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subaru Forester road test reports and car reviews

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The Subaru Forester crossover SUV offers you so much you won’t know where to start. From its muscular sporty lines to its spacious interior with generous legroom and reclining rear seats you’ll find something to love. With over 30 cubic feet of cargo space the Forester can easily accommodate anything you need to take on your travels as can the adaptable console, which has a place for all those bits and bobs you just can’t be without.

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subaru Forester reviews by year of make: 1999 2006 2007 2009
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Subaru Forester

Diesel - Heavily facelifted this year, the Forester has now caught up with the rest of the SUV crowd with the option of a diesel engine. The Japanese brand is boasting top fuel economy with the lowest insuranc... read more

subaru Forester car reviews

Number of reviews: 4

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Brendan Cronin, Ireland

Subaru Forester 2.0 S Turbo 1999

I bought this car as a 2 year old with 25K miles on the clock. It now has 155K miles and all of them enjoyable. Yes, it’s thirsty, rarely better than 24mpg regardless of driving style, but it’s comfortable, safe, handles well, accelerates hard and will cope with most places you take it. Reliability is reputed to be one of Subaru’s qualities and it’s true. Apart from regular services, other maintenance has been few and far between - suspension linkages every 2 years, cv joint at 152K miles. Mechanics don’t like changing the spark plugs so spend the bit extra and buy the long life ones. Overall, the most enjoyable, reliable, fun car I’ve ever owned.

Submitted: 21/01/2010 22:22:14 | ID: 4401

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Syd Taylor, Staffordshire

Subaru Forester X 2009

There can be no doubt about what the Subaru name stands for. In the world of international rallying it is a byword for dependability and success in the most gruelling conditions imaginable - and the marques heritage is supported by numerous victories over the years. It’s no wonder then that the new Forester is a car which makes real driving adventure accessible as well as offering the sound practicality that your better judgement tells you to go for. Presenting the styling blend of a purposeful off-roader and the smooth lines of a modern estate, it’s as ’at home’ in the most elegant settings as well as the ’great outdoors’. As we’ve come to expect from niche market manufacturer Subaru, quality is as good as it gets. Subaru's are built to last and you only have to look to the ’still living’ Subaru's of yesteryear, suffering and surviving thrashings by farmers - who give them no quarter and treat them with the same heavy handedness as they afford their tractor! Tough though the new Forester certainly is, it's' marshmallow’ on the inside and packed with thoughtful touches... Warm, spacious and inviting, there’s all the ambience and quality of a luxury car, but there’s no unnecessary adornment or excess. With lots of room for five strapping adults and their luggage, intelligent use is made of every bit of space - and the flexibility offered by permutations of ’seats up/down/half up or down’, means that you can change from luxury cruise liner to cargo ship in an instant. You’ll always be safe, of course, because six airbags are there just in case - and the rigid structure of this Subaru is not so far off Challenger Tank strength. There are three specification levels, with the basic X, which I tested, costing Â£20,295. Top of the range XS costs £25,495. Even the ’basic model has heated seats, electric windows, automatic air conditioning and even cruise control. No one is going to be able to steal it either because it comes with Fort Knox security levels. - Unless they steal your keys, of course. But how does the new Forester feel behind the wheel? You sit tall and enjoy good visibility - and the range of seat adjustment even let my pal ’Tubby Dougie’ gets comfy. Cars like this are often bloaty when the roads turn twisty - but not the Forrester. It handles in a surprisingly nimble way - with the added security offered by that four wheel drive letting you cut along at a jolly brisk pace when ’needs must’. And if you load it to the gunwales - as is the wont of busy country folk - the self levelling rear suspension is a boon... Power for this Forester comes from the worlds first commercially produced 4 cylinder horizontally opposed diesel engine. (2.0 litres, 147 bhp and 350 Nm of torque are the figures). It really ’does the business’, with lots of features that, quite frankly, you don’t need to know about. Here is a simple list of what is so great about this engine: it delivers solid response from right down in the doldrums of the rev range; it is uncannily smooth; it has a seamless power delivery; it is able to take this heavy four wheel drive car up to 115mph while at the same time sipping fuel to give remarkable economy of 40 mpg in urban use (Try as I might I couldn’t get the consumption to increase over this!) - And it backs up all these virtues by being so quiet... With this extraordinary combination of vitality, vigour and tractability, it’s a true diesel engineering revolution. You don’t need to know about the gearshift quality of the six speed manual box (light, accurate, easy) because that’s a given thing with Subaru. You do need to know about the four wheel drive; however, because it is efficient and effective and lets you take the Forester where others fear to venture. Towing your horsebox across rutted fields or your caravan down to Cannes should be no problem. Not only does the new Forester pack a heavyweight punch that’s light on the pocket - it has style to go with stamina and class to go with capability too. And finally, for those who not only drive estate cars but LIVE on estates too, I’m pleased to tell you that with the Foresters top notch four-wheel-drive ’go anywhere’ ability to patrol your forest tracks and trails - you’ll be first past the poacher every time. Who wouldn’t like to see one of these splendid cars gift wrapped under the greenwood tree. As hardy as Old Thomas himself, this superb Subaru leaves all the rivals on the shelf.

Submitted: 14/08/2009 10:43:03 | ID: 3422

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Alister Monro, Bedfordshire

Subaru Forester Forester 2litre petrol auto 2007

We have used this Forester for a month now. It’s a courtesy car with 12,000 miles on the clock. It is an exceptionally good vehicle. It’s comfortable and quiet with really good road manners. It is much the best soft-roader I have ever driven. My next car will be a Subaru.

Submitted: 07/01/2009 11:14:46 | ID: 2349

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Andy Ekins, Huntingdonshire

Subaru Forester 2.0 X Plus 5dr 2006

Fantastic 4x4. Nothing frilly or pretentious about this car. Looks like a 4x4 should and gives an incredible drive. Very hardworking and has never needed anything doing to it, unlike previous 4x4’s I’ve owned (sorry Landrover). Not the cheapest 4x4 to run but you’ll save a packet on garage bills and resale value is healthy. Top marks.

Submitted: 20/11/2007 14:08:54 | ID: 661

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Number of reviews: 4

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The best consumer review received between January 22, 2010 and February 22, 2010 will win a Parrot RKi8400! Equipped with a 200 W MOFSET amplifier, the Parrot RKi8400 can offer you a new musical experience. Totally integrated into the vehicle’s audio system, conversations and music are transmitted via the speakers for maximum listening quality.
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Forester Car Video

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