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.

See also:

Immobilizer system
This light blinks approximately 60 seconds after the ignition switch is turned from “ON” position to the “Acc” or “LOCK” position or immediately after the key is pulled out. Refer to “Immobilizer” ...

Parking brake lining
The break-in maintenance for the parking brake linings should be performed at a SUBARU dealer. ...

Channel scan
Type A and B audio Type C audio Press the “SCAN” button to change the radio to the SCAN mode. In this mode, under the selected category, the radio scans through the channel until a station is found. ...