Base price: 2.5X, $21,070; 2.5XS, $23,420
Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive; 5-door 5-passenger wagon
Interior volume, F/R (cu ft) 23–54/41–42
Cargo volume, seats up/maximum (cu ft) 30–32/60–64
Wheelbase 99.4 in
Length/width/height 175.2/68.1/62.6 in
Turning circle 34.8 ft
Curb weight 3200 lb
EPA city/highway mpg 21/27
Fuel-tank capacity/range 15.9 gal/334 mi
Passive restraints driver and passenger front and side airbags
POWERTRAIN
2.5-liter SOHC 16-valve flat-4, 165 hp; 5-sp man, 4-sp auto
SUSPENSION
F ind, struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
R ind, struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
F/R vented disc/drum
ABS standard
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SUBARU FORESTER
The Forester has accounted for more than a fourth of Subaru’s annual sales since it arrived in 1997. Not wanting to mess with success, Subaru didn’t do anything radical in designing the next generation; not only are the dimensions of the 2003 model nearly identical to the 2002, but it still has the familiar square shape although it’s a bit more rounded to reduce drag and give it some visual distinction. Also, to cut weight, the hood, the bumper beams, and the roof rails are now aluminum.
The interior, however, was completely redone, and, although the car’s a hair smaller outside, it’s bigger inside. Front passenger volume rises one cubic foot from 53 to 54, and the rear is three cubic feet larger, going from 39 to 42. Behind the rear seats, there’s 32 cubic feet of space, and with the rear seats folded there’s 64, five more than the 2002 model’s 59 cubic feet. But with the optional sunroof, rear space drops to 30 and 63 cubic feet.
Mechanically, there’s less to report. The 2.5-liter flat-four remains and has the same power (165 hp at 5600 rpm) and torque (166 pound-feet at 4000 rpm) as in 2002. A five-speed manual is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional. The five-speed’s first two gear ratios are a smidge shorter to account for the slightly larger standard 16-inch tires and to preserve off-the-line grunt. The rest of the gearing and final-drive ratio remain unchanged.
All Foresters come standard with a full-time four-wheel-drive system. Unlike some other utes that primarily drive the front wheels and only call in the rears when the fronts slip, Subarus drive all four wheels all the time. Five-speed Foresters have a center differential with a viscous limited-slip feature to apportion power between the front and rear axles. Automatics rely on an electronically controlled clutch pack to handle that duty.
Despite the use of some aluminum body panels, the new Forester, at 3200 pounds, weighs about 100 pounds more than the old one. Hitting 60 mph now requires 9.6 seconds versus 9.5 for the last five-speed Forester we tested, but the new car gains 0.2 second through the quarter-mile (16.8 versus 17.0).
New Yokohama tires produced a marked improvement in grip, however. The old car needed 208 feet to stop from 70 mph and could only do 0.71 g on the skidpad. The new one stops in just 186 feet and hangs on for 0.77 g.
The Forester feels more car than truck, there’s no excessive body roll, and you sit about level with other cars on the road. There’s not a lot to fault here, but there’s nothing that’s outstanding. The Forester falls smack dab in the middle of the growing baby-SUV class.
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