Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Winter 2008/2009 | Page 11

STRONG,
SHARP & SEXY

A bold new direction for the 2009 Forester

T

he brand new Subaru Forester has received an
extreme makeover – and it’s set to become even
more popular than ever as a result.
Since 1997, fans of the Subaru Forester have been
attempting to keep the object of their affection a
secret. No such luck, though, because the Forester has
forged a hard-earned reputation as the SUV of choice
for those with a serious aversion to compromise. Now,
with the introduction of the 2009 Subaru Forester, the
third generation of this fan favourite, more drivers than
ever are discovering what this nimble and versatile
vehicle has to offer.
If the exterior designers responsible for the
new Subaru Forester had anything written on the
whiteboard as the design process began, it was
probably something along the lines of: “Big, bold and
beautiful.” While the old Forester adopted a decidedly
tall and angular design, the new model sports a more
sensuous SUV style. It’s still tall – in fact, it’s grown
in height by a full 110 mm. Other dimensions have
increased as well: The wheelbase has jumped by
90 mm, the overall length has increased by 75 mm,
and the width has grown by 45 mm.
The larger story, though, is the change in design
philosophy. Whereas the old Forester advocated the
function over form approach, the third-gen edition

sacrifices neither form nor function; here, too, the
no-compromises school of thought takes centre stage.
Strong, sharp and sexy, the ’09 Forester is clearly a
much bolder looking SUV than its predecessor. Yet
it retains the key characteristics that have made
the Forester such a classic: a high seating position,
generous glass area and tons of useable space.
For the typical Subaru driver, these are just a few
of the great qualities they have come to appreciate
over the years. And here are some more: standard
Subaru symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
and a long-travel, 4-wheel fully independent
suspension system honed in World Rally competition.
There’s also the legendary line of SUBARU BOXER
engines – in this case, your choice of the peppy 2.5-litre
SOHC 4-cylinder (170 horsepower; 170 lb-ft of torque)
for the Forester 2.5X models or the thrilling 2.5-litre
DOHC turbocharged 4-cylinder (224 horsepower;
226 lb-ft of torque) for the 2.5XT Limited.
Both engines incorporate advanced technologies
to create what engineers refer to as the sweet spot:
that place where the fuel and air mixture is precisely
measured, and the timing of the exhaust and intake
valves is immaculate. Net result: low-end torque +
top-end power + great fuel efficiency + minimal
emissions. (And no compromises.) All the technical