Identity
Here comes the 5th generation Subaru Forester! With this one we're not talking about continuity, but rather an "upgrade" to what customers are looking for. At the moment that would be... a crossover/SUV of course! The Forester is no longer an All Wheel Drive (AWD) station wagon. It has evolved into a proper Sport Utility Vehicle (still AWD) with a rocking new style and ready for action!
Headlines:
2L Turbo Boxer engine, 230HP, All Wheel Drive
4.56m long (15ft) and 1560kg (3440lbs)
Four speed automatic gearbox.
Subaru Forester Turbo 2008, HDTV
(WMV9HD 720p Direct Download "Right click, Save as…")
Design:
Impreza displayed Subaru's desire to change its image and design, Forester is the second vehicle to benefit from this new aesthetical treatment, good for more dynamism. We're not going to debate again about the Impreza’s new style and the effect it had on this legendary vehicle, but oddly enough, we don't believe many people will criticize Forester's design that much... Both the new Forester and the Impreza share similar lines when it comes to the front grill (obviously bigger on the Forester), so too the bonnet, but here these elements appear to suit this big family car better than Subaru's icon.
On the other hand some may claim (and they aren't totally wrong) Forester's overall design is somehow similar to Mitsubishi's Outlander. We tend to disagree, but with a more consensual design the Forester would look similar to many other 4WDs. Regardless, the final result here is a very good looking SUV.
Interior:
A little bit of Impreza with the exterior, and a LOT in the interior. If you've sat in a 2008 Impreza, you've been in a 2008 Forester! Joke aside, both interiors are almost identical and well... many manufacturers do this and we have no intention of criticizing Subaru, but still... The application of a little imagination may have given this SUV its own personality.
Overall quality is standard (as with Impreza), imitation wood and plastic don’t encourage you to spend hours touching and looking at it... It's better behind the wheel where you can enjoy the excellent comfort the seat provides, and the wonderful sun roof equipped on our test vehicle is a must have for any potential buyer!
On the road:
As with most SUVs, the 2008 Forester provides a great dose of safety and enough power to get through crowded cities and highways. The 230HP turbo engine does its job with no hassle and offers an enjoyable dynamism thanks to its relatively light weight (1.5T). Of course this is a family car so you won't have much fun exchanging your daily route for a WRC Super Stage... but once you've switched the SID (Subaru Intelligent Drive) to "Sharp Sport," the car's responsiveness increases nicely.
People who purchase SUVs want a SAFE ride, and with its excellent handling the 2008 Forester delivers. Subaru's AWD system expertise has done it again and, coupled with a list of electronic systems including VDC Stability Control, you'll have a hard time getting into trouble... Unless you're looking for it.
Off Road:
What would Subaru be without AWD, or the other way around? This is exactly why we never had doubts regarding Forester's abilities when taken outside city limits. We really wanted to experience this for ourselves so we drove it to a little "test facility" in the mountains over icy and snowy roads. Being an SUV and no longer a station wagon, the new Forester has a much higher ground clearance (22cm). It also has better rear and front approach angles which helps a great deal when wandering through unfriendly environments like forest tracks, or in our case snowy forest track...
While our all mighty Forester does look like a SUV, it lacks “real” 4x4 features. A differential lock or at least locking differentials (4WD pros will understand the difference, but the latter is in fact a Limited Slip Differential), as well as low speed, are necessary when you're in “big” trouble. With this lack of real 4x4 features in mind we wondered how we'd get through 15cm of freshly fallen snow, and this with stock tires. Believe it or not we did succeed. With all safety features switched off, a lot of courage, and a right foot down to the floor, the Forester propelled us to the top of our little mountain. This proved to us once again that Subaru’s AWD technology, together with the power provided by this Forester's turbo, is by far the best combo you can possibly imagine on a family car.
Conclusion:
Our final word... Many have said that after the Impreza WRX STI fiasco Subaru was dead. The release of a SUV like Forester, radically different from its previous incarnation, caused us to question if Subaru was headed in the right direction.
We were surprised by the Impreza S-GT, the family oriented Impreza. Today we are surprised by this Forester, indeed a fairly good and affordable SUV. If Subaru would have shown a bit more imagination in the interior and provided at least a locking differential, Forester would have made it to the Top 3 on our list of Most Wanted SUVs of the Year.
Posted on 10/04/08 By G-A.G
