Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Winter 2008/2009 | Page 12
FORESTER
lingo aside, the Subaru Forester can best
be described very simply: surprisingly fun
to drive – in all sorts of conditions.
But the technical excellence of this
smart-sized SUV doesn’t end there; the
Forester also comes standard with a raft
of active and passive safety features.
For example: the braking system, which
includes 4-wheel/4-sensor/4-channel
ABS to precisely control brake pressure,
Electronic Brake-force Distribution
to manage rear-wheel braking when
carrying a heavy load and Brake Assist
to help generate more stopping force
during panic situations. (Five-speed
manual models also have a standard Hill
Holder system to prevent roll-back when
starting on an incline.)
Another noteworthy active safety
feature: the standard Vehicle Dynamics
Control (VDC), which helps maintain
control through a network of sensors
linked to the AWD (4EAT SS models),
engine management and brake systems
when the limits of adhesion are exceeded.
As with previous models, the new
Forester also boasts class-leading passive
safety features including: front
seatbelts with pre-tensioners to hold you
in place and load limiters to guard from
injury; front, front side and side curtain
airbags; anti-whiplash head restraints
that automatically move forward in a
rear-end collision to reduce shock to the
head and neck; and the ISO-FIX/LATCH
child seat anchor system with three-point
seatbelts and head restraints for all
rear seats.
THE ADVANTAGES
Powerful, yet highly efficient
Class-leading safety features
Excellent handling, on- and off-road
Impressive ground clearance
Class-leading cargo carrying capacity
Surprising legroom for rear passengers
Standard convenience features such as privacy glass
and roof rails; available features like an extra-large
moonroof and reclining rear seats
THE PROOF
‘Top Safety Pick’*, Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety (IIHS)
5-Star Government crash-test ratings** conducted
by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA)
Best New SUV/CUV (under $35,000), Canadian
Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY), Automobile
Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC)
2009 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year™