You Won't Find This Unique Subaru Forester Quality On A Toyota RAV4 Or Honda CR-V

When you buy a new SUV you don’t want to be left stranded during inclement spring weather. If you live in the mountain regions, there is still a good chance for heavy, wet spring snow that could be a game-changer if you don’t have the right vehicle. That’s one reason why the 2020 Subaru Forester checks the boxes and scores Kelly Blue Book’s (KBB) 12-Best Family Cars for 2020.

KBB lists seven reasons why the newly-redesigned Forester gets picked as one of the best for families. They say in spite of being in the compact SUV category, it’s roomy inside but, not too large outside and has a large cargo area with a “super” wide hatch opening and plenty of headroom for taller drivers. It also gets impressive fuel economy for an all-wheel-drive SUV.

Forester comes standard with full-time AWD

One of the best attires of the Subaru Forester is its standard full-time all-wheel-drive system that you don’t pay extra for, unlike the competition. It also offers up 8.7-inches of ground clearance for those with active lifestyles who like to get away and explore. If you do run into snow and mud in the high country, you won’t be left stranded or stuck on the side of the road.

The Forester also comes with Subaru’s standard safety suite called EyeSight featuring driver-assist aids like forward-collision mitigation that helps prevent a forward collision. Even though gas prices are falling now, Forester gets excellent fuel economy with an EPA estimated 26/33 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg.

Subaru Forester isn’t your typical SUV

The driving dynamics could be Forester’s best attribute even with its higher ride height. The Boxer engine sits low in the chassis which lowers the center of gravity, giving the SUV good balance when cornering in tight mountain curves.

That Subaru 4-cylinder Boxer engine that powers the Forester also has a unique quality not found in the popular Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V compact SUVs. KBB highlights a little-known fact about the Boxer engine saying it has “an appealing aural character (exhaust note) that separates the Forester from the legions of CR-Vs, Rogues, and RAV4s on the road.”

Without getting too technical, the 2020 Subaru Forester’s unique exhaust sound is caused by the engine’s horizontally-opposed design along with its exhaust system. The exhaust “pulses” do not line up evenly before entering its single exhaust pipe to exit the rear of the SUV. This results in a “fluttering sound” rather than a smooth even exhaust note which is characteristic of equal-length exhaust headers. Subaru performance fans affectionately call it Subie “rumble.”

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates at Torque News!

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Photo credit: Subaru USA