Treading Lightly
Filed Under Curt Hennig | Posted on April 20, 2008
Subaru’s third-generation Forester ups the ante in the small
soft-roader segment.
Joshua Dowling discovers which one is best.
A NEW Subaru Forester has just gone on sale at a time when sales
of soft-roaders are exploding.
We’re keen to see how the Forester compares with its likely
rivals, so we’ve assembled the top five sellers out of a field of
more than 20 compact vehicles that combine rugged pretensions with
urban refinement. All have similar engine outputs and, in a sign of
how close the competition is, all are priced within $1500 of each
other. Here’s how they fare.
HONDA CR-V
This is the third generation of the Honda CR-V and, to put it
politely, it looks like nothing else.
In a departure from the boxy shape of its predecessors, the new
CR-V has more curves and, um, a more distinctive nose.
It is the second-biggest seller in the compact soft-roader class
behind the Toyota RAV4.
Despite being made in Thailand (as most Hondas are) the quality
of the CR-V is still impressive and the cabin is as user-friendly
as ever.
There are ample storage pockets and the instruments are clear
and easy
to read.
The new CR-V range stretches from $31,990 for a basic model with
six-speed manual transmission to $41,990 for the flagship with the
works and a five-speed automatic.
All models are powered by a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine and
are relatively well equipped with most bases covered. Standard
safety equipment includes dual airbags and front seat-mounted side
airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes.
Unfortunately, curtain airbags that protect back-seat passengers
from a side impact are only available on the two most expensive
models that start at $37,490 for a manual and $39,490 for the
automatic. That’s a $5500 jump, thanks also to the fact that the
curtain airbags are bundled with other luxuries such as alloy
wheels, foglights and some extra shelving in the cargo area.
The cargo area is smaller than previous CR-Vs due to the curved
rear roof line. Form over function then.
On the road, the CR-V is fuss-free to drive, although we have
noticed a subtle difference in the models we’ve tested over the
past year.
Rear three-quarter visibility when parking is obscured by the
small rear side glass area, but the over-the-shoulder view when
driving is excellent thanks to the ultra-wide convex mirrors on
both sides.
Overall, the CR-V is a pleasant car. It’s just a pity Honda
can’t make its full safety kit available on the most affordable
model.
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER
The Outlander is the second-oldest vehicle here and it’s barely
18 months old. It is available with 2.4-litre, four-cylinder power
or a 3.0-litre V6, in five or seven-seat configurations, ranging
from $31,490-$44,990.
We’ve chosen to test the most affordable model, which is still
relatively well equipped.
Standard fare includes map lights, covered vanity mirrors,
numerous cup holders and storage pockets (such as those in the door
pulls) and a twin-lid centre console.
Steering wheel audio and cruise controls are part of the deal as
well, as are convex mirrors on both sides of the car.
The Outlander has a couple of clever touches. The
all-wheel-drive system can be engaged on the move at up to 100 km/h
via a turn of a dial (the X-Trail also has this feature, whereas
the Forester is permanent AWD and the CR-V and RAV4 are primarily
front-wheel-drive until they sense a loss of traction and activate
the rear wheels). And it has a split tailgate, the lower section of
which can double as a picnic table or seat.
The dark cabin plastics have a quality feel but make the
interior appear smaller than it is. Rear knee room is on par with
its rivals and the cargo area is generous, although, as with the
CR-V, the load space is compromised because the back seats fold up
behind the front seats, rather than tuck under the floor.
As with all the vehicles here, three-point lap-sash seatbelts
are standard and all five occupants have an adjustable
headrest.
Stability control and dual airbags are standard, while side and
curtain airbags are an extra $850. That’s not cheap, but at least
it’s a lot more affordable than the $5500 price difference for a
Honda CR-V with curtain airbags.
We were reasonably impressed with the Outlander in earlier
tests, but when compared alongside the latest competition, some
differences became apparent.
The Outlander tested ran Yokohama tyres and tended to lean more
in corners and didn’t feel as sure-footed. And back seat comfort
and headroom were the least impressive of the five cars tested.
Another minor blot: the Outlander is the only vehicle in this
test that has a temporary, or space-saver spare tyre.
NISSAN X-TRAIL
No need to rub your eyes and do a double take, this is the new
model even though it looks like the one it just replaced. The
previous X-Trail sold worldwide at triple the rate Nissan had
planned, so it figured if the formula wasn’t broken, don’t fix
it.
It’s priced from $31,990-$41,385. We’ve focused on the base
model, which, when equipped with automatic transmission, comes to
$33,990.
The new X-Trail is bigger in every dimension than the model it
replaces and Nissan has addressed a lot of the complaints with the
old one. The speedometer and other vital instruments are now in
front of the driver and not in the middle of the dash, the cabin
has a better quality feel and there’s a clever storage system under
the cargo floor. The storage area above the cargo floor is massive,
but it comes at the expense of passenger comfort.
Despite being bigger in every dimension, the X-Trail has the
least amount of knee room of all the cars on this test. Stowing the
rear seat isn’t as straightforward as it is in other cars, either.
You have to remove the headrest, otherwise the seat won’t tumble
and stow behind the front seats.
All X-Trails are powered by a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine
and there is a choice of a six-speed manual or a continuously
variable automatic transmission. The CVT makes the best use of the
available power by finding the optimum torque output. It’s a
formidable combination and was easily the fastest in our laden
0-100 km/h uphill test.
The X-Trail is predominantly front-drive, although 4WD can be
engaged on the move at up to 100 km/h. It also has a sophisticated
hill descent system. Only the Outlander also has this feature as
standard.
Stability control and front, side and curtain airbags are
standard on all new X-Trail models. Unfortunately, this hasn’t
translated into an expected five-star NCAP rating. Instead, the new
X-Trail scores four stars.
The X-Trail’s stability control system works well at fixing
minor indiscretions, but on the road it doesn’t feel as sure-footed
as the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester.
The X-Trail has weak low and high beams, too. (The Subaru’s were
the best on this test.)
In our opinion, the steering feels too light and vague. On the
plus side, the turning circle is tight and the suspension ride is
gentle over bumps.
Overall, this is an impressive vehicle, especially if you have a
lot of cargo to carry.
SUBARU FORESTER
This is the third-generation Forester and, as with its
predecessors, it shares its underpinnings with the Impreza
hatch.
The new model is larger in every dimension without being too
big. Forester owners appreciate its more compact dimensions as it’s
easier to manoeuvre, and in the real world it was lighter on fuel
than its rivals, despite what the fuel rating labels said. It had a
reasonable-sized cargo area but back-seat room was tight.
Neat touches on the new model include a reach and
height-adjustable steering, an auxiliary input jack and steering
wheel audio controls, which the base-model X-Trail does not.
Subaru has also significantly improved rear legroom and headroom
all over, and the cargo area is slightly shorter but wider than
before.
It’s a good compromise. According to our tape measure, the new
Forester is roomier than the X-Trail despite having smaller
external proportions. It even has more ground clearance than the
X-Trail.
The Forester’s interior is simple but practical. The rear seats
fold flat to create a decent load space. The dashboard is the same
as the Impreza’s but is finished in a matt grey rather than a
gloss. And the door trims are different in the Forester, with
larger storage pockets.
The centre console is unique, too. It’s a more open design.
We’re not convinced of its merits as loose objects can easily move
about when you hit the brakes in a hurry.
Seat comfort was excellent and the fabrics had a quality feel,
but a few passengers complained the headrest in the front seat was
too far forward.
Safety is not simply an option on the new Forester. Every model
comes standard with stability control and dual front, side and
curtain airbags. It scores a five-star safety rating according to
European NCAP testing.
Rear visibility is best in class thanks to the low rear window
line, while ultra-wide-view convex mirrors on both sides provide an
excellent view.
The 2.5-litre four-cylinder has had a minor revision but is
essentially the same engine from the previous model. At freeway
speeds or when cruising through town, it’s relatively quiet and
refined, but when revved hard it starts to get a bit noisy. The
four-speed automatic is not exactly world-class, but to be fair it
does the job without fuss and changes smoothly and predictably.
Overall, the Forester made a good impression.
TOYOTA RAV4
The RAV4 is a little over two years old but is still as popular
as ever.
There are six models in the range, which starts at $31,990 and
stretches to $49,990 for a V6 with the works.
For this exercise, though, we’ve compared the base-model
four-cylinder CV (although the eagle-eyed will spot a V6 in our
photoshoot).
The RAV4 is among the roomiest in its class and it has the
largest cargo area when the seats are folded.
Not everyone is a fan of the RAV4’s tailgate, which swings out
rather than up. And the spare wheel on the tailgate can obscure
rear visibility. A rear-view camera isn’t available yet, but at
least parking sensors are an option. Both side mirrors are convex
and provide a decent view when changing lanes.
The cabin is dominated by lots of grey plastic. There is ample
storage and decent-sized cubby holes, although the covered
compartment above the glovebox is slightly flawed - the door
doesn’t open or close easily and feels flimsy.
Some of the controls (such as the air-conditioning) also lack
the usual Toyota quality feel. The instruments are clear and
fuss-free and the steering has height and reach adjustment as well
as audio and cruise controls.
The back seat is roomy and the bench itself tilts and slides
depending on whether you need knee room or cargo space.
The RAV4 is on-demand all-wheel-drive, which helps grip in
corners as well as on loose surfaces. But the ride was a bit choppy
on uneven surfaces.
Overall, the RAV4 is a good package but the optional safety
features and some of the interior fit and finish weighed against
it.
THE VERDICT
All these contenders are sound vehicles, but there are good and
bad points for each.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a big improvement on its predecessor
but since we last tested it, the goalposts have moved as newer
models have arrived. Its price is on par with rivals and it has the
best warranty (five years), a strong engine, a roomy cabin and a
clever two-door tailgate. But it was let down by average driving
dynamics and, although the new model deserves more credit, resale
values on Outlanders are weak.
You could throw a picnic blanket over the next two. The Toyota
RAV4 is roomy and has good roadholding but the cabin lacked the
quality feel of the others and, overall, it was let down by a lazy
engine (at least in four-cylinder guise). The base-model RAV4 CV is
also the only one among its peers without stability control as
standard.
If you like the Honda CR-V and can afford the model with curtain
airbags, we happily recommend it. But this test focuses on what’s
available on the starting-price models, so the CR-V was penalised
because you have to spend an extra $5500 to get the model with
curtain airbags and other luxuries. And it has the smallest cargo
area.
That leaves the Nissan X-Trail and the Subaru Forester.
The X-Trail has a smooth, powerful engine matched to an advanced
transmission, and it has a large cargo area with a clever cubby
system under the rear floor. But it’s not as sure-footed as the
Subaru, is thirstier in real-world testing and scored four stars in
NCAP crash testing (the Forester was awarded five).
The Subaru isn’t perfect (its engine is noisy when revved) and
the four-speed automatic is adequate rather than outstanding but,
overall, the Forester makes better use of its available space, has
a roomier interior than the X-Trail, is nicer to drive, safer and
better presented - and it’s $1500 cheaper.
Now that the Subaru Forester has grown slightly, we reckon it’s
just the right size for these times.
HONDA CR-V
As tested: $33,990.
Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder.
Power: 125 kW at 5800 rpm.
Torque: 218 Nm at 4200 rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed automatic.
Economy and emissions: 10 L/100 km, 237 g/km.
Fuel type: Regular unleaded.
Weight: 1562 kg.
Safety: Four stars according to tests by Euro NCAP. Front and
side airbags and stability control are standard.
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER
As tested: $33,790.
Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder.
Power: 125 kW at 6000 rpm.
Torque: 226 Nm at 4100 rpm.
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission.
Economy and emissions: 9.3 L/100 km, 222 g/km.
Fuel type: Regular unleaded.
Weight: 1550 kg.
Safety: Four stars according to tests by Euro NCAP. Front
airbags and stability control standard. Side and curtain airbags
cost $850.
NISSAN X-TRAIL
As tested: $33,990.
Engine: 2.5-litre, four-cylinder.
Power: 125 kW at 6000 rpm.
Torque: 226 Nm at 4400 rpm.
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission.
Economy and emissions: 9.3 L/100 km, 223 g/km.
Fuel type: Regular unleaded.
Weight: 1525 kg.
Safety: Four stars according to tests by Euro NCAP. Front, side
airbags and curtain airbags and stability control standard.
SUBARU FORESTER X
Price: $32,490.
Engine: 2.5-litre, four-cylinder.
Power: 126 kW at 6000 rpm.
Torque: 229 Nm at 4400 rpm.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic.
Economy and emissions: 9.6 L/100 km, 227 g/km.
Fuel type: Regular unleaded.
Weight: 1490 kg.
Safety: Five stars according to tests by Euro NCAP. Front, side
airbags and curtain airbags and stability control standard.
TOYOTA RAV4
Price: $33,990.
Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder.
Power: 125 kW at 6000 rpm.
Torque: 224 Nm at 4000 rpm.
Transmission: Four-speed auto.
Economy and emissions: 9.6 L/100 km, 227 g/km.
Fuel type: Regular unleaded.
Weight: 1590 kg.
Safety: Four stars according to tests by Euro NCAP. Front
airbags. Side and curtain airbags and stability control are part of
an option pack.
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