Subaru Forester 2.5XT Touring 2011: A Great Alternative to Boring SUV's

By Ric Green

I have become a real fan of Subaru's over the last few years. They are always sturdy and perform above average in almost all the important categories. The 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5XT is another reason to check out the stable of vehicles available from the Japanese manufacturer.

The Subaru Forester first appeared in the late 1990s as an option for interested in the emerging market segment of compact SUVs. Long known for its seamless all-wheel-drive (AWD) system on all of its vehicles, the Forester upped the ante in the segment. That was due part because it was basically a tall station wagon with AWD. The rugged Forester was a SUV that had the ride and performance of a car which meant it showed to handle better than the average SUV.

That tradition continues with the 2011 Forester 2.5XT which sports a turbo charged version of the boxer engine, another standard in all Subaru models. A boxer engine, also know as a flat engine or a horizontally opposed engine, is a type of engine where the pistons lie horizontally opposed, with pairs of cylinders on the left and the right, as opposed to most modern engines where the alternating pistons are positioned in a "V"-angle.

The boxer engine is one of the reasons the Forester has a more comfortable and competent ride and feel. A boxer engine provides perfect balance as each piston's movement is exactly counterbalanced by the corresponding piston movement of the opposite side and also have a lower center of gravity, giving better stability and control.

The Subaru Forester 2.5XT ride is smooth and responsive. Thanks to the lower center of gravity the handling is predicable and does not have that top-heavy feeling one gets in most other SUVs. Paired with a turbo charger that provides a much-appreciated burst of zip, there is a lot to like. It also has crisp steering and a tight turning circle that makes it surprisingly maneuverable in close quarters.

Inside, the Forester there is lots of hard well-grained plastics with silver trim that helps to brighten the cabin. The driver is treated to a well-sorted steering wheel with controls for cruise, hands-free calling and the stereo within reach, and the set of somewhat plain gauges are easy to read day or night. While most everything is well situated and logically laid out I did not appreciate the bun-warming I got thanks to the poor placement of the switches for the heated seats which are under the arm rest and only on the driver's side of the cup holder,

As I said in the beginning of this review I have a soft spot for Subaru's. With a price tag of MSRP $ 29,995, thanks to higher cost of manufacturing the boxer engine, it may be viewed as a bit more pricy than its competitors. But with its turbo charged engine ( for an additional $1,600), poise, copious cargo room and ample passenger space, the Forester makes an excellent alternative to a traditional station wagon or top-heavy SUV.