2011 Subaru Forester Overviews

Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester was fully redesigned for 2009, gaining a slightly larger, slightly more rounded look that replaced its much-loved, more overtly boxy predecessor. Inside, the Forester is a little plain, but it's a good fit for the outdoorsy, understated crowd that falls for the "Subaru Forester" in droves.

The big news is that the "Subaru Forester" gets an all-new engine for 2011. The way the Forester handles is positively car like, and the all-wheel drive system assists with traction out of corners, enhancing its already admirable poise. The boxy shape of the 2011 Subaru Forester, along with ideally placed seating and a low cargo floor, altogether make it much roomier inside than you'd likely anticipate. All the while, the Forester feels quite refined. Also, the Forester's interior materials and trims—especially the unremarkable dash plastics—are a weakness, with dash and center-console materials, and grained and matte-metallic plastics used as surfaces, feeling a bit hard and hollow.

The 2011 Subaru Forester ranks 5 Compact SUVs. The 2011 Subaru Forester has standard all-wheel drive and a low base price, making it one of the better values in the class for drivers who frequently encounter foul weather.

Even with Subaru’s budget pricing, Subaru buyers tend to have higher incomes than typical buyers of brands like Toyota. Check out the Hyundai Tucson if you want more refinement than the Forester offers. If you want a more comfortable, upscale feel, better fuel economy and don’t need all-wheel drive, the Tucson is a better option than the Forester.

The 2011 Subaru Forester comes in several trims: the base 2.5X, 2.5X Premium, 2.5X Limited, and the turbocharged 2.5XT Premium, 2.5XT Touring and 2.5XT Limited. As is the case with all Subaru’s, the Forester comes standard with all-wheel drive.

On long stretches of road, the Forester’s powerful acceleration leads to a headlong feeling of being propelled into uncharted territory.

Included standard with the 2.5X models is the 2.5-liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine that generates 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. The XT versions of the Foresters include the turbocharged version of this engine, which delivers 224 horsepower and 226 pound-feet of torque. The EPA rates the standard engine paired with an automatic as 20/26/22 city/highway/combined.

A robust and pleasant vehicle, the Subaru Forester provides the driver with a sporty, mid-class vehicle that functions excellently for trips and other longer term outings. Excellent window views for the driver and passengers make driving in scenic areas particularly pleasurable. Improvements in performance make this particular Forester one of the most powerful Subaru models to date