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2009 Subaru Forester Review

July 1, 2008

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

boxy charm has been toned down
Cars.com

goes from mutant station wagon to mainstream compact crossover
Automobile

won't do much to tickle your excitement meter
Edmunds.com

most handsome and stylish Subaru in years
Popular Mechanics

Reviewers praised the 2009 Subaru Forester for additional legroom in its new edition, but the crossover’s looks are still plain enough for nearly all road testers to comment on it.

The Forester’s wagon body has been stretched for the new model year. Automobile magazine notes it’s now 3 inches longer than the previous version, with a wheelbase that’s 3.6 inches longer, which goes to improving rear-seat room. But despite the chance to revamp the Forester’s style, it barely nudges its way “from mutant station wagon to mainstream compact crossover.”

“The old model's boxy charm has been toned down,” Cars.com notes, and its “creased headlights and stacked bumper looked a bit busy.” Edmunds.com agrees, and says that while the “front end of the new Forester isn't beautiful,” the look is “a bit more upscale and sophisticated than its predecessors.”

A few reviewers found it much more appealing. Popular Mechanics thinks the 2009 Subaru Forester “is the most handsome and stylish Subaru in years,” while Motor Trend offers that “it'll even catch the eye of the opposite sex in the room.” It’s a little ironic that these enthusiast publications found more to praise in its style than the mainstream car reviewers on the Web--more, even, than they praised the high-performance Subaru Impreza WRX.

Inside, the Forester’s interior has been significantly upgraded with modern shapes and textures. But you should like the look of metallic plastic, warns Jalopnik: “the brushed aluminum-look interior details come off as far more flash than rugged,” they say.

TheCarConnection.com’s car experts feel that this year’s Forester takes a big leap forward in refined looks--for Subaru. But with the wild style changes apparent on the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Saturn Vue, it’s apparent that a flashy shape is becoming a selling point in the small crossover class. Subaru’s chosen to cater to a group of fiercely loyal owners, but probably won’t woo them away on looks.

Conclusion

It’s much improved, but the 2009 Subaru Forester’s still more earth shoe than Prada pump.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:boxy charm has been toned downCars.comgoes from mutant station wagon to mainstream compact crossoverAutomobilewon't do much to tickle your excitement meterEdmunds.commost handsome and stylish Subaru in yearsPopular Mechanics Reviewers praised the 2009 Subaru Forester for additional legroom in its new edition, but the crossover’s looks are still plain enough for nearly all road testers to comment on it. The Forester’s wagon body has been stretched for the new model year. Automobile magazine notes it’s now 3 inches longer than the previous version, with a wheelbase that’s 3.6 inches longer, which goes to improving rear-seat room. But despite the chance to revamp the Forester’s style, it barely nudges its way “from mutant station wagon to mainstream compact crossover.” “The old model's boxy charm has been toned down,” Cars.com notes, and its “creased headlights and stacked bumper looked a bit busy.” Edmunds.com agrees, and says that while the “front end of the new Forester isn't beautiful,” the look is “a bit more upscale and sophisticated than its predecessors.” A few reviewers found it much more appealing. Popular Mechanics thinks the 2009 Subaru Forester “is the most handsome and stylish Subaru in years,” while Motor Trend offers that “it'll even catch the eye of the opposite sex in the room.” It’s a little ironic that these enthusiast publications found more to praise in its style than the mainstream car reviewers on the Web--more, even, than they praised the high-performance Subaru Impreza WRX. Inside, the Forester’s interior has been significantly upgraded with modern shapes and textures. But you should like the look of metallic plastic, warns Jalopnik: “the brushed aluminum-look interior details come off as far more flash than rugged,” they say. TheCarConnection.com’s car experts feel that this year’s Forester takes a big leap forward in refined looks--for Subaru. But with the wild style changes apparent on the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Saturn Vue, it’s apparent that a flashy shape is becoming a selling point in the small crossover class. Subaru’s chosen to cater to a group of fiercely loyal owners, but probably won’t woo them away on looks. ConclusionIt’s much improved, but the 2009 Subaru Forester’s still more earth shoe than Prada pump. 2009 SUBARU FORESTER STYLING | 7 out of 10 Cars.com: “boxy charm has been toned down” Automobile: “goes from mutant station wagon to mainstream compact crossover” Edmunds.com: “won't do much to tickle your excitement meter” Popular Mechanics: “most handsome and stylish ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Dodge Journey crossover is in its first model year, and in its base form sports plenty of room, though its powertrain and interior quality leave much to be desired. Saturn’s Vue was new in 2008 and is the handsomest crossover in this group, and offers a big V-6 for plenty of power. Honda’s CR-V is the class leader in sales but was updated with a controversial front end recently. Toyota’s RAV4 is the only vehicle in this group to offer a third-row seat; it also can be ordered with a V-6 engine.

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See the Subaru Forester in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998

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