What is it?
2003 Subaru Forester
What's special about it?
Subaru's well-regarded Forester sport-ute has been completely redesigned to be an even more enjoyable addition to your family. Engineers have given the tall wagon more interior room, a stiffer body structure, a revised suspension and more standard feature content — all while keeping exterior dimensions the same and reducing the curb weight by 90 pounds.
From the outside, the new Forester doesn't look much different than the one it replaces, but like all successors, it wants to appear more assertive. Sharper character lines in the front and rear, flared wheel arches, a larger grille and a contoured front bumper with integrated foglights help accomplish this. Inside, drivers will find more supportive seats with a greater range of seat track travel, seat height adjustment and steering wheel tilt.
Along with the stronger body structure, new strut units with internal rebound springs and improved valving should give the '03 Forester more athletic handling characteristics and a smoother ride. Further, the suspension has been designed to curb nose dive during braking and rear-end squat during acceleration. The sport-ute also gets a quicker steering ratio — 16.5:1 versus 19:1 for its predecessor. Larger front brake rotors and standard 16-inch wheels complete the handling package.
Powering every Forester (at least for now) is the familiar 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder that generates 165 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. You can again choose either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, both of which route power to all four wheels all the time. The manual gearbox includes Subaru's Hill Holder clutch, which helps to avoid the embarrassment of slipping back on an incline.
The '03 Forester will be sold in two trim levels — 2.5 X and 2.5 XS. Standard features on the 2.5 X include an 80-watt stereo with CD player, side-impact airbags, remote keyless entry and variable intermittent wipers. The 2.5 XS adds rear disc brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution, automatic climate control, an in-dash six-CD changer and aluminum alloy wheels. Options include a limited-slip differential, heated front seats and leather upholstery.
Why should you care?
The previous-generation Forester was always a good buy for consumers who wanted a small, safe SUV and didn't require hard-core off-road ability. The 2003 Forester seems even better in all areas, except engine performance — like everyone else, we're still waiting for the Outback's six-cylinder. Subaru's numeric trim level nomenclature gives us hope that future days will bring a "3.0 XS." —Erin Riches
2003 Subaru Forester
What's special about it?
Subaru's well-regarded Forester sport-ute has been completely redesigned to be an even more enjoyable addition to your family. Engineers have given the tall wagon more interior room, a stiffer body structure, a revised suspension and more standard feature content — all while keeping exterior dimensions the same and reducing the curb weight by 90 pounds.
From the outside, the new Forester doesn't look much different than the one it replaces, but like all successors, it wants to appear more assertive. Sharper character lines in the front and rear, flared wheel arches, a larger grille and a contoured front bumper with integrated foglights help accomplish this. Inside, drivers will find more supportive seats with a greater range of seat track travel, seat height adjustment and steering wheel tilt.
Along with the stronger body structure, new strut units with internal rebound springs and improved valving should give the '03 Forester more athletic handling characteristics and a smoother ride. Further, the suspension has been designed to curb nose dive during braking and rear-end squat during acceleration. The sport-ute also gets a quicker steering ratio — 16.5:1 versus 19:1 for its predecessor. Larger front brake rotors and standard 16-inch wheels complete the handling package.
Powering every Forester (at least for now) is the familiar 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder that generates 165 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. You can again choose either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, both of which route power to all four wheels all the time. The manual gearbox includes Subaru's Hill Holder clutch, which helps to avoid the embarrassment of slipping back on an incline.
The '03 Forester will be sold in two trim levels — 2.5 X and 2.5 XS. Standard features on the 2.5 X include an 80-watt stereo with CD player, side-impact airbags, remote keyless entry and variable intermittent wipers. The 2.5 XS adds rear disc brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution, automatic climate control, an in-dash six-CD changer and aluminum alloy wheels. Options include a limited-slip differential, heated front seats and leather upholstery.
Why should you care?
The previous-generation Forester was always a good buy for consumers who wanted a small, safe SUV and didn't require hard-core off-road ability. The 2003 Forester seems even better in all areas, except engine performance — like everyone else, we're still waiting for the Outback's six-cylinder. Subaru's numeric trim level nomenclature gives us hope that future days will bring a "3.0 XS." —Erin Riches
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