Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The federal government gives the 2010 Forester top five-star scores for driver and passenger protection in frontal crash tests as well as front- and rear-seat occupant protection in side crash tests. They also give it a four-star rollover score, which means the Forester has just a 17 percent risk of rollover in a single vehicle crash.
The insurance industry gives the Forester top scores of "Good" in frontal, side impact and rear crash tests. It even gets a score of "Good" in roof strength tests and is named a 2010 "Top Safety Pick." Receiving top scores in all of these tests is no small feat. In fact, the Forester is one of the only SUVs in its class to do so.
The Forester comes standard with four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Vehicle Dynamics Control, Traction Control System, driver's and front passenger's airbags, side-curtain airbags for front and rear outboard occupants, and front seat-mounted side-impact airbags. A rearview camera isn't offered, but one may not be needed -- test drivers say visibility is excellent.
- "Driver visibility is excellent in all directions. The A-pillars were designed to minimize blind spots." -- New Car Test Drive
- "One particular feature that impressed us -- or at least would have impressed us if the weather had turned foul -- was the rear wiper. Subaru has engineered it to switch from intermittent speed to full speed when the Forester shifts into reverse. And that's handy if you're backing down a muddy driveway in a Nor'easter." -- Popular Mechanics
- "Visibility is one of the key features of the new car. Class competitors are hampered by thick c-pillars and small and obscured rear-views. To bring the point home, Subaru brought along a CRV and a RAV4 for comparison. The view out of the Forester is panoramic for and aft making for easier parking and lane changes and better all-around spatial awareness." -- Driving Sports
Performance
The Subaru Forester receives praise for its sporty, sedan-like ride and standard all-wheel drive. The base engine is adequate, though the turbocharged variant is even more powerful. One of the only concerns is that the optional automatic transmission offers only four speeds when most competitors offer five or six (the standard manual transmission, on the other hand, is a five-speed).
- "The relatively sporty Subaru Foresters of yore are sadly gone, replaced by a bigger, taller vehicle that remains easy to drive but doesn't elicit the same sort of driving enjoyment. We're guessing most folks won't mind, though, since the trade-off is one of the most comfortable rides in the segment." -- Edmunds
- "We found the Forester dazzling in its sure-footedness and comfortable ride, never once whimpering in the face of abuse. The suspension isn't firm but offers relatively long travel." -- New Car Test Drive
- "Around town, the Forester 2.5XT Limited proves an easy driver. The seating position is high enough to give a good view of surroundings, yet the car feels light and nimble. The engine moves the car along without strain, and the four-speed-automatic transmission delivers mostly transparent shifts." -- CNET
- "Ride is well-controlled with a polished feel, the steering arcs through bends with nice weighting and feedback, brakes are strong, and you've always got Subaru's full-time all-wheel-drive system on hand should the road turn gravely, wet, or snowy." -- Motor Trend
Acceleration and Power
The base Forester comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower. It's paired with a five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic. 2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Limited models upgrade to a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 224 horsepower and is paired with the four-speed automatic. Reviewers find that power from both engines is excellent. However, they complain about the primitive four-speed automatic transmission and overwhelmingly recommend the five-speed manual.
According to the EPA, the Forester with the base engine should earn 20/27 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission and 20/26 with the automatic transmission. Models with the turbocharged engine should net 19/24 mpg. These figures are about average for the class.
- "Both engine choices are highly competitive in terms of power and fuel economy, although an automatic transmission with more gears than the Forester's four would make a big difference. Not only would fuel economy theoretically improve, but more narrowly spaced ratios would make downshifts smoother and less noticeable as well." -- Edmunds
- "Managed by a four-speed automatic, the power came on smoothly without a noticeable lag or uncontrolled jolt of 'oomph.' The Forester moved without fuss into and through traffic, and there was a sense that this was a capable, easy driving vehicle." -- Associated Press
- "The 5-speed manual transmission might be a good idea if you spend a lot of time on the road -- it's rated at 2 mpg more than the automatic on the highway -- but I would recommend the optional 4-speed automatic. Around town, the manual requires a lot of work to keep the engine in the power band, and the automatic is nearly as good on gas." -- MSN
All-Wheel Drive
The Forester comes standard with full-time all-wheel drive, which makes it a great value in its class. The system impresses test drivers with its abilities in snow, slippery conditions, and even off-road.
- "Up and down steep and rutted dirt roads normally closed off to all but cloven-hooved bison, the Forester clawed its way, standard symmetrical all-wheel drive pulling and pushing as grade and grip dictated, almost never faltering. The Forester went well beyond what 99 percent of crossover buyers would ever consider--and even beyond what we expected it could do." -- AutoWeek
- "Subaru does AWD as well as Volvo does seats." -- USA Today
- "Off-road, the Subaru Forester won't replace your Jeep Wrangler, but with an available 8.9 inches of ground clearance, this is more than just a cow-trailer. There's no low-range gearing, of course, but the boxer engine has enough grunt to power up hills, through mud holes." -- Orlando Sentinel
- "Trekking through a meadow, the Forester really seems to be in its element, a perfect car for a back country picnic. This dirt road work hardly taxes the all-wheel-drive system, which would find its best use helping the Forester 2.5XT Limited tackle ski trips up snow-covered roads." -- CNET
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Highest Predicted Resale Value in it's Class
The experts at ALG have awarded Forester their top resale ranking in the Compact Utility Class.
Higher predicted resale value than Honda, Nissan, Mazda, or Volkswagen
The experts at ALG have awarded Subaru their highest ranking among mainstream brands.
The Most Award Winning Small SUV
Accolades from well-known publications and research sites such as Car & Driver and Edmunds.com make the Subaru Forester the most awarded small SUV.
Highest owner loyalty in the Compact SUV segment for 2008
Polk statistics show how much Forester owners love their vehicles.
2010 IIHS Top Safety Rating
The Forester earned top ratings in all three of the Institute's crash tests - offset frontal as well as side and rear impact - plus it offers electronic stability control.
Highest crash test rating in all government crash tests (five out of five stars)
Forester's 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the organization's top rating.
