The Pacific Northwest is a major market for the Subaru Forester. The reasons are obvious but I’ll go ahead and mention them anyway. It’s going to be a long sentence.
The 2016 Subaru Forester compact crossover SUV has great looks, all-wheel drive, seating for five people, a generous rear cargo area, fold-down seats to reconfigure the ratio of people to cargo, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, peppy performance, competitive pricing and darn good gas mileage.
Interior space of the 2016 Forester defies the car’s compact size. There’s a lot of room in every direction, even in the back seat, where a couple of average-sized adults can comfortably ride for long distances without scrunching up. Second row seats are stadium-style, positioned slightly higher than the front row, giving the back seat people better views of the surrounding scenery than would otherwise be the case.
In addition to its overall generous sizing, the cargo area is tall and has a low floor that makes loading and unloading a snap.
The 2016 Subaru Forester is offered in six different versions: the 2.5i in base, Premium, Limited and Touring trim levels; and the 2.0XT in Premium and Touring trims. The 2.5i models are equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine; the 2.0 models have a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
My tester was a 2.5i Premium model whose non-turbo engine produces 170 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a CVT automatic transmission, its EPA fuel economy ratings are 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
If you’re wondering what the numbers are for the turbo, let me spare you the googling: 250 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque, 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway.
I didn’t lament the lack of a turbo during the test week, since the Forester isn’t something a sane person wants to carve tight turns with. Just driving it around like an actual Forester owner, everything was good. No wishing for more power, no grousing about a wobbly transmission. Enjoying the fuel economy.
Standard equipment on the 2016 Forester 2.5i Premium includes 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, a 10-way power driver’s seat, power panoramic moonroof, rear vision camera, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and a new six-speaker multi-media system with a 7-inch touchscreen, dual USB ports, auxiliary input, AM/FM and HD radio, CD player, Bluetooth connectivity, hands-free SMS messaging, and Subaru’s Starlink cloud applications.
My tester was endowed with an optional ($1,895) all-weather package, navigation, and Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist technology in which two cameras mounted near the rearview mirror keep an eye on things, so to speak, by monitoring traffic. If possible danger is looming, the system issues warnings and if necessary initiates corrective action on behalf of the inattentive driver.
2016 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5i PREMIUM
Base price, including destination charge: $26,645
Price as driven: $28,540
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a board member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.
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