22 – Autonews - AA Club of Kenya magazine used vehicle review
Subaru combines safety and performance to edge out rivals
It may surprise you to know that Subaru Forester turned out to be the safest SUV tested by Euro NCAP in 2012 . Since 2009 , the organisation ’ s crash testing assessment system has evolved to be more rigorous and comprehensive . The five-star rating awarded by industry giant Euro NCAP was a huge achievement for the new Forester . The vehicle was was given the maximum-possible score for pedestrian leg protection ( thanks to its front bumper ’ s design ) and , thanks to Subaru ’ s Ring-Shaped Reinforcement™ , top marks for the protection of all body areas in a side barrier impact . Standard safety equipment includes a total of seven airbags – dual front , side and curtain airbags are complimented by a driver ’ s knee airbag . In order to prevent a collision it comes with Vehicle Dynamics Control ( VDC ) fitted as standard to all models , this encompasses Anti-skid Brake System ( ABS ) and Electronic Brake Distribution ( EBD ) with Brake Assist ( BA ), along with Traction Control System ( TCS ), Electronic Stability Control ( ESC ) and Limited Slip Device ( LSD ). With these active and passive safety systems on board , the new Forester is loaded with safety technology which not only serves to keep its occupants safe but also reduce the risk to other road users . the trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive™ system along with the use of Boxer ® engines also contribute to safer driving thanks to the resultant low centre of gravity created by the drivetrain .
Handling If power is not what you seek , you can opt for the 2.0 nonturbo-charged version . There is a clear difference between driving a Subaru and other SUVs in this segment ; its flat-four boxer engine seats lower and therefore offers improves handling . The tagline ‘ Confidence in motion ’ could not have found a better home . And they have added another tagline to lure even more customers , ‘ Enjoyment and Peace of Mind ’. This is in reference to Subaru ’ s safety standards , which have been segment-leading for years . More details available in the sidebar . Areas that have been improved include driving , handling and stopping power . Subaru continue to focus on the driver and the new ‘ SI-DRIVE ’ has been finely tuned for the models with Direct Injection Turbo charged engine ( DIT ). It has ‘ Intelligent mode ’, ‘ Sport mode ’ and ‘ S #’ ( Sports sharp ) mode . In sport mode , the driver can shift between eight steps . In addition to the smooth shift change of the CVT , the driver can enjoy sportier driving by selecting the mode with direct feeling like AT or MT vehicles .
Pioneer But the Honda CR-V that was introduced in 1995 , two years before the first Forester , is not taking its pioneering role lightly and continues to deliver on usable interior space . It is a favorite for mothers with growing children and this has been improved in the 2013 mod In the cockpit , the driver has everything where it should be , starting with the gear lever that juts out of the dashboard . The driving position has two automatic settings so both parents can have their preferred setting saved in memory . The multi-function display tells the driver how much fuel is left in the 58-litre tank and what distance can be covered in the current driving conditions .