2010 Subaru Forester a solid, but dull, compact SUV

For a year, I've been hearing about the 2009 Subaru Forester. It's gathered lots of awards, accolades and all-around praise. People love it, and the commercials I've seen always leave a little warm spot in my belly.

I've been scheduled to drive it a few times, but the timing was never right. It was delayed at the car wash or I was out of town. Maybe I was subconsciously avoiding our first date.

From a distance, I didn't understand any of the raving over this vehicle that has been having a gang buster year in sales. The squatty SUV profile is utilitarian at best and downright homely at worst. Maybe people see it as that loveable runt of the litter, the one the breeder was going to put down before the Subaru Rescue Club saved it.

Plus the 2010 model is rolling into dealerships (though there are no significant changes to it), so what's the point? I considered skipping the review all together, following my mother's advice of just not saying anything at all, because my first impression of the Forester was not flattering.

But the 2009 model (still available) was monumental because of its big makeover.

That's when Subaru glammed it up and made the Forester big enough to fit actual adults in the second row.

The third generation Forester is bigger, taller and wider than the previous model.

Inside the cabin, there is 30.8 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and nearly as much legroom in the back as there is in the front (38 inches versus 41.1 inches).

All of this space has left a lot of people much happier with the remade SUV, thinking it is a better vehicle: I am not one of those people.

Well-built, but bland

For all that extra space, I felt underwhelmed inside the Forester. My 2.5X model felt sturdy in an Amish sort of no-frills well-built kind of way. Really, it was nicely loaded and nicely priced and completely uninspiring.

For $25,000 (the Forester starts at $22,495), this compact SUV came with a moonroof, reclining second row seats and 17-inch all-season radials as part of the premium package. My test vehicle included the $400 cold weather package with heated front seats and side mirrors -- but despite overflowing with creature comforts, it still felt bland.

I did feel a little cheated that the optional four-speed automatic transmission costs $1,000 -- Subaru should give you a grand to take that gearbox, it's 2009 not 1989. Save your money and get the five-speed manual.

Then I drove it.

The symmetrical all-wheel drive -- a system engineered by Subaru to provide balanced all-wheel drive front-to-rear and side-to-side. It will handle the most extreme road conditions and the little 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine gets good gas mileage -- with an EPA rating of 20 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. (The five-speed manual averages 1 mpg better on the highway.) But this Forester is like a flannel shirt in the automotive closet: It's comfortable, great in cold weather and something you'd never wear to a formal occasion; people might laugh.

There's even a much more robust turbocharger four-cylinder engine available that generates 224 horsepower and 226 pound feet of torque. However, the turbo needs premium fuel and the gas mileage drops to 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Still, the turbo would give the Forester a little more character and certainly some road chewing chomps.

While the ride was a little noisy, it was very comfortable and smooth. The independent suspension seemed to glide along the road and the 170 horsepower engine had plenty of power to handle the load. (The Forester can tow 2,500 pounds.)

While the Forester has grown, it feels relatively small on the road. It stretches to 179 inches overall and the wheel base is at 103 inches -- which are not huge proportions. It can zip around corners and the lines of sight are excellent from the driver's seat -- this is also due to the Forester coming with more glass than most city aquariums.

What's missing? Attitude

But after a week of driving this vehicle, I never had an epiphany. I never learned that inside secret that causes so many outdoor enthusiasts and Indigo Girls fans to gush over the Forester. It's completely practical and utterly boring inside and out. There are lots of reasons to like it, and I have enough empathy to understand the logic of buying this compact SUV.

It's reliable, tough, practical and affordable. There's even a little cache in the Subaru name -- it's different. Everyone wants to be different, so why not a Subaru owners.

But it lacks attitude. It lacks fun. It lacks personality that a car or truck should have.

If a vehicle reflects its owner, the Subaru Forester says, "I eat microwaved meals often."

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that so many other Subarus have attitude and spunk. They are in your face with personality and performance.

I don't hate the Forester, far from it, but I do know I'm not "in love" with it either.

Maybe after a few years, I'll look back and regret this decision, but I doubt it. We just weren't meant for each other. It's not the Forester's fault, it's mine.

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