U.S.: Subaru Forester named Sport/Utility of the Year

Every year, Motor Trend, a popular 60-year old automotive publication in the USA with circulation numbers exceeding one million, gives out various awards to car manufacturers in certain categories. It was the first to give The Car of the Year Award in 1949.

Its awards are coveted by manufacturers and touted by the mainstream press as the most important distinction awards in the American automotive industry.

To judge contenders for the award, Motor Trend conducted a battery of exhaustive off-road, street and track testing, and considered fundamentals such as driving performance, safety and features. Each contender was evaluated on three points: superiority (engineering, design, utilization of resources); significance (market impact), and value (what buyers get for their money versus the competition).

Topping 12 other contenders, the Subaru Forester was, according to Motor Trend, the judges' unanimous decision for Sport/ Utility of the Year.

One significant factor contributing to the judges’ decisions was the global situation and skyrocketing petrol prices. The judging panel mirrored the driving public by looking out for something fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.

The Subaru Forester 2.5XT contended with the most outstanding fuel-economy numbers for an all-wheel-drive SUV this year, logging the best observed and EPA-certified city/highway fuel economy against the turbo fours and six-speed competitors.

The vehicle impressed further with an efficient, fast and potent powertrain, zipping to an impressive 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds, and to the quarter mile (over 400m) in just 15.5 seconds.

The Subaru Forester revealed engineering competence with characteristics such as a light curb weight (lowest of all contenders), outstanding ground clearance and spatial advantage for cargo and passenger compartments. Its compact horizontally-opposed engine and new control-arm rear suspension delivered a smoother, more stable journey.

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Credits: JRC