CD Article: 2009 Subaru Forester

[CD_Editor]

First Drive:


With a longer wheelbase and a new space-saving rear suspension, the 2009 Forester offers more rear legroom and cargo space behind the rear seat, reports Senior Editor, Paul Williams.  It goes on sale in Canada in April.

 More:
Read the article | View the photos | All The First Drives

[quadzilla]

Subaru representatives demonstrated loading a 130x97x70 centimetre cube into the cargo area, then closing the liftgate behind it. This cube was much too big for the rear opening of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, for example.

I wonder how big of a box either the CRV or RAV4 can take though? Was it 129x97x70?

Also interested in EPA and Cdn pricing.

Otherwise, it looks nice but it keeps getting bigger. Might find new buyer and lose some old buyers at the same time.

[Rupert]

I have liked this vehicle for a long time and think that it would be much more popular if it was not for the fact that it is a bit pricey. That is not to say that it's attributes do not deserve a premium and if one lived in areas where they are absolutely required I suppose one would willingly pay the extra. I admire the company for developing it's boxer four and sticking with it over the years. The engine I believe started out in the old Jowett Javelin in another age, on a different island. That car also stood out from the crowd and was a quality product. Sadly lack of funding killed it's progress there. The 4x drive though is Subaru inspired.
I have spent some time in the Canadian Maritimes over the years and noticed that this mark is well represented there. You see a lot of them. I don't know how much heavier the latest version is over the old one but I thought that the normally aspirated engine would have been adequate in all but extream circumstances previously. Somehow a turbo engine seems out of place here to me. If you can just get by in these extream conditions that hardly ever occur, surely the extra HP and consumption is not needed. I wish them success.

[mmret]

I know its probably an engineering "necessity", but the hood-scoop schnoz just really puts me off.

[si]

a four speed auto ...   and that four speed auto is mandatory on the XT?


I wonder if it'll at least offer a navi system this time 'round?

[2hondas]

I think this new Forester is a big improvement over the older version. Looks alot nicer also. 

Still wondering on the pricing...and why they chose the 4AT. 

[carcrazy]

There is a Navi option indeed.

Speaking of the cargo measurements, after reading all the excitement about the cargo space, I went outside and measured the Outlander's cargo.
Height (at the opening which is the lowest point): 90 cm (with 1-2 cm of reserve not to touch the liner)
Width (minimum): 95 cm
Depth (second row folded): 135 cm (1-2 cm of reserve).
Depth (second row up): 105 cm.

Regardless, the Forester looks like a very good compact SUV. I'm only afraid that the interior plastics are the same as in the new Impreza which I didn't like at all (cheaper looking than Mitsubishi). Oh… and the A/T is a 4-speed only. Why???

Now we only need to wait and see if Subaru comes down to Earth and price them right.

[Wolfe]

I know its probably an engineering "necessity", but the hood-scoop schnoz just really puts me off.

The intercooler is mounted on top, however, if Subaru really wanted to they could have done what Mazda did with their 2.3L turbo which also has a TMIC. Mazda put some sort of duct just under the hood to bring coolish air up to the IC. That's why the Mazdaspeed3 & 6 and CX7 all have bulging hoods and apparently some heat soak problems too.

I think Subaru's solution is the better one. Non-functional hood scoops are stupid IMO.

[sailor723]

I have to echo the comment about the AT. Using a 4 speed auto in a newly introduced vehicle in 2008 is a real head scratcher. Especially from a company that's had delusions of being a premium brand in the past. Other than that it looks like a major improvement over the vehicle it's replacing. The catch is that the competition has hardly been standing still for the last few years either. The new Forester would be a real segment leader....if it had been introduced 2-3 years ago

The real test will come when we see pricing.

[Greg B.]

Oh, good. It's been at least two weeks since the last time the site featured an article on a Subaru. I was wondering what was wrong.

[Thinking Out Loud]

If they are SMART, they'll follow in the footsteps of the Impreza and gut the pricing over the outgoing model....

[mmret]

Regarding the 4AT, I read somewhere that they don't have enough plant capacity for the 5ATs (which I assume go in the Tribeca, Legacy GT, OBXT, WRX).

But lets be serious, there can't be that many Auto LGTs and WRXs floating around, and the Tribeca certainly isn't a huge volume car, ditto OBXT. So what gives? Are they really so constrained for capacity?

Either they just have no money or they think most people won't care / know enough (perhaps they are right.)

[Rupert]

How many speeds do you need on an automatic. Is six the mark until 7 is arrived at and then 8. I can't see how this improves technology at all. I have never had a single reason to complain about 4 speed autos., If it were 3 speeds maybe then. If you want mucho speeds go to CVT technology...the ultimate in speed numbers. Oh I forgot these seem to be frowned on also. Sorry I do not follow the ravenous need for more and more complexity that, at this point, seems to achieve nothing. With complexity comes more sources of problems. Keep it simple.
So I suppose as well as a race for HP numbers we have to endure a race, now, for 'automatic speed' numbers. Time was when looks, utility (included in the article), handling and reliability were the features for desireability. Now we are bombarded with ever increasing numbers of this and that.
This is a great little vehicle that maybe comes into it's own for those who live in country areas. Places where roads may not be cleared or salted as readily in winter times. Where the refined AWD system can be more appreciated on occasion and where reliability is an infinitely more valuable feature than the number of automatic speeds. It's slot position as a more capable small station wagon, rather than small SUV, seems to be a valid one to me.

[quadzilla]

Regarding the 4AT, I read somewhere that they don't have enough plant capacity for the 5ATs (which I assume go in the Tribeca, Legacy GT, OBXT, WRX).

The WRX is still a 4 speed also.

[carcrazy]

AWD:
From what I read in the article, the AWD type depends on the tranny. I know that this was the case in the past too.
It seems like the "traditional" Subaru full-time AWD with 50/50 split only comes with the manual.
The A/T has an electronically controlled, variable split like the most CUVs on the road.

[Craig]

Oh, good. It's been at least two weeks since the last time the site featured an article on a Subaru.

It was 4 weeks, and 10 weeks before that.

I was wondering what was wrong.

It was just you.

[stickshift]

Oh, good. It's been at least two weeks since the last time the site featured an article on a Subaru.

It was 4 weeks, and 10 weeks before that.

I was wondering what was wrong.

It was just you.

 

[Blueprint]

So, the undercover WRX (current Forester XT) is now dead, replaced by a slushboxed, leathered "Limited" who would probably fare better with the flat six with its new mission in life.

Other than that, the new gen seems like a huge improvement.

[Demosthenes X]

Looks fantastic, and sounds like a very practical vehicle.  With real AWD, it would be far ahead of the RAV-4 or CRV on my list.  Shame no manual with the XT, though - with the new WRX taking very well to mods, it could have made a very potent family hauler. 

[2hondas]

Regarding the 4AT, I read somewhere that they don't have enough plant capacity for the 5ATs (which I assume go in the Tribeca, Legacy GT, OBXT, WRX).

But lets be serious, there can't be that many Auto LGTs and WRXs floating around, and the Tribeca certainly isn't a huge volume car, ditto OBXT. So what gives? Are they really so constrained for capacity?

Either they just have no money or they think most people won't care / know enough (perhaps they are right.)

I believe the OBXT will be discontinued for the 2009 model year. I posted the link sometime earlier last month.