Is it sexy? No, not at all. Is it the most stylish vehicle on the road? Not even close. What the Subaru Forester isn’t makes it one of the best SUVs you can buy in its class. This is an SUV that offers you the reliability of a Japanese brand, the practicality of a family vehicle and the rugged utility of a great off roader all rolled into one awesome vehicle. That’s what makes the Forester one of the best vehicles you can buy to fit all your needs and even enjoy some of the fantastic features that are now offered in this great vehicle.
Up front you have a new nose area that has added LED accented headlights, inside there is a calm and quietness that makes this a place you will feel secure and enjoy the ride, out back you still have the look and feel that makes this a Subaru and on the ground you still get to enjoy the AWD that comes standard on the Forester. New equipment shows off as the EyeSight driver assistance system, torque vectoring for the turbo model and better fuel efficiency than ever before making this the SUV you want to drive.
The challenge when creating an SUV is to make the vehicle competent on and off the road. The Forester nails both by being compliant on the road with a good dose of power where you need it and a smooth suspension setup to keep everything in balance. When you want to hit the trails the AWD system can make for the perfect way to enjoy the ride and have the adventure you want. This system also makes the Forester one of the best foul weather vehicles you’ll find anywhere, giving you the confidence to handle the snow or rain on your way home at night.
Under the hood there are two engines you can choose from using the signature boxer style from Subaru. The first is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder model that gives you 170 horsepower and 174 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic transmission to deliver 22 city/29 hwy mpg for the manual or 26 city/32 hwy mpg when the automatic is used. While towing is not a priority, if you do need to tow a small load, the capacity is 1,500 pounds to help you get the gear where you need it.
The second engine used for the Forester is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder model that offers up 250 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is only attached to a CVT, but it’s one that has been designed to emulate a six or eight speed model to give you the feel of a typical powertrain. With this as your chosen powertrain you will experience 23 city/27 hwy mpg of fuel mileage but this engine does need to drink the premium gasoline to operate as efficiently as you need it to.
Looking to the features you will find in the Forester, all models comes standard with AWD, power windows and locks, air conditioning, cruise control, a multifunction steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity. a 6.2-inch Starlink infotainment system, variable wipers and a rearview camera. The Premium model adds the panoramic sunroof, alloy wheels to the standard package while the Limited trim will ensure you have leather upholstery, automatic climate controls and a power liftgate to start out with. The Touring trim have a new interior design, a heated steering wheel, keyless ignition, an upgraded audio system and dual-zone climate controls for you to enjoy.
In any of these trims you may want to upgrade your Forester with some options starting with the CVT and moving to the EyeSight driver assistance system, a navigation system, a power liftgate and much more. The Subaru Forester is an SUV that you want to love, even if it doesn’t have the looks or the sex appeal of some of the other vehicles on the road. When it comes to a vehicle that can get you where you need to go and do it confidently while offering you a comfortable ride, the Forester makes a great choice for you to drive.
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