The Subaru Forester is not a dramatic SUV. At all. It doesn’t have the juggernaut thing going like the GMC Terrain, nor the shapely Zeppelin-like curves of the Nissan Rogue. And its lines weren’t inspired by the Fluidic Sculpture design trend either. Nope. The Forester is a down-to-earth machine, a machine that puts the “utility” back in Sports Utility Vehicle.
Together with the Mercedes-Benz GLK and the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, this Subaru is among the rare SUVs today that haven’t disowned the original angular look of the versatile four-wheel-drive box. Some like it, some don’t. At least you know exactly what you’re dealing with from the start.
Launched in 2009, the current Forester is the second born. It largely shares the architecture of the Legacy/Outback duo, as well as the 4-bangers that power them. For its second year of existence, Subaru Canada is serving up a variant dubbed Sport Tech, designed as a mouth-watering morsel for the modern gadget lover.
Complete with its own travel guide
Over a hundred years have passed since the introduction of the first automobile. And yet, countless motorists are still clueless when it comes to reading maps. Many of them prefer to fork over hundreds of dollars for a navigation system, rather than the modest $5.95 needed for a good ol’ MapArt map. Of course, electronic gadgetry is always sexier than plain old paper.
Which is something that Subaru Canada has understood. That’s why last June they presented this new iteration of the Forester, destined exclusively for the Canadian market. Going by the name of 2.5X Sport-tech, it features a trendy navigation system that sets it apart.
Derived from a Forester 2.5X with the optional Touring package, a relatively complete ensemble, the Sport-tech version has been plunked down in the middle of the range. Like the others, it has inherited air conditioning, electric windows and heated seats. The Touring package adds, among other things, an oversized sunroof, halogen fog lights, a windshield defroster, a 10-way adjustable electric driver’s seat, a leather-clad steering wheel and shifter as well as a plastic cargo tray.
 |
| The Subaru Forester 2.5X Sport-tech is a new model reserved exclusively for the Canadian market. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
Together with the Mercedes-Benz GLK and the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, this Subaru is among the rare SUVs today that haven’t disowned the original angular look of the versatile four-wheel-drive box. Some like it, some don’t. At least you know exactly what you’re dealing with from the start.
Launched in 2009, the current Forester is the second born. It largely shares the architecture of the Legacy/Outback duo, as well as the 4-bangers that power them. For its second year of existence, Subaru Canada is serving up a variant dubbed Sport Tech, designed as a mouth-watering morsel for the modern gadget lover.
Complete with its own travel guide
Over a hundred years have passed since the introduction of the first automobile. And yet, countless motorists are still clueless when it comes to reading maps. Many of them prefer to fork over hundreds of dollars for a navigation system, rather than the modest $5.95 needed for a good ol’ MapArt map. Of course, electronic gadgetry is always sexier than plain old paper.
Which is something that Subaru Canada has understood. That’s why last June they presented this new iteration of the Forester, destined exclusively for the Canadian market. Going by the name of 2.5X Sport-tech, it features a trendy navigation system that sets it apart.
Derived from a Forester 2.5X with the optional Touring package, a relatively complete ensemble, the Sport-tech version has been plunked down in the middle of the range. Like the others, it has inherited air conditioning, electric windows and heated seats. The Touring package adds, among other things, an oversized sunroof, halogen fog lights, a windshield defroster, a 10-way adjustable electric driver’s seat, a leather-clad steering wheel and shifter as well as a plastic cargo tray.
 |
| The Forester 2.5X Sport-tech’s Pioneer AVIC system sets it apart from its siblings. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |