Subaru Forester 2003 Review

What we liked
>> True all-wheel drive
>> Versatile, practical package
>> Turbo has bucketloads of power

Not so much
>> Non-turbo engine is lacklustre
>> Engine lacks refinement
>> Boxy styling

OVERVIEW
Subaru claims the Forester started the trend in compact, all-terrain wagons way back in '97. The first Forester was undeniably great value, with real time four-wheel drive and plenty of features for just $26,990.

Subaru introduced the second-generation Forester in 2002, and in August 2003 added the turbocharged XT. The new Forester models each have a bigger engine, slightly bigger interior and even more equipment.

Subaru states the second generation Forester "continues the philosophy of evolution, building on the strengths of its current model". Those 'strengths' have helped Subaru to make around 1,000 Forester sales a month in Australia alone. Sales don't lie. And the Forester's sales figures prove that the sturdy, hard working AWD wagon has struck a chord with Australian buyers.

So, based on that, why mess with it? Clearly Subaru agreed, massaging the Forester in areas where it could do the most good without destroying its fundamental strengths. According to Subaru boss, Nick Senior, the "new generation Forester is in some ways evolutionary, but there are many significant revolutionary aspects to the vehicle, not least in the important areas of safety and engineering."

In tune with this "significant revolution", the Forester cops a $1000 price increase; the range now starting at $30,990 for the base X model and reaching $37,990 for the XS luxury pack. An auto 'box is $2000 extra. Subaru added the turbocharged XT to the range in August 2003, priced at the time at $39,490.

FEATURES
In building the new Forester, Subaru chose to focus under the skin, rather than make sweeping changes to the look though we reckon Australia's -- and the world's -- adverse reaction to the bug-eyed WRX probably played an equal role in this decision.

Even so, we reckon there's room for improvement, especially at the rear. Changes to the front-end are subtle, and include new grille, headlight shape and bonnet. Back-end redesign is more obvious and has something of a narrowing effect on the car's visual impact. Redesigned window openings and reshaped A-pillars are claimed to reduce wind noise, and the Forester now sports a more aerodynamic shape.

Speaking of manufacturer claims, Subaru tells us the redesigned wing mirrors are now 30 percent more resistant to dirt and grime. OK... But how the heck do they test that?

All Foresters are equipped with air-conditioning, CD player, cruise control, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, and 16inch wheels and tyres.

The XS and XT models add climate control, self-levelling suspension, 6-stack CD player and alloy wheels. The optional luxury pack on both XS and XT models includes side airbags, leather interior and sunroof.

COMFORT
Stepping inside reveals a far more appealing visage than before, with better looking and feeling materials and an updated dash design. Getting positioned in the driver's seat is easy with the steering column now having a greater adjustment range and the seat being adjustable for height.

The seats offer reasonable comfort and support although they do feel a bit firm after a while. The cabin is slightly wider than the previous model and rear passengers benefit from a marginal increase in legroom.

Rear seat room is more generous in the new Forester and an upward-opening, single-piece tailgate provides easy access to the cargo area.

SAFETY
Subaru achieved a five star ANCAP (Australian New Car Assessment Program) crash-test rating on the XS and XT models with Luxury Pack. Forester gets anti-lock braking with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, and all models get a viscous LSD. Forester also provides dual SRS airbags as standard and front seats are installed with active headrests.

The Luxury Pack, available on XS and XT models, adds side airbags to Forester's safety credentials.

MECHANICAL
Under the bonnet, the old model's 2.0-litre boxer four has been replaced by a bigger 2.5-litre unit in the X and XS models that pumps out 112kiloWatts; 22 percent more power than before. Torque is up from 184Newton-metres to 223Nm, promising easier in-gear acceleration and real world driving.

The XT produces 155kW at 5600 rpm, and 320Nm at 3600rpm. That's 38 percent more power than the naturally aspirated version, and with 43 percent more torque. Transmission options remain the same for the XT as the other Forester models.

Suspension adjustments and a lower centre of gravity, along with the inherent benefits of Subaru's symmetrical drivetrain, are claimed to improve on-road handling and performance. XT models get a more sporty suspension tune than naturally aspirated models.

All second-generation Forester models are equipped with a limited-slip differential in the rear. Yokohama Geolander tyres are standard on all models and provide plenty of grip, but are quite noisy on coarse chip bitumen.

All models, including the turbo are available with either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. All non-turbocharged manual models feature dual-range transmission. A full-size spare wheel is standard on all models.

COMPETITORS
The number of vehicles on offer to consumers in the small-medium 4WD market seems to grow daily. At last count more than 10 worthwhile vehicles are fighting for your dollar, which keeps pricing keen and incentives plentiful.

Major competition on price and performance comes from the Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape, all of which look more like 'real' 4WDs than the 'wagon-ish' Forester. Mitsubishi's Outlander, which follows the Forester's pumped-up passenger wagon styling trend, is also worth a look.

The turbocharged XT model has very few competitors with the same off-road and performance credentials for the price. Perhaps the closest is Mazda's V6 Tribute and even Subaru's own WRX or Outback H6.

ON THE ROAD
Overall the new Forester is a step forward on the old model, thanks to a bigger engine and other changes we've documented above. But it's the size of the step that's disappointing. There's no doubt the Forester is a strong, honest all-wheel drive wagon that now represents class-leading value for money, but mechanically it's only marginally better than before.

The performance promise made by Forester's bigger engine is not fully delivered on. The Forester is stronger on inclines, and does feel like it's accelerating harder through the gears, but not 22 percent harder. Subaru claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 9.9 seconds for the Forester X manual, which is faster than the old model's time of 10.6 seconds -- not a revolutionary step forward.

Step into the more expensive and significantly more powerful turbocharged XT model and it's a whole different story. Here's an engine that feels like its delivering more performance than the spec sheet says. Its 2.5-litre, turbocharged engine makes every one of its 155kW work overtime, and there's plenty of torque on-tap from low revs, which makes urban crawling a painless affair.

7 DAY TEST

The new model is no giant leap forward, even though Subaru has addressed the engine power and interior quality criticisms of its original Forester. Engine power is up by 22 percent, and on the road this is well appreciated. It still doesn't match some of its rivals, but this is a very flexible engine with plenty of low to mid-range torque for easy urban cruising. It is by no means rocket-like off the line, but delivers more than enough power for most situations.

The chassis has been widened, and this together with an upgraded self-levelling rear suspension, retuned springs and dampers, and stiffer body shell make for a very stable car at all speeds. The Forester's responsive steering and limited bodyroll allows for enthusiastic driving and confident car control. At the same time, the suspension delivers a comfortable and compliant ride over all but the most chopped up road surfaces.

A substantial upgrade to the Forester was necessary for the car to compete effectively against its rivals, and while it may not be a giant step up, it is enough to ensure the car remains a contender and is still one of the best in the bunch.

Read more on our Compact 4WD Comparison here.