We drove the Subaru Forester up and down gravel roads on the western slopes of Washington state's Cascade Mountains, then we spent a week on the curving rural roads outside Annapolis, Maryland.Crisp throttle response and competent handling make the Forester fun to drive. There's more low-rpm torque available for passing and better steering response in transient maneuvers than what's available in the RAV4 and CR-V. Our Forester S was equipped with the four-speed automatic, which we found to be responsive and a good match for the engine. We have driven the Forester with a 5-speed manual, which makes it more fun to drive and provides more precise control. The pedal arrangement is such that the Forester can be driven like a sports sedan and this makes it more enjoyable on mountain roads and dirt trails. Winding gravel roads are the perfect environment for the Forester. The all-wheel-drive system offers predictable handling when sliding around corners yet the suspension offers sufficient damping to soften harsh vibration and big bumps. Subaru's four-wheel MacPherson strut suspension uses soft springs, stiff shocks and relatively long suspension travel to achieve this balance. Hitting big bumps in the middle of a turn won't upset the handling. The Forester provides superb traction and balance on slippery pavement. This is among the best cars on the road in a real downpour. Heated front seats, heated outside mirrors, windshield wiper deicers help make the Forester feel at home in the snow and ice.
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