2008 SUBARU FORESTER FIRST DRIVE

[regfootball]

Vehicle Tested:

2008 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Limited 4dr Wagon AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 4A)

First Impressions:

Looks like a cute-ute but corners like a WRX.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...rticleId=124405

The 2008 Subaru Forester has thrown down the gauntlet to its rivals, as it not only incorporates a bolder, more stylish look, but also matches the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 for size. And thanks to a long experience with making all-wheel-drive friendly enough for real-world use, the Forester outdoes them in many ways.

The 2008 Subaru Forester is a far more capable machine than the vehicle it replaces. It looks serious and even drives serious. And Subaru has also made sure the Forester offers some serious utility, just as you'd expect from a Subaru. It should make some people think twice when they're pricing cute-utes from Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan.

One telling question, however, will be whether the Subaru family likes the way the Forester has turned out. The friendly little wagon is gone, and in its stead is an even pricier utility vehicle. In fact, the 2008 Subaru Forester is so good (and so big), it makes you wonder whether you'd even consider a Subaru Outback, which is a lot more expensive. We mentioned this to our friends at Subaru and they just rolled their eyes.

I could like this rig.

Edited January 22, 2008 by regfootball

[regfootball]

We can confirm that the Forester's new stance makes things possible that the old wagonette would never dream of. With the front track 1.4 inches wider and the rear track 1.8 inches wider (plus the new independent rear suspension), we could throw the Forester into corners without worrying about throwing it into the trees at the same time. A vehicle so high off the ground should not be able to corner like this, yet it does. It should roll and dive, yet it doesn't. We just couldn't get over it.

Meanwhile, the revised Japanese-specification turbocharged 2.0-liter four delivers 227 hp at 5,600 rpm and 235 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm. You'd better be ready for barrels of torque from around 2,500 rpm all the way up to 6,000 rpm. This is a powerful engine, and it'll get the Forester Turbo to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. You extend your right boot just to experience the turbo rush again and again. You'll be surprised at the improved sound the boxer engine makes thanks to a new intake manifold and a twin-muffler exhaust system.

bite it, CRV.

Edited January 22, 2008 by regfootball

[VenSeattle]

You're going to shoot me for this...

The exterior says Tall Sebring Wagon.

The interior says mini Mazda CX9 with the center stack and gauges.

Nice improvement over the previous package. I have a few people in my office who have the current one and they love it.

[CSpec]

Subaru sure has hit a rut since the fantastic Legacy. The exterior on this is weird and boring, and the interior (much like the Impreza) looks very cheap and dated.

[Robert Hall]

It's less homely than the previous Forester..

[Intrepidation]

I like it inside and out. It looks far better than the Impreza, although the front could still be better. I do agree that the Legacy is still there best looking car though.

[Cory Wolfe]

The mechanicals sound nice... I just wish the rest looked as good as it sounded. An improvement... but...

[gm4life]

Way better than the new ugly Imprezza and as for the CRV you just lost so did the Rav. (Suck it boys Subie is back.)

[siegen]

The front end of the new Forester isn't beautiful

An extreme understatement. I would be hard pressed to find something more bland and boring anywhere, even at toyota.com.

bite it, CRV.

Comments like these are not uncharacteristic of a troll. Comparing the CR-V to this turbocharged Forester is similar to comparing a Lancer to an Evolution. Many previous attempts have been made to show how much more muscular and nimble the Forester is than the CR-V, and have shown obviously (and not something anybody needed convincing of) that the Forester is designed with a different purpose in mind.

And besides, the CR-V has more character in just a few inches of its oddly grille-adjacent headlight than the new Forester does on the entire front end.

I liked the old Forester, and I liked last year's Impreza. Subaru is blanderdizing their entire lineup, and it's a shame.