Simply effective
As I looked back on my week with the new 2014 Subaru Forester, one thought kept popping into my mind: The Forester just fit… To my dismay, as I opened up Subaru’s website and navigated to the Forester’s page for pricing information, I landed on their introductory line: “The compact SUV that just fits.”
I tried to come up with something different, but this pioneer of the compact CUV segment is exactly that: a glove or a little black dress that goes with anything and anywhere. Now, the 2014 Subaru Forester is nowhere near as sexy as the little black dress on Scarlett Johansson, but the Forester can go anywhere.
Smooth, quiet, and comfortable, the new Forester blends surprising road manners with a capacious cabin replete with appreciable levels of kit. The fourth generation of the Forester is also far more appealing visually than its previous iteration and will likely and deservingly do quite well.
What is a Subaru Forester?
The 2014 Subaru Forester is a compact crossover that brilliantly completes Subaru’s lineup of do-just-about-anything and go-just-about-anywhere cars.
The new 2014 Forester is fresh from a complete do over that addressed styling issues all the while improving on important issues such as visibility and fuel economy. It is available in any nine trims; proof that the Forester has something for everyone.
Technicalities
The 2014 Subaru Forester features boxer-style or horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engines. The base displaces 2.5L and generates 170 hp. The other is a turbocharged 2.0L and it produces 250 hp.
A 6-speed manual ‘box is standard on the base 2.5i and 2.5i Touring. All others rely on a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission with manual mode (except on the base 2.5i). As with all Subaru products, the Forester gets around with ease thanks to its standard symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive system.
The base 2014 Subaru Forester retails for $25,995. The top-line 2.0T Limited Package with EyeSight & Multimedia Option requires $37,995 from a potential buyer. My 2.5i Limited with said packages had a sticker price of $35,795.
Driving the Subaru Forester
While out on grocery duty, I parked my Forester and a woman walked up and asked if I liked my Subaru. Before I was able to give an answer, she explained to me that she and her husband selected the new Forester because of how quiet and smooth it was.
On the second point, I fully concur. The 2014 Subaru Forester may be the compact crossover that offers the most docile ride of the segment. With mild throttle input, and in a city setting, the Forester behaves especially well. The independent suspension absorbs and dispels rough surfaces with impressive ease.
On her first point, I disagree, if only in part. The moment the engine is solicited at half throttle or more, the cabin’s serene atmosphere is disturbed by an engine that is -- in typical BOXER fashion -- somewhat raucous, and a CVT ‘box that needlessly holds engine revs far too high. The BOXER-4 has plenty of gusto and does fair double duty as one that moves things along without consuming too much fuel. I averaged 9L/100 km.
The least appreciable aspect of the 2014 Subaru Forester’s drive is its steering. Like the WRX I recently tested, the Forester’s sense of direction loses bite on centre and response to inputs are skewed. Brake pedal feel was good, although I would have preferred more bite. Stopping performance was more than adequate.
Inside and out of the Subaru Forester
Climbing aboard the 2014 Subaru Forester is trouble-free. The cabin is airy, with plenty of headroom. It can easily swallow five adults and its ample trunk can and will fit a number of golf bags.
The revised dashboard is modest and quite straightforward; there’s something to be said about simple things. Control layout is ergonomic; displays are clear and easy to consult. Fit and finish are on par with its Japanese competitors, and better than the Americans. Visibility is generally excellent thanks, in large part, to the small extra windows in the doors.
My greatest gripe with our Forester Limited’s interior was the abysmal navigation system supplied by Harman Kardon. The buttons are infinitely small, almost invisible, and difficult to use.
The other is Subaru’s highly touted EyeSight that I found terribly distracting and even stressful. Navigating traffic, whether on the highway or in the city, requires rapid manoeuvres in tight quarters. At every occasion, the system would sound and intervene by applying the brakes. A more intrusive active safety system I’ve yet to encounter. I made a habit of switching it off every time I stepped in.
Comparing the Subaru Forester
The 2014 Subaru Forester plays hardball with some heavy-hitters in its very popular compact CUV segment. We recently put a few to the test in a comparo test with the Forester where it came out on top. Last year, we also evaluated a number of other compact CUVs, so we’ve covered the segment extensively.
I wouldn’t say that it’s the best of the lot, but it’s right up near the top.
As I looked back on my week with the new 2014 Subaru Forester, one thought kept popping into my mind: The Forester just fit… To my dismay, as I opened up Subaru’s website and navigated to the Forester’s page for pricing information, I landed on their introductory line: “The compact SUV that just fits.”
I tried to come up with something different, but this pioneer of the compact CUV segment is exactly that: a glove or a little black dress that goes with anything and anywhere. Now, the 2014 Subaru Forester is nowhere near as sexy as the little black dress on Scarlett Johansson, but the Forester can go anywhere.
Smooth, quiet, and comfortable, the new Forester blends surprising road manners with a capacious cabin replete with appreciable levels of kit. The fourth generation of the Forester is also far more appealing visually than its previous iteration and will likely and deservingly do quite well.
What is a Subaru Forester?
The 2014 Subaru Forester is a compact crossover that brilliantly completes Subaru’s lineup of do-just-about-anything and go-just-about-anywhere cars.
The new 2014 Forester is fresh from a complete do over that addressed styling issues all the while improving on important issues such as visibility and fuel economy. It is available in any nine trims; proof that the Forester has something for everyone.
Technicalities
The 2014 Subaru Forester features boxer-style or horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engines. The base displaces 2.5L and generates 170 hp. The other is a turbocharged 2.0L and it produces 250 hp.
A 6-speed manual ‘box is standard on the base 2.5i and 2.5i Touring. All others rely on a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission with manual mode (except on the base 2.5i). As with all Subaru products, the Forester gets around with ease thanks to its standard symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive system.
The base 2014 Subaru Forester retails for $25,995. The top-line 2.0T Limited Package with EyeSight & Multimedia Option requires $37,995 from a potential buyer. My 2.5i Limited with said packages had a sticker price of $35,795.
Driving the Subaru Forester
While out on grocery duty, I parked my Forester and a woman walked up and asked if I liked my Subaru. Before I was able to give an answer, she explained to me that she and her husband selected the new Forester because of how quiet and smooth it was.
On the second point, I fully concur. The 2014 Subaru Forester may be the compact crossover that offers the most docile ride of the segment. With mild throttle input, and in a city setting, the Forester behaves especially well. The independent suspension absorbs and dispels rough surfaces with impressive ease.
On her first point, I disagree, if only in part. The moment the engine is solicited at half throttle or more, the cabin’s serene atmosphere is disturbed by an engine that is -- in typical BOXER fashion -- somewhat raucous, and a CVT ‘box that needlessly holds engine revs far too high. The BOXER-4 has plenty of gusto and does fair double duty as one that moves things along without consuming too much fuel. I averaged 9L/100 km.
The least appreciable aspect of the 2014 Subaru Forester’s drive is its steering. Like the WRX I recently tested, the Forester’s sense of direction loses bite on centre and response to inputs are skewed. Brake pedal feel was good, although I would have preferred more bite. Stopping performance was more than adequate.
Inside and out of the Subaru Forester
Climbing aboard the 2014 Subaru Forester is trouble-free. The cabin is airy, with plenty of headroom. It can easily swallow five adults and its ample trunk can and will fit a number of golf bags.
The revised dashboard is modest and quite straightforward; there’s something to be said about simple things. Control layout is ergonomic; displays are clear and easy to consult. Fit and finish are on par with its Japanese competitors, and better than the Americans. Visibility is generally excellent thanks, in large part, to the small extra windows in the doors.
My greatest gripe with our Forester Limited’s interior was the abysmal navigation system supplied by Harman Kardon. The buttons are infinitely small, almost invisible, and difficult to use.
The other is Subaru’s highly touted EyeSight that I found terribly distracting and even stressful. Navigating traffic, whether on the highway or in the city, requires rapid manoeuvres in tight quarters. At every occasion, the system would sound and intervene by applying the brakes. A more intrusive active safety system I’ve yet to encounter. I made a habit of switching it off every time I stepped in.
Comparing the Subaru Forester
The 2014 Subaru Forester plays hardball with some heavy-hitters in its very popular compact CUV segment. We recently put a few to the test in a comparo test with the Forester where it came out on top. Last year, we also evaluated a number of other compact CUVs, so we’ve covered the segment extensively.
I wouldn’t say that it’s the best of the lot, but it’s right up near the top.
2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited/Eyesight
2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited/Eyesight
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