2007 Subaru Forester Review

Specifications

They Cant All be Pretty

Dont let its homely looks deceive you: though it may look like a loaf of bread with a couple of slices falling down, theres more wonder than bread to be had in this loaf… for very little dough, considering.

The Subaru Forester is a very good car to begin with, and as the 2.5 XT Limited it transforms from a sober-looking and completely unassuming A-student into a sober-looking and completely unassuming wild child. Not only is it a good car by almost any objective measure, its also a bit of a closet thrill-seeker.

While I sort of wish I knew what to call it — I like to call it a wagon, but I think Subaru recommends classifying it a crossover, and it definitely fulfills the sport (unless you consider sport being able to conquer 2-foot logs with your 30-inch ground clearance) and utility (unless you consider utility being able to tow at least 5,000 pounds) equation in SUV, so I think you can call it pretty much whatever you want and not be too far off — that doesnt take anything away from how good it really is. I find it hard to argue with Subarus marketing claim that its “a vehicle of intelligent size, remarkable versatility, proven safety and surprising performance.” Sure the license plate clatters every time you shut the trunk, and the windows rattle when you close the doors, and theres the odd plasticky creak over rough roads, but dont let that fool you–the Forester is an incredibly safe and solid vehicle, its worthiness proven in crash tests the world over. The research: Good rating on Frontal, Side & Rear crash tests from the IIHS and a 5-star Crash Rating from NHTSAs New Car Assessment Program (for more info visit www.nhtsa.gov and www.iihs.org), the best ratings available in every category measured, and best in class compared to small SUVs.

Of course, true safety is avoiding an accident altogether, and in that capacity Subaru equips the Forester with their symmetrical all-wheel drive, which splits torque 50/50 front/rear all the time for confident, predictable traction in all conditions. You can find this AWD system in any Subaru, maintaining a low center of gravity, even lateral weight distribution  and superb grip on the road or on whatever surface you have to overcome (excepting those two-foot logs I mentioned earlier).

What separates the Forester from other Subarus is its efficient packaging, delivering up to 64.6 cubic feet of cargo room in a truly compact vehicle–the chassis is derived from the Impreza platform, although it shares none of that cars styling or body panels.

Along with the underpinnings, the Forester 2.5XT also shares the Impreza WRXs turbocharged boxer, but in this case making slightly less juice at 224 horsepower and 226 lb-ft of torque, enough to send this box to 60 mph in about 6 seconds. For such a functional vehicle, thats a whole lot of see-ya-later, and rarely is there even a chirp from the wheels because the power is split evenly to all four 17- x 7-inch alloy wheels dressed in 215/55 Yokohama all-terrain Geolander rubber… and youd probably have to be on something a whole lot slicker or looser than pavement to defeat that kind of traction control.

To some it may seem excessive to pack such a powerful engine into a compact car, but Subaru has a hot-foot streak that sees them creating an even more powerful STi version of the Forester for their home market in Japan (word from SEMA aftermarket show is that it will also soon be making the trans-Pacific journey). That one has something silly like over 250 horsepower and a 5-second sprint, so the 2.5XT is almost benign in comparison. Of course, if you want all of the function and none of the frills, the base Forester has a 173-hp 2.5L horizontally opposed four-cylinder boxer engine (the 2.5XT is based on the same engine, plus a turbocharger). Im sure it gets the job done, but wheres the fun in that? The 2.5XT had me rip-roaring all over town, shuttling people to weddings and flinging groceries all over the rear cargo bay because I just couldnt back off its frenetic and masterful power.

Id have to say that the XT is my surprise of the year and one of the true sleepers out there. When youre on your regular daily schedule, it has all the space functionality of many larger, bulkier, more unwieldy SUVs, but is as well-mannered about town as your average midsize sedan, although as I said before, a bit loud and jittery over rough patches.

Compared to almost any other sedan or SUV however, the Foresters visibility is a revelation, with near ideal sightlines all around thanks to the slightly higher than sedan seating position and big, clear windows. For such reasons I found it incredibly refreshing, not to mention reassuring when I was traveling through a heavy downpour late at night. It just might be the most capable and thefoere most comforting vehicle I have ever operated in such conditions. It somehow overcame the usual overhead-lighting-meets-raindrops-on-the-window glare, plus the adjustable headlight leveling meant I could get a higher or lower focus from the Xenon HID beams (standard only to the 2.5XT trim I tested).

There is a limit to this all-rounders ability and that is for purely sporting intentions: though it handles admirably and manages less-than-optimal conditions superbly, in ideal conditions its elevated stance and comfort-oriented speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack and pinion steering didnt inspire overwhelming confidence in holding a line or pushing the grip to the very limit (or eclipsing it) through a long curve. Add the 4-speed automatic transmission (a 5-speed manual is standard and would have been my personal choice) as your mixing wand and you get limited control (your right foot) over the engines desire to simply mosey along. Downshifts require a good stomp, but once you get it the XT starts to scream and youre launched with authority wherever you wanted to get. I wouldnt even bring up the Foresters at-the-limit personality if I had tested any of the baser versions, but the 2.5XT is so fast that it invites minor indiscretions and curious tests of its ability.

While Im high on its ability, I cant say much for the Foresters blank looks and simple, but fair interior. It offers a list of basic and optional equipment that should be expected from its near-$29K as-tested price tag (base non-XT versions start at a more approachable $21,795), put together with a minimum of fuss, highlighted by a large patch of satin-metallic-effect plastic dressing up the center console. The rest is pure practicality, and it works well if you dont expect high fashion or audio supremacy from your all-weather tool.

A big plus, mind you, was the massive skylight that stretched halfway back into the second row, flooding the whole car with natural light when the sun was out, something all my passengers appreciated. I also appreciated the fully supportive seats, which satisfied my temperamental back, and were covered in leather that looked and felt as though it would be durable for a long time to come.

A couple of months ago I would have readily passed over this original crossover as I thought it defied all conventions of good taste, but after sifting through some of Subarus catchy action and studio photography, I am beginning to see the appeal in the details. Driving it has opened my eyes to its other charms, like a comfortable environment, excellent driving position and visibility, incredible grip and balance and a surprising dose of speed–more than I expected and maybe even more than I needed. If high style isnt one of your priorities, take a long hard look at the Foresters impressive range of abilities, because it fulfills so many needs in one clever package that its easy to see why so many car companies are rushing to follow Subaru in bringing safe and efficient crossovers to market. Truth is, none of them match the Subarus safety record, and few can approach the 2.5XTs on-road ability, so its only fair that Subaru charges more than its competitors for a seemingly smaller and less stylish vehicle. It aint fancy, but it sure gets the job done, and in a hurry.