 2014 Subaru Forester. Click image to enlarge |
Subaru took over an abandoned golf course development with some light trails, a steep descent, and a set of rollers on a mild incline to demonstrate the functions of X-Mode and the Forester’s overall capability. Subaru is aiming for best-in-class off-road ability, which probably won’t be hard to claim from the other soft-roaders in segment. Although there will be some people that appreciate the ruggedness of this SUV and its 220 mm of ground clearance, most owners would likely be satisfied with steady all-wheel drive to counter inclement weather or far milder routes to the cottage, and you won’t soon mistake this for a Wrangler or Xterra. This was quite a departure from its boxy AWD wagon roots of the first two generations of Forester, but the third generation proved this to be a successful formula, and this fourth generation is simply building on that success.
But for those that care, yes, this is a capable off-roader. Consumers definitely like this direction as Subaru saw double the sales in Canada (and about 50 percent growth globally) of third-generation Foresters compared to previous generations. While this fourth generation is nowhere near the dramatic departure, it is full of incremental improvements in engineering and packaging. The body is stiffer, the interior is larger (the back seat in particular more spacious) without a significant increase in dimensions, and the interior quality and refinement are greatly improved.
    2014 Subaru Forester. Click image to enlarge |
In all the ways that see daily use, the Forester offers many improvements, riding comfortably and quietly with high quality interior materials while maintaining its signature excellent outward visibility and improving access to the rear seats by adjusting the door opening. It also looks upmarket with options like a power tailgate, back-up camera, Eyesight preventive safety suite, 440-watt eight-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo (What? A good stereo in a Subaru? About time…), and a fully integrated infotainment system with navigation – though this interface still needs some user interface improvements.
Subaru doesn’t rely on trendy styling or heavy discounts to move inventory, they simply build a well conceived, quality product, and maybe trot out some funny commercials. I don’t know if the Sumo wrestlers or the split personality city/country guy will return, but Subaru hinted they had something in store.
Like so many vehicles in this segment, there isn’t much in the way of spectacular or awe-inspiring performance or design in the 2014 Subaru Forester. However, it shows a mastery of the compact crossover with competitive interior space, quality and functionality, a range of performance and convenience options, and now fuel consumption that should match or come close to anything in the segment while maintaining its leadership and reputation of offering the best AWD system. This is a great vehicle for real life, the daily grind, and any adventures you can find along the way or well off the beaten path.
