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Head Office:
CAA-Québec
444, rue Bouvier
Québec (Québec) G2J 1E3

2004 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 XT

Since its arrival in 1998, the Forester has been very popular. In
spite of its qualities, however, many found that the engine lacked
muscle. Subaru rectified the situation this year with a 210-
horsepower turbo engine, compared with the 165 hp version
without turbo.

Interior and trunk

It is easier to climb into the front seats as the back doors do not open very wide. The front seats are
very comfortable and offer good support. Larger passengers might find that the lateral supports make
the seats a tad narrow, especially if they are bundled up in winter clothes. The driving position is
very good, especially given that the driver’s seat can be moved a good distance.

The rear bench proves to be comfortable and has a 60/40 split-
fold backrest. It is suitable for two adults, who enjoy good
legroom and excellent headroom.

The trunk offers easy access and good capacity and has a
luggage cover as well as a rubber carpet to protect the floor from
dirt and grime. Beneath the floor is a storage space in the middle
of the well that holds the spare tire; the spare itself is full-sized.

Accessories and safety

The cabin is quite well soundproofed but road and wind noise
does make itself heard on occasion. The cabin features an array of
storage spaces of different shapes and sizes. The quality of the
finish and materials is very good, although we did hear the
occasional cracking sound.

Instruments and controls are conveniently positioned for the most part; we would have liked the
buttons for the heated seats, mirrors, and power lock to be illuminated at night, however. Speaking
of lighting, we noticed that the dome light, which is positioned behind the immense sunroof,
provides insufficient light to the front of the cabin. The cup-holders cannot hold varying container
formats and are not very deep. The air-conditioner works well but in hot weather ( 25

0

C and over) it

lacks a bit of oomph to truly cool the Forester’s interior.

The luggage rack on the roof has a drawback that detracts from its usefulness: the sides are closed,
making it impossible to feed a rope through it to secure a large object such as, for example, a canoe.

With regard to safety, the Forester has dual airbags, fairly powerful headlamps, locking head
restraints (high enough in the front but less so in the back), all-wheel drive, ABS and very good
visibility all around, except toward the rear for some drivers who might find the backseat head
restraints a visual obstacle. It is worth noting that both front head restraints shift toward the
occupants’ heads in the event of a rear collision.

Engine and transmission

The 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine develops 210 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque.
Accelerations and pickup are energetic, progressive, and linear. Hats off to Subaru for succeeding in
practically doing away with turbo lag; it makes the driving experience all the more enjoyable. In
fact, it feels so natural that few drivers would suspect the presence of the turbo if they didn’t know it
was there. The engine meets LEV standards but tends to be thirsty at the gas station, where it prefers
super.

Overall, the automatic transmission shifts smoothly, although it occasionally hesitates when shifting
to second in a slow acceleration. The shift stick should offer more resistance to prevent the driver
from shifting all too easily into third gear when he actually wants fourth. Furthermore, the tortuous
gearbox configuration can be an irritation, depending on the person. The quiet, smooth all-wheel
drive system proves to be consistently efficient and reassuring.

Overall behaviour

The engineers tuned the Forester’s independent suspension to deliver a lovely blend of suppleness
and firmness, resulting in a wonderfully smooth ride on all types of surfaces. At the very most, the
vehicle reacts somewhat firmly to bumpy roads. It handles corners and turns with aplomb and
minimum body roll and shows itself to be stable and nimble. This pleasing and reassuring handling
is due in part to the flat engine’s low centre of gravity and, of course, to the all-wheel drive system.
We feel very confident at the wheel of this sturdy vehicle, which goes easily wherever its relatively
high ground clearance allows.

The power steering is nicely tuned, precise, and responsive. Unfortunately, it conveys little in the
way of road feel and has a somewhat wide turning circle. The brakes, on the other hand, prove their
mettle in every situation.

At the CAA-Quebec Inspection Centre, we were told that the Forester is a very well-built vehicle.
One detail: the windshield fluid tank should be positioned to the right side of the engine
compartment so that it would be easier to fill. As it is now, located to the left, we found ourselves
too close to oncoming traffic when refilling it.

Conclusion

With a turbocharged engine, the Forester becomes a more homogenous vehicle. The increase in
power makes accelerations and pickup safer. But the best part of the turbo engine is the progressive

way it sends power to the wheels. As to other aspects, the Forester is very appealing for its size,
comfort, and enjoyable road handling.


PROS
Supple, powerful engine
Smooth ride
Front seat comfort
Storage spaces
Road holding
Responsive steering

CONS

Back seat access

Windshield fluid tank position

Non-illuminated dials

Roof rack needs improvement

Cup-holders not very versatile

Fuel consumption

2004 SUBARU FORESTER

Engine: 16-valve, 2.5-litre 4 cylindre flat inline engine; turbo
Power: 165 hp @ 5,600 rpm; 210 hp @ 5,600 rpm

Torque: 166 lb-ft. at 4,000 rpm; 235 lb.-ft. @ 3,600 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual. Optional: 4-speed automatic
Suspension: fully independent
Brakes: disc/disc (disc/drum on the X version)
Length: 445 cm
Width: 173.5 cm
Height: 159 cm
Wheelbase: 252.5 cm
Weight: 1,400 to 1,495 kg
Tires: 215/60R16
Towing capacity: 1,087 kg
Airbags: standard front, plus two side head-and-thorax airbags

Fuel consumption (turbo and automatic transmission):
- Transport Canada rating: city: 12.5 L/100 km (23 mpg); highway: 9.3 L/100 km (30 mpg)
- Test vehicle: 14 L/100 km (20 mpg)

Fuel tank capacity: 60 litres

Acceleration (turbo and automatic transmission):

0-100 km/h: 7.2 seconds

60-100 km/h: 5.2 seconds

Competition :

Chevrolet Tracker, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Liberty, Kia Sportage,

Mazda Tribute, Nissan Xterra, Suzuki Vitara, Toyota RAV4

Maintenance:

Frequency: 3 months/6,000 km; total to 100,000 km: $1,582

Warranties:
- Full basic coverage: 3 years/60,000 km
- Major components: 5 years/100,000 km
- Surface corrosion: 3 years/60,000 km
- Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited km
- Emissions control system: 3 years/60,000 (full coverage) and 8 ans/130,000 km (catalytic
converter, control unit, onboard diagnostic system).

Factory replacement parts:
Rear bumper: $648

Front brake discs: $183

Brake

pads:

$226

Muffler:

$666

(turbo)

Front fender: $184

Average insurance premium (Quebec, replacement value, claim-free insurance record, male or
female driver 30 to 40 years old): $1,038 to $1,672

Price according to trim line:
2.5

X:

$27,995 2.5

XS

:

$32,395

XT: $35,995

Main options:
Automatic transmission: 1 100 $ (XT: 1,200 $)

Luxury version : $1,700 (XS)

Leather seats: 3 300 $ (XT: 1,600 $)

Price as tested: $37,195

Freight and preparation: $1,195

Dealers: 28 (Quebec)

95 (Canada)

©

October 2003. All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec.