Meet Forester, Subaru’s standard all-wheel drive (that means capable) front running former station wagon that has made the leap to full grown crossover stardom.  Critics will say Forester ranks among the top of its segment for all around versatility and that’s never a bad start.  Add a decent starting price and watch models roll out of lots and into the cities, suburbs, and nature of wherever your personal path may lead.

Here’s what to expect with the current Forester incarnation. Configure a new Forester on CarWoo today!

Subaru Forester Trims and Features

Buyers can shuffle through six available trims; starting with the 2.5X.  Basic standards include power everything, A/C, keyless entry and 16 inch steel wheels fitted with all season shoes.  2.5X Premium gets niceties like 17 inch alloy wheels, sunroof and Bluetooth capability.  2.5X Limited trims add heated mirrors and seats, leather and automatic climate control.  2.5X Touring trims class it up with HID lights, dual zone automatic climate control, backup camera and one-touch folding rear seatbacks- along with optional navigation.

2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Touring will look similar to their X siblings but harness turbocharged engines.

Subaru Forester Performance

It’s one of two engines for Forester, depending on trim.  The 2.5X clan (2.5X, 2.5X Premium, 2.5X Limited, 2.5X Touring) are equipped with a 4-cylinder 2.5 liter SUBARU BOXER- meaning that the pistons have a horizontally opposed, or flat, setup.  These engines produce 170 HP and 174 lb.-ft. of torque.  Top 2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Touring have been given a turbocharged version of the 4-cylinder engine which ups output to 224 HP and 226 lb.-ft. of torque for a livelier kick.

2.5X and 2.5X Premium come with a 5-speed manual standard and the option of getting a 4-speed auto, which is what all other trims are fitted with, no substitutions.

As is custom all trims come with all-wheel drive standard with a towing capacity of 2,400 lbs.

Subaru Forester Fuel Economy

Look for an EPA estimated 21/27 MPG (city/highway) with either transmission choice for the 170 HP engines and 19/24 if a turbocharged lifestyle is what you crave.

Subaru Forester Interior

Subaru works well with space; you’ll find plenty of room inside Forester.  It fits up to 5 with a 2 row setup and 107.6 cubic feet of passenger volume.  Both the front and 60/40 split-flat folding rear seats offer comfort, so medium sized families shouldn’t have too much figurative room to complain.  Rear seaters get 38 inches of legroom which should ease numb legs.  And new families will appreciate two baby seat adaptive LATCH positions for rear seating.  Cargo volume is 33.5 cubic feet with seats upright and 68.3 (63 with sunroof) in a lowered setup.

Control arrangement is simple enough for most and nothing deters from an otherwise peaceful design.

Subaru Forester Safety

Anti-lock brakes, Brake Assist, and traction/stability control are all standard with Forester.  Assisting sightlines is a rear window wiper and minimal blind-spot trouble, while the available backup camera protects the innocent.

Bottom Line

Forester is comfortable, both for its passengers and during inclement road conditions.  Interior space, especially in terms of the back seat is definitely a plus.  Critics will argue that beyond first glance Subaru needs to work out some sharp edges but the standard all-wheel drive and a nice low base price should blur those edges some.  Forester is a solid compact SUV pick. Ready to buy? Use CarWoo!