2014 Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester has been completely changed for 2014.
Introduction
With the blend of utility and car like comfort including all-weather capability the Subaru Forester has always been impressive. For the new Model things have got even better making this into one of the favorite crossovers.
SUV’s characteristics such as full time all wheel drive, extra ground clearance, dreadful fuel consumption and sear size of bulkiness are carried straight down to the new Subaru as well. Still the 2014 Subaru Forester is not a Jeep or a Range Rover off road, however with extra ride height and re-engineered engine the Forester is mighty enough to handle off road terrain as well.
The previous Foresters main defect; the fuel consumption has been addressed to by an all new transmission system. The six speed manual gearbox provides a little bit better acceleration and fuel economy. The 2.5 liter four cylinder engine comes with a continuously variable transmission system as well.
Having a glimpse at the cabin inside of the Subaru Forester you can instantly feel there is a huge change, with the higher quality material and large LCD displays. There is also an increase in the legroom of the rear seats as well as an expansion in the cargo area.
Yet this is not the only quality small SUV in the market, there are many competitors such as; Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento and Toyota RAV4. However the Subaru Forester differentiates itself as the more dependable and durable SUV amongst them.
Trim level options
The Forester is available in six trim levels; 2.5i, Premium, Limited and Touring, all with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
Power and Performance
The 2.5 liter four cylinder engine is capable of producing 170 horsepower and 174 pound feet of torque. This comes together with a six speed manual transmission while the CVT is also available.
Noticeably more performance comes with the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine which produces 250 horsepower and 258 pound feet torque. The old Forester was able to get from a standstill to 60 mph within 6.8 seconds, so we can expect the 2014 Model to better that figure.
When it comes to the fuel economy the Forester is capable of doing 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg in the highway giving an average of about 24 mpg. With the upgraded CVT the Forester gives figures of 24 mpg for street and 32 mpg for highway and 27 mpg in average.
Safety
As safety features the Subaru Forester includes; antilock disc brakes, traction control ,stability control, airbags (front side, side curtain, drivers knee) and a rearview camera is also standard for the 2.5i.
During the crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety the Forester received the heist rating.
Interior
The new Forester houses much more visually attractive interior with an updated design and higher quality material matching its rivals. However the Subaru’s design philosophy of being simple has been preserved in the 2014 Forester as well
The new Forester has increased the rear leg space to a whooping additional 3.7 inches. Also due to the placement of the rear seat the passengers are able to get a very clear view through the front. The cargo space is also prominent in the Forester which is about 74.7 cubic feet.
Driving feel
With the added on weight the Subaru is not going to be the fastest SUV out there, and the new CVT is not quite refined and tuned as the conventional automatic transmission. However the new model gives a notable improvement to the fuel consumption.
For day-to-day use the Forester is able to provide good handling and smooth ride. But its main advantage is that it has off road capability with the new “X mode” adjustments provided in the stability control, gearing and throttle response which is able to maximize the traction on dirt.
