MSRP Range: $20,500 - $25,500
Invoice Range: $19,000 - $23,000
Price Quote
MSRP As Tested: $24,095
Versions: X, XS
Vehicle Category: Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
Engine As Tested: 2.5-liter, Single Overhead Cam, Inline 4-cylinder, 165-horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 166 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm
Transmission As Tested: 4-Speed Automatic or 5-Speed Manual
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 21/27
Standard Safety Features: Driver and front passenger, front and side airbags, driver and front-passenger active head restraints, 4-wheel disc brakes, ">Antilock Brakes, Daytime Running Lights
Competition: Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Jeep Liberty, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Sable wagon, Mitsubishi Outlander, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix
The Subaru Forester is an anomaly within the Sport Utility Vehicle market. Despite not making any drastic changes to the 2003 model, an eagerly awaiting buying public are lined up to get one of their very own. Whether it's a year end 2002 model or the latest iteration of the Forester, it seems Subaru dealers never have a problem selling each new vehicle they receive. So what makes it all the rage to own one?
One thing it might be is the steady and comfortable ride the Forester offers its passengers, while at the same time providing the safety of a world class all-wheel-drive system. Only Audi has a reputation equal to Subaru when it comes to driving all four wheels in a controlled and enjoyable manner.
Subaru's classic, self-contained All-Wheel Drive (AWD), fully independent suspension is fantastic at handling the minor-medium offroad excursions most of us could find ourselves taking. Around town, or stuck in a country snowstorm, the Forester is more than capable of getting you through almost anything.
Steering is tried and true, speed sensitive rack and pinion. Bosch anti-lock brakes reside at all 4 corners, with 4 channels and sensors keeping a tight rein on the stopping action. While the suspension is raised, a side by side comparison with the Jeep Liberty shows a much lower to the ground attitude for the Subaru Forester. Yes this may sacrifice some extreme off-road capability, but driving the Forester and getting in and out is much more enjoyable than in the Liberty.
Secondly, and something I haven't quite made up my mind about is the size and performance of the engine. While almost every other small Sport Utility competing in this class offers power near or exceeding 200-hp, the all-new 2003 Forester still draws its performance from the same 2.5-litre, 165-hp boxer engine as last year. With only 166 ft.lbs of torque, this amount of power should be nothing short of anemic. But in the case of the Forester's overall drivability, you're left with nagging doubts as to why more power is really necessary.
Sure I would prefer better acceleration when entering an on ramp, and yes it would be great not to have second thoughts when pulling out to pass a long tractor trailer on a two lane highway. But the trade-off in fuel economy and the amazingly quiet performance of the small flat engine while cruising at 100 km per hour make off-the-line acceleration less of a consideration.
Wind and road noise is never a concern; the Forester seems to glide through the air with very little effort. A .05 improvement in drag coefficient has helped lower the 2003 model to .405. Only when the large glass sunroof is open will you have to deal with noise. As one of the biggest available anywhere, be prepared to enjoy the feeling of open roof driving. Unless of course your head is a little less covered than when you were young, then be prepared to wear a hat.
Interior appointments are clean, crisp and very well put together. As for build quality, few interiors achieve this level of excellence. Leather seating surfaces, brushed metal trim pieces and the general appearance are all first class. Storage compartments and stretch pockets abound, the Forester even provides four properly sized and rightly placed cupholders. With all this good thought going into the interior, I'm left wondering what happened when they designed the heating and air conditioning system.
The Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system just isn't user friendly. Getting into a hot, leather interior is uncomfortable at the best of times, but the new Forester seems to take forever to cool things down. Until it gets cool, the climate control system will blast cold air into the cockpit with all the force of small hurricane. Being a medium sized vehicle, why does it require so much time to cool down?
In addition to this engineering faux pas, the style and lighting of the HVAC control knobs make them virtually unreadable when the sunshade is pulled back. Closing it helps, but what's the fun of that?
The new Forester employs a 4-speed automatic, or 5-speed manual transmission to get the power to the pavement. Our vehicle was equipped with the automatic and while I found the shift points to be smooth, I'm not at all sold on the gated shifter. More than once I found myself in neutral, thinking I was in drive and starting to accelerate. Sometimes I think engineers like to make things too complicated. Why everyone doesn't adopt the Audi/Volkswagen shifter is beyond me. It's so easy on the brain.
The AM/FM Cassette CD player is very easy to use, but it also suffers from the same low visibility problem as the HVAC system. Sound quality is good, but four speakers and small door tweeters limit the amount of attainable enjoyment. I like the fact that both cassettes and CD's can be played, I wish more vehicles had this choice available as I am still a long way from having all my music on disc.
Interior features include an auto-down feature for the driver's window, power mirrors, heated front seats, cruise control, keyless entry, tilt steering and much more. The rear seats fold down in a 50/50 arrangement, while trunk space is well proportioned and large. A cargo cover is included to keep valuables out of sight. Rear legroom is tight for anyone over 6 ft., a point to keep in mind if you have growing teenage children.
I started out by saying the new 2003 Subaru Forester was unique in the sport utility market. For the most part, I think this is a good thing. It has the looks, reliability and built in safety that most consumers would wish for in their next vehicle. If you can get around the fact of its small engine and minor interior misses, the new Forester will reward you with many years of honest and reliable service. On that note, what more could you possibly expect from your next vehicle.
MORE DATA
Where Built: Japan
Seating: 5
Number of Rows: 2
Crash Test Ratings:
- NHTSA Frontal Impact/Driver Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
- NHTSA Frontal Impact/Passenger Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
- NHTSA Side Impact/Front Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
- NHTSA Side Impact/Rear Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
- NHTSA Rollover Resistance Rating: Not Yet Tested
- IIHS Frontal Offset Crash Test: rated Good
Length in Inches: 175.2
Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/unlimited miles corrosion, 5 years/60,000 mile powertrain, 3 years/36,000 miles free Roadside Assistance.
Weight in Pounds: 3,090
Towing and Payload Capacity in Pounds: Manual - 2,400. Automatic - 2,000
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 15.9
Destination Charge: $525
