Better than any other automaker, Subaru knows its customers and brilliantly markets their products based on warm and fuzzies like kids, dogs and the great outdoors. Their vehicles definitely aren’t for everyone but for those of a particular mindset the combination of legendary all-wheel drive and fuel efficient powertrains is just what they’re looking for. Like this all-new Forester.
In full disclosure, I’ve never been a big Subaru guy. But apparently I’m in the minority because their dealers are having trouble feeding the insatiable demand for their crossovers, especially the Crosstrek and Forester – 2 of their best-sellers. Now, Subaru’s version of all-new is tepid by industry standards…I parked this one next to a 2017 Forester the other day and had to stare for a while to discern the differences. It’s really in the back where the new design is most prominent or you could get out your tape measurer; the wheelbase has been stretched by over 1”. While I view it as only slightly less dorky than before, I have to admit the Forester has received a lot of compliments this week, particularly about this new Jasper Green color.
My tester is the Forester that has it all…the Touring trim priced at $35,270 with everything you see as standard equipment, including power seats for the driver and front passenger, new heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. The Saddle Brown Leather interior is a perfect match and elevates Subaru’s typically lacking cabin appeal. The ease of getting in and out of it is one of the Forester’s hallmark traits with its generous 8.7” of ground clearance lending to the ideal step-in height. The rear door openings are also wider so getting kids settled in their car seats is easier on adults. And in a day and age where windows are shrinking in favor of daring design, the Forester has greenhouse for days…anywhere you turn there’s excellent visibility. The front seats are more long-trip comfortable and the driving position is SUV-like in its command though I wish there was more lateral support to assuage some of the Forester’s clumsy handling. And cargo room is up with a flatter, much wider load floor, with underfloor storage, a cool cargo mat, cargo cover and switches for remote operation of the split-fold rear seats. There’s also a new button to lower the tailgate and lock the Forester from back here but still no foot-activated operation of it. And the backseats are now very spacious with much more legroom and an overall sense of expansiveness thanks in part to the panoramic roof…unfortunately with a manual shade that’s a little hard to reach. The newly divided seatback pockets are also a nice get.
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