Background: If 1998 is anything like 1997, Subaru dealers are in for a busy year. Subaru sold 120,000 vehicles in calendar year 1997, its best year in more than a decade. All Subaru's sold in the United States come equipped with a no-hassle, all-wheel-drive system standard. There are no buttons to push or levers to pull since Subaru's all-wheel drive is always in use. Best of all for Subaru, it has a large selection of sport-utility-like vehicles, including the popular Outback. These hybrid vehicles combine the strong points of traditional sport utilities (decent cargo space, terrific headroom, good ground clearance) with the convenience of a car (good gas mileage, ease of handling.) Subaru markets these hybrids as sport utility wagons, and sales have been brisk. For the 1998 model year, Subaru debuts its four-door Forester; a sport-ute-type machine based on its subcompact Impreza platform. It's Subaru's first all-new model line since the introduction of Impreza in 1992.
Trim levels: Forester is available in three trim levels: Base, L and top-of-the-line S. We had the opportunity to try the S trim level.
Safety features: Since the five-passenger Forester is based on a passenger car platform and not a truck platform, it meets all federal passenger car safety and emission standards. Dual air bags, side impact beams, power-assisted disc brakes, child safety rear door locks and all-wheel drive that provides good traction in all driving conditions are standard. Four-channel anti-lock brakes are standard in the L and S editions, but not available in base models. Traction control is not offered.
Standard equipment: Five-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, power windows, four-wheel independent suspension, rear-window defogger, adjustable steering column, intermediate windshield wipers, fog lights, overhead console with clock, map lights, sunglass holder and sequential multi-port fuel injection are standard in all three trim levels.
Optional equipment: Four-speed automatic transmission, cargo-area cover and rear spoiler are optional in all three trim levels. Cruise control and power sideview mirrors are standard in the top-of-the-line S edition, but optional in the other two trim levels. Manual sideview mirrors come in base and L trim levels.
Price: Our Forester S checked in with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $22,195. With options including automatic transmission, cargo cover, compact disc player and heated side-view mirrors, the bottom line added up to $24,727 including a $495 destination charge. Base models, sold exclusively with manual transmission start at $18,695 while L trim levels check in at $19,995 with manual and $20,795 with automatic transmission.
Interior: Between the front bucket seat is a deep storage bin and a hand-operated emergency brake. A cup holder retracts out from the dashboard, but blocks some vents and controls when in use. Headlights operate from the turn signal stalk while front and rear windshield wipers are controlled from a right-hand side stalk. Cruise control activates from a dashboard switch with function keys on the steering wheel. All four doors have flip-top storage areas built into the arm rests, a nice touch. All doors also include map pockets. Power locks and window functions are found on the doors as well. Ventilation controls include two dials for direction and temperature selections and a small lever for fan speed. The stereo with smaller-than-average controls situates below the ventilation system. A nifty, optional dashboard gauge pack includes a digital, three-dimensional, two- color compass with altimeter, outside temperature display and second digital clock (the other clock is part of the radio-frequency display.) Foresters without this gauge feature a dashboard storage bin with cover. Only S trim levels offer this option. The cargo area in back holds 33.2 cubic feet of stuff with the back seat up, and 64.6 cubic feet with the seat down; impressive for a small SUV-type vehicle. The full-size spare stows in a well under a flat cargo floor.
Seating comfort: Getting into Forester is as easy as getting into a sedan or coupe. No step-up motion is required as in some sport utilities. Light-weight doors swing out far enough so bending and twisting is kept to a minimum. The fabric seats are manually operated and include lumbar support and fore/aft seat tilt control. Headroom is excellent. Leg room is good in front, but tight in back when the front bucket seats are set back. Our S trim level included a slightly upgraded fabric interior. The reclining rear seats have a 55/45 split. When folding forward, the seats fold flat without having to remove the head rests or lifting the seat cushion. Back seat passengers also enjoy cup holders.
Exterior: The S model has a chrome, multi-rectangular grille with a Subaru logo while the Base and L trim level have a black grille. A roof rack and rear windshield wiper are standard. Splash guards are standard in the S edition, but optional in the other two trim levels. The whip radio antenna is found on the right front fender. The one-piece rear hatchback door, hinged at top, swings upward. The S trim level has larger, 16-inch alloy wheels. Base and L trim levels include 15-inch steel wheels. Forester's ground clearance measures 7.5 inches, impressive for a car-based vehicle. All Foresters include anti-corrosion treatment and anti-chipping paint.
Exterior color choices include: canyon red pearl, black diamond pearl, glacier white and acadia green.
Engine: All Subarus sold in North America come with one of two four-cylinder engines. No six or eight cylinder powertrains are offered. Subaru equips Forester with the more potent of the two offerings. It's a computer-controlled, multi-point 16-valve, double overhead cam fuel-injected engine delivering 165 horsepower. It's also the same engine used in the larger Outback.
Dimensions: Wheelbase: 88.4 inches Length: 175.2 inches Width: 68.3 inches Height: 65.0 inches Towing capacity: 2,000 pounds Weight: 3,120 pounds
Fuel mileage: Fuel estimates for Foresters with automatic transmissions check at 21 miles per gallon city, and 26 mpg highway. Models with manual transmission check in with the same 21 mpg city estimates, but get one mile per gallon better on the highway (27). With 7,029 odometer miles, our Forester registered 21 mpg in combined driving. The fuel door, found on the right side, does not lock, but the cap is attached to a tether cord, making it difficult to leave behind at the service station. The tank holds 15.9 gallons of unleaded gasoline.
About the competition: Forester is similar in size to the Honda CR-V and Toyota's RAV4, both extremely popular, mini sport utility vehicles. Forester is priced competitively with both. The RAV4 four-cylinder engine checks in with 127 horsepower, CR-V with 126. Forester's four-cylinder delivers 165 horsepower. Fuel mileage is a tad better in both the CR-V and RAV4.
Final thoughts: Forester's timing is perfect. It's coming into a market where sport utilities and anything resembling a sport utility is selling like hot cakes. It's an easy vehicle to get in and out of and drivers have an excellent view of the road and their surroundings. Subaru's easy-to-operate, all-wheel drive system comes in handy during snowy Chicagoland winters. |