Subaru Forester 2005 test drive - 2008 SUV

Two with half

BMW X3
In the fall of 2003, BMW introduced a new model of a parquet all -around. Camera Card X3 The latest Active Full-wheel drive system X-Drive, distributing the moment between the wheels using electronics.
Engines: gasoline 2.53.0 l (192 231 hp) and a turbodiesel 3.0 l (240 hp).
Gearboxes:
6-speed mechanical and 5-speed automatic.
Complete: Business, Dynamic, Luxury.
The price is in Russia
Є48 900 59 990 ($ 66,00080,000).

Subaru Forester
The debut of an all-wheel drive family station wagon in the most powerful version of 2.5ht took place at the Chicago Auto-Show 2004. Among the Foresters supplied to the European market, the model stands out by the capabilities of the new motor and is designed primarily for active drivers.
Engines:
gasoline 2.02.5 l (125210 l.
Gearboxes:
5-speed mechanical (with a demultiplier for a version of 2.0 l),
4-speed automatic.
Configurations:
for version 2.5ht level 1R.
The price is in Russia
$ 29 63041 510.

BMW X3 and Subaru Forester? Connoisseurs will immediately turn out with their hands: what blasphemy, because not a single self-respecting fan of the Bavarian brand will even lead a forester in the direction of some kind of forester (as Forester translates). It can also be assumed that the rich owner of the Japanese will think about the elevation of his own reputation, wondering how to spend the earned. After all, the most modest x-third is one and a half times more expensive than the latest modification of Forester 2.5 turbo. Reasoning in the framework of the rules, I will not take the courage to dispute such opinions.
But when the cold calculation gives way to emotions, the game of one gate no longer seems obvious. Both cars are positioned by creators not just as vehicles. BMW, in addition to the driver’s ambitions, personifies the achievement of engineering thought, not constrained by pricing. These are not just cars, but a high -tech product, whose list of electronic tricks will take half a page. And in the filling of the Japanese, nodes and assemblies were used, brought to perfection on the religious Subaru Impreza.
And finally, the engines are both with a 2.5 -liter working volume, with variable phases of gas distribution, with a capacity of 192 and 210 liters. With. respectively. The classic in -line six favorite of many Bavarian cars will, in our whim, will resist the four -cylinder opponent with a turbocharged in the new version of 2.5 liters traditional for Subaru.
FOR UNDERSTANDING
Assessing-spent look down. X-third seems to scan my data and, driving them off on numerous electronic systems, decides to accept or not.
It was possible not to try on the perfect configuration of the seats, excellent ranges of their movements, adjusting the grip steering wheel in height and length, and the rest of the paraphernalia. It is strange even to imagine that something is wrong or worse than that of competitors.
True, the legs of a colleague sitting on the right are hindered by a stylish rounded ledge between the floor and the console (I wonder how it looks on the right -hand drive version?). And the absence of a separate climate installation causes his indignation at all: how is it, for this money? ...
And BMW listens to all this, not condescending to the comments: let's, guys, criticize. Soon you will understand a lot of insignificantly, and you will get used to the rest. Go?!
A short pause, then a confident jerk and we rush to new impressions. If it weren’t for the 2.5i nameplate, I probably never guessed what the engine was hidden under a mighty hood. The tandem of the motorcosa almost instantly inspires faith in excellent dynamic qualities. And at the next refueling to the traditional question: how? Without a shadow of doubt, I raise a big finger great. True, the tests at the training ground adjust the assessment: the car is certainly fast, but after 160170 km/h, the aerodynamics and the celebration of the motor are noticeably weakened.
The capsulated engine only sometimes reminds of itself with a low bassot, and the rest of the noise derivatives are insignificant. But the immoderate appetite is evident: 1617 l/100 km. The speed for speed and assertiveness is so noticeable that sometimes they want to at least partially sacrifice.
The feeling of a car or, if you want, his mutual understanding with the driver was bribed in all Bavarian cars. Alas, in our communication with X3, some detachment was present almost constantly. He is certainly reliable, stable and even impeccable in most situations. But there is heavyness, in my opinion, excessive monumentality in the reactions of the machine. X-third lacks a kind of enthusiasm, making the car not only correct, but also cheerful. Just like a person: you are trying to establish friendly contact, and he remains suspended polite and is impregnable from this.
So we cannot talk in any way. That suddenly x3 responds with interest to my provocative actions. So I disconnected the DSC dynamic stabilization system, and we smoothly spun in the complex dance of lateral slipping. And BMW became clear and open. But as soon as he turned on the electronics again, he again began to arrog the arrogantly in my actions, somewhere in the case, but sometimes frankly frightening. For example, on a winding serpentine, DSC reacts very sensitively to the skid of the rear axle, actively struggling with it. However, it was worth the front wheels to get on the ice, as, having lost control, we immediately rushed to the restrictive bar. Accustomed to the help of electronics, I was waiting for a few moments: now the car will help out to a safe trajectory. No matter how! It’s good that he intervened in time.
Take a breath
After washing, the frameless glass of the driver's door Subaru was frozen to the seal. It would seem a trifle, but you are already dissatisfied: it interferes. Once in the seat, I set up a high landing for a long time, and the rib of a huge hatch closely above my head. After Bavarz, I constantly catch myself thinking: Subaru is easier in everything. A solid difference in price is most noticeable in the cabin. He looked wow, and here a typical Japanese rational approach to most of the interior details: this is visible both in the location of the toothprokes and in the plastics of the switches. Of course, you can immediately go out and, loudly slapping the door, summarize: if it is a forester, then BMW is at least a minister of forestry. But let's not be excited, because behind the apparent simplicity a slightly different ideology of the SUV segment car can be hidden.
After a couple of minutes of communication, Forester and I already understand each other at a glance. There is just not a shadow of arrogance, detachment, although he, of course, gets a lot of critics. What can be done to the opponent painfully serious.
You see, this is me to him, and your seat pillow is shorter, and the steering wheel (albeit momo) is tougher and thinner. And the clutch? A fragile lady hardly squeezes the pedal half. But the Japanese, as if guessing about my preferences, cunningly winks through the greenish scales of devices: they say, probably, it is. But you are a tag of the engine, try what I am capable of, although you can write in advance in the protocol, that it is noisier than the backwowed, and vibration is tangible.
And now 210 horses shoot the car on a freshly fanned snowball. The character is felt right away and barely the tachometer arrow will jump over the three thousandth mark, followed by a powerful breakthrough that changes your perception of this car. The second gear, the third, fifth, on the speedometer is already two hundred, and the forester does not calm down, clearly trying to pay for criticism. And in this ambitious perseverance, not a hint of disgusting or misunderstanding!
Hard pendants emphasize the sporty nature of this version. Quick responses to the actions of the steering wheel more resemble a charged Impreza. Well, most importantly no electronics. I went over at the speed at the entrance to the turn the car slipped smoothly, making it clear: not hot. I did everything correctly you can enjoy the manageability of a full -wheel drive brought to the perfection. Of course, he does not forgive the panobracy, because there are a lot of horsepower, but finding a common language with him is quite easy. I stop to take a breath, and he seems to chuckle: well, will you run to master the X-Drive or still ride?

SUMMARY
BMW X3 is fast, temperamental, safe, self -confident. He would be slightly less arrogance and more humanity.
+ A thought -out, functional interior, balanced sledges, high technical potential.
- Strong at high speed of the suspension, immodest fuel consumption.

SUMMARY
Subaru Forester 2.5KHT is primarily rational. However, he knows how to ride correctly and quickly no worse than BMW, and possibly better.
+ Pronounced riding capabilities, a convenient salon, excellent pretense of all -wheel drive.
- Low acoustic comfort.

 
 
 
 



Sergey Voskresensky
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"