Test Drive: 2011 Subaru Forester
Drive:
Test Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
There are a plethora of models to choose from when it comes to the Subaru Forester. If you take the top of the line, the XT, you’ll get to have some fun with a turbo-powered Subie. However, for our particular tester we had the base 2.5-liter, horizontally opposed engine (what Subaru’s are known for) with less than impressive numbers for those who have performance in mind. But then, this is not a performance-driven Subaru. For that, you can look to the Impreza WRX or the Impreza STI, Legacy SpecB or Forester XT. No, the Subaru Forester (as we had it) is utilitarian, and in that job description is excels. The true beauty of a Subaru is under all the body work and paneling; it’s the AWD system. Every single Subaru, no matter what the model, offers a symmetrical all-wheel drive system that (in my opinion) far outweighs the competition on the road today. There’s something about a Subaru AWD that just feels better, more reliable and generally safer than any other system out there. There’s no fancy electronic gadgetry flipping power from wheel to wheel when needed, it’s all-wheel drive all the time. That’s it. And really, when you want an all-wheel drive vehicle that does what it’s supposed to (be all wheel drive) isn’t that what you really want?
