Subaru Forester design
The Forester packs a lot of utility into a reasonably sized footprint, which has enabled it to hold its own in the burgeoning small-crossover field.
Not only is there very good space for four people (it's a little narrow for five), but the cargo area is large, practically shaped, and easy to load thanks to the low liftover height. Four-wheel drive is standard on the Forester (as it is on all Subarus), so there's no price-leader, front-wheel-drive version. Even so, prices are very competitive with the class, starting at just over $20,000 and topping out at $30,000.
The turbo provides peppy performance, but it might not be the way to go here. Yes, it makes a significant 44 hp more than the normally aspirated version of this engine, and acceleration, accompanied by the characteristic Subaru boxer-engine burble, is sprightly. But the extra power comes at a considerably cost in fuel economy. Where the standard engine manages 21/27 mpg ratings (with either an automatic or a manual transmission), the turbo is rated at 19/24 mpg, which is pretty grim for a small SUV, and it requires premium fuel to boot. The turbo's ratings are worse than the Toyota RAV4 V-6 and about on par with the six-cylinder Outback. It must be mentioned, however, that a more powerful optional engine is something that most small SUVs don't even offer.
Subaru Forester Interior
The Forester's two engines are denoted by the model suffixes: 2.5X and 2.5XT. The former signifies the base engine, which is new for 2011. A DOHC 2.5-liter boxer four, it makes 170 hp. 2.5XT designates the turbocharged version (the functional hood scoop is the visual giveaway); it makes 224 hp from the same 2.5 liters.
No comments:
Post a Comment