Friday, May 2, 2008

Subaru Forester 2009

Subaru's compact SUV gets a bigger frame for comfort, but can it handle the rough stuff?

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.–Wildfires burned off a lot of vegetation on Catalina last fall, leaving the winter rains to run free and tear up the island roads, making this picturesque setting off the coast of southern California an appropriate venue for putting the 2009 Subaru Forester through its off-road paces.

After all, there's nothing quite like churning up dirt tracks to heights of more than 400 metres, then riding the brakes down the other side or coming face-to-face with a wild roaming buffalo to put the compact SUV's claims of ruggedness to the test.

And that ruggedness is something the automaker puts up front and centre in the new version of the Forester.

First off, the new frame raises body clearance to 22 cm and puts the wheels closer to the corners. The new wheelbase is also 9 cm longer and the overall body has been stretched by 7.5 cm from the 2008 version. The engine has been lowered slightly, giving the Forester a lower centre of gravity.

I felt the effects of these changes as I drove the compact SUV during a day of testing over a variety of terrain.

The first time I hit a hairpin turn while driving through the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, there was very little body-roll: though I was squeezed up hard against the side window, the Forester stayed flat through the 180-degree turn. The longer wheelbase meant it could easily navigate rough roads without bottoming out and without a bumper touching, while the longer travel of the wishbone suspension sucked up the shock without the SUV pitching like a hobby horse.

The original Forester was one of a few founding members of the compact SUV market back in 1997. Today, there are more than a dozen models from other automakers winking seductively at potential Forester customers.

No price has been announced for the 2009 Forester yet, even though it is expected on the dealers' lots in April. As a clue, the 2008 versions start at $26,995 and go up to $37,795 for the top-of-the-line model.

That top model is the only one that gets the 224-horsepower turbo version of the 2.5 L engine. Opt for the other packages and you'll have to settle for the non-turbo version of the four-cylinder, which now produces 170 hp – up 5 horses.

Around town and on the highway near Laguna Beach, the base engine was adequate, though the extra kick of the turbo made passing uphill much easier. The turbo is slightly harder on fuel – adding consumption of about .6 L/100 km of city driving, according to Subaru.

On rough terrain, the base 2.5 L engine with the standard transmission holds its own, but the automatic struggled in spots. The turbo had no such issues, but it only comes with the automatic.

Going is one thing, but stopping is also a key feature of the new Forester, a fact I discovered when a shaggy head came into view and I stopped on a steep grade to gawk at one of the buffalo that roam Catalina.

Luckily the five-speed equipped Forester I was driving had a Hill Holder feature. Sensing an incline, it keeps the brakes on for about a second after the pedal is released, which is just enough time to get on the gas and release the clutch.

Forester also comes with four-wheel anti-lock brakes that work with an Electronic Brake-force Distribution system to even out the force reaching each wheel, stopping the SUV in a straight line.

It also has Brake Assist – a system that senses how fast and hard the driver brakes, then applies more pressure, right up to the ABS limit. Why would you need this? Studies show that drivers typically under-brake, even in emergency situations.

Other safety features include the standard passive and active systems, along with an improved new rollover sensor for the side curtain airbags, which are now standard. Also standard are active front head restraints.

Inside, the Forester takes cues from the Tribeca's twin-cockpit design and strong protruding centre stack that divides the space. It's attractive and fresh, while other slick new features include luminescent gauges with soft blue lighting and brushed aluminum-look inserts that flow into that centre stack.

Outside, the styling mimicks the look adopted last year by the Tribeca, with the Forester's front end now having a more pronounced grille, a taller hood, hawk-eye headlights and a sweeping chrome wing to tie it all together.

Which isn't to say it has totally lost its traditional boxy look, a feature demonstrated by staffers who inserted more than 1,000 granola bars glued together into a massive block representing the 949 L of storage space in the Forester. Square, after all, is the optimal shape for storage.

The new suspension system in the '09 has created a bit of extra room in the cargo bay, with the space between the wheel wells now wider by 13.3 cm. With the second row seats up, the cargo area is 80 L larger.

The larger interior has benefits for passengers, too. A new 60/40 bench design is now better able to seat three having been moved back 10 cm. It's also reshaped for better thigh support and stuffed with memory foam — a material said to always retain its shape. A larger rear door opens wider which should make it easier to get baby (and car seat) in and out.

Perhaps most important for the Subaru faithful, is that the automaker's signature symmetrical all-wheel drive continues to get the job done. Subaru's system pushes power as needed to all four wheels all the time – reacting instantly to changing road conditions. It works equally well on-road too.

Fear not, Subaru believers, the newest version of the Forester is here and it intends to keep the faith.

Sent sumer37 Time: 7:57 AM

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