Subaru Forester 2009

Subaru Forester 2009

Before anyone had even heard the word “crossover,” the Subaru Forester was running up and down hillsides and mountains in Europe and the snowier parts of the United States, and a small but devoted group of Subaru fans were singing the praises of the unique line of all-wheel drive cars. The 2009 Subaru Forester continues all the great features of earlier models, plus adds 4.3 inches of legroom to the back seat, and 4.3 inches of height on the inside all around. The Forester has gotten a bitter fatter too—1.5 inches to be exact—but then, lots of us have. The first Foresters had a boxy shape that placed them more toward the station wagon end of the crossover spectrum.

The 2009 model, with its increased size and headroom, and a more rounded body shape, resembles the competition more than past offerings. That’s too bad. Subaru fans have always taken a certain pride in eccentricity. The 2009 Subaru Forester gets 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway, with a beginning MSRP of just over $23,000. One of the best family vehicles for snowy climates, the heated seats are just one of many perks.