Thursday, February 17, 2011

Car Reviws

Car Reviws

2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium, an AW Drivers Log:

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 06:48 AM PST

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This weekend, my wardrobe consisted of a heavy wool coat with the collar turned up, a knit hat and aviator sunglasses. And layers. Lots and lots of layers. Was I running a smuggling operation? Nope. It's winter in Michigan, where the temps fell to single digits and the dark monotony was interrupted only by the glaring sun reflecting off the snow.

Against this setting, the sturdy Subaru Forester in premium trim was a near-perfect vehicle. It might seem trite to spotlight seat heaters, but if you're north of the Mason-Dixon Line this time of year, a crossover that warms up quickly is crucial. This Subie is more than up for that and most tasks. I rather enjoyed my Monday-morning commute slicing through light flurries in the darkness. The symmetric AWD makes this ride quite sure-footed, and very little fazes the chassis. Most will say that this steering is a bit light, but for a decent-size small SUV, it's appreciable to have this much maneuverability. It's easy to glide into turns, and the brakes have a respectable bite to scrub speed.

Power from the 170-hp boxer four is strong, considering it's pulling a big vehicle without a big output. Passing on the expressway is no problem, especially when summoning 4,000 rpm. The cabin is a comfortable place, offering a slightly elevated road view and nice seating position. I stored almost $70 worth of groceries in the back seat easily, and there's a ton of space in the cargo hold with a useful stowage setup underneath. Inside does look a touch cheap in places, but not disturbingly so. The TomTom navigation unit was a bit different, but the maps were clear, and I did figure out the radio eventually.

I like the outside. The lips around the wheel wells highlight Subaru's attention to detail, and the silver shade is almost luxe. I would recommend this all-wheeler, especially in colder environs.

COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: This was a great little ute to have over a weekend during which I was transporting friends around town. I have liked the Forester since I met our blue long-termer a couple of years back, and this model didn't disappoint. Except for one thing--the TomTom nav/radio interface. What's up with that? Why didn't Subaru stick with its own unit, which worked very well, thank you, in a short-term Forester that passed through the fleet last year? That unit was easy to use, even being a touch screen, and there was no problem figuring out what buttons controlled which functions. This TomTom unit falls way short. The controls are nonsensical.

Otherwise, the Forester was a champ in heating up, with the bonus seat burners to boot, and it handled all road conditions well. Even broken streets couldn't upset it. The brakes are solid, the sheetmetal looks good, there is lots of space inside and I like the taller roof and the great driver's position. Neither snow nor ice was a problem for the little ute; I even thought, I bet the Forester would be a good ride to have for the upcoming blizzard.

If you're in the market for this type of vehicle, the Forester deserves a look.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: I love the Forester, but this confounding radio would be enough for me to leave this thing at the dealership. I'm not sure how this is any improvement from the former model of which we had a long-termer, which also had a nav system. The controls to the radio/nav system are so far from intuitive that it just makes no sense. Who in world designed this thing? TomTom should be ashamed, and so should Subaru for buying it.

Beyond that, I still really like the Forester. For the price, you are getting a lot of value. The only thing that would make this better is fuel mileage in the high 20s rather than the low 20s, but those boxer engines have never been the best on mileage.

The AWD system is terrific when the going gets tough, and even in the two inches of snow that coated the roads this morning, it was reassuring to have the AWD churning away. And the seat heaters are seat burners--they heat up quickly. The defrost system is also top-notch, keeping the glass clear and the windshield free of ice.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: It's not spelled out on the option list, but this Forester comes with a lot of confidence as standard equipment. Eight inches of wind-whipped snow on the road? This Subie sneered at the slick stuff and kept right on truckin'. This company's years of experience in all-wheel-drive systems really shines when you need to punch through a few drifts and plow through the ruts to get down the road. And as long as you're strapped in and ready to steer, the car's traction and stability controls allow for plenty of sideways fun when the opportunity presents itself.

This package comes with a nice price for a good-size AWD crossover vehicle, with the kinds of extras like heated front seats in the cold-weather package that make it a good value for the money. The seats aren't leather, but the cloth upholstery is handsome and clean-looking, with the heaters as a bonus.

I agree with complaints about the TomTom audio/navigation head unit--the system is near impossible to use consistently. Result: I tuned in one station and stayed with it, rather than risking listening to static until the next time I could be distracted from driving long enough to make another adjustment.

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: It's amazing how much the Forester has grown in the last few generations. This was a small wagon for the longest time, but now it's much bigger and more family-friendly with its roominess.

However, I was still glad to be slotted into this Forester with all the winter weather we've been hammered with lately. Having AWD underneath me was a confidence booster. On the slick roads and large amount of snow accumulation in my neighborhood, the Forester barreled through it like nobody's business.

I do have to agree with everyone when it comes to the inexpensive-looking TomTom unit in this vehicle. It cheapens the look of the interior. On top of that, the interface is horrible and very difficult to use, which is a shame.

Overall, this is still a great product, but Subaru needs to lose the useless TomTom unit.

2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium

Base Price: $24,220

As-Tested Price: $26,384

Drivetrain: 2.5-liter H4; AWD, four-speed automatic

Output: 170 hp @ 5,800 rpm, 174 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,300 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 23/20.7 mpg

Options: Option package 33 including all-weather package, heated front seats, windshield-wiper de-icer, heated side mirrors ($1,095); four-speed automatic transmission ($1,000); all-weather floor mats ($69)

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