Available active-safety features in the Forester include adaptive cruise control (ACC), running at speeds from 25 mph up to 90 mph, as well as the EyeSight system for spotting road hazards with a camera-based system, up to 80 meters ahead, and potentially avoiding an accident by braking at up to 0.4g. Materials-everything from upholsteries to door trim-are a solid step up from before, and Subaru has added more insulation both to the door panels and to the area just ahead of the instrument panel.Ī rearview camera is now standard on all Foresters, as is Bluetooth. There’s also a much greater sense of detailing and refinement inside.
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There's more rear legroom, plus about 12 percent more cargo space, and rear seatback folding that’s close to fully flat with a one-touch mechanism. This Forester is about the same size as before on the outside, but moving the seats higher and moving the roof pillars and dash forward have expanded interior space. Ultimately the Forester is fashioned first after its primary duty: carrying five people and a lot of gear, whether it's weekend-adventure material or just restocked household goods.
When engaged at low speeds, it electronically manages torque from left to right, supplementing the AWD system’s front-to-back distribution, and it automatically deploys Hill Descent Control at low speeds. But perhaps inspired by systems such as Land Rover’s Terrain Response, Subaru has added something called X-Mode. The Forester retains all of its rugged trail prowess, including 8.7 inches of ground clearance and some approach and departure angles that even off-road purists wouldn’t be quick to dismiss. Gas mileage as high as 27 mpg combined puts it near the class lead, too. Steering is nicely weighted, and body control is as in-check as you'll find from such a tall, spacious utility vehicle. The Forester's completely reengineered suspension and stiffer body structure create a great environment for good all-around, any-weather handling. The 2.0XT comes only with the CVT, but it does get programming that lets it behave like a six- or eight-speed automatic, with quicker "gearchanges" drummed up at the touch of a button through the "SI-Drive" syste, which also tweaks throttle. With the base models, we prefer the standard six-speed stick over the optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Forester's base engine is a 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder, while 2.0XT models have a 2.0-liter turbocharged variant with direct injection and a stout 250 horsepower. The crisp new grille design and smoothly sculpted side sheetmetal flow well, and the taller front end fares well with faired-in headlamps, though the XT's lower front end gets a little too busy.įrom the cockpit, the Forester feels a little more athletic than a Rogue or a CR-V, though not as sharp as the tightly packaged Ford Escape. A little taller than before, slightly longer between the wheels, the latest Forester owes a little bit to the Impreza sedan and a lot to the past decade of Foresters gone before it. Better gas mileage, storage space, flexibility, and performance were all in the plan, but the Forester also manages to squeeze in a more handsome shape that creates excellent outward visibility. The Forester's redesign last year wasn't a sea change. In other ways, the appeal is completely obvious: the Forester's one of the best vehicles crash-tested by the IIHS, and its combination of standard AWD and lots of ground clearance makes off-pavement excursions nearly as rewarding as those committed on road. For its size, it has exceptional room for passengers and for cargo, and among all-wheel-drive vehicles, its gas mileage is a standout, too. The Forester stands out in ways that some car shoppers completely ignore. We still think the Forester is one of the safest, more versatile cars on the road-and we've ratified that by spending a few months behind the wheel of a turbocharged Forester 2.0XT. Little has changed for the 2015 model year. These traits, among others, are what won the car our Best Car To Buy 2014 award. Even among Subaru’s ready-to-rumble lineup, the Forester stands out for its station wagon-like ride and handling, crossover-like space, and car-like maneuverability, plus Subaru’s all-weather and off-road capable all-wheel drive. It's an impressive vehicle with a wide array of capabilities. The 2015 Subaru Forester is up for nearly anything.