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A week in the 2010 Subaru Forester: Day 5 (interior details)
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The Subaru Forester's interior is comfortable and functional
but not opulent. (Photos by Brady Holt)
For a vehicle that costs nearly $30,000, the Subaru Forester compact SUV doesn’t feel anything like a luxury car.
However, the Forester – which is spending a week with the DC Car Examiner – is mostly very comfortable, practical, and easy to use, even if it does feel more utilitarian than richly appointed.
The Forester’s front seats offer plenty of space, and although they look flat, they offer more lateral support than the average SUV. They’re not all-day comfortable, but they stay supportive for longer than the average car – about two hours. Drivers get excellent visibility, thanks to a high seating position and large windows. The view straight back is slightly blocked by a roof-mounted center-rear seatbelt and large rear head restraints, but those issues are minor.
The roomy rear seat is high-mounted and well-shaped, a step up from the rather hard, cramped quarters of Foresters past. However, the bench seat is shaped for just two-passenger comfort, leaving only a narrow middle space. An armrest flips down from the rear seatback in the center position and two cupholders on a tray flip out from the seat bench there (see photo in today’s slideshow), which are convenient for the outboard passengers but make for very uncomfortable seating. The rear seatback is designed to recline in two pieces; the passenger-side recliner is broken on this test car.
Interior quality is similarly a mixed bag. For the most part, the Forester is sturdy, well-assembled, and ergonomically sound. But there is too much hard, cheap feeling plastic on the dash and upper door panels for the overall ambiance to be more than basic, and the optional navigation system – which will be covered in more detail later in the week – complicates the audio controls. A few other details, like the interior door locks, could also be reworked.
But although it doesn’t feel luxurious, Subaru tossed in enough thoughtful touches to keep things comfortable. Besides the seats that are very nice for up to four adults, padded cloth on the door panels is strategically placed to make for pleasant armrests, and the center console armrest for the front seats can slide forward to better reach a driver’s arm. (See photos of the armrests in today’s slideshow.) As noted, rear seat passengers also get a center armrest.
As written about earlier this week, the Forester has lots of space for cargo. It’s also clear that while it’s no luxury car, it’s very accommodating for its passengers, too.
See more details and photo illustrations about the Forester 2.5X Limited’s interior in today’s slideshow, and check back throughout the week for more updates on the car. All readers are encouraged to leave any questions you'd like me to be on special lookout for in the comments section below, or by e-mail at dc.car.examiner@gmail.com.
Day 1: Introduction
Day 3: Cargo management
Day 5: Interior details
Day 7: Navigation system
Day 8: Exterior size
Vehicle tested: 2010 Subaru Forester
Vehicle base price (MSRP): $20,295
Version tested: 2.5X Limited
Version base price (MSRP): $25,995
Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $29,148
Estimated transaction price as tested: $26,653
Odometer at beginning of test: 3,055 miles
Odometer as of this writing: 3,475 miles
Test vehicle provided by: Subaru of America
Key specifications:
Length: 179.5 inches
Width: 70.1 inches
Height: 66.9 inches
Wheelbase: 103.0 inches
Weight: 3,360 pounds
Cargo volume behind rear seat: 30.8 cubic feet
Cargo volume behind front seats: 63.0 cubic feet
Turning radius: 17.2 feet
Engine (as tested): 2.5-liter H4 with 170 horsepower
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
EPA city mileage: 20 miles per gallon
EPA highway mileage: 26 miles per gallon
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