Image credits: © Subaru.

MSRP: $20,295-28,495
Invoice: $19,215-26,705

2010 Subaru Forester news, pictures, and information

NEW-GENERATION FORESTER IS SUBARU'S BEST SELLER AND A 'TOP SAFETY PICK'

• NHTSA 5-Star Ratings and IIHS Top Safety Pick

• Available Navigation System Now Includes Bluetooth

• Base Price of $20,295 Includes Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive

Subaru's continuous improvement results in numerous enhancements for the 2010 Forester, which was an all-new, third-generation model for 2009. The new-generation Forester became the best-selling Forester ever, as well as the brand's best-selling model, and achieved the highest safety ratings.

The new-generation Forester is a total re-design of the award-winning crossover SUV that has built a strong reputation as an icon of safety, dependability and versatility. The new Forester brought a bolder, more SUV-like design and made a major leap in safety technology, comfort, refinement and driving dynamics – a noteworthy accomplishment considering the high standards set by the previous model. As with all Subaru models, the 2010 Forester comes equipped as standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.

For 2010, the Forester includes Bluetooth wireless capability for the available navigation system in Limited trim lines, with a microphone in the overhead console. Bluetooth allows hands-free phone usage with a compatible cell phone. A revised instrument cluster features easier-to-see colors. In addition, a new map light door interlock switch enables the owner to select the map lights to illuminate with door opening. The 2.5X Premium gains a standard 10-way power passenger seat.

The new-generation Forester again blends positive SUV attributes, including a high seating point and interior versatility, with passenger car comfort, handling and fuel efficiency. Even with its bolder exterior and roomier interior, the new-generation Forester is only about three inches longer than its predecessor, thus retaining the trim exterior packaging cited by Forester owners as one of this model's most essential attributes.

All Forester models for 2010 feature standard side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, and the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability and traction control system and Brake Assist safety system are standard on all models. Manual-transmission models also feature Incline Start Assist, which can momentarily prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when being driven away from a stop on an incline.

Forester is offered in five trim lines for 2010. The Forester 2.5X is one of the best values in the crossover SUV segment. The 2.5X Premium adds a 10-way power driver's seat, large panoramic power moonroof and interior enhancements and offers an available All-Weather Package (heated front seats, heated side mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer). The Forester 2.5X Limited includes the All-Weather Package and offers more luxury without compromising the vehicle's responsive nature and offers an available navigation system. For powerful, sporty performance, the 2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Limited are powered by a 224-hp turbocharged/intercooled Boxer engine.

Bolder Design, Greater Comfort
The new-generation Forester makes a bolder SUV design statement than before while retaining its Subaru identity. A larger, more pronounced grill, higher hood line, 'hawk eye' headlights and a large, contoured bumper cover with available foglights give the front end a more confident appearance. Sharply defined character lines and boxed front fenders and rear quarter panels accentuate the SUV profile. Large light clusters highlight the rear styling.

The new-generation Forester design integrates functional improvements, as well. Framed side windows and larger door openings provide improved ingress and egress. The rear gate's generous glass area enables the average-sized driver to see a one-meter (3.2 ft. tall) test dummy positioned one meter behind the vehicle.

Packaged for an Active Life: Improved Handling and Ride Quality
The new-generation Forester was designed to create a new crossover utility vehicle for active lifestyles, improving ground clearance and drivability while maintaining Forester's rugged off-road capability. The 2010 Forester offers naturally aspirated and turbocharged/intercooled 2.5-liter Boxer engines, both revised in the 2009 redesign to provide better performance. In particular, low-end and mid-range torque in both engines was improved for more responsive everyday performance.

The robust body structure, heavy-duty raised 4-wheel independent suspension and up to 8.9 inches of ground clearance help to make Forester equally adept at negotiating twisty roads and absorbing ruts and bumps. The ride quality, acclaimed in the previous model as one of the best in the segment, is now even smoother and quieter.

The new-generation Forester platform is based on the same foundation that underpins the brand's sporty Impreza models. The new chassis and body are designed for improved rigidity and ride comfort with the addition of high-tensile-strength steel at key structural points. In addition, the new platform improves crash-worthiness.

Subaru optimized all elements of the Forester's chassis to deliver a better balance of ride, handling response, quietness and overall traction performance than offered by competitive vehicles. The all-new platform and chassis systems enhance the outstanding on-road handling and maneuverability that have been Forester hallmarks since the model's inception.

Featuring a 3.6-inch longer wheelbase than the second-generation Forester (now 103.0 inches), the new-generation Forester offers improved ride and interior space, especially rear seat legroom, which measures a generous 38.0 inches. The Forester also features increased hip and shoulder room.

A new double-wishbone rear suspension, mounted to a sub frame, replaces the previous generation Forester's strut-type configuration to provide improved ride and handling and increased cargo room. The enhancement of body rigidity and the new suspension helps to reduce levels of Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH).

The 2009 redesign placed the engine slightly lower in the chassis, which lowers the center of gravity, and Forester also gained a quicker steering ratio and a more rigid steering mounting. The Forester 2.5X model features 16-inch steel wheels use 215/65R16 tires; all others ride on 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 225/55R17 tires.

Rich Interior Design
The Forester interior emphasizes comfort and spaciousness. Materials, including double-stitched fabrics and high-grade plastics, impart a feeling of higher quality. All models except the base 2.5X and 2.5X Premium feature a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise control buttons and a leather-wrapped shifter handle. Front seatback comfort is enhanced by the use of specially developed seat cushions and seatback springs.

The sweeping twin cockpit design embraces occupants, and brushed aluminum-look insets flow into the center stack. The center console shape adds to the airiness of the interior, aided by the sculpted door panels and improved headroom. Each door panel houses a molded recess that can accommodate a 24-oz. soft drink bottle, as well as loose items.

Rear passenger comfort is enhanced by a central armrest in all models. All but the 2.5X base model features a new reclining rear seatback function and a retractable rear center tray that can securely hold food and drinks. The standard 60/40-split rear seatbacks fold to provide a flat cargo floor, made 5.2 inches wider between the wheelhouses by the double-wishbone suspension. The cargo area is large enough to accommodate four Tour-sized golf bags or four large overnight suitcases with the rear seatbacks raised.

New User Technology
The new-generation Forester offers more user technology than ever, including an available navigation system in Limited trim lines. The standard information center (or available navigation system) is the focal point of the center instrument panel. In addition to an auxiliary audio jack, the center console, when equipped with the navigation system, also includes video jacks that can accommodate portable gaming devices or portable media devices. These can be displayed on the navigation screen when the vehicle is parked.

The navigation screen is placed at the top of the dashboard for improved visibility and ease of use. The 2010 Forester comes pre-wired for XM® or SIRIUS® Satellite Radio. The standard and optional audio systems feature the Radio Broadcast Data System, which can display a song's title and artist, plus other data.

The available AM/FM 100-watt premium stereo includes a 6-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3/WMA audio file capability, and features a 6-speaker audio system. An auxiliary audio input jack enables connection of an iPod® or MP3 player.

Forester models equipped with the optional navigation system include Audyssey MultEQ® audio enhancement, which is also featured in Subaru Impreza models. Used in high-end home theater systems, Audyssey MultEQ creates the optimal sound experience for passengers in each seat position by tuning equalization that corrects for time and frequency response.

Renowned Subaru Attention to Detail
The headlights-off with ignition switch is a traditional Subaru convenience that can preserve battery life, and the 2010 Forester offers several important new conveniences, as well. On models with the 5-speed manual transmission, the Incline Start Assist feature can help prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when being driven away from a stop on an incline. With the automatic transmission, Forester is pre-wired for a remote-starting system. The dual gas-strut hood supports make opening the hood easier and safer than a prop rod.

Improved Torque, Better Economy
The Forester's 2.5-liter normally aspirated Boxer engine was modified for the 2009 redesign to improve performance, drivability, and economy. This reliable engine delivers 170 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 170 lb.-ft. of peak torque @ 4,400 rpm. The i-Active Valve Lift System (AVLS) ensures a broad torque curve and smooth response at all engine speeds.

The Forester 2.5XT models are powered by a revised 2.5-liter turbocharged/intercooled Boxer engine delivering 224 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm and 226 lb.-ft. of peak torque @ 2,800 rpm. The turbo engine gained a new intake system, redesigned turbocharger and intercooler in the 2009 redesign to produce more torque at lower rpm for a smooth stream of power.

Forester 2.5X and 2.5X premium models offer a choice between a standard 5-speed manual transmission and an electronically controlled 4-speed automatic. The automatic, which features SPORTSHIFT® control for manual gear shifting when desired, is standard for the 2.5X Limited and both of the 2.5XT models.

New Safety Technology
Subaru designed the new-generation Forester around the company's proven Ring Shaped Reinforcement Frame safety structure. The Forester has achieved the highest ratings in both NHTSA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests and is an IIHS 'Top Safety Pick.'

All Forester models for 2010 feature as standard equipment front seat side impact air bags and side curtain air bags that offer additional head protection for front and rear occupants. Intelligent dual-stage deployment front air bags use sensors to determine front air bag deployment strength for optimal occupant protection. Active front head restraints can help reduce potential whiplash injury in a rear collision.

A rollover sensor is designed to activate the seat belt pre-tensioners and deploy the curtain airbags. The new-generation Forester, like the previous model, achieved a 4-star rating for rollover from the NHTSA, which indicated a 17-percent chance of rollover in its tests, which is among the best performances in the segment.

Two Types of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
An All-Wheel Drive pioneer, Subaru is the only brand to equip all its models with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is comprised of the Boxer engine and the full-time power distribution system, which varies by model and transmission. The aluminum Boxer engine and simple, symmetrical drivetrain layout help to lower the vehicle's center of gravity, which in turn contributes to handling precision.
Subaru began offering four-wheel drive passenger cars 35 years ago and introduced innovative automatic full-time All-Wheel Drive in 1987. In 1997, Subaru became the first brand in the U.S. to make All-Wheel Drive standard on all its models.

The 2010 Forester models feature two versions of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, both of which power all four wheels all the time and can transfer more power to the wheels with the best grip. Models equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission utilize a viscous-coupling locking center differential that distributes power 50:50, transferring more power to the wheels with the best traction should slippage occur.

In all Forester models with the automatic transmission, the Active Torque Split version of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive uses an electronically managed continuously variable transfer clutch to actively manage power distribution based on acceleration, deceleration, and available traction. This system automatically transfers more power to the wheels with the best grip should slippage occur. Control logic enhances stability by monitoring individual wheel speeds and reacting more quickly to wheel slippage. Both versions of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive used in the 2010 Forester integrate the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system to further enhance all-weather stability and traction.

Source - Subaru

Rivaling the Kia Sportage, the Chevrolet Tracker and the Suzuki Grand Vitara, the Subara Forester was introduced in 1998 as a ‘hybrid' vehicle that blended the attributes of a passenger vehicle and a sport-utility vehicle. A lightweight, small crossover SUV, or arguably a station wagon, the Forester was based on the Subaru Impreza platform and drivetrain. Subaru took the subcompact Impreza station wagon and raised its roofline which added a few extra inches to both the body length and width to create the Forester. Interior dimensions grew only slightly over the Impreza as a result of the wheelbase being increased fractionally. The Forester is equipped with AWD, All Wheel Drive transmission, as are all Subaru models that are marketed in the US and other international markets since the early ‘90s.

Subaru had envisioned the 5 passenger Forester being a more ‘truck-like' SUV much like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. Trying to appeal to the SUV oriented market, Subaru advertising employed the slogan ‘SUV tough, Car Easy'. The Forester features associated with SUVs such as a large, boxy cargo area, and more ground clearance than other Subaru models. The Forester does employ a car-like unibody chassis instead of the body-on-frame construction that is associated with trucks and larger SUVs.

In India the Forester was sold as a Chevrolet along with other Chevrolet models sold there. However, since General Motors no longer holds ownership stake in Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, sales in India of the Chevrolet-badged Forester have since ended. The Forester is produced at the Gunma Yajima Factory in Japan.

Going on sale were Base, L, and S models, each using Subaru's horizontally opposed, 165-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that was borrowed from the compact Legacy. Standard was a 5-speed manual transmission and optional was the 4-speed automatic. Power was sent automatically to the wheels with the most traction due to Forester's standard all-wheel-drive system that sensed wheel slip. Driver action was not needed. Compared to the Impreza wagon, ground clearance was elevated though Forester had no provision for low-range gearing, and was unimpressive when attempting serious off-road treks. The Forester featured 2000 pounds towing capacity.

Air conditioning and split folding rear seats were standard on the Forester, while L and S version added antilock braking. The Subaru S edition featured larger wheels and tires, a chrome grille, rear disc brakes, larger power mirrors and an upgraded interior.

For 1999 the Subaru Forester received modifications to quiet the engine, along with adding four pound-feet of torque. In an attempt to provide smoother, quicker shifts, transmission were revised. For this year new interior fabrics and colors were now available. L models received power side mirrors as standard. To improve crashworthiness, Foresters also gained structural modifications. In 1999 base-model Foresters could no longer receive the optional leather upholstery and remote keyless entry system.

For 2000 the Forester lineup was trimmed by Subaru, deleting the base-trimmed model while L and upscale S editions went on sale. The S model added a standard limited-slip differential while the Forester L received standard cruise control.

The following year the Forester received a slight facelift that included the addition of a new chrome grille, revised bumper and taillights and a reshaped bumper.

For 2002 the Subaru Forester received a standard retractable cargo-area cover along with two new option packages. The S Premium model was replaced by the OV Premium Package option. This new package included front side airbags, sunroof, and distinctive alloy wheels to the S. OV equipment plus leather upholstery was added to the new OK Package. For 2000, 2001 and 2002 the Forester was the winner of Australia's Best Recreational Four Wheel Drive.

A turbocharged Forester, the XT was introduced in 2003 alongside the naturally-aspirated XS. Similar to the turbo system of the Subaru Impreza WRX, the XT model features a 2.5L turbocharged engine. The engine in the Forester XT is most similar to the engine used in the US market Subaru Impreza WRX STi. This year's model Forester showcased weight-saving refinements that included an aluminum hood, hydro-formated front frame and perforated rails.

For 2004 and 2005 the Forester was Car and Driver magazine's Best Small SUV. For 2005 Subaru launched an STI variant of the Forester for the Japanese market. Sharing the same engine as the '05 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, the Forester STI featured a different tuning that generated 320 bhp. This year also featured the introduction of Subaru's AVCS system as a standard feature on all engines used in the Forester.

The Forester was updated to include a more upscale look for 2006. Only two models were produced for this year and they included the 2.5X which had a naturally-aspirated 2.5 L flat-4, 173hp and the 2.5 XT Limited, turbocharged 2.5 L flat-4 250 hp. The turbocharged engine that powered the Forest XT was awarded International Engine of the year in 2006. This engine is also used in the re-badged Saab 9-2X as well as the Subaru Impreza WRX.

In Australia three main models are available and these are the X which is naturally-aspirated with a 2.5 L flat-4 121 kW, the XS also naturally-aspirated 2.5 L flat-4, 121 kW, and the XT, turbocharged 2.5 L flat-4 169 kW. The XS and XT came with the option of having a ‘Luxury Pack' fitted, which allowed for leather seats and a sunroof. The XT model featured minor styling differences like the addition of a MOMO steering wheel as a standard feature. The X does not include curtain airbags, while both the XS and XT do.

Redesigned for the 2009 model year, the Subaru Forester was debuted in Japan on Christmas day 2007. The North American version was unveiled at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.

Jessica Donaldson

For more information and related vehicles, click here

Vehicle Spotlight

2010 Subaru models
Subaru Impreza
Subaru Impreza WRX STI R205
Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Subaru Tribeca

2010 Subaru Concepts
Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

Other models by Subaru

Comparable Vehicles
Chevrolet Equinox	($22,440-29,795)
Chevrolet HHR	($18,720-20,030)
Dodge Journey	($20,495-28,195)
Dodge Nitro	($21,595-24,895)
Ford Escape	($20,515-34,010)
Honda CR-V	($21,545-29,745)
Jeep Compass	($18,725-25,135)
Jeep Liberty	($23,255-28,735)
Jeep Patriot	($17,795-24,550)
Jeep Wrangler	($21,165-32,050)
Mazda 5	($17,995-23,000)
Mazda Tribute	($20,095-28,600)
Mercury Mariner	($23,035-31,745)
Nissan Rogue	($20,345-23,135)
Nissan Xterra	($22,450-30,400)
Subaru Impreza	($17,495-34,995)
Subaru Outback	($22,995-30,995)
Toyota RAV4	($21,500-27,815)
Volkswagen Tiguan	($23,200-33,215)