SUV Styling

Where previous generations looked more like tall wagons than SUVs, this redesign moves the Forester a lot closer to what it purports to be. There are still some windswept lines here and there, so it's not yet in the territory of more upright SUVs like the Saturn Vue or Ford Escape, but for better or worse it will now blend in with the herd much more easily. The creased headlights and stacked bumper looked a bit busy to me, but they're attractive enough. The tail closes things off with a tidy, clean design.

Standard dual exhaust pipes add a sporty touch, as do the 17-inch alloy wheels that come on all but the base trim level. The doors have window frames now, which gives them a much sturdier feel when slammed than last year's frameless doors had.

    See also:

    TRANSMISSION
    Standard transmission for 2.0-litre diesel model is a new manual six-speed unit. This compact transmission is the same length as the previous five-speed unit and weighs just five kg more. Improv ...

    Using your Owner’s Manual
    Before you operate your vehicle, carefully read this manual. To protect yourself and extend the service life of your vehicle, follow the instructions in this manual. Failure to observe these in ...

    Illuminated entry
    The interior (dome) light and the map light will illuminate when the “” button is pressed. These lights stay illuminated for approximately 30 seconds if any of the doors or the rear gate is ...