The Subaru Forester was one of, if not the first, successful crossover SUVs. Introduced for the 1997 model year, it became a huge hit both in Japan and across the globe.
This, combined with Subaru’s perceived superior reliability meant sales went through the roof — and I still see some first generation Foresters driving around today.
For 2019, Subaru has refreshed the Forester line for its 21st birthday and its fifth generation.
New to this generation is the Sport trim level. Looking at this trim you immediately will see the more aggressive styling, orange or red styling and decals, as well as special stitching on the interior to make it feel sportier and more upscale. I was given a higher trim Limited model to drive and it really did feel like a great place to spend my commute. The interior was littered with leather here and there along with the leather seats in both the front and the back.
I also got a nine-speaker Harmon/Kardon sound system and touch screen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to make my commute sound better than everyone else’s.
Storage has been a staple of the Forester line and it only gets better with the new generation. With the rear seats up, there are 35.4 cubic feet of storage and it jumps to 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Considering I know people who have camped in the back of their older Foresters, the added space comes as a blessing for those hoping to do even more with it.
On the outside, the exterior styling for the new generation makes for an attractive crossover and looks more expensive than it really is.
Driving the Forester was engaging, but the 8.7 inches of ground clearance doesn’t lend itself to sports car levels of fun. The Subaru’s continuously variable transmission, or CVT, has been tweaked in this generation as well and certainly helps the Forester feel better both on the highway and in heavy traffic.
I wasn’t able to take my Forester off-road during my time driving, but the exceptional ground clearance as well as Subaru’s X-Mode feature that is designed to get you out of most any terrestrial situation you might get yourself into.
With Subaru’s new global platform, all of its latest generations for each model has gotten more safe and more advanced. This platform also allows for less expensive repairs and ultimately benefits the consumer.
The sole engine for the new Forester is a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine making 182 horsepower and 176 foot pounds of torque. This engine, along with the more economically tuned CVT, allows the crossover to get a remarkable 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on the highway. This is better than many of the sedans from just a few years ago.
The base model starts at $24,295 and includes the symmetrical all wheel drive system Subaru has been known for, as well as their Eyesight safety system which is among the best in the industry.
The Premium trim starts at $26,695, Sport at $28,795, and Limited trim at $30,795. At the top of the range is the Touring trim including heated steering wheel, power passenger seat, one touch folding seats, reverse automatic braking.
Seeing Honda having its myriad engine issues and some other brands’ poor showings with regard to interior quality, Subaru has been playing the hits with its new Ascent full size SUV and now with the newest generation of the Forester. The future continues to be bright for this funny little niche brand that is no longer for just niche customers.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or via email at Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
