Exceptional handling and gas mileage(considering it is an awd) I haven't had the misfortune of trying out the safety yet, but it feels safe. Controlls are nicely laid out, decent power.

Clutch grabs - the dealer is putting in a modification kit. If you put a child carseat in the middle position(safest) it is virtually impossible to use the side seatbelts.There is only one keyhole - so if your remote stops working, you are in trouble. The trim on the back hatch is cracked already - just from opening and closing the hatch(dealer is replacing-but it still shouldn't happen). The drivers seat is already frayed- from where i keep my wallet-dealer is also replacing, but claims it is a one of replacement. The seals on the drivers side axle need to be redone already also on warranty. I may have to sell this car once the warranty is up - I can't afford to do repairs like this every 26000km.

I bought this car for its high safety rating as I do a lot of highway driving. While I am pleased with the sense of safety, I am starting to Question the durability of the car as I only have 26000kms on the car but it is starting to show significant wear.

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1st sport utility,have owned honda, toyota, ford

Handling. Very large moon roof. Decent stereo. Reactive climate control. Heated seats, lumbar support. Visibility. Rear power outlets for thermo electric coolers. Style.

Tends to fog up on rear side windows. You must open the fresh air and run the AC to try to get rid of the condensation. The stock Yokohama tires are poor in the snow. Switch them for Blizaaks and it handles beautifully in the snow.

The 3 main choices at the time of purchase for a mini-suv (neo-station wagon) were the Toyota Rav4, The Honda CRV, and the Subuaru Forester. The Rav4 lacked power and seemed a bit smaller, although I have never set foot in one. The Honda CRV, although comparable, did not have the looks. The Subura Forester claimed the highest horse power, great looks, and best safety record. It also was a hot item when I bought it in July 2000 and I paid sticker price. The Forester produced the best test drive of any vehicle I have ever driven. I am not a NASCAR racer so what I look for is responsive acceleration, feel of handling and visibility. The Forester triumphs on all these accounts. The all wheel drive gives you a feeling of being able to turn on a dime. I have the model with the moon roof, ugraded suspension and the larger alloy wheels as well as the upgraded stereo. All are worth the extra cost, however the stereo although very functional does not have the degree of sound that would satisfy an audiophile. However, since I only take long trips on occasion, it is highly serviceable. What I like most about the Forester is the handling and feel, which are highly subjective.

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Honda CRV

great value. can get through any winter elements. comfortable seating. good power.

cramped rear seating, no navigation system and small gas tank.

great brakes, steering and quiet. i can stand my bicycle up in it when i take the front wheel off. only routine maintenance has been done on it.

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none

Speed and handling The dealer we bought it from (Nate Wade) Room for driver that is 6'4" MPG access to all controls by driver

The incompatibility between my Yakima rack system and the new - no one else has anything that would fit on it - roof rack on the 2003 Sub Forester

Great car. My wife and I decided on this and dumping our Tahoe becuase of gas mileage, maintainence costs, and sheer size of the freekin Tahoe. We found many added benefits as well - It, with it's 4cyl. climbs the steep canyons around here MUCH better than the V8 Tahoe ever did. Put 4 people in it with skies and gear or bikes and gear and it a still goes. Hadling is awesome in snow, rocks, slickrock - yes we took it down onto the White Rim. Overall, enough space for us, our kid and oour two big dogs.

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CRV Mistubishi Outlander

With new Toyo tires tremendous road handling in any conditions. Good CD and Tape player

Slightly noisy (although that is in part due to the tires they are 100,000 mile and a little stiffer. Cup holder only 1 in front

Best car I've ever owned. Great Handling. Terrific in snow going up skiing. Decent Mileage

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Rented several SUV's

It was fun to drive when it worked.

see above plus very cheap plastic, carpet and upholstery compared to Honda and Nissan and Chevy vehicles I have owned in past

The worse car I have ever owned in terms of brakedowns and reliability. I have had to have the rear differential replaced 2 times and the first time the had my car over a month and tried to charge me an express shipping fee. The right rear wheel bearing assembly was replaced 3 times and the housing once. The AC compressor had to be replaced as well as too many other repairs to count and list. Here is what brought me to this website. I went for an oil change and the dealer reports I have $1700 worht more of necessary repairs. I refuse to put another dime in to this rolling disaster. I could go on but it is too upsetting about all the repairs that have been under $500 but it is just too upsetting.

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1st SUV, the 5th car I've owned

Power (esp with the new available Turbo) Pro-active All-wheel drive Fit and Finish Reliability (it's still new but this is our 2nd Subaru. 1993 Impreza still running strong) Long list of Standard Equipment Excellent Brakes Excellent handling (more rally-like ie. can kick the tail out in a controlled manner if pushed on loose pavement. Smooth transition from slight understeer to oversteer.)

Power - can feel a little sluggish with base engine when fully loaded Room - from waist up - very roomy, but lacks leg room Price - most expensive of the 3 compared Handling - for those who like the benign handling of excessive understeer, the Forester will only give you a little bit of understeer and then take you to controlled oversteer

We shopped for a new car-based SUV for 3 months. We compared the Forester to the 2003 RAV 4, and 2003 CRV. We wanted All-wheel drive for safety and security during our nasty winters. We would've went with the CRV except we felt a reactive Real-time 4WD is a handicap as compared with the pro-active All-wheel drives of the RAV 4 and the Forester. We felt the RAV 4 was too small and lacked power. The Forester had the most power and the benefit of proactive All-wheel drive; it won't wait for wheels to slip before engaging All-wheel drive. That combined with an excellent ground clearance made it the winner in our books.

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only tested: RAV 4, 2003 CRV

Safety, handles very well on back roads and on/off ramps.Braking is very good. Experienced first hand with a deer encounter.

I haven't quite figured out the heating system yet.But from the other reviews it appears it's not only me.

Nice look interior and exterior. Lots of very though through standard features that are useful. Good pickup.Nice sounding stereo. Quality finish.

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chevy Blazer roll-over isssues. VW jetta wagon -solid but no pick-up and many problems of safety(ignition coil failure)and water leaks.

awd, tight front end, looks good, good pick up, comfortable great for bad weather

seems to be chewing tires, in heavy snow car needs more weight in the rear(had to put a 80lb cement bag in rear to get up snowy hills-6inches)

overall very pleased with vehicle It had a little over 100,000 miles and rides great. I've put 9000 miles in 3 months and had not experienced any problems. My first time with an all wheel drive vehicle and I am strongly considering getting another one.

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none always had a front wheel drive

Reliable Quiet engine / smooth ride Comfortable Not too tall (like some other SUVs) Excellent stereo/cass/CD player Lots of cool "cubbyholes" to stash your stuff -- I can't say enough good things!

None to speak of -- my only complaint is that I have the optional arm rest extension, which eliminates the second front-seat cupholder (my passengers aren't crazy about that), but the two cupholders in the back are easily reached from the front. Like most cars, this one is a better deal if you can find one used rather than brand new, but they're hard to come by because people don't often want to sell them or trade them in.

I absolutely LOVE this car! The only problem I've ever had was an oxygen filter that needed to be replaced, which caused the engine to sputter. It was right after I bought it brand new, and the dealership immediately fixed the problem free of charge. This car is reliable, safe, comfortable, and retains its resale value well, not to mention it's good-looking! I've never regretted my purchase for a second.