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Introduction
Before so-called crossover vehicles were trendy, there was the Subaru Forester.
The Forester was one of the first vehicles to combine some of the best
attributes of a sport-utility vehicle with the ride and driving dynamics of a
car. The number of vehicles with this mix of car and truck characteristics has
increased, to be sure, but a thoroughly revised 2006 model keeps Forester near
the head of the pack.
The market research firm Polk has concluded that Forester inspires higher owner
loyalty than just about any vehicle in production. That's easy to understand.
Forester delivers the SUV features its buyers want, including a high seating
position, good cargo space and a superb all-wheel-drive system with a modicum
of off-road capability. It's perfect for unpaved backcountry roads or logging
trails, the conditions most of us encounter when we venture off the pavement.
Yet Forester also offers fuel mileage and ride comfort that's more like a car,
in a compact, maneuverable package. On the road it delivers good handling and
brake performance. It's more practical than the typical SUV for prowling the
urban jungle and better for handling treacherous weather on the highway.
The 2006 Subaru Forester benefits from what those in the car business call a
mid-cycle refresh, which means changes are fairly extensive but it isn't a
ground-up redesign. All Foresters get at least a modest increase in horsepower,
thanks to internal changes in their unusual horizontally opposed engines. The
turbocharged Forester 2.5XT Limited gets the biggest boost, making it one of
the more exhilarating vehicles of its type to drive. Forester still offers
either a manual or automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is standard on
all models.
The 2006 Forester has been restyled front and rear, creating a slightly more
serious, less cutesy look. Inside, subtle changes add comfort and convenience,
particularly in the back seat. An alarm and security system are now standard.
The suspension has been revised in an effort to improve ride comfort, adding a
bit more ground clearance for off-road forays.
We're not crazy about all the changes in the 2006 Forester, but in total they
improve a car (or is that an SUV?) that was very good to begin with. Forester
has amassed a good reliability record since its introduction eight years ago.
It has performed very well in laboratory crash tests and it comes with a high
level of standard safety equipment. It can tow up to 2400 pounds. In short, the
Forester still offers a combination of SUV capability, fuel-efficiency, on-road
performance and versatility that's tough to beat.
Model Lineup
The Subaru Forester model line has been simplified for 2006. Three of the four
variants are powered by the base, normally aspirated engine. The turbocharged
2.5XT Limited is the most powerful Forester, and also the most expensive.
The 2.5X ($21,795) is the least expensive, and it gets more standard equipment
for 2006, including a security system and more cargo-securing aids behind the
rear seat. This base Forester comes well-equipped, with features such as a
100-watt AM/FM/Weatherband stereo with single-CD player and four speakers,
60/40 split rear folding seatbacks with a center armrest, air conditioning with
an air filtration system, a cargo area cover, cruise control, digital outside
temperature indicator, fog lights, foldable power side-view mirrors, power
windows, a rear window wiper/washer, remote keyless entry, a roof rack and tilt
steering.
Subaru remains one of only a few carmakers using horizontally-opposed engines,
with the cylinders laid flat so the pistons punch outward like a boxer.
Forester's 2.5-liter four-cylinder gets internal improvements for 2006,
including variable valve lift, which increase peak horsepower by eight to 173.
A four-speed automatic transmission ($800) is available on the three models
that come standard with a 5-speed manual.
The Forester 2.5X Premium ($24,145) adds a 120-watt stereo with six-disc
in-dash CD changer and better speakers, 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, an
eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors,
automatic climate control, a leather- wrapped-steering wheel and shift knob and
a power moonroof.
The Forester L.L. Bean Edition ($26,895) remains the top normally aspirated
model and the only Forester with a standard automatic transmission (so keep
that in mind when comparing prices). Additional functional items, compared to
the 2.5X Premium, include an auto-dimming rearview mirror with built-in
compass, a shock sensor in the security system and a self-leveling rear
suspension. Yet the L.L. Bean's big draw may be the appearance package, with
its unique wheels and colors and contrasting metallic lower-body cladding.
Inside, it features beige seats trimmed with leather and Alcantara fabric, a
Momo wood-and-leather steering wheel, hard, water-resistant material in the
cargo hold and stitched L.L Bean logos on the front seats and floor mats.
The turbocharged 2.5XT Limited ($27,895) gets even more power for 2006. It's
high-performance engine has dual overhead cams, with variable valve timing and
lift for a smooth, even power band. Improvements to the intercooler, among
other things, increase peak horsepower by 20 to 230. In addition to equipment
offered in the 2.5X Premium, the 2.5XT Limited adds leather-trimmed seats, a
seven-speaker audio system with sub-woofer and a sport gauge package.
All Foresters come with antilock brakes. All but the 2.5X also have electronic
brake-force distribution, which evenly proportions brake force as grip under
the tires changes. All are equipped with dual-stage front-impact airbags,
front-passenger side-impact airbags and active front head restraints designed
to minimize whiplash injuries.
Subaru promotes Forester as an active lifestyle vehicle through marketing
arrangements with groups such as the American Canoe Association and the
Professional Ski Instructors of America. In that vein, the company offers a
host of factory- and dealer-installed accessories that increase Forester's
versatility, including racks for carrying bikes, skis, kayaks and canoes on top
of the standard roof rails.
Walkaround
The 2006 Subaru Forester has been restyled front and rear, though those who
knows the Forester won't confuse it with any other car. The new grille is a bit
larger, and the headlights and taillight clusters have been reshaped. The net
effect is slightly more serious, perhaps more rugged, maybe a bit less frumpy.
In the Forester's case, however, frumpy has always been endearing, so we're not
sure the changes are an improvement.
Subaru fanatics, and believe us, there are plenty of them out there, will
immediately notice the new Forester's slightly taller stance. With adjustments
to the suspension, ground clearance has been increased from 7.5 inches to 8.1
inches (7.9 inches on the 2.5 XT Limited) to enhance all-road driving
capability. That half-inch is a significant difference.
The Forester isn't likely to turn a lot of heads, although it's sculpted
aluminum hood, and particularly the working air scoop on the 2.5XT Limited,
subtly scream for attention. Compared to the typical mid-size SUV, the Forester
is a small vehicle, but it makes efficient use of interior space. It is, by
intent, a fairly boxy machine, and its beauty lies more in its functional
design. Despite its upright shape, the Forester is impressively aerodynamic,
with a sedan-grade 0.36 coefficient of drag. Other things equal, the more
aerodynamic a vehicle is, the less wind noise inside and the better its fuel
economy.
The standard roof rack remains flat black. Yet for years, less-expensive
Foresters had unpainted gray lower body cladding that only cluttered up the
car's shape. For 2006, the lower bumpers and protective cladding are painted to
match the body on all variants except the L.L. Bean Edition, which has a
contrasting metallic finish down low. It's a welcome improvement, and gives the
vehicle a classier look. All Foresters except the base 2.5X also get larger
body-color side mirrors with integrated turn signals.
Interior Features
The Subaru Forester is not a tall vehicle, compared to the typical SUV. Yet its
seating position is high, providing more of the commanding view that many
buyers seek in an SUV. Forward visibility is less likely to be obstructed by
other vehicles than it is in the typical sedan. Indeed, visibility is great in
all directions. The driver peers through an expansive windshield and big side
glass with thin A-pillars. A wide rearview mirror and big outside mirrors
provide an excellent view rearward. The driver's seat is simple to adjust, but
it can be tailored for a wide variety of tastes and sizes, and it has good
bolstering. The adjustable steering wheel has good range.
Interior enhancements for 2006 are subtle, but welcome. A new center console
has more storage space and a sliding armrest that's just right for elbow
resting. It also has an extra set of cup holders that can be flipped forward or
back for use by either front or rear-seat passengers. The base Forester 2.5X
now has a net pocket on the front-passenger seatback, and the seat fabric has
been upgraded.
Rear-seat passengers get good leg and head room, even with the optional
moonroof, and now they get even more thigh support. The bottom rear cushion has
been extended forward two inches, without reducing leg room, and Subaru has
added a fold-down armrest with storage in the rear seatback.
Materials inside the Forester have been steadily upgraded over the years, to
the point where all are decent quality. The instrument panel and controls are
efficiently designed. Three big HVAC knobs make it easy to adjust temperature
and airflow. The upgrade stereo in our 2.5XT Limited produced good quality
sound, and like most things on the Forester, the buttons are better than ever
(in this case, bigger). The gauge cluster is highly legible. We like the
fluorescent-look backlighting on the XT turbo best.
The optional leather interior looks and feels stylish. For 2006, the Forester
L.L. Bean adds a new MOMO wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel and matching
shifter handle. The water-resistant surface on its cargo area floor and rear
seatback has been expanded to the cargo area sidewalls. All these touches are
nice, but Forester's interior materials are good in all cases, and we'd rather
put the extra money for the L.L. Bean package toward the higher-performance XT
turbo.
The Forester has great cargo capacity for its size. Lowering the 60/40 split
rear seat increases that capacity from 32 cubic feet to 56.4 cubic feet. That's
comparable or slightly less than compact SUVs like the Ford Escape or Honda
CRV, and those who put a premium on cargo space should note: The lower
headliner on Foresters equipped with the moonroof robs more than a cubic foot
of cargo volume.
The standard retractable cargo cover sits high enough to accommodate taller
objects like a big cooler. For 2006, there are more hooks and tie-down options
than ever in the Forester's cargo hold. A side storage pocket contains a
12-volt power outlet, and there's another 12-volt outlet in the front center
console.
Despite its compact dimensions, Forester accommodates the needs and physique of
a wide range of people. It also protects them well in an accident. Passive
safety features are among the best in small SUVs, and Forester has earned the
highest possible ratings for crashworthiness in 40-mph frontal and 30-mph side
impact crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Driving Impressions
We would never recommend the Subaru Forester for off-road torture tests such as
the Rubicon Trail through the Sierra Nevada mountains, but we can heartily
endorse it for the sort of excursion off the beaten path that's more realistic
for most people. The Forester is perfect transport to find an obscure campsite
over logging trails in the Pacific Northwest, for example, or for pulling a
small trailer through the forest to a hidden lake in Minnesota, or for getting
to a Michigan trout stream on a sandy two-track. Moreover, the Forester is
excellent for inclement weather in just about any locale. Its variable
all-wheel drive system works better in driving snow on the interstate than the
typical dual-range four-wheel drive system in truck-based SUVs.
Consider this. The Forester is much better than nearly any SUV that comes to
mind for driving the way most people drive most of the time: on paved roads,
back and forth to work, to dinner and a movie, or collecting the kids at
school. It rides better. It's more nimble and it gets better mileage. The
Forester is also more pleasant, even more fun to drive, than just about any
SUV. It will run circles around most of them. It handles more like a car and
can be driven like a car. On an icy mountain road snaking along a bottomless
precipice in a driving storm, we'd prefer to be in a Forester than in a
truck-based SUV. The reason is that it stops and turns better.
The 2006 Forester 2.5XT Limited we tested goes past fun and approaches
exciting. The XT's turbocharged, intercooled 2.5-liter, dual-overhead cam,
four-cylinder engine makes 235 pound-feet of torque, or more than 40 percent
more than the base Forester engine. For 2006, improvements to its variable
valve-timing system (VVT) and intercooler increase horsepower by 20 to 230.
That gives the XT a power-to-weight ratio on par with the Ford Mustang.
Yet the XT engine isn't the least bit peaky or finicky. Thanks to Subaru's
experience with turbocharged engines from years racing in the World Rally
Championship, there are no turbo lags or bugs, period. The VVT helps, too, by
eliminating the compromises in a fixed-timing engine and delivering an amazing
balance of lower-rpm torque and free-breathing horsepower. Horsepower peaks low
enough to be effective in most driving situations, while off-the-line torque
comes on strong as low as 2500 rpm.
Simply put, the Forester XT Limited is very fast, and the power is so steady
and even that there's almost no clue it's a turbocharged engine. It's so much
fun that you'll want to floor the gas pedal at every opportunity, just to feel
the exhilarating rush of acceleration.
There's a drawback, to be sure. The XT requires more expensive premium fuel to
get the full effect. Other Foresters do not, nor do many SUVs. There's also a
mileage penalty. Our XT automatic delivers 21 mpg city, 26 highway, according
to the EPA. That's less than normally aspirated Foresters (23/28 automatic,
22/29 manual), but still a lot more than most SUVs.
The standard Forester engine delivers decent acceleration, to be sure. It can't
match the exhilaration underfoot with the turbo, but a driver will never pound
the steering wheel shouting "faster!" while merging onto a crowded freeway.
Subaru's horizontally opposed engines (called "boxers" because the pistons
repeatedly punch outward) share their design concept with Porsche's highly
regarded boxer engines. The advantage is good power in a compact package, and a
low block-height that helps lower the center of mass in the car. Subaru has
perfected this design. Subaru's four-cylinder engine isn't as smooth as some,
but company engineers have done a good job insulating the Forester's interior
from the vibration.
The five-speed manual transmission works well. The gear ratios deliver a good
mix of acceleration and quiet cruising, even if the throws between gears are
long. The Forester's shifter will neither delight the senses nor irritate to
the point that it overwhelms what's good in the car. Subaru's Hill Holder
clutch remains a very useful feature, particularly if you live in San
Francisco. It prevents the car from rolling backwards as the clutch pedal is
released on a hill.
The automatic transmission gets the same middling rating as the manual. It's
not the quickest to downshift, and in some circumstances it seems to get
confused as to what gear it wants. In the turbocharged XT, there's more than
enough power to make gear selection less critical. In normally aspirated
Foresters, we recommend the manual to those seeking to extract maximum
performance or driving satisfaction.
On the road, the Forester handles better than just about any reasonably priced
SUV on the market, and far better than most. Its rack-and-pinion steering is
more direct than that in a Ford Explorer or Chevy Trailblazer, and the
Forester's 35.4-foot turning circle is small by SUV standards (and smaller is
better for crowded parking lots and backcountry trails). Its ride is firmer
than a softly sprung sedan, with a bit of chop thanks to Forester fairly short
wheelbase, but it's firm in a fashion we like.
The brakes are excellent. We experienced no apparent fade after three
consecutive full-on stops from 65 mph, and Forester comes to a halt in short
order.
Forester benefits from a tight, rigid unitbody (as opposed to a body on ladder
frame in the majority of SUVs). This stiffness generally sharpens the vehicles
reflexes, and it helps the suspension absorb road shock without allowing the
crash or vibration through to the cabin. With the 2006 model, Subaru has
enhanced this tight feeling by strengthening Forester's rear crossmember. It
has also retuned the suspension and tweaked the variable-assist, variable-ratio
power steering to further improve Forester's ride quality and response.
This is where we don't necessarily like Forester's 2006 "improvements," even if
it largely comes down to taste. The new suspension settings seem to have moved
Forester a bit closer to the SUV side of the crossover equation and further
from the car side. The steering feels a hint more numb than before, and the
Forester more reluctant to turn, with more lean in the body through a fast
curve. None of it seriously detracts from the Forester's handling edge compared
to a truck-based SUV, and many drivers will never notice. But if you're
inclined to attack a winding road, even in your little SUV-car, you probably
will notice.
The Forester's all-wheel-drive system varies in design and operation, depending
on the transmission. Models with five-speed manuals use what Subaru calls
Continuous All-Wheel Drive, in which a viscous coupling center differential
divides engine power 50/50 between the front and rear wheels, then shifts power
one way or the other when the front or rear tires slip. Foresters with
automatic transmissions use the Active All-Wheel Drive system, in which a
center clutch delivers power where it's needed as determined by electronic
sensors that measure wheelspin. The net effect is the same. Mud, rain or snow,
the AWD helps ensure safe forward momentum and directional control by making
best use of whatever traction is available. With tires suited to the task, you
pretty much have to be a dunderhead to get the Forester stuck in anything short
of axle-deep mud or packed snow that high-spots the frame. In short, weather
isn't likely to stop a Forester.
Summary
Even as "crossover" vehicles proliferate, few can match the versatility built
into the Subaru Forester. Forester brings it all, or almost all: great
all-weather, all-road capability, solid dynamic performance on pavement,
passenger/cargo flexibility, lots of useful features, fuel economy, lots of
safety equipment and good crash-test scores at a reasonable price. It can even
be fun to drive. The turbocharged XT Limited delivers acceleration that's a
visceral rush.
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