Offroad Chops

The offroad portion of Subaru's press drive consisted of a lengthy course on California's Catalina Island, and I had a chance to tackle some fairly demolished dirt roads. I imagine a tiny fraction of Forester owners will take their SUVs to these lengths, but it performed well nonetheless, clawing up steep slopes and rutted pathways with well-controlled body motions. The wheels stayed well-connected to the dirt, allowing the nose or tail to swing wide only under the most sudden turns. (All deliberate, of course.)

    See also:

    System maintenance
    Changing the batteries • Do not let dust, oil or water get on or in the remote engine start transmitter when replacing the battery. • Be careful not to damage the printed circuit board in the re ...

    Storage compartment
    - Always keep the storage compartment closed while driving to reduce the risk of injury in the event of a sudden stop or an accident. - Do not store spray cans, containers with flammabl ...

    Maintenance tools
    Your vehicle is equipped with the following maintenance tools. • Jack • Jack handle • Screwdriver • Towing hook (eye bolt) • Wheel nut wrench • Hex-head wrench (only models with moonroof) ...