Seat time in the 2.5XT is forthcoming, for now though it's the base engine of which I speak when I say, "I wish the little devil had more punch." But
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| The Forester's four-speed transmission is a bit dated and less effective than the many five-speed or greater automatics permeating the field. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
what I wish for and what most owners really need in the way of Forester power are two distinctly different subjects. For the most part,173-horsepower effortlessly scoots the compact SUV about town and country, with low-end torque that feels adequate for the vehicle's mass.
This isn't the most refined four-banger on today's market. It was a little noisier than expected, especially when pushed to the max. The gusto it produces is fed through either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. Again, a scan of the competitors won't reveal many four-speed autoboxes among the group, making the Forester's transmission a bit dated and less effective than the many five-speed or
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| Forester users must rely on a gated shift plate to guide their selections when manually shifting the autobox. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
greater automatics permeating the field. Nevertheless, shifts were smooth and well placed.
Rather than a manual-mode feature, Forester users must rely on a gated shift plate to guide their selections when manually shifting the autobox - something I prefer to an electronic manual-mode anyway. Off-road purists will decry the lack of low-range gearing in the venerable Forester, but if serious off-roading is part of the plan prospective purchasers ought to look to a Jeep Liberty, Kia Sorento, Nissan Xterra or Suzuki Grand Vitara to fulfill their compact SUV needs.
