AWD keeps Forester at the SUV safety forefront

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Updated: October 6, 2011 11:11AM

For those in the know, it should come as no surprise that the Subaru Forester has been a top pick in the small SUV segment for many years. The Forester began its life as a raised wagon with all the utility and space of an SUV as well as that outstanding all-wheel-drive Subaru signature traction.

Subaru’s understanding that safety is one of the feathers in its cap has made for an especially poignant recent TV campaign in which a father hands the car keys to his young daughter (a child) for the first time as he lectures her about being safe while driving. Between cuts from the young girl and the father, she eventually becomes a teenager, illustrating the feeling every parent comes to know: that once kids grow up and drive away, all you can hope for is that they will be safe.

While safety is key for Subaru, it is the Boxer engine and standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive system that makes the Forester a really unique vehicle. It does offer an all-new naturally aspirated engine for Forester 2.5X models.

When talking about Subarus, especially the Forester, I always find myself starting exactly where the real uniqueness begins — the all-wheel-drive traction.

The Boxer engine is a horizontally opposed engine that creates a lower center of gravity and extra traction and control on the road. This is why Forester truly feels planted to the road even during Chicago’s worst winter road conditions.

The standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive system aligns with the drivetrain to provide a more effortless power transfer to all four wheels.

What allows Subaru to deliver such great traction is that the system is continuously sending power to all four wheels under all road conditions, not only when the wheels may slip like with many other systems.

I found the driving characteristics of my test model Forester to be accommodating on the fly as well as sedanlike in most instances.

The 2011 Subaru Forester is offered in six trim levels: 2.5X ($20,495), 2.5X Premium ($23,195), 2.5X Limited ($26,495), 2.5X Touring ($27,995), 2.5XT Premium ($26,995) and 2.5XT Touring ($29,995).

My tester, the 2.5X Touring model, featured the all-new 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine (170 horsepower), which features chain-driven double overhead camshafts instead of a belt-driven single overhead camshaft.

The four-cylinder is mated to a five-speed manual transmission (21/27 mpg city/highway) or a four-speed automatic (20/26 mpg).

The five-speed manual gearbox is standard in the 2.5X and 2.5X Premium, with the automatic offered as an option. All other trim levels come only with the automatic transmission.

Especially of note is the turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter engine, which makes 224 horsepower and 226 pound-feet of torque.

I found the Forester’s cabin to be roomy and comfortable. It is meant to be an SUV with a go-anywhere attitude and with that comes a certain utilitarian style that fits especially well in the Forester. It is rugged without being uncomfortable.

The first thing I noticed in the cabin was the huge panoramic power moon roof that comes standard in all but the lowest trim level.

The cabin will fit a family of five, though four adults are probably where comfort might give way to simply getting somewhere. Dash controls are intuitive and easy to reach and handle. Head and leg room is more than adequate and the rear seats offer a 60/40 split-fold option to increase utility space.

Bluetooth is now standard on all but the base trim. A backup camera is standard in 2.5X Touring and 2.5XT Touring models as part of a new audio system. And there’s an optional, removable TomTom navigation system for 2.5X Premium models.

For those who swear by Subarus, and that group is growing every year, it is easy to see why outstanding traction and comfort at a landing price anywhere from $20,500 to $30,000 is an easy decision to make when the family is concerned.