Subaru Forester test drive since 2008 SUV

"Forester" called?

With the help of engineers who increased the road clearance, Subaru Forester will now be able to go much further. Thanks to the designers, the car stopped looking like an all -wheel drive station wagon and turned into a crossover. And by the forces of marketers, the third engine appeared in the list of engines for Forester. What else can fans of all -terrain vehicles be desired?
 
Forester, thank God, has not changed as radically as Impreza. It’s just that now the car is more like a crossover, and not an all -wheel drive station wagon. And now no one will have any doubt that this Subaru was really made in 2008, and not in the last century.
The hand of the designers touched the salon. And thoroughly, with taste and really. The front panel against the background of the previous version looks bright and modern, and the salon itself seems to be more spacious. Partially, this is the merit of light colors in the form of gray plastic, and partially an additional 45 mm width and 75 mm Forester length.
The devices are highlighted in blue, and their arrows and music handles with a red climate control. Dials look good, but the readability of the speedometer and tachometer from such a design solution clearly does not win.
At the very top of the central console, under a small visor, saving from the glare, an on -board computer appeared. Finally! However, the monochrome display shows only the temperature overboard, the time and average fuel consumption. There is little information, well, okay before and that was not
Assessment of appearance is subjective. Perhaps there will be those who consider the previous generation of Forester the standard of design of vehicles of increased cross -country ability. Anything can happen ... Since the appearance of outback, Subaru designers have not been particularly praised. Especially when the new Impreza came out. But the new Forester, as it seems to me, is a great reason to positively note the work of the Andreas Blatinas team.
The all -terrain vehicle grew up in all overall parameters and in proportionly became stronger and more knocked down. A more stylish Forester made transparent optics, smooth lines of the windowsill and roof, as well as the design of the front and rear bumper. The overhangs have become noticeably smaller, and the clearance is larger. On a two -liter car, it is 215 mm (plus 10 mm to the previous generation). Not enough? Then you will have to choose the engine more powerful: on the 2.5-liter model, the road clearance has 220 mm, and on the top turbo leads as much as 225 mm!
Another detail that previously moved Forester from the present, the rear drum brakes. The designers reviewed this knot and now on all versions.
Among the changes that occurred with Forester are new lateral mirrors. But here Subaru demonstrates an approach completely opposite to the current trends: the mirrors lost (!) An electrical mechanism of folding and repeating rotation. Probably, the conclusions about the need for such a strange upgrade were made on the basis of serious marketing research. Or for considerations
The seats are soft and comfortable, and the front seats pillows have become much longer. The rear passengers are also in the plus: their convenience has been allotted for most of the millimeters won in the length of the useful space.
The assembly quality at a decent level, but the central tunnel in the test Forester was unreliable fixed and staggering. Perhaps this is a lack of a particular car
There are really three engines now. To the 2.0-liter 150-horsepower engine and a 2.5-liter 230-horsepower turbo engine added a 2.5 liter unit with a volume of 2.5 liters. The motor is not new to them is equipped with Outback and Legacy models. But it is 173 l. with. This is exactly what many Forester owners lacked. Transmission options, as before, two. Moreover, these are all the same five -speed mechanics with a reduced row of gears and a four -speed Sportshift machine developed by Prodrive.
The test car was equipped with a 2.0-liter engine that lost 8 liters. with. In power compared to its previous, 158-horsepower, version and automatic. This is the best option for those who do not require special dynamics from the machine and for whom such a parameter as fuel consumption is important.
Forester is not intended for high -speed street slalom. But the image of the brand producing all -wheel drive, well -controlled and even sports cars caused certain expectations of dynamics and drive. But instead, a forester demonstrates a smooth and leisurely riding. The numbers are only pleasing to the numbers on the screen
A two-liter 150-horsepower engine would perfectly suit the hatchback weighing a ton. And for one and a half -ton station wagon with all -wheel drive, such a motor, and even with a machine gun, will provide more or less tolerable even acceleration from the place and maximum speed, barely leaving 180 km/h. Accelerations are given Forester is not easy: the box quickly reaches the last gear, so for a sharp jerk you need to drown the gas to the floor and wait a second
With new disc brakes, the crossover began to stop much more confidently. It is all the more pleasant that the slowdown is easy to control thanks to the exact and informative settings of the left pedal.
The chassis has not changed significantly. At least, Forester is controlled well, it is not unlikely, it practically does not swing. In two -liter cars, the steering electric power power is used (in the rest of the water -wire). He makes an effort on the steering wheel very light, which, in principle, does not affect his information content.
A slightly more powerful motor than the basic two -liter is important for Forester as air. The top 230-horsepower engine choice is more radical. Perhaps even too powerful for those who lack the dynamics in the 2.0-liter forester. This option is more suitable for fans of Impreza WRX, who, if necessary, had to transfer to a station wagon of increased cross -country ability. And here the appearance of a 2.5-liter atmosphere was just in time: Forester with such a motor is 110,000 rubles. Cheaper top version.
 
Text: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Roman Ostanin

   
 

A source: Wheel magazine [June 2008]