2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium

Giametta’s Driveway

By Chuck Giametta

2009 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5X PREMIUM    
Tread lightly and carry a big back seat

What are you driving? A sweet little crossover finally large enough to legitimately be called a compact SUV. Redesigned for the first time since 2003, the 2009 Subaru Forester gets a bigger and better-looking new body on a longer and stronger new chassis. This is the third-generation Forester since the 1998 original, and only by the most liberal definition could its predecessors be called SUVs. They were in reality compact-car station wagons with a tall roof and all-wheel-drive. Compared to the 2003-2008 generation, the 2009 Forester is longer by 2.9 inches, wider by 1.8, and rides a wheelbase stretched by 3.6 inches. That last number is vital. It’s the distance between the front and rear axles, the prime determinate in how much room is available for passengers. The Forester is now almost exactly the same size as the Honda CR-V, yet magically retains a terrifically satisfying car-like feel on the road. It’s by far the best Forester yet. The example in the driveway this week, the Forester 2.5X Premium, has a 170-horsepower four-cylinder engine, a four-speed automatic transmission, and like every Subaru, all-wheel drive.

How much does it cost? The 2.5X Premium occupies the second rung on Forester’s model ladder. Base price is $23,160, including Subaru’s mandated $665 delivery fee. For that you get a five-passenger four-door wagon with a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed engine. In this characteristic Subaru engine design, the pistons move not in a vertical or V-arrangement, but in horizontal opposition; think of prizefighters trading jabs. Indeed, sports-car maker Porsche calls its horizontal engines “boxers,” and as in Subaru, the aim is a lower center of gravity to benefit handling. Every Forester comes with air conditioning, tilt wheel, cruise, height-adjustable driver’s seat, and a 60/40 split folding rear seat. Also standard are power windows, locks, and mirrors, remote keyless entry, and an auxiliary plug for MP3 and iPod audio. Standard safety equipment includes head-protecting curtain side airbags, antilock four-wheel disc brakes, and an antiskid system. To the $20,660 base 2.5X model, the 2.5X Premium adds a power moonroof, steering wheel audio controls, reclining rear seatback, rear privacy glass, and roof cargo rails. It also replaces 16-inch steel wheels with 17-inch alloys. Our test model was optioned with automatic transmission ($1,000); Popular Equipment Group 4B ($506), which adds an automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass, universal garage door opener, and “puddle” lights; and with the useful All-Weather Package ($400), which consists of heated front seats and mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer. Total retail price was $25,066. Above it on the model ladder is the 2.5X Limited with leather upholstery ($26,690) and the turbocharged 2.5XT models, which start at $26,890 and have 224 horsepower. An all-out 2.5XT Limited with a navigation system lists for $30,690.   

Is it worth it? Yes. The 2.5X Premium with the All-Weather Package is the top value in the 2009 Forester line. (It’s an even better buy and more entertaining to drive if you stick with the easy-shifting five-speed manual transmission.) For perspective, compare our test car to the highly regarded all-wheel-drive, 166-horsepower Honda CR-V EX. Equipment levels are almost identical, and the $25,215 Honda retails for a few bucks more than the Forester 2.5X Premium. It beats the Subaru for cargo room by a few cubic feet, mostly because it’s taller. But the Subaru delivers just as much usable passenger space. It’s quicker and more agile on the road, and surprisingly adept when the pavement ends. This Forester has an impressive 8.7 inches of ground clearance (the ostensibly more SUV-like CR-V has 7.3) and Subaru’s AWD system distributes power to all four wheels more precisely than others in this price range.            

What’s to like? No other compact crossover feels lighter on its feet or more agile. Meaty, responsive steering and a remarkable resistance to body lean and noseplow in turns invite spirited driving. Credit goes to the Forester’s relatively low center of gravity and to the stouter structure and more-sophisticated rear suspension it gets for 2009. Four adults ride in comfort on firm, well-shaped seats. You sit a bit higher than you would in a car, and an airy greenhouse with fantastic outward visibility is among the Forester’s delights. So is an arrangement of gauges and controls that puts function first without sacrificing aesthetics. There’s a refreshing sense of thoughtful, efficient design to the whole car, really. Subaru thankfully came to its senses and added upper door frames to the 2009 Forester, seating the side window glass a rigid metal surround. That seems to bolster the 2009 Forester’s overall feel of solidity, and definitely reduces the amount of wind noise at highway speeds.              

What does it need? Leadfoots will be happier with a turbocharged Forester 2.5XT model, which does 0-60 mph in a zippy 7.0 seconds or so. You’re looking at closer to 10 seconds with a Forester 2.5X Premium. Frankly, that’s slow these days. In practice, however, this crossover feels as if it needs more muscle only when you’ve got four onboard and are ascending a long grade or attempting a quick merge or pass. In those situations, relax and plan for more time in the slow lane. A lengthy wheelbase pays off not only in interior room, but in ride quality. Alas, the 2009 Forester’s isn’t quite lengthy enough to eliminate the choppiness over bumps that plagued its predecessors. We don’t advocate a stretch that would diminish this SUV’s great maneuverability. We would like to see suspension tuning that softens passage over road ruts and tar strips without sacrificing the sinew required to keep the Forester from getting weak-kneed off pavement. Tall order, but we can wish.

What’s Subaru’s opinion? “[The] sport-utility-tough, car-easy crossover design blends positive SUV attributes such as a high seating point and interior versatility with passenger car comfort, handling and fuel efficiency.”

What do you say? The 2009 model rewards Forester’s legion of fans – many of whom regard it as a lifestyle symbol -- with a roomy new design that justifies their devotion.

Vital statistics

2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium

• Base price: $22,495

• Price of test car including $665 destination fee: $25,066

• Size: 177.5 inches long, 103.0-inch wheelbase, 3,300-pound base curb weight

• Engine: 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder; all-wheel drive

• Fuel economy: 20 mpg city/ 26 highway (EPA ratings)

• Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper

• Safety ratings: maximum five stars in government crash tests of occupant protection in front and side collisions, four of five stars in rollover resistance  

Automotive journalist Chuck Giametta has covered the auto industry for more than 20 years as a newspaper reporter, Executive Auto Editor of Consumer Guide books and magazines, and as Managing Editor of Iguida.com. This test vehicle was provided by the manufacturer.