2009 Subaru Forester Review | Buyer Guide
Redesigned Forester is More Spacious
Subaru completely redesigned the Forester for 2009, and made it roomier and more attractive inside and out. The first thing you notice about it is the new styling. Sharp creases in the sheet metal give it a crisp look. Crescent-shaped arches around the fender flares draw attention to the wheels. The greenhouse area is ample, and outward visibility is good.
The interior gets fresh styling and upgraded materials. My test car, a 2.5X Premium, looked lively with silver-gray upholstery and pewter-colored trim. The huge 31-inch moonroof in this model enhances an already airy cabin. The redesigned dash features audio and climate controls that are mounted high on the center control panel for easy access, and a narrow bin above it that houses digital readouts for fuel economy, temperature and time.
The ’09 Forester is a larger vehicle than its predecessor. Not only does it add three inches more in length, it also rides on longer, 103-inch wheelbase. This translates into more interior space. Rear passengers benefit the most with four more inches of legroom. A tall adult can ride in the backseat without feeling squeezed. The cargo area is also slightly larger at 33.5 cu.-ft., which will more than double in size with the rear seats folded down.
Subaru offers the Forester in four versions, 2.5X, 2.5X Premium, 2.5XT and 2.5XT Limited. All use the 2.5-liter Boxer engine, which has been reworked to give it a broader torque range. In the 2.5X and the 2.5 Premium it is naturally aspirated, and generates 170 hp. In the 2.5XT and 2.5XT Limited, it gets turbocharged to deliver 224 horses. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and four-speed automatic is optional. Like all Subarus, the Forester comes with standard all-wheel drive.
My test car had the 170-hp engine with the automatic, which delivered 23.2 mpg. The Boxer motor does an acceptable job accelerating on to the freeway, and has decent pulling power on hills, but the automatic gearbox leaves a lot to be desired. Its main problem is that it can get confused on downshifts. This can cause sweaty palms when you pull out to pass. I found it better to use the manual shift mode, which avoided the hesitation. But Subaru really needs to get a modern automatic, preferably one with six gears.
Subaru strengthened the platform on the’09 Forester, and redesigned the rear suspension. It now features a more sophisticated double-wishbone setup. Normally, this would result in better handling and a smoother ride. However, I did not notice much improvement over the old model out on the road. The suspension felt loose, with a lot of body-lean on quick left-right-left maneuvers, and the ride, while satisfactory, was not as good as that of a Honda CR-V. Furthermore, the cabin is far from quiet. There’s a good amount of road rumble and wind noise at freeway speeds.
The 2009 Forester has received kudos from Consumer Reports, who placed it at the top of its small SUV rankings, and Motor Trend, whose editors named it “2009 SUV of the Year.” However, I can’t agree—this Forester is better than last year’s model, but it still has a way to go. Pricing starts at $19,995, and ranges up to $29,995.
Snapshot Review
Roomier Cabin
Better Styling Inside and Out
Poor Automatic Transmission
Average Ride and Handling
