I had the opportunity to drive my girlfriends '15 Forester Premium 6-manual for a few days prior to meeting her in VT for a cross country ski trip, and this included the latest and last New England Blizzard.
As many already know the real strength of this vehicle is in the AWD. My understanding is that unlike the CVT equipped Forester the 6-manual splits power evenly 50/50 between the axles and does not vary it. In a straight line the AWD worked flawlessly on slick inclines, slushy highways, or thicker drifts. Cornering, of course, introduced additional forces on the vehicle, so it would slide a bit before gaining traction, and by cornering I am specifically talking about the 90 degree set ups of street turns taken at slightly more than prudent speed, given the conditions, and not from a stop. This of course was tested with zero traffic and plenty of berth. Gentle turns offered little to no fuss. The AWD in this car is confidence inspiring and so care must be taken not to override its limits.
Adding to the feeling of safety from the AWD are a standard 7 airbags, a comfortable and airy cabin, and excellent outward visibility thanks to an abundance of glass.
HVAC controls are rather coarse with “industrial” action to the knobs versus the refined feel of those in the Accord, but the lady liked this because it was reminiscent of her beloved '97 Jeep Cherokee. Controls are straightforward and ergonomically sound. Seat heaters came standard.
The ride is jouncy over small imperfections but handles larger bumps rather well. Steering feel is numb, a bit disconnected, and light on center, but ultimately secure. The handling is average, I suppose, with the point of reference my Honda, which I would deem, “good”. It is stable at highway speeds, but high crosswinds could be felt buffeting the chassis, though the car tracked true. The cabin stays quiet at speed save for the distinct “thrumming” of the boxer 4, which also makes it's presence known on harder acceleration, and a small amount of wind noise. The manual transmission is slightly notchy but has short enough throws to keep it relatively entertaining. I'd be hard pressed to complain about any MT vehicle, given their scarcity. The 10-way power seat is comfortable on longer drives but I found the bottom to be a bit short, and I'm only 5'10”.
The interior has solid fit and finish. Some materials and plastics are bargain bin. The headliner, for instance, looks and feels like it might dissolve if wet, like a handful of cotton candy. The moonroof is massive, with an opening almost twice that of the Accord's, and extends into the rear passenger compartment. The space in back has been described as limo-like, and the seats there are comfortable. Interestingly, you can recline the seat-back a few inches with the pull of strap located on the outside of the upper cushion.
Utility, as expected, is another strength of the vehicle. I imagine a small family could haul pretty much anything they need in it, which is why it suits that demographic so well, and gas mileage is not a penalty box. 27-28 mpg is the average in mixed driving so far. The CVT equipped Foresters are supposed to do even better.
I can certainly see the appeal of this vehicle. The superior AWD, high safety rating, excellent visibility and utility, and projected reliability make this a value standout at $23-24k. For those like myself that ask for a little bit more in terms of driving dynamics and comfort, however, it might be a compromise.
As many already know the real strength of this vehicle is in the AWD. My understanding is that unlike the CVT equipped Forester the 6-manual splits power evenly 50/50 between the axles and does not vary it. In a straight line the AWD worked flawlessly on slick inclines, slushy highways, or thicker drifts. Cornering, of course, introduced additional forces on the vehicle, so it would slide a bit before gaining traction, and by cornering I am specifically talking about the 90 degree set ups of street turns taken at slightly more than prudent speed, given the conditions, and not from a stop. This of course was tested with zero traffic and plenty of berth. Gentle turns offered little to no fuss. The AWD in this car is confidence inspiring and so care must be taken not to override its limits.
Adding to the feeling of safety from the AWD are a standard 7 airbags, a comfortable and airy cabin, and excellent outward visibility thanks to an abundance of glass.
HVAC controls are rather coarse with “industrial” action to the knobs versus the refined feel of those in the Accord, but the lady liked this because it was reminiscent of her beloved '97 Jeep Cherokee. Controls are straightforward and ergonomically sound. Seat heaters came standard.
The ride is jouncy over small imperfections but handles larger bumps rather well. Steering feel is numb, a bit disconnected, and light on center, but ultimately secure. The handling is average, I suppose, with the point of reference my Honda, which I would deem, “good”. It is stable at highway speeds, but high crosswinds could be felt buffeting the chassis, though the car tracked true. The cabin stays quiet at speed save for the distinct “thrumming” of the boxer 4, which also makes it's presence known on harder acceleration, and a small amount of wind noise. The manual transmission is slightly notchy but has short enough throws to keep it relatively entertaining. I'd be hard pressed to complain about any MT vehicle, given their scarcity. The 10-way power seat is comfortable on longer drives but I found the bottom to be a bit short, and I'm only 5'10”.
The interior has solid fit and finish. Some materials and plastics are bargain bin. The headliner, for instance, looks and feels like it might dissolve if wet, like a handful of cotton candy. The moonroof is massive, with an opening almost twice that of the Accord's, and extends into the rear passenger compartment. The space in back has been described as limo-like, and the seats there are comfortable. Interestingly, you can recline the seat-back a few inches with the pull of strap located on the outside of the upper cushion.
Utility, as expected, is another strength of the vehicle. I imagine a small family could haul pretty much anything they need in it, which is why it suits that demographic so well, and gas mileage is not a penalty box. 27-28 mpg is the average in mixed driving so far. The CVT equipped Foresters are supposed to do even better.
I can certainly see the appeal of this vehicle. The superior AWD, high safety rating, excellent visibility and utility, and projected reliability make this a value standout at $23-24k. For those like myself that ask for a little bit more in terms of driving dynamics and comfort, however, it might be a compromise.
