The Subaru Forester is a compact, crossover, SUV which was first released in 1997 and was initially available in Japan in the same year. Since then, the now legendary crossover has been made available in many countries including the Philippines.
It is also of note to mention that the Forester series has won a number of awards in the past namely the Motor Trend 2009 and 2014 SUV of the Year, and The Car Connection’s Best Car to Buy in 2014.
Why is it legendary exactly?
For ages now, the Forester has been known to be a very popular vehicle due to its reliability and impressive durability. While not being that powerful like an SUV, the Subaru crossover has been known to out climb other larger vehicles in very harsh terrain like snow, sand, and mud.
This is due to Subaru’s very impressive all-wheel-drive system which gives the Forester superior traction in numerous conditions all the time. And yes, the AWD is always on and is controlled with numerous driving modes.
The AWD in the Forester works in conjunction with its very durable suspension which has provided all versions of the crossover the ability to go through slippery roads and rough terrain whilst providing comfort for its passengers.
![Its comfortable interior is loaded with a lot of tech for both comfort and safety A picture of the Subaru Forester 2019 interior]()
Its comfortable interior is loaded with a lot of tech for both comfort and safety
For its engine, the Subaru Forester for sale in the the Philippine market gets the FB20 2.0 liter H4 boxer engine which it shares with many other Subaru models. The said engine is rated to make 154 hp and 196 Nm of torque.
The torque figure doesn’t look like much at first but the strength of the Forester, as we’ve said earlier is the perfect ability in distributing that force equally through all four wheels. The Forester comes with a CVT transmission and a manual is not available.
Inside, the Subaru Forester has loads of space and the sitting position is pleasantly high despite relatively low ride height. At the back, the rear passengers get the decent headroom and leg space and it is also good to know that the Forester has a decently sized trunk.
![That decently sized trunk can be turned to a huge trunk if you fold down some seats A picture of the 2019 Subaru Forester interior with folded seats]()
That decently sized trunk can be turned to a huge trunk if you fold down some seats
The new Subaru Forester comes standard with a touchscreen display with an aux jack, Bluetooth connectivity and USB ports, a push to start button, cruise control, keyless entry, and Dual-Zone automatic climate control.
It’s also good to know that Subaru has given the Forester enough safety features to earn in a five-star rating from many safety organizations like the American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the IIHS.
These safety features include driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbags, side airbags, knee airbags, electronic brake distribution, anti-lock braking system, a hill start assist, stability control, speed-sensing door locks, and of course ISOFIX.
![Despite its tough persona, Subaru Forester 2019 is actually one of the safest rides out there A green Subaru Forester in its natural habitat]()
Despite its tough persona, Subaru Forester is actually one of the safest rides out there
The Subaru Forester is not only capable of tackling rough terrain with ease, it is also very capable as a daily driver in an urban environment.
Currently, the Forester is also one of the safest vehicles in the market due to all the safety equipment and technologies it comes with. It is also a very comfortable vehicle for five adults to ride in and has a total of 76 cubic feet of cargo space.
The one grip that most tend to have with the Forester though is its CVT transmission. For one thing, the CVT transmission that the Forester comes with is a little old and as such feels lackluster.
People who would want to take the Forester off-roading would like to see a manual or even a newer, non-CVT automatic transmission. For your convenience, listed here are some pros and cons of the Subaru Forester