Subaru Forester 2006 Review

What we liked
>> Solid competent handling
>> Smooth strong engine
>> All-wheel drive grip

Not so much
>> Automatic transmission hunting
>> Rear seat legroom
>> Steering lacks feedback

OVERVIEW
When Subaru launched the first generation Forester in Australia in 1997 into a segment that was then classified as all terrain wagons, it had only three real rivals: Honda's CR-V, the Toyota RAV4 and the Suzuki Vitara.

Between the four vehicles they sold a total of 11,107 units that year in a total vehicle market of 722,000.

By last year, the Forester's rivals in what is now classified as the compact SUV segment, had grown to include products from Ford, Hyundai, Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Nissan with combined sales of these and the original four reaching a staggering 63,641.

So you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the competition in this market has been fierce and for a brand to maintain its market share it helps to have a distinction. For Subaru, since 1998, its sole focus has been all-wheel drive, having dropped all front-wheel drive models across its entire lineup from September 1998.

Needless to say, this focus on all-wheel drive has given the company a bit of an edge in the credibility stakes when it comes to sales in the small soft-roader market, and helped keep Forester consistently among the top four or five in the sales charts since its launch.

The company claims a potential return buyer rate or customer loyalty factor of about 75 per cent -- among the highest in the industry -- but that doesn't mean it can rest on its laurels, especially with such strong competition.

So for what it calls the 2006 Model Year, Subaru has given its Forester a significant upgrade that combines some visual changes with more substantial revisions under the skin.

As with the previous lineup, Forester is available with a choice of two engines: turbo or atmo 2.5lt four-cylinder. Forester is offered in three spec levels for the naturally-aspirated engine (X, XS and XS luxury pack) and two for the turbo (XT and XT luxury pack).

Price increases have been minimal with the manual Forester X starting at $31,990 including on-road costs but not dealer delivery, rising to $46,990 for the Forester XT Luxury Pack automatic.

FEATURES
The new Forester was already well conceived and under gestation before the new corporate face of Subaru was revealed in the B9 Tribeca and forthcoming Impreza, so despite a revised grille, head and taillights and front bumper, recognising the differences to the previous model is something only trainspotter types are likely to get right.

There have been some cosmetic changes that might be noticed with the new model offering a choice of dark or light interior colours across the range, water repellant cloth trim, bigger 17-inch alloys and gas discharge headlights on the XT and a redesigned centre console that is not only an armrest but contains a couple of cupholders and a sliding tray for rear seat passengers.

Although hardly adventurous, the styling of the Forester was not a source of great criticism. What was, according to Subaru, were engine power and driveability and these have been addressed by retuning the engines for more power and revising the suspension settings.

COMFORT
With a lower centre of gravity than many of its higher-bodied rivals, the Forester has always been able to get away with a softer suspension tune than might be necessary to keep cornering body roll under control and offer a comfy ride in the process.

But for the MY06 Forester, the decision was taken to very obviously firm-up the suspension even further with changes to geometry, and damper and spring rates. While there are benefits in the handling, there is a slight trade-off in comfort with more low-speed jitteriness over broken surfaces felt through the seats.

However, once up to urban speeds, compliance returns and over most surfaces, the Forester offers a comfortable, if firm-ish ride.

The seats are supportive and well-sized in the front and a height-adjustable driver's seat and steering wheel enables a good driving position.

In the rear, the seat base has been extended by 50mm offering more thigh support but as one of the shorter cars in its class, legroom is still on the tight side.

As far as comfort features go, the Forester has never been lacking with all models incorporating air conditioning -- automatic climate control on XS and XT models -- cruise control, remote locking, power mirrors and windows, and a radio CD sound system with XS and XT models gaining an in-dash six stacker. The luxury pack for these two models adds leather trim and a power sunroof.

SAFETY
Subaru was the first company to achieve a local five star ANCAP rating with the Forester XS Luxury Pack which added side airbags and a seat-belt warning chime in 2003 and now with all Foresters fitted with dual front and front side airbags, Subaru is claiming an untested five star rating for the range.

As well as the airbags, other passive safety features include pre-tensioners with load limiters on the seatbelts, and active head restraints to reduce whiplash injuries.

On the active safety front, the Forester is also well-kitted with safety equipment that comes primarily in the form of the full-time all-wheel drive system. When combined with the automatic transmission, this system uses electronic sensors to control the distribution of power to the four wheels that can vary the torque to a maximum of 60/40 front to rear.

With the manual gearbox, the all-wheel drive system uses a viscous coupling limited slip centre differential to control drive with a normal 50:50 split during straight line driving. Both manual and auto models also feature a viscous limited slip rear differential to transfer torque across the rear axle to the wheel with the most grip.

Antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution are also standard across the range.

MECHANICAL
Although the engine capacity remains the same at 2.5lt, Subaru has managed to extract more power out of its flat-four, horizontally-opposed engine largely through changes to the exhaust system and engine management system.

The naturally-aspirated X and XS models now produce 121kW at 5600rpm and 226Nm at 4400rpm, compared to the previous outputs of 112kW and 223Nm. Although the torque figure is only a marginal improvement, it is delivered across a broader rev range.

In addition to these changes, the turbo engine also gains from a slightly higher combustion ratio that increases power to 169kW at 5600rpm -- up from 155kW -- and although the torque remains the same at 320Nm, it is once again delivered across a wider rev range.

All Foresters now use a drive-by-wire control for better throttle response.

There have also been changes to the transmissions for MY06 with the four-speed auto now using a ‘direct control' system that basically removes some of the previous unit's electronic and hydraulic complexity, and 2.5kg in weight in the process.

The XT auto box also gains a tipshift sequential manual function dubbed Sportshift that allows you to decide when the ratios change via a forward/rear flick of the gearshift lever.

The five-speed manual gearbox has undergone some minor refinements largely aimed at improving noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels and also has a slightly reduced shift stroke.

COMPETITORS
As mentioned previously there are now no fewer than nine compact SUVs that might be considered direct competitors for Forester with entry-level prices ranging from the $28,390 three-door Toyota RAV4 to the top-end turbo diesel $39,950 Landrover Freelander.

Four-cylinder engine choices tend to be around the 2.3-2.5lt range with Nissan leading the power stakes with 132kW from its 2.5. Ford, Hyundai, Mazda and Kia also offer small V6 powerplants and there is a smattering of turbodiesel options as well.

Most products in this market are soft roaders with no low range gears for more adventurous off-roading although the manual Forester, Landrover and Suzuki offerings go low.

There are varying four-wheel drive systems too, although all provide what most want in this market and that is extra traction for wet roads, gravel, sand or snow, and for many the buying decision is very much a touchy-feely thing rather than one based on four-wheel drive ability.

ON THE ROAD
From the instant you prod the throttle in the new MY06 Forester you can feel the difference a year makes. The initial harshness of the firmer suspension as we set off across the cobbles lining the front of Hobart's Salamanca docks area seemed to be indicative of a step in the wrong direction as Subaru, at least on paper, had seemingly wanted to make the Forester into more a driver's car than the family favourite wagon it had been.

But once on the open road at a reasonable speed, those concerns started to disappear. That initial low-speed discomfort had not persisted and over the twisting winding roads leading out of Hobart, the Forester seemed well composed with a reasonable degree of compliance. There is no doubt that the ride is firmer, with reduced pitching and body roll but apart from the start, it was not uncomfortable.

Once on the gravel, the suspension changes became even more appealing with little transference of the rutted surface through the seats and a welcome degree of grip and surefootedness from the all-wheel drive system.

The extra 9kW from the naturally-aspirated engine wasn't blindingly obvious without driving and comparing its predecessor, however the new Forester pulls off from the line with a decent urge and is not lacking in torque for overtaking as the speed grows. Certainly evident was a degree of hunting in the automatic transmission as it wound up and down hills. Where the previous model tended to have a slight sluggishness to kick down, it seems this new model is overly keen.

Given the time restraints affecting the launch, CarPoint was limited to a drive only in the atmo 2.5 automatic model and so has yet to fully test the range, but on initial impressions the upgrades have returned Forester to its place among the leading contenders in the small SUV market.