2010 Subaru Forester Review

First Impressions

The Subaru Forester (view photos) shocked and appeased consumers and critics when it shed its dorky wagon skins last year and developed into a more traditional-looking SUV, beating out competitors like the tougher looking Toyota RAV4 and the sleek, redesigned Honda CR-V.

This smaller-sized, 5-passenger utility vehicle with all-wheel drive and an optional turbocharged engine still gives off a sense of ruggedness but with smarts (nerdy legacies are hard to shake). However, a new threat poses itself: Has the Forester been able to stay competitive with the consumer demands – a.k.a interior tech attributes - or spent the past year too busy admiring its success?

Pricing, Trims and Options

The Forester is available in five trims: 2.5X, 2.5X Premium, 2.5X Limited, 2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Limited. Base price for the 2.5X starts at $20,225 and offers power windows, air conditioning, keyless entry, trip computer, a 4-speaker CD/auxiliary audio jack audio system and 16-inch steel wheels. The 2.5X Premium adds a power driver seat, the panoramic sunroof, roof rails, steering-wheel audio controls, reclining rear seatbacks, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The 2.5X Limited brings a better automatic climate control system, the All-Weather Package (heated mirrors and seats plus a wiper de-icer) and a 6-speaker stereo with 6-CD changer.

When you get into the XTs, the Premium tacks on fog lights, a tilt-telescoping steering column, and upgraded cloth upholstery but reverts back to a manual driver seat. The 2.5XT Limited gets all the above plus a 10-way power driver seat back – and also has the option for an $1,800 navigation package. Even with all that, you'll hit the ceiling here at a modest $30,295. As with last year, the Forester continues to underbid its main competitors.

Interior Features

The interior design inside any Forester feels roomy, mostly due to sculpted doors and dash. I would consider a starting point to be at least a Premium so you can benefit from the standard power driver seating, panoramic moonroof, and the deep-set second row seats that slightly recline for the passengers.

However, the better climate control system found in the Limited versions beat the boring 4-settings dial (which I universally describe on all models as "Feels Like Off,"  "I Think That's Heat,"  "A Touch More Heat," and "Mega-Blasting Heat"). Subaru should just offer all its loyal customers – most of them living in harsher-weather climates – equal opportunity to dial in the perfect cabin temperature.

In terms of interior cabin technology, the optional navigation package now includes Bluetooth connectivity. But that's really the only significant tech improvement. The upgraded 6-speaker audio system is the same one Subaru has offered for the last several years and underwhelming compared to competitors in the space. For instance, the new 2010 Scion xB includes a standard Pioneer stereo with a programmable 16-character welcoming message. Meanwhile the Forester's display doesn't even have enough room to show the full name of a song. Consider me underwhelmed.

Safety, Quality and Reliability

For 2010, Subaru Forester safety features include Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Vehicle Dynamics Control, advanced airbag system, 4-wheel disc brakes with Brake Assist, anti-lock brakes, a tire pressure monitoring system, and electronic brake force distribution.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Forester 5-star ratings in almost every crash category (4-stars for rollover). The Forester offers an extra sense of safety through a unique lighting system: A longer-than-most delayed dome light comes on as you leave the vehicle and the key fob unlock button illuminates any dark shadows under the car with bluish light.