Introduction

The redesigned 2009 Subaru Forester is the third generation of the popular crossover utility vehicle. The Forester competes with the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4 among others. Its style used to be distinctive, but it's now less so, as its shape has morphed toward the others, while theirs has morphed toward the Forester's. There are two engines, both horizontally opposed four-cylinders displacing 2.5 liters; but the 170-horsepower base engine is single overhead cam, while the 224-horsepower turbocharged XT model has twin cams. The base model offers more standard equipment than ever, in particular electronic stability control and airbag curtains, yet its price has been cut by $1200. That's with a manual transmission; a four-speed automatic costs, coincidentally or not, $1200 extra. Other improvements include a new chassis with safety structure, wider track and longer wheelbase (by 3.6 inches), new double wishbone rear suspension that yields tons of cargo space, 4.3 inches more legroom in the rear seat, 4 inches more headroom all over, 1 inch more ground clearance for the XT, a super tight steering radius with quicker turning ratio, rear doors that swing open nearly 75 degrees, and more torque for the base 2.5-liter engine. Visibility is exceptional. Overall, the 2009 Forester is 3 inches longer, 2 inches wider, and about 100 pounds heavier than last year's model. Despite the increase in size and power, the base Forester gets improved fuel mileage, achieving 20/26 mpg on the EPA's new City/Highway cycle, the same as the CRV and RAV4. The turbocharged Forester XT gets 19/24 mpg and requires premium fuel. The 16.9-gallon fuel tank can last about 400 miles on the highway. So much downshifting by the four-speed automatic transmission intrudes upon the otherwise smooth acceleration of the normally aspirated 2.5X, making it seem underpowered although 170 horsepower should do the job. The turbocharged XT is more desirable because of its torque, although it's more expensive to operate because of its premium fuel requirement.

Walkaround

The new dashboard for 2009, taken from the Impreza, has a nice gullwing sweep from the center stack off to the passenger side, in brushed-aluminum-looking plastic material, interrupted only by a single climate vent. Underneath is a big glovebox. The center stack has a bit more of that nice aluminum-look trim, which others have called cheap but it looks fine to us, and just forward of the shift lever is a good-sized cubby. Climate and audio controls on the center stack are simple to operate. The background light to the gauges is a funky blue, just for effect, some will like it some won't. There's a slit over the center stack with digital display for time and temperature. The center console is deep, and slides forward four inches to make an armrest. The cloth seats are comfortable, with a new cushion and spring in front. They come in gray or black, and are on the conservative rather than sporty side. The material and design is very conservative, like a gray suit, a missed opportunity to appeal to younger buyers. The really nice perforated leather is a whole new ball game, erasing the almost-frumpy feeling sent by the cloth. The front doors have a nice elbow rest and large pockets each with a recess for 24-ounce bottles. The aluminum pedals on the XT are cool. The air conditioning cools well, fast and quiet. Following Subaru's design goals, the new 2009 Forester most needed rear-seat legroom and cargo space. The rear 60/40 seats fold flat to make a nice cargo area, widened by 5.2 inches between the wheelhouses thanks to a new double-wishbone rear suspension. The relatively gigantic cargo area will definitely appeal to active outdoors enthusiasts with lost of stuff. The specs are 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up, 68.3 with the seats flat. Driver visibility is excellent in all directions, thanks to careful pillar design. Subaru staged a demonstration for us, placing a cutout of a kid behind the Forester and a Toyota RAV4. The Forester driver could see the kid in his rearview mirror at seven feet, but in the RAV4 the kid was lost in a low blind spot for 23 feet. The rear seat reclines in all but the 2.5X base model, and includes a retractable center tray with fixed drink holders. Legroom is excellent, increased by 4.3 inches, on a wheelbase increase of 3.6 inches; and there's a couple inches more shoulder room, as well. The front door is wider than before, and the rear doors now swing open 75 degrees, making it easy to get in and out. There's a lot of headroom, a whopping four inches more on the 2009 model over 2008; there's a bit less with the panoramic moonroof, but it feels like more because it's the sky that's over your head. There's headroom even when you jack the height-adjustable driver's seat to the top. The new rear suspension is quieter, and other noise/vibration areas were refined. We didn't get along with the navigation system, which comes in a unit with a single-disc CD replacing the standard six-disc CD (it's a space issue). In the daytime it's hard to read with sunglasses, because there's a lack of contrast; once, we even had to remove our sunglasses and close the sunroof, to read the map. It made at least one wild error on Southern California freeways. An awful male British voice seems to tell you to do everything three times, but usually not at the right time. It's impatient at stop lights, insisting you turn while you're waiting for the green arrow. It might take you a while to figure out what "Way Point" means, if you haven't been to London or can't remember even if you have. (Hint: you sometimes stop at a Way Point on your Way Out.)

Interior Features

The new dashboard for 2009, taken from the Impreza, has a nice gullwing sweep from the center stack off to the passenger side, in brushed-aluminum-looking plastic material, interrupted only by a single climate vent. Underneath is a big glovebox. The center stack has a bit more of that nice aluminum-look trim, which others have called cheap but it looks fine to us, and just forward of the shift lever is a good-sized cubby. Climate and audio controls on the center stack are simple to operate. The background light to the gauges is a funky blue, just for effect, some will like it some won't. There's a slit over the center stack with digital display for time and temperature. The center console is deep, and slides forward four inches to make an armrest. The cloth seats are comfortable, with a new cushion and spring in front. They come in gray or black, and are on the conservative rather than sporty side. The material and design is very conservative, like a gray suit, a missed opportunity to appeal to younger buyers. The really nice perforated leather is a whole new ball game, erasing the almost-frumpy feeling sent by the cloth. The front doors have a nice elbow rest and large pockets each with a recess for 24-ounce bottles. The aluminum pedals on the XT are cool. The air conditioning cools well, fast and quiet. Following Subaru's design goals, the new 2009 Forester most needed rear-seat legroom and cargo space. The rear 60/40 seats fold flat to make a nice cargo area, widened by 5.2 inches between the wheelhouses thanks to a new double-wishbone rear suspension. The relatively gigantic cargo area will definitely appeal to active outdoors enthusiasts with lost of stuff. The specs are 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up, 68.3 with the seats flat. Driver visibility is excellent in all directions, thanks to careful pillar design. Subaru staged a demonstration for us, placing a cutout of a kid behind the Forester and a Toyota RAV4. The Forester driver could see the kid in his rearview mirror at seven feet, but in the RAV4 the kid was lost in a low blind spot for 23 feet. The rear seat reclines in all but the 2.5X base model, and includes a retractable center tray with fixed drink holders. Legroom is excellent, increased by 4.3 inches, on a wheelbase increase of 3.6 inches; and there's a couple inches more shoulder room, as well. The front door is wider than before, and the rear doors now swing open 75 degrees, making it easy to get in and out. There's a lot of headroom, a whopping four inches more on the 2009 model over 2008; there's a bit less with the panoramic moonroof, but it feels like more because it's the sky that's over your head. There's headroom even when you jack the height-adjustable driver's seat to the top. The new rear suspension is quieter, and other noise/vibration areas were refined. We didn't get along with the navigation system, which comes in a unit with a single-disc CD replacing the standard six-disc CD (it's a space issue). In the daytime it's hard to read with sunglasses, because there's a lack of contrast; once, we even had to remove our sunglasses and close the sunroof, to read the map. It made at least one wild error on Southern California freeways. An awful male British voice seems to tell you to do everything three times, but usually not at the right time. It's impatient at stop lights, insisting you turn while you're waiting for the green arrow. It might take you a while to figure out what "Way Point" means, if you haven't been to London or can't remember even if you have. (Hint: you sometimes stop at a Way Point on your Way Out.)