As most people in Canada know right now, we can get some serious winter driving conditions. My cul-de-sac is now nearly blocked with stuck vehicles. But, I drive my Forester with impunity. My Blizzaks kick ass in snow and the Subaru AWD allows me to just mat the pedal and go. The CR-V, RAV-4 and other slip-grip systems work while pulling away from a light, but on the move, in corners and other work, you don't have real AWD to depend on.
Subaru has high production costs compared to Honda and Toyota. They have been small for some time, and just haven't been able to catch up in that regard. So, if they want to keep their retail prices competitive (and the Forester sure is compared to the CRV and RAV) they need to scrimp in some areas. Give me the four speed AT (which is a proven unit), keep the CVT out, keep giving me the best AWD system and keep the price in line.
To me, this is not a sporting machine that needs some thirty-two speed exotic DSG. It's a utility vehicle that I rely on to haul me, my partners, and our gear to difficult trailheads and then get us home again. Late last winter we left her parked in a remote area and two meters of snow fell in the time we were gone. The road back to the highway was steep and uphill. Even other CUVs were having a lot of trouble getting out of the parking area, but my group hopped in my Forester and with snow to the grill, headed home without a problem. Us, an 09 Forester and a snow-tire shod Wrangler Rubicon waved bye-bye to a RAV-4 and some others. One of my climbing partners bought a Forester when we got home.
In so many ways, my old 01 is a POS. The interior is low rent and rattles abound now. The refinement factor better than a Jeep Wrangler, but otherwise, sucks compared to many in the segment. The fuel economy is just barely acceptable for the size and weight of the vehicle. But, when it's needed, this thing takes on any road (or barely road) that I've headed down, and kicked ass.