Subaru Forester 2002: Practical, but it feels like a toy

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.
Length: 175 in.
Width: 68 in.
EPA ratings: 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway
Engine: 2.5L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed, Automatic.


When I buy a vehicle, I have five hot buttons: Safety, Handling, Efficiency, Reliability, and Price, in that order. My wife and I are planning to move to New England so we were thinking snow, ice, mountains, and narrow, windy roads, rather like where we live in the Northern Highlands of NJ, but much worse. For that reason, we felt that a small, 4WD SUV would best suit our needs.


Safety.

Safely first attracted us to the Forester. It received an extremely high rating with the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), who gave it 4-stars for front-driver, front-passenger, and side-rear impacts and the top 5-star rating for front-side impacts -- often the most dangerous sort. It also received a 3-star rollover rating, which is excellent for an SUV, as good or better than any vehicle with its height and visibility. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/1900.html

The IIHS (Insurance institute for Highway Safety) also gave it Good (Top) ratings in almost all areas and Acceptable (Second Highest) ratings on the remaining two items. HTTP://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle%5Fratings/ce/html/98018.htm

Now as you probably know, SUVs are classed as trucks, and avoid many of the safety requirements for cars. To have a small SUV with such high ratings is a major achievement, and one with which Subaru should be rightfully proud. (Note that ALL Subaru models are among the very highest safety rated vehicles in their respective classes. Safety is obviously one of their highest priorities.)

In addition to its excellent crash results, the Forester was one of the few small SUVs that came with side impact air bags. It also has devices on front belts that limit belt forces on occupants, antilock brakes, and daytime running lights. No one wants to crash their car, but in this one, you have a really good chance of walking away.


Handling.

Now to me, handling is a major component of safety. While being able to survive a crash is essential, being able to avoid one is even better. I have to tell you, this car is primo.

Subarus do not have 4WD (4-wheel Drive), they have AWD (All Wheel Drive), and this is far more than some marketing hype. Combined with the suspension package on the SP model, it is like every wheel having its own engine and computer. This car sticks to the road like glue. The 4-cylinder engine is peppy, with plenty of power for hills and highway ramps. The suspension is firm. The steering is tight and positive giving a whole handling experience that is simply beyond belief. Driving this car will spoil you for all others. The only problem is getting my wife out of the driver's seat.

The antilock brakes are excellent too, giving extremely short stopping distances even in wet conditions. At least one lucky NJ squirrel should be offering tribute nuts to Mr. Subaru.

Snow handling is excellent. The first snow of the winter, we headed up to the State Park and spent 20 minutes tooling around the empty parking lot. Wow! We didn't manage to spin a wheel, not even once. As we left, another car entered doing the same thing. It was a Forester too.

Ice, well, ice is ice. Apply common sense before starting any vehicle. I am sure you can get stuck if you try really, really hard.

Note: The Yokohama Geolander tires that came on our model were rated very highly in dry and wet weather, but did not get a good ice and snow rating. I expect the handling to be even better when we replace them.

Off-road this SUV handles as well as it does on the road. The only down side is that the relatively low ground clearance makes driving over boulders and through rivers impossible. If heavy-duty off-road performance is essential, this isn't the car for you.

We do not use ours for towing, but with the optional trailer hitch, it will pull about 2000 pounds. This is excellent compared to other small SUVs.


Efficiency, Reliability, and Price.

With an EPA rating of 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway the Forester would be a good performer for a sedan. Compared to its gas-guzzling SUV cousins, it's a saint. So far, our performance meets or exceeds the EPA figures, and old-timer Forester owners tell us that it will improve as the engine loosens up. It also only requires regular gas, which saves a buck or two.

Obviously, it is impossible to talk about reliability on a brand new model. However, the technology is based on the Impreza chassis and engine. Both the Impreza and prior Forester models are rated very highly. We have had no problems so far. I should also mention that I am extremely impressed by the quality of the Dealer Service we have received from Loman Subaru of Parsippany, NJ. http://www.lomansubaru.com/

As for price, the Forester is not cheap, but it costs a lot less than the big SUVs and it's extremely competitive with other vehicles in its class. When you consider the quality and capabilities, I think it is extremely good value.


The Basics.

The front seats are very, very comfortable. The driver's seat even has an adjustable lower back support. I am about 6', 220 pounds, while my wife is 5' 3", 110 pounds but we can both sit in complete comfort and reach all the controls. It is very easy to get in and out of, easier than most sedans. No climbing gear is required.

The back bench-seat is comfortable for three, but there isn't much legroom. Great for kids, but probably a bit much for a tall person on a long trip. All five seating positions have adjustable headrests. Removing the back center rest improves rear visibility when you are not using it, which is most of the time.

The sitting position leaves your head very high, especially if you are used to sedans, and the windows are huge. The visibility is incredible. For sightseeing and touring, this is an unforgettable experience.

It has all the usual do-dads: power windows, front and rear wipers, AC, heating, central console, and so on. Everything works exceptionally well. No complaints here.

The back compartment is fairly large. A full size spare hides beneath the floor, and there are several compartments for tools, flashlights, clothes, and other leave-in-the-car items. A nice waterproof, non-slip floor mat covers it all up, and a neato cargo net is great for shopping.

The back seat tips forward to give a truly impressive cargo area, with major carrying power. I can lie in it no problem, and it has carried several large furniture items. The back door lifts upwards and is easy to open and close. A handle on the underside makes it easy for a small person to reach.

It has a full-length roof rack. This can carry all kind of items, and two luggage space bins, large and very large, are available as extras. You can also get back and/or roof bicycle racks, ski racks, and a whole host of other specialty items. It is a SUV after all.


The Package.

Did I mention we bought the SP? Grin!

Okay kiddies, listen up. Since we wanted side impact air bags, we had to get the top of the line model. This forced us into getting certain extras, which might be considered decadent. Sniff!

Lets start at the top. The SP comes with a moon roof the size of Kansas. You can open this from a few inches, to a space large enough to stick a refrigerator through, not that you would. It has a tinted glass panel that can open up, and a roof-colored panel that slides beneath it. A plastic deflector is available as an extra which helps air flow, keeps out bright sunlight, and extends the number of days you can drive with the roof open.

Ladies, beware. Once men see this moon roof, their eyes glaze over and rational financial decisions become impossible. Men, to get the side bags, you have to get the moon roof -- so sad. Be sure to stress to your wife how important those side bags are before she sees the sticker price. "Honey, it's our lives at stake here," works well. "With side bags we will pay less for insurance," is another goody and it's true too.

Next item is an auto-dimming mirror with compass. This is a ridiculously useful item. Get it as an extra even if you don't buy the SP. I have no idea how it works, but it dims the mirror somehow when the guy behind has his brights on. It is a smooth transition not an on-off effect, giving you just the amount of dimming you need. The compass too is surprisingly useful. Nice people deserve good toys. Get one.

The SP comes with a super stereo with a six CD auto-changer. I am not going to go into the bibs and bobs, just suffice it to know that it's easy to use and it sounds GREAT!

It also comes with a nice security package, an alarm, and remote door openers. The opener will open just the driver's door, or all the doors. That's a nice feature. It also has a fairly short range (about 20 feet), so you don't open half the cars in the lot.

That's about it, I mean, there are other things but these are the biggies. Of course, I could mention the HEATED FRONT SEATS. Oh wow. There, I told you and I said I wouldn't. Imagine the decadence. It has two settings, from toasty buns, up to hot... Well, you get the idea. This is great for cold nights, but comes in surprisingly handy on sore backs too.

Okay, there are more features, but I think you are getting a feel for the car by now.


Gripes.

Yes, there are some gripes. None of them deal breakers, but they need to be said.

First, the cup holders suck. "Forget, the SP package," I said to Andy, the salesman. "I want the Starbucks Edition." No such luck. When in use, the front holders sit high in the center, right in front of the AC outlet, and block the heater controls. Since I never go anywhere without a coffee, I learned to operate the heater in Braille. Take my advice. Invest in nice insulated cups for your coffee or the AC will prematurely cool them. Frappuccinos work well though.

The gear lever does not have a sideways notch to mark Drive. Without looking, you can get the wrong gear by mistake. I have never done this, so I guess it isn't really important, but it would be nice to have.

The engine has diagnostics, including a ubiquitous "Engine Warning Light." Okay, very nice except that it comes on if the gas cap is not fully tightened. Hey, useful to know, but after you tighten the cap, the light takes 2-3 days to switch itself off again. This caused us an unnecessary trip to the dealer. I was NOT pleased.

Also, the placing of the panel switches is counter-intuitive. The heated windscreen and heated mirror switch is on the opposite side of the steering wheel to the heated rear window switch. Why? There was plenty of room. Okay. Okay. I am being petty, but you have to gripe about something.


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. It has great off-road capability, as long as you don't try driving over logs and boulders. It has a lot of cargo carrying space, a peppy engine, and is incredible in bad weather. It is fun enough to own as a toy, practical enough to own as an everyday vehicle, and tough enough to use as a workhorse. Try one. You will love it.