2010 Subaru Forester review

In its first full redesign since the 2003 model year, the Subaru Forester has moved closer to the mainstream than some fans might have hoped it would. The old model's boxy charm has been toned down, and what's left is a compact SUV whose driving dynamics are on par with some of the nimbler players in this segment. A few Forester diehards may cry foul, but I suspect the changes will widen the car's appeal to the market in general. The SUV remains as practical as ever, but now boasts enough refinement to merit serious consideration from anyone shopping the latest Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

Trim levels include the 2.5X and 2.5X L.L.Bean, along with turbocharged 2.5XT and 2.5XT Limited versions; click here to see a side-by-side comparison with the 2008 model. Subaru's full-time all-wheel-drive system is standard. I drove a number of configurations both on- and off-road at a press event in Southern California.

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Play file
MP3: • Based on MPEG1, 2 and 2.5 Layer3 • Sampling rate (kHz): 48, 44.1, 32, 24, 22.05, 16, 12, 11.025, 8 • Bit rate (kbps): 8 to 320 • Supports variable bit rates WMA: • Based on Windows Media ...

Air conditioner button
Air conditioner button The button positions and their functions are as follows. ON: The air conditioner operates while the fan is running. Push the button to select this position. The indic ...

Headlights (models with HID headlights)
High-intensity-discharge (HID) bulbs are used for the low beams of the headlights. These HID bulbs use an extremely high voltage. To avoid the risk of an electric shock that could result in seriou ...