2014 Subaru Forester XT Crossover Video Review

The Subaru Forester could be heralded as one of the godfathers in the compact crossover class. Introduced back in 1998, the Forester became a big sucess for the company due to its no-nonsense looks, all-wheel drive traction, and very good fuel economy. Now entering its forth generation, the 2014 Forester hopes to keep that sucess going.

The 2014 Forester's design might look similar to last year's model in profile, but Subaru made a number of changes to make the model stand out. Up front is a revised clip featuring Subaru's family grille and a set of new headlights. The hood features some sculpting and the front bumper is more pronounced. The back features a reshaped tailgate and new taillights. Inside, Subaru addressed one of the biggest complaints about the previous Forester; a drab interior. The 2014 model sees new, higher quality materials throughout, a new infotainment system, and more legroom. These changes make the Forester very nice to be in.

The 2014 Forester comes with two different Boxer engines:

• 2.5i: 2.5L four-cylinder with 170 Horsepower and 174 Pound-Feet of Torque
• 2.0XT: 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 Horsepower and 258 Pound-Feet of Torque

A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the 2.5i. Subaru's Linetronic CVT is standard on the 2.0XT and optional on the 2.5i. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is standard across the Forester range. Certain Forester models come with a new system called X-Mode that provides optimized control of the powertrain to help you move on slippery surfaces or climbing hills. There is also a new hill descent control that comes standard on some Forester models.

Fuel Economy for the 2014 Forester is rated at:

• 2.5i w/six-speed manual: 22 City/29 Highway/24 Combined
• 2.5i w/CVT: 24 City/32 Highway/27 Combined
• 2.0XT w/CVT: 23 City/28 Highway/25 Combined

Optional on the Forester is Subaru's EyeSight. EyeSight is comprised of two cameras mounted near the windshield to detect obstacles in the vehicle's path. The system is intergrated with a number of safety systems including Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking, and Lane Departure Warning.

The 2014 Subaru Forester starts at $21,995 for the base 2.5i. The 2.0XT as shown starts at $27,995. Competitors to the 2014 Forester include the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4.