2002 Subaru Forester

Pros: Excellent handling, safety and gas mileage for SUV

Cons: Exterior is bland

The Bottom Line: I was surprised at the nice handling on this SUV. Great for a rental car and will consider when I purchase my next car.

Review: My wife and I recently went to Hawaii and our first stop was the island of Maui. We got our car from Enterprise rent-a-car and I had reserved a mid-sized car. They gave us the 2002 Subaru Forester, which technically is not a mid-sized car, but it is ...

Pros: Super safe, with great handling and gas mileage. Fun to drive.

Cons: Getting your wife out of the driving seat may be difficult.

The Bottom Line: The Forester is a relatively inexpensive, high quality, small SUV, with great gas mileage, excellent visibility, superb handling and a top of the line safety rating. You will love it.

Review:

I LOVE THIS CAR.

Okay. Now we have that out of the way, we can get on with the review.

Subaru Forester SP
Color: Metallic Grey
Class: Small utility vehicle
Weight: 3,168 lbs.
Wheelbase: 99 in....

Pros: Handling, brakes, gas mileage, cargo area, visibility, safety, reliability, headroom

Cons: Clutch, interval wipers, driver legroom, a bit of a "sensible shoes" appearance

The Bottom Line: The best car I've ever owned

Review: I bought my Forester L new in 2002. I'd been rear-ended at a stoplight and my Saturn totaled two years before. In too much of a hurry to get a replacement vehicle, I stupidly bought a Chevy Cavalier. Within six months, I knew I had to get something ...

Pros: Safe, silent but powerful engine, good family car, good mpg for the type of car.

Cons: Turning radius, seat comfort not as good as a Volvo's

The Bottom Line: If you are concerned about your safety, it's worth the money to get the forester. It's not a sports car, but it's good on the highway and streets.

Review: I have driven two different 2002 Subaru Foresters in the past year because my first one saved my life.


How It All Started

It all started a year ago when I was graduated college. I was looking to get a new car to...

Pros: Good gas mileage, excellent cargo area, engine more powerful than it would seem.

Cons: Back seats don't have much legroom.

The Bottom Line: Handles like a car, with more cargo space, and 4-wheel drive.

Review: One of the "trendy" phrases for the "Sport Utility Vehicle," or "SUV," has been the "Sport-Ute."

Some reviews have started calling the smaller "sport-utes" "sport-cutes," implying that they're somehow not quite as "good" as larger vehicles....

Pros: Great in the Snow, Great ABS System, Super Reliable, Excellent Handeling

Cons: Works so perfectly it's a little boring.

The Bottom Line: Fantastic Snow Mobile!

Review: This has been a SUPER RELIABLE car. I currently have 67,453 miles on it with ZERO problems other than the O2 Sensor was replaced under warranty twice. I have had ALL recommended maintenance done at the Subaru dealer including the Transmission Flush ...

Pros: Safety, Handling, SUV feel

Cons: Cup holder placement, no backseat knee-room and sometimes jumpy initial acceleration.

The Bottom Line: Fun, Safe and Sporty. Drive one and you'll be hooked!

Review: I purchased my 2002 Subaru Forester Premium Package, also referred to as the SX or OK option, in May of this year 2005. It has heated seats and mirrors, windshield wiper defrosters, compass and self dimming rearview mirror, painted bumpers, side impact ...

Pros: Safe, Durable, and Awesome All-Wheel Drive Capability

Cons: Engine Power Needs Improvement.

The Bottom Line: A solid 5-Star buy based on my selection criteria above. It is easy to maintain, safe, durable, and reliable. Advise getting most powerful engine available.

Review: Despite the occasional jeer from friends alluding to the vehicle's effeminate nature, I have found the 2002 Subaru Forester to be just as tough, more reliable, and a heck of a lot safer than a majority of the full-size SUVs to which it has been compared. ...

Pros: The Forester is top-rated for safety and is fun to drive.

Cons: Tall people may have trouble with leg room in the back seat.

The Bottom Line: The Subaru Forester is safe, reliable, and affordable. . . not to mention fun to drive.

Review: When it came time to buy a new car, I searched for an affordable vehicle with excellent safety ratings. Being that my husband has a long commute to work, and we're often transporting precious cargo (our baby daughter), we wanted to make sure this new...

Pros: Comes well equipped, good power and gas mileage, comfortable, quiet, All wheel drive.All wheel drive.

Cons: Not intended for major off-roading.

The Bottom Line: Buy one and you won't ever say, "We should have got the (other brand)."

Review: When first looking at cars, my wife and I decided on a small SUV so we could have room for our dogs and for cargo. We looked at Honda's CRV, Toyota's Rav-4, and the Forester. All were similarly priced when equipped like we wanted. Each had their own...