"This is my 9th car since 1990. I have always been treated great here. I love the service department. I trust that any work that I have done is needed, and not jst to pad the bill. "
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2012 Subaru Forester
See Our New Subaru Forester Inventory in Philadelphia
2012 Subaru Forester Design
The front and rear fascia and rocker panels surround the car, and they're not very pretty in flat black plastic. They too have a function, being more rugged than shiny paint on sheetmetal, although no one does metal fascia any more anyhow. And at least the flat black plastic doesn't continue around the wheelwells, like on some SUVs. Also, those wheelwells are not overflared to attract attention. That would be unlike Subaru. It offers the capability of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, as well as a versatile rear cargo area with liftgate, underfloor storage and up to 68 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Handling of the 2012 Subaru Forester
The Limited comes with good all-season tires on handsome 17-inch alloy wheels. Forester owners who drive in the snow country will want to spring for some winter tires. All-season tires won't get you everywhere in snow and ice. We had to drive up a short slope into a snow-covered yard, the rear wheels on slick asphalt and the fronts on soft earth under the wet snow, and it wouldn't do it, as fronts and rears both spun. Even with Subaru's legendary all-wheel drive, if you don't have snow tires for winter, don't expect miracles. Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), a stability control system, automatically senses steering and braking inputs to help keep the vehicle on the driver's intended path. The 2.5X and 2.5X Premium get a 5-speed manual transmission with Incline Start Assist, while all other trims are mated to a 4-speed automatic with manual shift mode (available on the 2.5X and 2.5X Premium).
2012 Subaru Porester Driving Impressions
Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive was designed for
excellent control, efficiency and quick response to slippery conditions.
Learn more about why there's no other all-wheel drive like it. The
turbocharged engine in the Forester XT delivers a very healthy 226
pound-feet of torque at 2800 rpm and 224 horsepower. The new normally
aspirated 170-hp engine makes a bit more usable torque than before, now
174 pound-feet at a slightly lower 4100 rpm. It still doesn't compare to
the turbo, however, if acceleration performance is what matters to you.
On the freeway or any open highway, a Forester 2.5X has to work to keep
up with a Forester XT.
Interior of the 2012 Subaru Forester
The dash has a beautiful sweep like sculpture, from the
center stack off to the passenger side, in dark titanium plastic that
looks nice, with more of that trim on the centerstack, instrument panel,
and doors. The glovebox is big. There's a thin digital display inserted
at the top center of the dash for time, temperature, and fuel mileage.
There's also good front and rear headroom, even when you jack the
height-adjustable driver's seat to the top. The panoramic moonroof,
standard on our Limited but optional on the base X, cuts into headroom,
but if you're not tall it feels like more because it's the sky that's
over your head. The rear seat reclines and includes a
retractable center tray with fixed drink holders. Legroom is excellent
for a compact SUV, with 38.0 inches; that's a big plus, and it's one of
the reasons the Forester is such a good family vehicle. The front door
is wide, and the rear doors swing open 75 degrees and feel light, making
it easy to get in and out. Forester's spacious interior offers many
comfort-minded available features including a 10-way power driver's
seat, reclining rear seats, and an oversized panoramic
moonroof.
Conclusion
The Subaru Forester is a crossover vehicle that blends many of the best attributes of a sport-utility vehicle with the ride and driving dynamics of a car. The Subaru Forester is a compact SUV that seats five, offers good cargo capacity, and excellent foul-weather capability with its outstanding all-wheel-drive system. Forester competes with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but the Forester offers much better handling than those two, on dry pavement but especially on wet pavement, snow, ice or dirt.
Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com
