2012 Subaru Forester XT: Video Road Test and Review

The Subaru Forester is a four door five passenger crossover utility vehicle that offers symmetrical all wheel drive, almost 9 inches of ground clearance, a large rear hatch and 60/40 split rear seats that open up to as much as 33.5 cubic feet of storage space and up to 68.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear bench folded flat as well as six standard airbags and is offered as the base 2.5X, 2.5X Premium, 2.5X Limited, 2.5X Touring as well as the turbocharged 2.5XT Premium and the top of the line 2.5XT Touring.

The entry level Forester 2.5X starts out at $20,595 and is powered by a 2.5 Liter four cylinder boxer engine that produces 170 HP and gets an estimated 21 MPG in the city and as much as 27 MPG on the highway.  While the 2.5X comes from the factory with a set of 16 inch steel wheels, five spoke aluminum alloys of the same size are available as well.  The next step up is the Subaru Forester2.5X Premium that comes with Bluetooth hands free connectivity for telephones and wireless music streaming, oversized panoramic moon roof, raised roof rails, a 10 way power adjustable driver’s seat and reclining rear bench as well as a set of 17 inch split five spoke aluminum alloys starting at $23,295.  The $26,595 Forester 2.5X Limited gets upgraded with features like leather wrapped seats and steering wheel, automatic climate control and a six speaker stereo with 4.3 inch LCD screen.  The Limited model is distinguished from lesser Foresters by a pair of fog lamps and body colored side mirrors.  The top of the line naturally aspirated 2.5X Touring starts at $27,895 and gains dual zone automatic climate control, one touch folding rear seats, high intensity discharge headlamps, silver finished roof rails and a set of side repeaters integrated into the mirror housings.

The first of the boosted Foresters is the 2.5XT Premium, powered by a turbocharged 2.5 Liter horizontally opposed four cylinder that produces 224 HP and gets an estimated 19 MPG around town and as much as 24 MPG at cruising speed while the power bulge on the hood feeds cold air across the intercooler.  The $27,095 Forester 2.5XT Premium also gets Bluetooth hands free connectivity for telephones and wireless music streaming, a 10 way power adjustable driver’s seat wrapped in premium cloth, raised roof rails, a set of 17 inch five spoke aluminum rims and matching pedal covers.  The top of the line, Subaru Forester 2.5XT Touring gets leather trimmed upholstery, dual zone automatic climate control, HID headlamps and a set of silver finished roof rails starting at $28,895.

A list of cars similar to the Forester includes the 2012 Toyota RAV4, 2012 Honda CR-V and 2012 Ford Escape.

See more details about the 2012 Subaru Forester.