Subaru has always taken pride in a highly responsive drive train, rapid
acceleration and braking power, and an overall feeling of tight engineering. The
2011 Forester is no exception to this rule, with a sporty feel on the open road.
If anything, the
2011 Forester may be a little too responsive, leading to a certain
jerky feel in city traffic. On long stretches of road, the
2011 Forester's powerful
acceleration leads to a headlong feeling of being propelled into uncharted
territory. Drivers will particularly enjoy the increased torque and horsepower
over the previous model, which allows them to take steeper turns and chart more
difficult pathways without expending any additional effort. A bit of off-roading
is not out of the question, although the
2011 Forester functions best on smooth
highways, due to its precisely aligned drive. Those drivers who do take the car
on off-road adventures would do best to avoid high streams.
Performance
Included standard with the 2.5X models is the 2.5-liter horizontally opposed
4-cylinder engine that generates 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque.
The 2.5X and the 2.5X Premium received the 5-speed manual standard while the 2.5X
Limited gets the 4-speed automatic. The XT versions of the
2011 Foresters include the
turbocharged version of this engine, which delivers 224 horsepower and 226
pound-feet of torque. The EPA rates the standard engine paired with an automatic
as 20/26/22 city/highway/combined.
Interior Features
The cabin features the kind of amenities one has come to expect from a brand
that values precision over luxury. Although the
Subaru is not cramped,
passengers will note that each seat has an ideal balance between comfort and
sprawl, with the most efficient posture providing the highest ratio of comfort.
While leather seating and fully automated sunroofs can be found in the most
richly appointed models, the lower end models stick to their cloth and vinyl
interiors, with cup holders, automatic door openers, and other features that
meet the average car buyer?s expectations. Audio-wise, the
Subaru features the
requisite CD player and AM / FM radio, although the vehicle does not dazzle with
configurable ports and other more complicated audio set-ups that are found in
vehicles of its class.
Summary
A robust and pleasant vehicle, the
2011 Forester provides the driver with a
sporty, mid-class vehicle that functions excellently for trips and other longer
term outings. With a standard array of features and exceptional engineering, the
vehicle is ideal for those who enjoy travel, but are not terribly concerned
about being flashy or ostentatious. Excellent window views for the driver and
passengers make driving in scenic areas particularly pleasurable. Improvements
in performance make this particular Forester one of the most powerful
Subaru models to date.