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:

    Adjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor height
    The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted to the position best suited for the driver/front passenger. Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder belt passes over the middle of the ...

    Unfastening the seatbelt
    Unfastening the seatbelt Push the release button of the center seatbelt buckle (on the left-hand side) to unfasten the seatbelt. NOTE When the seatback is folded down for greater cargo area, it is ...

    Towing and tie-down hooks/holes
    The towing hooks should be used only in an emergency (e.g., to free a stuck vehicle from mud, sand or snow). CAUTION ● Use only the specified towing hooks and tie-down hooks/holes. Never use ...