Subaru has revamped its Forester SUV for the 2003 model year. The changes,
additions and refinements add more appeal to the compact sport-utility, but
not enough to lift it over an increasingly crowded field of competitors.

All segments of the SUV market continue to grow, despite earlier warning
signs that growth may be coming to an end. The SUV segment appears to
be the most active auto niche for the 2003 model year in terms of new and
extensively revised models.

Subaru has not only cashed in on, but was saved from extinction by the
trend call it a craze for rugged all-wheel-drive vehicles that can be driven
off the pavement. Subaru's annual sales have marched steadily uphill since
1996. And to drive home the point, the company also has done extraordinarily
well in international rallying, which essentially is a race on secondary
roads, or where there are no real roads at all.

At its introduction a few years ago, the Subaru Forester was the top choice
among the small sport utilities, which includes the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V
and several other entrants. These mini SUVs are designed as entry-level
vehicles for singles or young couples, or as a third or fourth vehicle for
families with multiple drivers. Off-road capability for most of the compact
SUVs is just modest, but gas mileage is quite respectable. But newer
vehicles in this market, such as the Jeep Liberty offer real off-road
credentials and several others provide better on-road handling than the
Forester. Here is an overview of the Forester's assets and liabilities.

Design: The 2003 Forester receives some evolutionary design changes to
its exterior, including a bolder grille and revised headlights. The side view is
enhanced by sharper character lines and flared fenders.

The interior is on the simple, functional end of the design spectrum, as one
would expect. But the controls are well laid out and relatively easy to find
and use. The Forester's seats are supportive and quite comfortable.

Subaru claims that the Forester has room for five people, but four would be
a better number, unless the rear seat passengers were grade-school kids or
younger. On the other hand, parents of these children should be pleased that
Subaru offers head restraints for all three rear seating positions.

Engine and transmission: The Forester is still powered by its horizontally
opposed four-cylinder engine. With 165 horsepower on board, acceleration
will satisfy most owners. On the other hand, the engine is noisy and
somewhat rough. I¹d opt for one of the Forester¹s six-cylinder competitors
if refined operation is a consideration.

Our test Forester was equipped with a five-speed manual transmission that I
cannot recommend. The clutch engagement was often rough and erratic. The
Forester was exceptionally difficult to drive smoothly. In this case, the
manual transmission adds nothing to the driving experience and is a real
pain to operate. So if you buy a Forester, go with the much more popular
automatic unit.

Ride and handling: The industry has progressed to the state where handling
has improved for this class of vehicle. Overall, I'd rate the ride and
handling of the Forester as about average for a sport-utility in this class.
Certainly, the vehicle's modest size and weight contribute to its agility,
as does the fact that the Forester is based on a car, not a truck platform.

Value: Our test vehicle was the upscale "XS" with Premium Package, which
adds a monochrome paint treatment, upgraded upholstery and interior trim,
automatic climate control and a high-end audio system with a six-disc CD
changer. Safety additions include electronic brake distribution,
limited-slip rear differential and a windshield wiper de-icer. The Subaru
offers a reasonable package for the price, but not enough to win a debate
around the company water cooler on the subject of who got the best deal.

 Vehicle: Subaru Forester 2.5XS Premium Package

 
Price as tested: $24,420

Engine:

         Type: 2.5-liter opposed 4

         Horsepower: 165 @ 5,600 rpm

         Torque: 166-ft. lbs. @ 4,000 rpm

Fuel economy, manual transmission

         City - 21 mpg

         Highway - 27 mpg

Curb Weight: Not Available