Building on the success of the
Subaru Outback, released in the mid 1990’s as one of the first real crossover vehicles, the
Subaru Forester offered a bit more utility than the Legacy wagon upon which the Outback was based. For 2008, the
Subaru Forester carries on along the same path that was defined by earlier versions of the model. The Forester has always been positioned as a more truck-like crossover that still drove like a car, but had the interior room and overall dimensions of a small SUV. The seating position in the Forester is fairly high, giving a more commanding view of the road, and yet the vehicle is not so tall or large as to become unwieldy when trying to park in an urban setting. The hatch at the rear is also adds to the SUV-like feel, with the large, square-ish cargo compartment easily swallowing anything from golf bags to lumber.
The 2008
Subaru Forester is offered in a fairly wide range of trim levels, but the majority of them share the same 2.5 liter horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder engine. The base model is the 2.5 X, and in this configuration the Forester sees 173 horsepower and 166 lb-feet of torque. A 5-speed transmission shunts power to the all-wheel drive system that
Subaru has become famous for, making the Forester a popular choice for those who must deal with snow and icy conditions on a daily basis. The transmission also comes with a hill holder system that makes tricky uphill starts much easier on both the driver and the clutch. 4 wheel independent suspension and a healthy 8.1 inches of ground clearance round out the standard list of features.
Buyers can add a variety of improvements by moving up to the Sports trim level, (black mesh grille, bigger stereo, leather interior accents and an optional automatic transmission), Premium Package (rear disc brakes, limited-slip differential, cold weather goodies) and finally the L.L. Bean package, which is mostly an different exterior appearance with a better stereo. However, if the driver is feeling frisky, the best way to go is to order the Sports XT or XT Limited version of the Forester. This version of the crossover is sold with the same 2.5 liter turbocharged boxer engine that is found under the hood of the WRX sport sedan, and it kicks the Forester in the pants to the tune of 224 horsepower and 226 lb-feet of torque. These numbers make the Forester XT a seriously fun to drive vehicle, and combined with shorter gearing the performance of the crossover is exceptional. In addition to exterior differences such as different trim and larger, 17-inch wheels, the XT gets a special stability control program that incorporates traction control and a limited-slip rear.
The base Forester starts at around $20 000, making it appealing for those who are shopping in the compact category and who might instead want to try something with a little more space. Of course, the XT trim is considerably more expensive, but the advantage is owning a small sport-utility-like vehicle that can both haul cargo and still impress at the local drag strip. Not only that, but with all-wheel drive and decent ground clearance, the Forester is an excellent choice for limited off-roading, or for taking the family to the lake or camping in the wilderness. With the abundance of interior amenities that come bundled with the higher trim levels, the Forester might even be described as semi-luxurious. With few other vehicles to compete with it in its class, the 2008
Subaru Forester defends Subaru’s reputation as a manufacturer whose vehicles are both sporty and practical.
Images were reprinted with permissions from original author Rod Brito! Content was written by Benjamin Hunting for www.sport-cars.org only and you MAY NOT copy, distribute or use this page's content for any commercial or non-commerical purpose without written permission of this site owner and photos authors!
July 7, 2008, 9:08 am
The most viewed articles in current category:
