Subaru's 2006 Forester Priced to Compete with Front Running Crossovers

Price Reductions and Content Improvements for XS and XS Limited

Are you a Subaru fan? If you are, you're not in the majority but still should be commended for choosing a brand with extremely

The Forester is critical for attracting new customers into the Subaru family. (Photo: Subaru Canada)

high reliability ratings, the safety and performance of all-wheel drive available on every model it sells, and a uniqueness that borders on quirky, which sets you apart as someone who doesn't need to follow the pack when making your mind about important decisions.

The Forester is one of Subaru's conquest vehicles, a harsh sounding word the auto industry uses for a vehicle that pulls new customers to a specific brand. In other words, the Japanese automaker's compact crossover SUV is critical for attracting new customers into the Subaru family, which hopefully will eventually step up to higher priced and therefore more profitable vehicles such as the brand's Legacy-based Outback or new midsize Tribeca crossover.

And at $27,995, the same price as the 2005 version, the revised and altogether improved 2006 version should attract plenty of

The thoroughly improved 2006 Forester should attract plenty of socially conscious, pragmatic young families into the Subaru fold. (Photo: Subaru Canada)

socially conscious, pragmatic young families into the Subaru fold. A new base model, dubbed 2.5X, features matte black front and rear bumpers and side cladding for a rugged appearance, especially attractive in black according to Ted Lalka, Canada's VP of Product Planning and PR.

The new model features standard HID headlamps, all-wheel drive, of course, and an upgraded 173-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder, up from 165 in the current car, and the same amount of torque at 166 lb-ft. This makes it more powerful than top sellers in the segment, including Honda's CR-V, Nissan's X-Trail plus Toyota's RAV4 and 4WD Matrix.