Subaru Forester test drive since 2008 SUV

“Forester” - he is in Greece “Forester”

The Greek Container Dymm in the film adaptation of the Chekhov wedding claimed that everything was in Greece. Subaru’s invitation to go to Thessaloniki made it possible to verify this personally. Now we can with complete confidence: yes, in Greece there is everything that is necessary for the Subaru Forester Drive test.
 
At first, some doubt crept into my mind about the correct choice of place to conduct a presentation of the updated Forester. After all, Forester means a forester, and the forest is perhaps the only thing that is clearly not enough in the vicinity of the ancient city of Thessaloniki. But the subsequent route Test Drive showed all the groundlessness of my suspicions everything that is necessary to create a complete and multifaceted impression of such a specific car as Forester was in abundance.
 
After the Subaru designers almost have changed the appearance of Impreza beyond recognition, one could expect some radical changes in the form of Forester, but I would not say that he became different. If you don’t know that the car is built on a completely new platform, then you might even think that it was just restored. And this, in my opinion, is not bad. We are used to seeing Forester just as long as thousands of fans of the model around the world are accustomed to this. The first two generations that were published in 1997 and 2002, respectively, created in our minds a persistent representation of what the Forester should be a courageous crossover with an impressive clearance, a sort of roomy simpleton, a real assistant in the active life of the host.
 
Therefore, the solution of Subaru designers to do without any revolution in his appearance seems quite reasonable. But, having digested the first impression, I begin to peer into the details and understand that the body is completely different! And the physiognomy has changed: a new chrome lattice, a partially painted bumper with pseudo -protection, headlights of a falcon eye ... And everything is decided differently: another lighting technology, another door and a pair of graduation pipes instead of one ... on the sides, original folds appeared on the wheel arches like that And I want to pinch!
 
And, of course, as usual in the modern automobile world, the new generation of the model has become larger. The dimensions of the third generation have significantly increased. The length increased to 4560 mm (+75 mm), width to 1780 mm (+45 mm), and above the car became as much as 100 mm (1700 mm). The wheelbase increased by 90 mm (2615 mm). Naturally, all this made it possible to make a crossover more spacious inside. This mainly concerns the place for rear passengers and baggage. So the space for the legs at the back of the seated increased by 110 mm, and this increase is visible even with the naked eye. The trunk has become wider and higher, but even now its volume is only 450 liters not so much for cars of this class.
 
The most obvious advantage of the luggage compartment seems to me a huge glass of the rear door. It provides excellent visibility back, through it you can see, for example, a child with a tall of only 1 m. It has become more convenient to sit down and get out of the car, the doors open to a larger corner. Fans of the brand, of course, will chop out about the glasses without a framework without a framework, but there is nothing to be done, this is a necessary measure to increase the hardness of the body and observe strict safety standards. With a total increase in size, the Subaru specialists managed to maintain the size of the front overview of the unchanged (940 mm), and to make the rear even shorter by 15 mm (1005 mm). Along with an increase in the clearance by 10 mm (up to 215 mm in models with a 2 liter engine and up to 225 mm with 2.5 liter), this guarantees excellent geometric cross -country ability.
 
The Forester salon finally began to look not just a set of parts made of strange quality plastic. Now it is a harmonious, okay anticipated interior. It is quite at the level of most modern analogues. Two color schemes of light gray and black with an interesting orange line are possible to choose from. Both options are good in their own way. Light makes the interior visually even more spacious, gives a feeling of lightness. The dark is more strict and less laborer, which in our weather conditions for someone will become a determining factor when choosing a car.
 
Forester of previous generations was famous for its opportunity to perfectly control the roads of far from better quality, while remaining a completely comfortable car. According to the creators of the new model, to continue this tradition and bring it to an even higher level, the application of the new Subaru Dynamic Chassis Control Concept chassis or, as they abbreviated as di-si-kube) will allow the use of the Subaru Control Concept. It is based on a classic symmetric all -wheel drive Subaru, which works under the control of the VDC dynamic stabilization system, as well as a modernized front and completely new rear suspension.
Its design is based on the official press release of double transverse levers, but in fact it is still closer to a multi-link, although more compact than on past models. To judge this allowed the naked chassis set in the conference press. Returning to the all -wheel drive system, it is worth noting that there were no fundamental changes to it. As in the cars of the previous generation, to distribute the moment between the axes in machines with a machine gun, a hydraulic multi -disabilities are used, and in models with manual gearbox, an interdose differential with conical gears and viscousyfta.
 
The third generation Forester still uses opposition power plants. Thus, Subaru remains one of the two world car manufacturers (the second Porsche) using the engines of this configuration in their serial models. And the Japanese are not gathering to abandon the V figurative motor with the collapse of the cylinder block. A clear example of this is the almost completed development of the world's first turbodiesel opponent. This 2 liter motor will also subsequently appear on Forester along with the new 6 -step mechanics. But so far it is not, as it was not at the presentation and cars with 2.5 liter Forester atmospheries with these engines will appear in Russia a little later. In the meantime, two boxers are available: 2.5 liter turbocharged and atmospheric 2-liter.
 
Both engines have undergone a number of changes. Thanks to the new block head and the modernized inlet, the power of 2 liter increased to 150 hp, and the moment until 196 Nm. At the same time, indicators of economy and environmental friendliness improved. Changes in a 2.5 liter engine only affected turbines. The power remained the same 230 hp, but the moment improved at low and medium speeds. There were 5-step mechanics and a 4-speed machine remained unchanged and gearboxes. Each of them can aggregate with any of the engines.
 
For the first part of the test route, I got 2 liter Forester on the handle. A great combination for an active driver! A manual checkpoint absolutely more than compensates for a small engine power. The car accelerates remarkably, moving from one program to another is easy and pleasant. I switch down, and under the characteristic dry grunt of the opponent Forester, playfully envelops on narrow paths near Thessaloniki. The suspension allows you to perfectly hold the high -speed line. But that's not all. The organizers prepared a section of this mountain serpentine.
 
In turns, the crossover behaves like an ordinary passenger car, clinging to mediocre Greek asphalt to the last. The low center of the masses and an excellent four -wheel drive affects. The latter, along with the Sitsem, VDC, also allows you to deal with a rather serious off -road without any problems. For example, diagonal hanging for Forester is not a problem at all! And given the large corners of the congress and entry, this SUV is capable of a lot. But the real check of the running qualities was already arranged on the way back behind the wheel of a 2.5 liter modification with an automaton.
 
The gravel frequency of the road about 20 km long did not allow him to doubt the main Forester remained himself. His ability to move at great speed along the road of terrifying quality with scattered here and there with rather large sharp stones has not gone away. An interesting, tasty handling and acceptable level of comfort even in such conditions are the undoubted trump cards of this car! Having stormed the turns one after another (as if at the Greek stages of the WRC rally!) And leaving the dust clubs behind me, I almost forgot about the main drawback. This, of course, is an old 4 -step machine. Unfortunately, he nullifies the effort of 230 strong turbo engine.
 
What will happen if you add the automatic transmission to the usual, 2 literic? To find out, after lunch, I take the keys to the organizers from such a car. By the way, this is the most popular equipment in Russia. I also chose the route of the average of about 15 km of the freeway, and then the city streets of Salonikov. It is in such conditions that most modern cars are operated, and Forester is no exception. As a result, I found out that such a combination of checkpoints and engine is contraindicated in active drivers. Long transmission of a sluggish machine and 150 engine forces the top of calm and slowness. If on the highway, having gained cruising speed, you can still somehow come to terms with this, then in the city or roar the motor in second gear, or very lethargic acceleration on the third begin to irritate very quickly. Well, why didn’t Subaru offer an adequate automatic transmission for a new generation? Mystery. Apparently saving. Moreover, unnecessary. Perhaps the only serious defect, but really serious. It is a pity, of course, that yet versions with 2.5 liter atmospheric engines have not yet been available. They could well compete with popularity with 2 liters. But there are no doubts that the new generation of Forester even in existing versions will be in demand. A wonderful car with a good image and an excellent story that is perfectly controlled both on asphalt and outside the road. And, importantly, reliable. And Greece in this country really turned out to be to test these qualities.
 
Dmitry Krotov
 
 
   
 

A source: Motor magazine [May 2008]