Finding Forester

Subaru. Most Filipinos will probably just shrug their shoulders and say that they know very little about this relatively unknown Japanese car manufacturer. Some might recall the few Legacy wagons and even fewer Impreza sedans that were sold here a few years back. A much smaller number, however, would bow down their heads in reverence.

These people are thinking of the all-conquering Impreza WRX, the fire-breathing turbocharged all-wheel-drive three-time World Rally Championship-winning car that has achieved cult status in Japan, Europe, and only recently, the United States. The same car that starred in countless Rally and Gran Turismo games on millions of Playstations all over the world.

But the Legacy and Impreza are not the only popular models in the Subaru lineup. An all-new model is fast garnering recognition in every market it’s offered. This model is the Forester and its incarnation is an interesting one.

Back when almost every major car manufacturer was cranking out sport-utility vehicles by the boatload, Subaru and its parent company Fuji Heavy Industries (now part of the General Motors umbrella) found itself without a comparable model. The resourceful people at FHI went to the drawing board and in record time, came out with the Forester.

The new Forester boasted two of the engineering mainstays that have made Subaru one of the most respected marquees in the automotive world: all-wheel-drive and the unique horizontally opposed engine.

All-wheel-drive, of course, needs no explanation, as that is the reason why Subarus are the most popular passenger cars in any locality that sees snowfall. Unlike most 4WD systems that operate part time only, Subarus use a computerized full-time AWD system that constantly varies the torque applied to each wheel for unparalleled traction.

Horizontally opposed engines, on the other hand, have been a staple of the greatest Porsche sports and racing cars from the very beginning. This is where Subaru stands apart from most mass-market cars. The four pistons found in every Subaru lie horizontally (instead of vertically as found in 99 percent of all cars), two on either side. In motion, they seem as if they are boxing each other hence the term "boxer" engine.

The main benefit of this is a low center of gravity, as the engine seems virtually flat (horizontally opposed engines are also called "flat four" engines) instead of upright. A low center of gravity does wonders for stable handling, which is crucial when driving in treacherous conditions.

It is this combination of all-wheel-drive traction and low center of gravity that give Subarus the sure-footedness of a mountain goat, even in conditions that leave most cars scrambling for traction.

The Forester is powered by a 2.0-liter SOHC 16-valve engine that develops 125 ps at 5600 rpm. For those who want to play Colin McRae, there is the Forester 2.0 S-turbo variant (with a DOHC engine) that develops 177 ps at the same engine speed. The turbo model has a maximum speed of 200 kph (the non-turbo tops out at 180 kph). Both variants can be fitted with a manual or an automatic transmission.

Other unique features of the Forester are an Active Torque Split AWD which endows the automatic transmission with artificial intelligence and enables it to adjust to varying road conditions; a self-levelizer that adjusts the car’s height according to load for a constantly even stance; and, in the case of the manual transmission model, a center differential with viscous limited slip differential, again to cope with various driving conditions.

Inside, the cabin is as roomy as in most SUV’s and can even accommodate a one-meter pole standing. The 2.0 model features a wood grain center panel while the 2.0 S-turbo employs a simulated carbon-fiber on the same panel.

All things considered, the Forester may be described as capturing the best of both worlds: the space, utility, and go-anywhere capability of an SUV, and the comfort, civility, and driving ease of a car. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it, too?