So here's the deal:

My sis wants a small suv as her next car. She wants 4wd or awd because she claims she will be driving off road. She is the outdoors type, she is getting a tent for christmas.

She says she heard that the Forrester gets bad mileage because the awd is "always on". I had to chuckle at this when she is also thinking about the Xterra. She is also entertaining the Rav4 and CRV.

Cliff's Notes:
I'm looking for facts or numbers that prove the Forrester is superior to it's competition.

Thanks, Monkey

edit: add the Isuzu Rodeo and Ford Escape to the list of competition.

 

"The Might 350Z just got smoked by a Family of Five and a Dog".
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/atta...postid=5122003

http://www.tmcclient.com/subaru/turbo1/
its also the safest small suv out there...

 

If she gets an automatic, the Forester system sends 90% or so of the power to the front wheels.....which essentially makes it a front wheel drive car most of the time. Only when wheels slip does it electronically start to transfer a lot of torque to the rear wheels.

 

Isuzu = crap

Ford Escape = Mazda Tribute = crap

The forester is better for many reasons, the most important are;

1. It will not die in 3 years or have most of its components and electronics fail (common trait of ford vehicles, I know, I've owned many).

2. AWD, as we all know, is better for keeping you out of a ditch, 4WD is good for getting you out after you've went into the ditch. So the exterra would be a bad choice.

3. The forester is no longer the ugly bastard child of a Volvo / Shoe box.

4. Gas milage in the 4WD Exterra (15-17mpg) AND the V6 AWD Escape (18-23mpg) are worse than the Forester (21-25mpg).

5. Handling. The Exterra is truck based. The forester is car based. The forester will run circles around an Exterra and probably the escape too.


The Rav4 and CRV are also excelent choices. The Rav4 now has 161hp and AWD with stability control. However toyota kills you with the options on that car. The Forester comes with most options the Rav4 doesn't.

No real complaints on the CRV. 160hp and Honda motors are generally really good. However the Styling on the CRV takes a special personality to like it. I also don't know much about Honda's "Full time 4WD" system they use in the CRV, but I think I've heard that it isn't as good as Subaru's AWD.

Ah, hec, just tell her to get the forester.

Just my $.02

 

I can help you out with the honda 4wd...(2nd hand info) they have been known to have 4wd failures ...there have, according to a friend, been cases of the 4wd failing in snow and causing accidents...not sure how true it is though