2003 Subaru Forester Road Test

Driving Impressions

Not long ago, the notion of driving an SUV or crossover vehicle on a race track was preposterous or, at the very least, boring. But, today, with so much competition in this segment of the market, some manufacturers have taken to the racetrack to show their vehicle's sporty performance and handling characteristics in a safe environment. Such was the case with Subaru, wanting to assure our test drivers that its newest Forester model has improved performance that this Japanese manufacturer hopes will bump it up a class in its segment, and also align it more with other performance models such as the BMW X5 and the still-to-come Porsche Cayenne. Bumped up it is, but not in the league of these more sophisticated (and more costly) models.

Putting the Forester to the test at Talladega, a superspeedway outside Birmingham, Alabama, I approached the five-story banking with caution and excitement. Easing the Subaru Forester's throttle on to full power, I climbed to the top of the 33-degree grade and was quickly traveling at a speed of 100 mph. Level ground was a long way away and a sharp angle to my current path of travel, and looking down gave me a feeling of vertigo. However, the feedback that I got from this crossover SUV let me know that there was plenty of grip and good balance, and assured me that its speed and precarious perch were within reason in this controlled environment. It was quiet inside the Forester's cabin, which has a coefficient of drag improved by 10 percent, which means less wind noise and better fuel economy.

Next, I descended to the tarmac at the base of this famous raceway and navigated through a braking and lane-change exercise, a course set up to simulate emergency stopping and lane-change maneuvers.

The tires screeched as I slammed on the brakes and slid around sharp corners. The Forester maintained good directional stability, with little body roll (again a result of the placement of the engine) as I drove crisply through the snaking course. Four-channel, four-sensor anti-lock brakes with disc brakes in front and drum brakes in the rear are one of the Forester's primary safety features. Larger front brake rotors have been added to reduce stopping distances.

Here, I also found quick throttle response, as well as quick and easy gear shifts. Subaru's 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine delivers 165 horsepower at its peak, with an admirable 166 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. Underneath the skin, Forester has a stronger, yet lighter, body structure, which helps reduce the weight of this year's model by almost 100 pounds. In theory, lighter is better because it results in better handling and shorter stopping distances. A rigid chassis is a key element to responsive handling and a quiet ride. Subaru also revised the suspension tuning for 2003.

Finally, I entered an area of the track where an obstacle course was set up with cement blocks to drive over. The Forester boasts an impressive 7.5-inches of ground clearance. Blocks of wood and other rough materials had been thrown down for us to drive on. The ride was surprisingly comfortable, a benefit of the Forester's upgraded suspension.

Following the track time, we took a 100-mile-long drive through the Talladega National Forest and the motorways surrounding the Birmingham area. Here, I found this crossover vehicle conjured up its passenger car roots and, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension, gave a pleasant and responsive ride. Pluses were the all-new struts that help reduce noise, vibration, harshness, or NVH. Equal-length axle shafts help eliminate torque steer (when the steering pulls slightly to one side under power). Variable Gear Ratio rack-and-pinion steering means increased responsiveness, and a turning circle of 34.8 feet.

While offering sophisticated AWD and a bigger four-cylinder than most in the segment, the Forester also offers decent fuel economy; it gets 21 mpg in city driving, 27 mpg on the highway with the manual tra