I first drove the Subaru Forester five years ago, and discovered a vehicle like no other. The exterior was compact, and so was the rear seat. But the seating position was moderately high, and the roof even higher, for excellent headroom and visibility. The interior materials impressed. The handling was more agile than that of more conventional compact SUVs. More than anything else, there was a basic honesty about the car, much like VWs had before they went all fancy.

For 2009, Subaru has introduced a completely redesigned, larger and prettier Forester. And I can't decide if the new one is better or worse than the old one.

Styling

Subaru has made some styling missteps in recent years. Thankfully, the new Forester doesn't continue the Tribeca's and Impreza's misguided trajectory. There's no funky grille, no bulbous malformations; just a pleasant. nicely-proportioned wagonish shape…that easily could be mistaken for a Mitsubishi Outlander or Hyundai Santa Fe. I suppose I deserved this, since the current Legacy has been the most attractive Subaru to date to my eye.

But how about something like the 1990s SVX, that was both attractive and distinctive? Not easy, but doable.

Like that in the current Impreza, the new Subaru Forester's interior is equipped with a lethal combo of upmarket aspirations and cheap materials. There's lots of hard silver plastic– most notably a wide band that forms a wave across the instrument panel. Sadly, the soft-touch dimpled polymer that impressed me back in 2003 didn't survive the redesign. The old Forester's interior wasn't as suavely styled, but it looked more genuine and felt more solid.

Accommodations

Subarus have traditionally been tighter inside than the competition, especially in the back seat. For the first time ever, you'll find plenty of rear legroom inside a Subaru. (Okay, there's plenty in the Tribeca--if you don't have or don't employ the third row.) Also, in all but the base trim the rear seat reclines. Another positive change: you get a decent sliding center armrest as standard equipment, rather than as a dealer-installed accessory.

The view from the driver's seat isn't as open as it was. Blame a taller instrument panel. It's still better than most. Seat comfort is good, but not great. Lateral support is minimal, but would be of minimal use anyway...

On the Road

I drove two new Subaru Foresters. First, I drove the L.L. Bean, which has become the Limited now that the L.L. Bean license has expired. Later I drove the turbocharged XT Limited.

The non-turbo is sluggish, at least with the automatic. Even the old non-turbo Forester only felt somewhat sprightly with a stick, and the new one is about 100 pounds heavier. The cobby sounds made by the boxer (flat opposed cylinders) four were more congrument with the plainer styling of the previous generation. In the new one, the engine simply sounds strained.

The turbo is quicker, but doesn't feel as quick as I expected it to. Just a bit better than adequate. A manual is no longer available with the turbo. And the automatic has only four forward gears. One or two more ratios would improve both acceleration and fuel economy.

With either engine, the automatic doesn't willingly downshift. You'll want to make use of the manual shift feature for decent responses.

Aside from the over-light steering, the Forester's chassis feels perfectly composed in relaxed motoring. But hit a turn with any semblance of speed you'll discover both heavy understeer and insufficient grip. No doubt the Yokohama Geolanders (yep, them again) are good at something. But that something isn't hanging on to dry pavement. Stability control is standard for those who think understeer is an invitation to push harder.

The old Forester also felt very much in need of a suspension drop. But its steering and handling were more taut, and I enjoyed driving it more.

On the flip side, the ride is smoother and quieter than in the old Forester. Think Toyota.

Subaru Forester Price Comparisons and Pricing

Compared to the Subaru Forester Limited, a similarly loaded up Honda CR-V EX-L lists for about $700 less. Adjust for feature differences, and the gap widens to about a grand. Not pocket change, but not enough to make the decision for you.

Run the same comparison against a RAV4, and the Subaru is about $700 less at MSRP, but the Toyota is a couple hundred less at invoice. Out the door, they're probably about the same.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the Subaru Forester:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/Forester.php

Last Words

Problem is, does the world really need another Toyota? Subaru used to be about getting a Japanese car that was unlike other Japanese cars. In every way that really matters, the new Forester is just another compact crossover. It does everything passably well, and looks more stylish than before. But the same could be said of many competitors.

Subaru's predictable response: Hyundai and Mitsubishi don't have the automaker's patented symmetrical all-wheel-drive. Granted: Subaru's trademark drivetrain system is desirable- when combined with a lusty turbocharged engine, taut suspension and sticky rubber. In the 170-horse Geolandered Forester it makes not the slightest difference.

The previous Forester was unlike anything else in the segment. The new one is just like everything else in the segment, for both good and bad. No doubt the new one is good enough to place highly in comparison tests, and even win some of them. But I cannot avoid the feeling that much has been lost in going so mainstream.

A Note on Subaru Forester Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a Forester rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Subaru Forester reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need reliability data on all cars--not just the Forester--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.

Amount Paid (US$): 26,660
Model and Options: L.L. Bean (now Limited) , XT Limited