Forester: sporty yet practical

Over the years Subaru has promoted itself heavily to lesbian and gay buyers, predominately in the US. When given the opportunity to rate their favourite car, Subaru is often seen in the top 10, especially when it comes to the driving tastes of lesbians. Outback and Forester are generally the models most commonly mentioned.

I did my own piece of research, chatting to a number of girls, and Katherine epitomises why lesbians love a Subaru Forester: I believe the vehicle of choice for the queer woman should be a Subaru Forester with a sunroof, accessorised with a roof rack (even if you are a couch potato) and CD player (for the Melissa Etheridge box set).

Accessories are important in queer culture. This vehicle is sporty enough for the single girl and practical enough for the domesticated one. The Forester suggests a spirit of domestication and play. The logic: if single, the Forester states you’re not opposed to attachment; if partnered, you’re not opposed to say, children, or, at the very least, pets. Absolutely, I would date a woman with a Forester. Unfortunately, I don’t own one.

Over 100,000 Foresters have been sold in Australia since their launch in 1997. With a new model just around the corner, priced at $1,500 less than the current model, Subaru is well and truly firing a shot across the bow of its rivals.

The third generation 2008 Forester will be a wider and taller vehicle with greater cabin space. The new Forester X’s starting price of $30,490 gives the entry-level Subaru soft roader an advantage over the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, and Toyota RAV4, which are all priced from $31,990. Subaru says it will announce pricing for the mid-spec XS and range-topping XT variants when the Forester goes on sale in mid-March.

All-wheel drive is an inherent part of Subaru’s automotive philosophy offering both the highest levels of active safety and driving enjoyment. All-wheel drive means maximum grip because the engine’s power is directed to all four wheels, not just the front or rear wheels. Therefore it ensures excellent stability, road-holding and traction on any surface -“ rain, hail or shine. The new Forester has been awarded the maximum five-star crash rating by Australian NCAP and now features stability control as standard across the range.

The new Forester presents a family resemblance to Subaru’s facelifted Tribeca medium SUV, courtesy of a slotted grille, and its all-new shape dispenses with the current model’s squarer edges to introduce a more rounded overall look. The headlights appear to have been inspired by the new Impreza, while the wheel-arches are more heavily flared.

The new Forester’s interior design is based heavily on the latest Impreza’s cabin, which means a neat presentation but an abundance of hard plastics, which you will either love or hate.

Australia is the second largest market outside of Japan, with Forester being the best selling car for Subaru locally. The Forester offers the consumer a fantastic mix of luxury and practicality, a must when looking for that next new car purchase.