Nuts & Bolts
2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT
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Complaint: The hood scoop. Enough said.
Ride, acceleration and handling: Mary Anne and I gave excellent marks to ride comfort and acceleration. Ria agreed with us on ride and acceleration. But she really hated that scoop and said it interfered with her sense of the wagon's handling.
Head-turning quotient: Frankly, we all agree that this probably is the best-looking Subaru ever, which is something akin to describing a handsome hippopotamus.
Body style/layout: The Forester is a mid-size, front-engine, all-wheel-drive utility wagon available in two basic trim levels -- 2.5X and 2.5XT -- with "Limited" and "L.L. Bean" upscale editions available at each level.
Engines/transmissions: The tested Forester 2.5XT gets a turbocharged, 2.5-liter, 16-valve, flat-four engine that develops 224 horsepower at 5,200 revolutions per minute and 226 foot-pounds of torque at 2,800 revolutions per minute. The engine is mated to a four-speed transmission that can be shifted automatically or manually.
Capacities: There are seats for five people. Cargo capacity with rear seats up is 30.8 cubic feet or 63 cubic feet with rear seats folded. The Forester can be equipped to tow up to 2,400 pounds. Fuel capacity is 16.9 gallons. Remember, in the turbocharged 2.5XT, the required fuel is premium. If you do not wish to pay for premium, get the base 2.5X engine.
Mileage: On the highway in the Forester 2.5XT, we averaged 24 miles per gallon.
Safety: Standard equipment includes side and head air bags, antilock brakes, and electronic stability and traction control.
Price: Base price for the tested 2009 Forester XT with navigation and backup camera is $29,995. Dealer's invoice price on that model is $28,034. Price as tested is $31,581, including $921 in options (Sirius satellite radio and trailer hitch) and a $665 destination charge. Dealer's price as tested is $29,390. Prices sourced from Subaru, Edmunds.com, and Cars.com, an affiliate of The Washington Post.
Purse-strings note: The Forester remains this column's favorite mid-size utility wagon. Compare with Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Sportage, Toyota RAV4.
