2015 Subaru Forester: The King of All-Wheel Drive in a Crossover SUV

As the leader in all-wheel drive technology that has been added as standard fare for almost every vehicle that they make Subaru offers the Forester for 2015 that the competition could almost ask for and receive a penalty flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. That is if being fair were something Subaru was concerned with, which of course they are not and because of this SUV shoppers have the option of one of the true leaders in the industry as a crossover SUV. Leading the way over the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Forde Escape the Forester is the compact crossover SUV that makes the other shake in their skins.

The Forester makes going off road a real joy and handles all weather conditions with agility and ability that is often not witnessed in other vehicles. For the 2015 model year the Forester adds a rearview camera to the base model giving this added control to the entire lineup. The turbocharged XT model now includes the All-Weather Package and the 2.5i Premium model can be equipped with a manual transmission and comes standard with a moon roof. The navigation system has been taken to an optional instead of standard feature for the higher trims allowing owners to choose their own navigation system or dealers to install ones that are more appropriate for their customers.

The drive in the Forester is strong and confident with the electrically boosted power steering that is ultra-responsive in its feedback and handles any steering challenge with ease .The suspension offers added control and aggressiveness off road while offering a smooth and enjoyable ride when on the pavement to allow all occupants to feel comfortable, safe, and secure when inside the Forester. While not the quietest cabin in the market, the Forester offers a good amount of insulation and noise reduction technology to allow the inhabitants to enjoy their own choice of sounds and not as much of the road around them.

The Forester offers two engines to choose from. Both of these engines are a unique design element of Subaru that is offered on other models as well called the “boxer” engine. This engine positions the pistons horizontally instead of vertically and allows the vehicle to enjoy a lower center of gravity as well as reduces the vibrations felt from the engine. The first of these offered is the 2.5-liter four-cylinder that is naturally aspirated and carries 170 horsepower and 174 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is matched up with either a six-speed manual transmission bringing in a fuel efficiency of 22 city/29 hwy mpg or the Lineartonic continuously variable automatic transmission that offers a fuel efficiency of 24 city/32 hwy mpg. The towing capacity for either engine is a meager 1,500 pounds, but is enough to get some camping gear out in the woods for a nice weekend getaway.

The second engine offered is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that brings in 250 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque even though it is a smaller engine. Only one transmission is offered for this engine and that is the High-Torque Lineartronic CVT with multi-mode SI-Drive that emulates a six or eight-speed transmission. This powertrain comes in with a fuel efficiency of 23 city/28 hwy mpg. The smaller engine can run perfectly on regular gasoline, but the turbocharged version requires premium gasoline to operate.

The interior of the Forester is quieter and more comfortable than its predecessor with softer materials and more comfortable surfaces that give it a feeling of a premium vehicle instead of a small SUV. The seats are very supportive and add better visibility than in previous years and the legroom in the rear is plentiful even for larger adults to enjoy the ride in comfort. The rear seat folds in a 60/40 fashion to stretch the storage space from 34.4 cubic feet to a massive 74.7 cubic feet offering plenty of cargo and passenger options.

From the outside the Forester offers an aggressive and enthusiastic appearance. The front is adorned with a chrome trimmed grill and flanked by two wing shaped headlights that offer the feeling of a vehicle that is ready to take off in flight. The shape is fairly standard fare, but offers a nice look from the hood to the roof and on back to the lift gate. Adding a final bit of aggressive styling are the largely spoked wheels that give a menacing feeling to the vehicle that just really wants to go off road and show what it’s capable of doing.

The standard features offered for the Forester start at the 2.5i with a full array of power assists, air conditioning, cruise control, a multifunction steering wheel, a rearview camera, a color multi-function display, Bluetooth connectivity and variable wipers. The 2.5i Premium adds a moon roof and an enhanced six-speaker audio system with HD Radio. The 2.5i Limited edition adds the CVT, leather upholstery, reclining rear seatbacks, automatic climate control and a power lift gate. At the Touring trim electroluminescent gauges, keyless entry, keyless starting, a harman/kardon premium audio system with satellite radio and dual-zone climate controls are all found.

The optional features for the Forester are generally gained by moving up the trim levels. Some options that are available include the CVT, voice-activated navigation, EyeSight Driver Assist System, heated seats, heated side mirrors, a trailer hitch, a remote engine starter and a heavy-duty roof cargo basket. Adding all of these features gives the Forester plenty of useful tools and features for any driver or passenger to enjoy the ride in safe and secure comfort.

The 2015 Subaru Forest starts out at the 2.5i model with a base price of just over $23,000 with the manual transmission. If the automatic transmission is chose the price will increase to $24,000 and with all the options chosen the 2.5i can reach up around $31,000. The turbocharged 2.0XT model starts at $29,000 and can end up in the $36,000 price range with all the options chosen. At any price this is an awesome SUV at all trim levels with the benefit of Subaru’s industry leading all-wheel drive system.