FORESTER vs. OUTBACK

Glen Fenwick Subaru

Leading the way forward!

“What is the difference between a Forester and an Outback?” is the most common question we hear at Fenwick Subaru.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED, WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
All Subaru’s come standard with all wheel drive, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) to prevent skids, anti-lock brakes, ring shape body structure, six airbags, and many more safety technologies. All Subaru’s come standard with air conditioning, keyless entry, cd player, power windows, power mirrors, cruise control and many other comfort features. All Subaru’s purchased at Fenwick come standard with friendly staff and lots of know-how.

DIFFERENCES:

Ride Quality
The Outback has a longer wheelbase (the distance between the axles is five inches longer than the Forester). Think of a stretch limousine…lengthening the distance between the axles provides a smoother ride because the vehicle platform covers more square area and therefore bumps are less noticeable. But don’t think that the Forester has a harsh ride; in fact, it rides much better than its small sport utility competitors. It’s just that the Outback is even smoother.

Dimensions
The Outback is nine inches longer and two inches wider. The Forester is three inches taller. To see pictures, click here. Total interior space is about the same for both vehicles (i.e., you could put the same number of ping pong balls in both cars.) Have big kids? Go for the Outback and its limousine-like back seat. Have a big dog? Go for the Forester because the rear door on the Forester is more erect and there is more height for your pooch to stand up. Cyclists tend to prefer the Outback, as the extra length makes it easy to throw a couple bikes in the back without even removing the wheels. If you sleep in your car, and you’re tall, you’ll prefer the Outback.

Price
Comparably equipped, the Outback is about $2500 more than the Forester. The difference buys you a slightly bigger car, with more standard equipment, and even higher quality materials (such as carpeting and interior surface finishes.)

Ride Height
You sit slightly higher in a Forester, but Subaru engineers designed both vehicles with a “command driving position” (the auto industry term that describes that great feeling of sitting high in a vehicle so you can see what’s ahead.) Because of the boxer engine design that Subaru uses, however, the center of mass in the vehicle sits quite low so both vehicles handle quite nimbly and are very unlikely to roll over. Ground clearance is the same, at almost nine inches, so both vehicles elude obstacles that grab mortal vehicles.

Image Perception
Many customers tell us that the Outback looks more like a station wagon and the Forester looks more like a sport utility vehicle and therefore the Forester is more “cool.” Fenwick staff opinion is divided on the matter, which, ultimately, is just one of taste.

Automatic Transmission
The Forester uses a four speed automatic transmission. Beginning with the 2010 model year, the four-cylinder Outback uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which has no gears. In very simple terms, it’s a fantastically durable steel belt that moves along a cone…the fatter part of the cone for speed, the narrower part for power. This transmission gives the Outback a two mile per gallon advantage in fuel economy, even though it is slightly heavier.

Manual Transmission
The Outback uses a six speed manual transmission; the Forester uses a five speed.

Engines
The standard engine in both vehicles is the same potent 2.5 liter four cylinder boxer engine with 170 horsepower. A 3.6 liter engine is available in the Outback with a five speed automatic transmission, and a turbocharged 2.5 liter engine is available in the Forester with a four speed automatic transmission.

Fuel Economy
With the standard 2.5 liter engine and CVT, the Outback gets 22/29. With the standard 2.5 liter engine and four speed automatic, the Forester gets 21/27.

How do you know which is right for you? Drive both at Fenwick Motors! Visit us for a test drive.