Subaru is a Japanese car maker known for many iconic models such as the Impreza. Its bigger brother, the Forester, is the auto you’d buy if you wanted a no-nonsense 4×4. Sure, other four-wheel-drive cars may offer plenty of luxury. Others might suit those after a utilitarian vehicle.
But, the 4×4 favored by many Americans is the Subaru Forester. Now in its fourth generation, the workhorse is attracting more new buyers than ever.
If you’re thinking of buying a 4×4 soon, should you add the Subaru Forester to your shortlist? In today’s review, I will share with you some of the model’s main selling points.
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Choice of engines
The latest generation of Subaru Foresters are available to buy with a choice of three engines. Up first is the diesel unit, suitable for those that favor economy over performance. Despite its green statistics, it’s still a worthy choice for 4×4 drivers.
It is a 2.0-liter common rail engine that produces 144 horsepower. It’s no speed freak, given that it’ll get you from 0-60 mph in 9.6 seconds. But, it offers 49 mpg combined and has low CO2 emissions of 148 g/km. It’s worth noting that you can only get this one with a six-speed manual transmission.
Now, onto the petrol motors. They are both 2.0-liter units but have different performance and economy credentials. The first is 147 hp and has a 0-60 mph time of 11.4 seconds for the automatic, and 10.3 for the manual. As you know, that means they are both slower than the diesel variant!
Fear not, though, because there is a beefier 2.0-liter petrol you can select. As standard, it offers 237 horsepower and has a 0-60 mph time of 7.3 seconds. If you want a petrol Forester, I recommend that engine instead of the slower one. The only downside is that it’s only available in the XT trim and only with the CVT gearbox.
On (and off) the road
The 2016 Subaru Forester is a dream to drive both on and off the road. When you drive the car on paved roads, there is little in the way of body roll. In other words, you won’t kill yourself cornering at speed! It also means your passengers will feel comfortable on the road too!
You’ve perhaps noticed that the car has a low center of gravity. That, along with its tuned suspension setup, makes its handling perform well. Off the road, it handles just as well. I’d recommend not driving the car in extreme dips or ruts, though. But for general off-roading, it’s a brilliant car!
Good level of equipment
From the X trim to the high-end XE Premium, you get a lot of equipment as standard. For a start, climate control is a welcome feature. All trims except the base “X” get dual-zone control.
There are a plethora of airbags to keep you safe in the event of an accident. The XE trims get features like automatic Xenon headlights and windshield wipers. They also have cruise control, a backup camera and a power sunroof.
All in all, the Forester is a capable and worthy 4×4.