I recently rented a 2009 Subaru Forester for a week that included two 10-hour stints behind the wheel. With a full load of cargo and the cruise control set to 75, the Forester averaged 27 mpg. This is more impressive when you consider that the freeway rolled from 3000 to 6000 ft elevation.
Overall, the Forester was enjoyable. It was fun power-sliding around corners on a well-graded gravel road. The 170 hp 2.5L four cylinder engine was up to the task of hauling a full load up to highway speeds. With no passengers or gear, the Forester is eager to accelerate.
The Forester, like all Subarus, has full time all wheel drive. The 2009 edition of the Forester has 16 inch wheels, which help provide 8.7 inches of ground clearance with the standard 65-series tires. The second row of seats fold down in a single motion, making a flat cargo area that holds 68 cu.ft. of stuff. This is a few cu.ft. less than the space offered by the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Rav4.
Two issues: First, the four speed automatic has wide-spaced ratios that make the downshift from fourth to third a big step. The 5 speed manual has closer ratios. Second, the interior of the base level Forester feels a bit cheap.
The base Forester X with manual transmission costs a little less than $21,000. That's at least $1000 cheaper than the competition from Honda and Toyota.
Chip Haven
Overall, the Forester was enjoyable. It was fun power-sliding around corners on a well-graded gravel road. The 170 hp 2.5L four cylinder engine was up to the task of hauling a full load up to highway speeds. With no passengers or gear, the Forester is eager to accelerate.
The Forester, like all Subarus, has full time all wheel drive. The 2009 edition of the Forester has 16 inch wheels, which help provide 8.7 inches of ground clearance with the standard 65-series tires. The second row of seats fold down in a single motion, making a flat cargo area that holds 68 cu.ft. of stuff. This is a few cu.ft. less than the space offered by the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Rav4.
Two issues: First, the four speed automatic has wide-spaced ratios that make the downshift from fourth to third a big step. The 5 speed manual has closer ratios. Second, the interior of the base level Forester feels a bit cheap.
The base Forester X with manual transmission costs a little less than $21,000. That's at least $1000 cheaper than the competition from Honda and Toyota.
Chip Haven