[Hurricane]

Motor Trend names Subaru Forester SUV of the year
Thursday October 16, 9:34 am ET
Subaru Forester named SUV of year for 2009 by Motor Trend magazine

DETROIT (AP) -- Motor Trend magazine has picked the 2009 Subaru Forester as its sport utility vehicle of the year, citing its fuel efficiency, comfort on the road and competency off the pavement.
The award, announced Thursday, came from a field of 13 finalists mostly made up of car-based crossover vehicles, with few traditional body-on-frame truck-based SUVS as in previous years. It will be featured in the magazine's edition that hits newsstands on Nov. 3.

"The Forester's strengths are its value, versatile powertrains and fuel efficiency -- something that during these times is a gigantic plus," magazine editor-in-chief Angus MacKenzie said in a statement.

The all-wheel-drive Forester with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission gets an estimated 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 on the highway.

Other finalists were the BMW X6, Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Journey, Ford Flex, Honda Pilot, Infiniti EX and FX, Kia Borrego, Lexus LX570, Nissan Murano, Toyota Sequoia and Volkswagen Tiguan.

More here: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081016/us_motor_trend_suv.html?.v=3

 

[Pedal 2 Metal]

Eh, at least it's not a Toyota.

 

[boblutzfan]

This is actually a good pick. I never liked the Forester - but this redesign did a lot for the little trucklet. It is very handsome - one of the best looking in the CUV market. The fact that it is a Subaru gives it more credibility in my book - as a CUV that is.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/16/autos/motor_trend_subaru_forester/index.htm?postversion=2008101609

 

[calgaryhhr]

The Forester is a good choice. It's an excellent all purpose utility vehicle with great value and good interior and exterior styling.

It will get even better if and when Subaru offers it's new horizontally opposed turbo 4 diesel in North America. That engine would make a Forester and any other Subaru exceptional.

 

[RB35SLT]

Congrats for Subaru. I think they deserve it.

 

[CamaroCrazy]

I'm actually pleased with this choice. The Forester was always a sensible choice for those seeking increased utility.

 

[saturnista]

I just threw up in my mouth.

 

[Saturn69]

Hey, at least a GM part was involved; the steering wheel.

And, at least it wasn't a Toyota.

 

[Saturn69]

I just threw up in my mouth.

I recommend Listerine.

 

[91 s-10baja]

Well a congratulations goes out to the rainbow coallition!

 

[Hudson]

I've always liked Subarus, but I figured Subaru would be outgunned by one of the biggies here. I think the opposite might have happened. There were just so many mediocre SUVs (I know, that's a double negative) that all of the other votes crossed each other out and the Subaru was left.

 

[BigThreeForever]

Meh.

It should have been the Ford Flex.

Still, what do you expect from a bunch of slack-jawed import-humpers?

 

[sepi]

Forester is an SUV? Its and economy car station wagon! But its a Japanese vehicle. Ergo. Winner. Looks like a Chrysler, made in Japan. Absolutely dreadful vehicle - boring - underpowered - long-term reliability will make living with its nearly biodegradable interior plastics unappealing. Subarus don't age well. They will run longer than you can stand looking at them.

 

[silvergoat2k6]

Well, at least MT wasn't as obviously biased as C&D was during their recent crossover comparison test...I'm still scratching my head as to how the Pilot won their comparison test.

The Forrester is a very nice vehicle...congrats to Subaru.

 

[prototype66]

Hey, at least a GM part was involved; the steering wheel.

I tell ya what....I look at the two pics and I see they are really similar. Remove the Gateshift and nav and it could be a Bu or a Cruize or a Aura. really close family resemblence .

 

[Greg Burr]

So it gets 1 mpg better than a Ford Escape AWD but requires premium fuel.

 

[Saturn69]

So it gets 1 mpg better than a Ford Escape AWD but requires premium fuel.

About $2.50 more per tankful. Not that big a deal. It's an SUV, if gas mileage or fuel prices are a problem, you shouldn't be looking at one.

 

[69Firebird400]

The Forester is a pretty good vehicle. I spent a week testing one; if you don't get the turbo, I recommend the five speed manual. The best thing about it is that it's small on the outside and big on the inside. There is obviously a lot of headroom, but there is a ton of legroom in both the first and second rows even for tall people like me.

My review: http://www.autosavant.com/2008/08/26/2009-subaru-forester-25x-premium-review/

Handling wasn't great, but neither is it in any of the other contenders, short of maybe the X6, but that's way too big and heavy. The X6 has a nice exhaust note and its width helps handling, but it didn't feel all that quick in driving a V8 around a racetrack flat-out.

 

[furyagain]

yes it is not toyota,

but Toyota OWN 16.6% of subaru lol
good job, subaru, fuji industry, toyota

LOL

 

[88Fiero]

Motortrend. what a waste. I am not renewing my subscription. They are so anti american!