Subaru Forester - Out Is Safe | Auto Class Magazine

Subaru Forester – Out Is Safe

23 September 2019 Redazione News, Tested

SUBARU FORESTER

Out Is Safe

Words by Marco Rallo / Photos by Ilario Villani

We are now almost at the end of the life cycle of the latest generation Subaru Forester and in view of the substantial changes that will come with the new model we have decided to refresh our memory and get back behind the wheel of what appears to be an unstoppable vehicle, without losing that civilized side that makes it an SUV incredibly capable of keeping up with tough and pure off-roaders. It has been a long way since 1997 – year in which the first model has been presented – the Forester of that time represented the most intimate Subaru essence, but if you are looking for on-board comfort, handling and that four-wheel drive able to climb vertical walls, you will not be disappointed.

The Forester is grown, or rather matured, but it still keeps its spirit that feels at ease immersed in nature, without any fear of dirtying the wheels that maintain a 17-inch rim size, ideal for combining a remarkable smoothness while driving, but quite agile when the road gives way to some dirt tracks. The ground clearance and minimal overhangs are one of its strong points and thanks to an excellent traction, you don’t feel the lack of reduced gears at all. Concerning steepest or very slippery slopes, the X-mode comes to help, an electronic device that automatically manages brake and clutch (automatic) to allow you to let your Subaru take care of the pedals, thus avoiding eventual locking of the wheels. The Forester loves adventure and with it there seems to be a relationship of complicity, where during the week it accompanies you every day from home to work and on the weekend it is ready for new adventures, to climb steep paths where the only sound is that of the most uncontaminated nature that seems to exist light years away compared to the city chaos to which we are accustomed.

To be a car capable of maintaining its desirability, however, it is necessary to know how to do many things well and in this situation the 2-liter 4-cylinder engine shows a surprising elasticity. It is a petrol unit and while waiting for the hybrid innovations now just around the corner, it seems not to be so conveniente on fuel also due to the only gearbox available, the now infamous CVT, an automatic transmission that allows you to move between the 6 speeds (practically virtual gears) also through the paddles at the steering wheel. If we found it more suitable on the diesel version tested a few years ago, on this petrol we also lack some power with just 150 horses, not enough to guarantee the Forester the agility we would have preferred on secondary roads. The torque of 198 Nm comes high on the rev scale at around 4,200 rpm, but the total weight stands at one and a half tons and this is another remarkable result if we count on a medium-small size SUV, with all-wheel drive, automatic transmission and plenty of on board comfort.

In the cockpit there is space for five people, the trunk is roomy and the touch display in the middle of the dashboard allows you to manage the on-board computer and the satellite navigator, which works quite well despite having a graphic that is now awaiting an update as well. It is logical to imagine that as soon as I had the Forester all to myself, the first thing that came to mind was to give vent to my desire for freedom and climb where no SUV would ever dare. The motorway sections slip away in the most complete comfort of a sober cockpit finished with leather and soft panels and, except some extra stops at the gas station, I reach what for many would represent the end of the road. It is there that the Forester allows you to discover new places and its best outdoor inclination, facing impassable paths, a ground covered by gravel first and by rocks shortly after, so harsh to easily put to the test much more extreme 4X4s. You get to the top and you could go even further, but from up here the view is so satisfying that I can enjoy a few moments of relax away from the crazed noises of the city. Once again, the Forester confirmed to be an excellent car capable of knowing how to do everything a family can ask, but above all it proved to be the ideal object to break down every barrier between you and those untouched places, which more than ever represent the escape route from an increasingly frenetic world.