Seating height in the Forester is comparable to that of a sedan. It doesn't offer that master-of-the-universe driving position that many sport-utility buyers prefer. We don't see this as a negative. Being closer to the ground means a lower center of gravity for better handling. That's why expensive sports cars and sports sedans don't offer high seating positions.The driver's seat is comfortable with good lateral support and offers a myriad of adjustments. Visibility is excellent, a benefit of a low hood and large windshield. Controls are easy to operate, instruments are straightforward and easy to read. Interior trim comes in softer, warmer fabrics than the Toyota RAV4, though it lacks the design elegance and refinement of the Honda CR-V. Subaru's radio controls are on the small side. There's plenty of headroom front and rear with comfortable seating for four. With the split folding rear seats, the Forester offers 64.6 cubic feet of cargo space. That's slightly more than the RAV4, slightly less than the CR-V and nearly 80 percent of what a Ford Explorer offers. It's easy to load cargo into the back; the rear gate lifts out of the way and a rubber cargo mat protects the interior. Heated front seats, heated outside mirrors, windshield wiper deicers make the Forester feel at home in the snow and ice.
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