Cruising the Oregon Coast in a 2009 Subaru Forester

September 29, 2008

I had an opportunity to test drive the Subaru 2009 Forester as a rental car to drive from Portland to the Oregon Coast to speak about becoming Certified Female Friendly at the Independent Oregon Automobile Dealer Association's annual convention.

Oregon's nearly 363 miles of pristine, public coastline is made up of diverse terrain that changes from rugged cliffs to evergreen forests to Sahara-like dunes and boundless sandy beaches. From Astoria in the north to Brookings in the southern tip, follow the shoreline past a smorgasbord of one-of-a-kind attractions including scores of quaint towns with a penchant for serving up legendary seafood, Oregon Wineries, historic lighthouses, breathtaking viewpoints, stunning state parks, a cornucopia of galleries and museums and a world class aquarium. Mild temperatures, dramatic scenery, and a wide range of recreational activities make the coast one of the state's most popular regions.

The Subaru 2009 Forester AWD four-door was a perfect vehicle to feel safe and get that stick-to-the-road feeling on my winding scenic trip over to the breathtaking Oregon coast. It has plenty of storage space in this compact size all-terrain sporty ride; a low lift-over height and wide opening make the cargo area's 33.5 cubic feet of volume easy to access. Standard safety equipment on all models includes electronic stability control and brake assist, which helps drivers apply maximum braking force in emergencies, as well as standard side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor.

Among the upgrades, the 2009 Subaru Forester offers more modern conveniences, including a rear DVD player and a navigation system with traffic updates.

An All Weather Package is available ($400) on the Premium Package, and it is standard on the L.L.Bean & XT Limited. An in-dash navigation system is optional ($1,800) on L.L. Bean and XT Limited models.

Fuel economy is much the same as the 2008 model with an EPA-rated 20 mpg city/26 mpg.

MSRP RANGE: $21,395.00

"Love. It's what makes Subaru, a Subaru", is the Subaru tag-line and sure fits for my review of the 2009 Forester.

Jody DeVere
CEO/President
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