Subaru Forester

Angular Front Exterior View - 2010 Subaru Forester 4-door Auto X

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Shopping for a 2012 Subaru Forester? MSRP: $20,595 - $29,895

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The Subaru Forester is that brand’s compact crossover, effectively a tall station wagon built on the mechanicals of the Impreza compact sedan. It can be considered the smaller brother of the midsize Outback crossover, though without the two-tone paint schemes and body cladding used on some Outbacks. First introduced for 1998, the Forester was initially sold along with a five-door Impreza wagon, a model that was dropped when the latest Impreza launched as a 2009 model offering only a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. The first generation Forester ran from 1998 through 2003, and the second generation from 2004 to 2008, though it received a significant restyling of the front end, the tailgate, and the rear lights for the 2006 model year.

Although the somewhat larger third-generation 2009 Forester arrived at dealers just as the automotive recession hit with full force, it nonetheless shattered sales records and propelled Subaru to a record year. Its combination of full-time all-wheel-drive, low sticker price (starting just above $20,000), and high perceived value have continued to lead buyers who wouldn’t before have considered a Subaru to compare it to the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Chevrolet Equinox. The Forester, however, does not offer the option of a third-row seat as the latest, enlarged versions of the Honda and Toyota do.

All Foresters are fitted with Subaru’s characteristic flat-four “boxer” engine, in sizes ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 liters, some turbocharged for extra power. All come with full-time all-wheel-drive, another Subaru feature setting it apart from competitors that offer AWD as a pricey upgrade over standard front-wheel-drive base models. The base model is the 2.5X, whose engine produces 170 horsepower, with either a five-speed manual gearbox or an old four-speed automatic transmission.  Upgrading to the 2.5XT turbocharged model boosts that number to 224 hp.

While the base Forester model could be viewed as somewhat Spartan, it’s possible to specify a turbo model with all the options that hits the $30,000 mark. The latest Forester finally includes a navigation system option, along with an available moonroof, leather 10-way power-adjustable and heated driver’s seat, steering wheel audio controls, and iPod and Bluetooth connectivity for personal electronics.

Unusually, Subaru offers a Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicle, or P-ZEV, option in the three dozen or so states that have not adopted California’s stricter emissions limits. For $300, this option (for non-turbo models only) adds better control of evaporative emissions and lower tailpipe emissions, along with leaf-logo badges to highlight the P-ZEV version’s green credentials.