In our climate, heated seats are a good thing to have and are standard on this Subaru. An added benefit is that the seats fit a very wide range of body types. I found that the side bolsters on both the seatback and cushion were subtle, effective and hardly noticeable. My wife, in her more direct way, declared them to be “quite comfortable” and proceeded to relegate me to the passenger seat for the rest of our drive.
Once out of the driver’s seat, I decided to try the rear seat as well. One thing about Subaru is that the company is predictable. Back-seat comfort is good with a decently long cushion set high enough to keep your knees from coming up to your chest. The only tight spots are in leg and foot room.
In the Forester, how much legroom you get will depend on the benevolence of those in the front seats. There is enough basic room that you shouldn’t have much of an issue, but on a driving vacation, the space will start to seem a bit cramped.
Powertrain
A 2.5-litre, horizontally-opposed four is the only engine that Subaru uses in the Forester. Most models are normally aspirated while the top-level XT uses a turbocharger. Rated at 170 horsepower, this engine has enough jam to get whatever job you want done, done quickly. There is one caveat; do not expect tire smoke and sudden acceleration out of this motor.
Horizontally-opposed engines by definition have a low centre of gravity, which lowers the C of G at the front of the car which in turn makes the car easier to drive. If you like to go out and push in the corners for all you are worth, you will find that your driving is partially limited by suspension softness and totally by tire adhesion.
Ride Quality
If you are out getting the groceries, the suspension of the Forester is firm without being stiff. However, the short wheelbase does make the ride a bit choppy. A short distance between axles also means that once a slide starts, it is difficult to gain control back. This is where Subaru’s all-wheel drive system comes into play. Power is shuffled to the wheels that can use it, and away from those that spin. In short, you would never know that the Forester had a poor traction moment.
When it comes to off-pavement driving, the Forester can handle the roads as well as bush trails. If done right, medium-sized rocks and logs can be traversed without issue. The Forester has much more ability built-in than most owners realize, need or use. Think of stylish orthopedic shoes; at first glance, this seems to be a contradiction of terms, but for those who use them, they are not about to give up either their shoes or the Forester.
The 2011 Forester 2.5X Convenience Package with an automatic transmission has an MSRP of $28,095.
Once out of the driver’s seat, I decided to try the rear seat as well. One thing about Subaru is that the company is predictable. Back-seat comfort is good with a decently long cushion set high enough to keep your knees from coming up to your chest. The only tight spots are in leg and foot room.
In the Forester, how much legroom you get will depend on the benevolence of those in the front seats. There is enough basic room that you shouldn’t have much of an issue, but on a driving vacation, the space will start to seem a bit cramped.
Powertrain
A 2.5-litre, horizontally-opposed four is the only engine that Subaru uses in the Forester. Most models are normally aspirated while the top-level XT uses a turbocharger. Rated at 170 horsepower, this engine has enough jam to get whatever job you want done, done quickly. There is one caveat; do not expect tire smoke and sudden acceleration out of this motor.
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| A 2.5-litre, horizontally-opposed four is the only engine that Subaru uses in the Forester. (Photo: Subaru) |
Horizontally-opposed engines by definition have a low centre of gravity, which lowers the C of G at the front of the car which in turn makes the car easier to drive. If you like to go out and push in the corners for all you are worth, you will find that your driving is partially limited by suspension softness and totally by tire adhesion.
Ride Quality
If you are out getting the groceries, the suspension of the Forester is firm without being stiff. However, the short wheelbase does make the ride a bit choppy. A short distance between axles also means that once a slide starts, it is difficult to gain control back. This is where Subaru’s all-wheel drive system comes into play. Power is shuffled to the wheels that can use it, and away from those that spin. In short, you would never know that the Forester had a poor traction moment.
When it comes to off-pavement driving, the Forester can handle the roads as well as bush trails. If done right, medium-sized rocks and logs can be traversed without issue. The Forester has much more ability built-in than most owners realize, need or use. Think of stylish orthopedic shoes; at first glance, this seems to be a contradiction of terms, but for those who use them, they are not about to give up either their shoes or the Forester.
The 2011 Forester 2.5X Convenience Package with an automatic transmission has an MSRP of $28,095.
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Convenience
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Convenience
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