Driving the 2009 Subaru Forester in Santa Fe

The new Forester really is better in every way, and tossing it around on a perfect late-summer day is all well and good. But I remember what one can do in shocking snows, so this is really no test.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Santa
• Fe
• Subaru
• Forester
• turbo

[santafedrive]

I haven't driven the regular one as extensively, but I'm quite sure it would handle life just fine, better than the low-to-the-ground CR-V, with more power and no-comparison off-road superiority. I got to watch as a Forester and CR-V tried to tackle a hill side-by-side, and the CR-V just gave up really early and had to be backed down.

[subaru2o1o]

in australia you can still get the 09 xt in with 5 speed man

[drratrrd]

Got one without turbo. Good enough for me

[chrisbest1000]

@subaru2o1o I wish their could be a aftermarket off road parts for it.

[TheRealChina]

Thanks

[Robotasaurus]

I know you posted this a while ago, so you might have your answer already, but thought I'd chime in anyway. I don't expect there are any major changes from the 09 to 10 model. There might be some front and/or rear styling tweaks in a couple years, but I'd expect >90% to stay as is for at least 5-6 years.

[TheRealChina]

i'm thinkin of an 09 suby or wait out for the 2010 model.

what do you think? any news on the 2010?

[JewTimes2]

the turbo is too fast you can still go offroad and go fast fine on the regular one and pass on highway it's fine. If you get the turbo watch out this car has attitude!

[JewTimes2]

the automatic can still shift manually. It's called sportshift you shift the stick left and then yuo can shift up and down like with a manual put the stick back to the right side to go auto again

[cgrojas]

No challenge for a Subie!

[SanFranRomp]

Ya! I've always been pretty adamant about having a stick shift...And I started to think that maybe I'd want an automatic....People keep trying to talk me into it, saying that automatics are better off road with Subarus...Hmmm