DRIVE MAGAZINE -
The model name, in a way, says it all: The Subaru Forester, faithful its name, tends to draw in active, out of doors types—the ones World Health Organization don’t regress from fleeces, tevas, snowboards, mountain bikes, or kayaks. however currently Subaru has nurtured its stand. With the Forester’s last design, for 2008, it grew in size and purpose, and its reach has gone so much on the far side the hoop, to residential district driveways, commutes, and weekend recitals.
To keep in pace with families nonetheless in grips with the rugged aspect, and keep the balance right what’s already a really sucessful vehicle (about 1 / 4 of the brand’s U.S. sales), Subaru has taken associate degree “evolution, not revolution” approach with the utterly redesigned 2014 Forester. Priorities enclosed higher fuel economy, improved drivability and usefulness, and to retain (and improve) the Forester’s rugged all-wheel-drive advantage.
With the all-new four-generation version of the Forester, Subaru appearance to possess unbroken the Forester's procedure, however particularly finessed the look. The 2014 Subaru Forester is roughly constant size because the outgoing model on the surface (it’s a bit taller, with a distance that’s solely an in. longer), however it inherits a number of the themes style|and style} details seen in last year’s design of the Impreza lineup—including the crisp new grille design and swimmingly graven aspect sheetmetal that flows into taillamps that area unit ‘pinched’—for look, and for aeromechanics. A somewhat taller hoodline associate degreed a a lot of distinct look before provides it a lot of of an SUV look, though Turbo models get a a lot of aggressive, technical-looking lower airdam. Turbo models now not have a hood scoop; the intake has been additional underhood however attracts air from the higher portion of the grille.
To keep in pace with families nonetheless in grips with the rugged aspect, and keep the balance right what’s already a really sucessful vehicle (about 1 / 4 of the brand’s U.S. sales), Subaru has taken associate degree “evolution, not revolution” approach with the utterly redesigned 2014 Forester. Priorities enclosed higher fuel economy, improved drivability and usefulness, and to retain (and improve) the Forester’s rugged all-wheel-drive advantage.
With the all-new four-generation version of the Forester, Subaru appearance to possess unbroken the Forester's procedure, however particularly finessed the look. The 2014 Subaru Forester is roughly constant size because the outgoing model on the surface (it’s a bit taller, with a distance that’s solely an in. longer), however it inherits a number of the themes style|and style} details seen in last year’s design of the Impreza lineup—including the crisp new grille design and swimmingly graven aspect sheetmetal that flows into taillamps that area unit ‘pinched’—for look, and for aeromechanics. A somewhat taller hoodline associate degreed a a lot of distinct look before provides it a lot of of an SUV look, though Turbo models get a a lot of aggressive, technical-looking lower airdam. Turbo models now not have a hood scoop; the intake has been additional underhood however attracts air from the higher portion of the grille.
Behind the driver’s wheel, the new Forester is not any revelation, however it still feels a bit a lot of athletic than most models during this category, whereas creating major gains in ratio. the bottom powerplant—included all told two.5i models—remains constant 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter horizontally opposed ‘flat’ four-cylinder engine that was 1st introduced on the Forester last year, however a brand new two.0-liter flat four in two.0XT models has direct injection and turbocharging and produces a stout two50 H.P. and 258 pound-feet at 2,000 rate (on premium gas). 2.5i models are often had with either a six-speed manual case or a unceasingly variable transmission system (CVT), whereas the two.0XT comes solely with the CVT. A stiffer structure and a very reengineered suspension otherwise place the Forester near the pinnacle of the category with regard to ride and handling. supported associate degree early drive, we have a tendency to found the new Forester to possess particularly smart body management, yet as terribly well-tuned and nicely weighted rack-mounted electrical power-steering. 2.5i models aren’t fast, however they’re adequate and with the CVT currently boast Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings of up to thirty two mpg main road. Meanwhile, 2.0XT models facilitate create the foremost of the Forester’s capable chassis, and come back 23/28 mpg—for a twenty five mpg Combined that Subaru says is best at school.
Several things—in addition to the additional power—contribute to a sportier driving expertise within the two.0XT. one in every of them is SI-Drive. primarily constant system that Subaru’s utilized in a number of its colorful models within the past, it offers 3 modes—Intelligent (I), Sport (S), and Sport Sharp (S#)—that tweak the approach the accelerator and powertrain respond. Secondly, there’s a Sport mode for the transmission that permits eight speeds, through steering-wheel paddle-shifters; once not within the Sport mode, there area unit six speeds.
The Forester retains all of its rugged path art, as well as eight.7 inches of ground clearance and a few approach and departure angles that even cross-country purists wouldn’t be fast to dismiss. however maybe impressed by systems like Land Rover’s piece of ground Response, Subaru has additional one thing known as X Mode. once engaged at low speeds, it electronically manages torsion from left to right, supplementing the AWD system’s front-to-back distribution, and it mechanically deploys Hill Descent management at low speeds.
While the 2014 Forester is regarding constant size as before on the surface, the manufacturing business has applied some packaging smarts with the inside, rejiggering the seating position and interior appointments into what sounds like (and is) a roomier vehicle. This Forester feels utterly totally different from the outgoing model from the driver’s seat; abundant of that’s as a result of the whole electrical device has been pushed forward nearly 5 inches from the seating position, whereas the seats themselves are raised slightly, for a ‘hip point’ that’s quite an in. on top of before, and they’re conjointly slightly farther apart. the ground and aspect sills were conjointly lowered slightly, whereas the front seats get a wider vary of adjustability; meantime, position of the rear seats at the side of that permits an in. larger distance between the front and rear seats—that’s a lot of rear legroom—and rear seatback folding that’s near absolutely flat with a one-touch mechanism. There’s twelve % a lot of shipment area, too.
There’s conjointly a way larger sense of particularisation and refinement within. Materials—everything from upholsteries to door trim—are a solid maximize from before, and Subaru has additional a lot of insulation each to the door panels and to the realm simply prior to the electrical device. All models currently get a fold-down center rest, and solid-looking cupholders are enraptured there rather than at the rear of the middle console (in flip, the middle console currently longer extends as so much back, to provide the middle inhabitant a bit more room. and therefore the center rotating shaft tunnel has been lowered by an in..
Available active-safety options within the Forester can currently embody accommodative control (ACC), running at speeds from twenty five mph up to ninety mph, whereas the Forester gets the seeing system for recognizing road hazards with a camera-based system, up to eighty meters ahead, associate degreed probably avoiding an accident by braking at up to zero.4g.
Features and rating haven’t nonetheless been careful, however once it goes on sale in early 2013 the 2014 Forester can get variety of firsts, like accommodative control, an influence tailgate, and Harmon Kardon premium audio. And associate degree offered power hatch are often operated manually with low effort, or be designed to open wanting an occasional garage ceiling. The outdated-feeling touch-screen audio and navigation interfaces stay the sole sore purpose. The premium system has full integration of Aha streaming audio, through associate degree app for iPhone or robot handsets.
Several things—in addition to the additional power—contribute to a sportier driving expertise within the two.0XT. one in every of them is SI-Drive. primarily constant system that Subaru’s utilized in a number of its colorful models within the past, it offers 3 modes—Intelligent (I), Sport (S), and Sport Sharp (S#)—that tweak the approach the accelerator and powertrain respond. Secondly, there’s a Sport mode for the transmission that permits eight speeds, through steering-wheel paddle-shifters; once not within the Sport mode, there area unit six speeds.
The Forester retains all of its rugged path art, as well as eight.7 inches of ground clearance and a few approach and departure angles that even cross-country purists wouldn’t be fast to dismiss. however maybe impressed by systems like Land Rover’s piece of ground Response, Subaru has additional one thing known as X Mode. once engaged at low speeds, it electronically manages torsion from left to right, supplementing the AWD system’s front-to-back distribution, and it mechanically deploys Hill Descent management at low speeds.
While the 2014 Forester is regarding constant size as before on the surface, the manufacturing business has applied some packaging smarts with the inside, rejiggering the seating position and interior appointments into what sounds like (and is) a roomier vehicle. This Forester feels utterly totally different from the outgoing model from the driver’s seat; abundant of that’s as a result of the whole electrical device has been pushed forward nearly 5 inches from the seating position, whereas the seats themselves are raised slightly, for a ‘hip point’ that’s quite an in. on top of before, and they’re conjointly slightly farther apart. the ground and aspect sills were conjointly lowered slightly, whereas the front seats get a wider vary of adjustability; meantime, position of the rear seats at the side of that permits an in. larger distance between the front and rear seats—that’s a lot of rear legroom—and rear seatback folding that’s near absolutely flat with a one-touch mechanism. There’s twelve % a lot of shipment area, too.
There’s conjointly a way larger sense of particularisation and refinement within. Materials—everything from upholsteries to door trim—are a solid maximize from before, and Subaru has additional a lot of insulation each to the door panels and to the realm simply prior to the electrical device. All models currently get a fold-down center rest, and solid-looking cupholders are enraptured there rather than at the rear of the middle console (in flip, the middle console currently longer extends as so much back, to provide the middle inhabitant a bit more room. and therefore the center rotating shaft tunnel has been lowered by an in..
Available active-safety options within the Forester can currently embody accommodative control (ACC), running at speeds from twenty five mph up to ninety mph, whereas the Forester gets the seeing system for recognizing road hazards with a camera-based system, up to eighty meters ahead, associate degreed probably avoiding an accident by braking at up to zero.4g.
Features and rating haven’t nonetheless been careful, however once it goes on sale in early 2013 the 2014 Forester can get variety of firsts, like accommodative control, an influence tailgate, and Harmon Kardon premium audio. And associate degree offered power hatch are often operated manually with low effort, or be designed to open wanting an occasional garage ceiling. The outdated-feeling touch-screen audio and navigation interfaces stay the sole sore purpose. The premium system has full integration of Aha streaming audio, through associate degree app for iPhone or robot handsets.
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