charms of "crossover" vehicles that claim the functionality of SUVs but are built on smoother car platforms. The Forester has a boxy, trucklike profile, but instead of the clunky handling on curves that is one of the chief annoyances of SUVs, the Forester is nimble and easy to handle. On a stretch of country back roads, I felt none of the body roll that is typical of high-center-of-gravity SUVs.
Even on tight curves, the Forester was easy to control without the forceful braking required in higher and heavier vehicles. I never had the sensation that the back end was trying to push the vehicle one way or the other, which is a common SUV experience. I'm not an engineer, but I'm guessing that the trick is a chassis that reaches a little higher than on a conventional wagon–creating the trucky look–but is actually anchored closer to the ground, like a car, which keeps the center of gravity low.
That produces at least one unusual characteristic. There is so much headroom in the Forester that all the occupants could wear football helmets and still not butt up against the headliner. Visibility, as a result, is excellent, especially out the back corners, which adds a significant margin to the driver's comfort factor. It also adds several valuable inches of vertical cargo space. One drawback: It is a bit odd to sit so low in a high car, and some drivers might prefer the loftier perch of other small SUVs, even if the compromise is a little less comfort and more wobbly handling. But every automobile south of $30,000 must cut corners somewhere, and the Forester is a vehicle that makes intelligent tradeoffs.
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