Safety & Reliability
In crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Forester earned the top score, Good, in front and side impacts. The SUV was awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. Because it was redesigned this year, reliability scores for the Forester are unavailable. The previous-generation Forester got top marks in this area: Consumer Reports awarded it good or excellent reliability ratings for six years running. While history among brands and models is often informative, cautious buyers will wait for results. Every car is different.
Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, with side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows. The curtain airbags have tip sensors to deploy during a rollover. Active head restraints, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system are also standard. All five seats have adequately high head restraints. Parents with young children should check out the child-seat provisions in the photos above.
See also:
Back-up light (5-door)
1. Apply a flat-head screwdriver to the light cover as shown in the illustration, and pry the light cover off from the rear gate trim.
2. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and remove it.
3 ...
Bi-level heating
This setting allows you to direct air of different temperatures from the instrument
panel and foot outlets. The air from the foot outlets is slightly warmer than from
the instrument panel outlets. ...
Locking and unlocking from the outside
To lock the driver’s door from the outside with the key, turn the key toward
the rear. To unlock the door, turn the key toward the front.
Pull the outside door handle to open an unlocked door.
...