Subaru Forester 2002 test drive - 2005 SUV
Get Subaru!
A new Forester entered the market - a younger, but not having lost his family traitsThey defeated me: house neighbor, work colleague and a couple of hundred readers. One requirement: Write about Subaru! The adherents of the brand (could not even assume that there were so many in the country) did not want to listen to that we write only about the latest models or those that have something new. They caught me in the corridors - and I hid, called - and I was forced to answer, wrote letters and sent electronic messages - and asked, insisted, persuaded. But who is to blame that the Japanese company, which has crossed a couple of years ago under the wing of GM, still does not indulge its admirers by the prime ministers. Finally, I felt happy. Because I can say: you wanted Subaru? Get Subaru!
One day with a forester
Probably, for my part, I also took out official dealers, because one fine morning the company’s commercial director called me and said that the first Forester came, and although it has already been sold, I have one day for a test. And that is good. The forester, as you can translate the name of the car from English, turned out to be quite recognizable and, at the same time, changed - undoubtedly for the better. In any case, externally. It was like a meeting with an old friend who had not seen for many years, and he turned out to look like a million dollars, pulled up and elegantly dressed, but - the good - the character remained the same.
Therefore, I will first say about the main thing. Forester has become 10 mm longer (and this is not a trifle, because the passenger salon was able to increase as much as 75 mm at the same time), it did not have almost a single old body detail left, but the gamma of the engines is the same. Despite the thorough processing of the exterior and the interior, one cannot recognize a good acquaintance in it. The bodies of the body became even smelter, and the new lighting equipment in the front and behind brought to the appearance of solidity, not depriving it of, however, swiftness. The aggressiveness of the front part is added by branded round fog lights cut into a bumper, and a low hood line that has become typical for Subaru. The rear triangular lights look very original and facilitate the stern.
Over the interior, designers also worked on fame. All details are driven with filigree accuracy, high -quality plastic, the central console is finished under aluminum, the seats are sheathed with a solid fabric with leather inserts. Although in the upholstery taken for the car’s test was dominated by a gray color, the feeling that everything was done expensive and with taste does not disappear. All devices and controls are located, as expected, in line with the most rigid requirements of ergonomics. There is a place for small luggage - for example, in the middle of the instrument panel, an opening box is arranged, which can be fitted, for example, roadmaps. If it came to baggage, one cannot fail to note a spacious luggage compartment and the possibility of both parts and completely fold the rear sofa. At the same time, the floor will remain even, which will facilitate loading. But, most importantly, the legs for the legs of the rear passengers became noticeably larger than in the previous model.
The front seats with decent lateral support are equipped with a full set of necessary adjustments, it is convenient to sit. The lamb - medium size, also comfortable in girth, it can be lifted or lowered. An additional lever is located on the steering column - with it, you control the cruise control system. In general, the Forester test was equipped, as they say, in the highest category-climate control, a complete electric package, heating the front seats, a compact-doska player, an on-board computer and much more.
He holds the brand
Of course, the legendary Subarovsk system of all -wheel drive, which provided the factory team with more than one victory in the world championships in rally, on the spot. As the opposition engine has not disappeared - Subaru all remains almost the only company in the world that produces cars only with opposition engines. And - right, why abandon the good? Indeed, for example, it is thanks to such a power unit that the center of gravity is not even a small Forester is low. And this, in a component all -wheel drive, allows you to achieve that the car holds the road perfectly and is perfectly controlled. Well, Subaru lovers waited for a well -deservedly kind printed word? Of course, Forester is not Impreza WRX, and sports qualities from the car, and even with an automatic checkpoint, should not be expected. In addition, a version with the weakest in the gamut with a 2-liter engine without a turbocharged, with a capacity of 125 liters was provided for the test. With. However, this does not mean in any case that Forester is a slow car. The dynamics, albeit not outstanding, but for confident driving, is quite sufficient, and at the start of the traffic light, the forester will not give its owner a reason to feel like an outsider.
Here I must say that the machine has three operating modes - standard, winter and sports. You can choose the right one using a special button near the gearbox lever. Each of them, one might say, significantly changes the character of the car. For example, if, with a standard mode, the transmission reacts to the accelerator pedal not too fast, and when discharging gas, the electronics include an increased level, then in the Sport Forester mode it responds to your actions instantly and holds the momentum. But the purpose of the winter regime personally is not entirely clear to me. The car is smoothly touched by the second gear, but how much is it necessary for the all -wheel drive machine? In general, I am inclined to agree with the engineer of the dealer center, who claimed that even with an automatic machine and an old engine, but with other settings, Forester added in dynamics.
The steering does not cause any complaints. To the best of the acute bagel allows you to perfectly feel the car. The same suspension: it almost imperceptibly swallows small irregularities, and in corners it does not allow the body to turn unnecessarily. In a word - optimal setting. Meanwhile, the most pleasant Forester is his ability to keep the way. I admit, I could not stand it, and on one of the desert paths I grabbed with a breeze. Here, it seems, it should already bear it, but - no, Forester seemed to stick to the wheels to the asphalt. In any case, the ESP stabilization system will make the driver in an emergency.
As usual, it was not without an abnormal situation: the car leaving with a secondary path did not correctly estimate my speed, so I had to literally hang on seat belts and feel a petty trembling from the worked -by ABS. As for the Forester off -road qualities, I wouldn’t climb into the swamps, and small borders or, for example, ordinary village countryside is quite on the shoulder. More precisely - according to the clearance in 190 mm. And the passages of suspensions are perhaps quite sufficient.
Sales program
Subaru’s representative office in Russia sets itself rather ambitious tasks: this year to implement 630 cars, which is twice as much as last year. And the new Forester is designed to play an important, if not a key role in this matter. Of course, there are enough competitors-Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin, Toyota Rav4, Nissan X-Trail. At the same time, the price in the region of 31 thousand dollars is average for this market segment. But Subaru has the famous reliability, a three -year guarantee (or 100 thousand kilometers of mileage) and, finally, the image of the brand.
Andrey Osipov
Brief technical characteristics of Subaru Forester
Engine volume, cubic meter. See: 1994
The number of valves for the cylinder: 4
Power, l. With. at about./min.: 125/5600
Max. Torque, Nm/at about. min.: 184/3600
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p.: 10.7 (12.0)
Maximum speed, km/h: 179 (167)
Average fuel consumption l./100 km.: 9.7 (9.8)
Fuel tank volume, l.: 60
Dimensions, mm.: 4460x1735x1585
