For over ten years, the Forester has been the “secret Subaru” - the car that true Subaru cognoscenti prize but don’t talk about. If you talk about it, then everyone will know the secret and want one.
A Bigger, Taller Ride
The Forester is built on the Impreza chassis, and uses primarily Impreza running gear. Its boxy shape belies its true performance potential, which is significant. In 2004 and 2005, the turbocharged Forester XT received the same 2.5-liter EJ257 engine as the high-zoot Impreza WRX STi. That engine was mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and a final drive ratio of 4.44 to 1, as opposed to the taller ratio in the STi. There were some ECU and turbo differences, but the XT carried the heart of an STi and a final drive ratio that gave the little wagon tremendous acceleration.
Fast forward to the current model, the 2009 Forester XT still has the same great underpinnings, including the EJ255 engine, which is nearly identical to the EJ257. Subaru has also changed the Forester body style. Each generation of the Forester has been bigger than the previous, and the ’09 Forester is now undeniably a crossover SUV rather than a compact wagon.
I can’t say that I’m a fan of the change to the larger body. I liked the fact that the Forester was small, but tremendously useful. For me, it harks back to the micro-wagons of days gone by - I got through college with a 1975 Honda Civic wagon. But since the Impreza has always been available in a four-door hatchback form, Subaru had a niche to fill for a larger vehicle priced less than the full-SUV Tribeca and the upscale Outback.
Still Very Practical
Getting into the new Forester XT, you can see that they’ve bumped up the amenities as well as the body size. This is a nice car, with interior cues drawn from the Tribeca. The styling is still no-nonsense, with controls nicely laid out and easy to use. The seats are comfortable and the Forester will carry 4 adults in comfort. You get that “up high” driving position prized among SUV buyers, and yet the car handles nicely for its size.
As always, Subaru’s Symmetric All Wheel Drive system is invisibly nice. It works well, and you don’t have to fiddle with anything. It’s just always there. Because the car I tested was a 5-speed automatic, Subaru’s Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) system functions in place of a limited slip center differential. The VTD offers a basic 35/65 front/rear torque split, which is nice for dry pavement driving, but the system alters that split as conditions require. Additionally the Forester comes with Vehicle Dynamics Control and ABS, so the car is equipped with all kinds of stability/traction/braking controls for maximum safety.
Great Interior - No Nonsense
The EJ255 turbo engine is peppy, but with the larger body and automatic transmission the 2009 Forester XT isn’t the hot rod that the 2004-5 cars were. That’s a little bit sad, but the XT is still plenty quick for most purposes. Fuel mileage was just OK, at about 16 MPG in real-world combination driving.
The price on the 2009 Forester XT will be right around $26,000 - base price. That will include air, cd changer with satellite capability, sunroof, roof rails, and 17-inch wheels. Above that, they’ll have a cold weather package and a premium package that are as yet unpriced.
The bottom line on the new Forester XT is that it’s a good car - fun to drive, very useful, and a nice looking SUV. While Forester aficionados may cling to their old secret XT models, a family looking for a good all-around crossover with enough performance to be a fun drive should seriously consider the Forester.
