Remember the 90s family wagon that secretly packed the soul of a rally champion? It's a story that makes you wonder if the cars we drive are more than just metal and wheels.
Car manufacturers have long loved giving their vehicles names that suggest strength, excitement, or a spirit of adventure. Think of names like Ranger, Explorer, or Wrangler – they all paint a picture of capability and daring. Subaru, however, aimed for something a bit more grounded with its Forester. Introduced in 1997, the first Forester was marketed with a straightforward tagline: "SUV Tough, Car Easy." This promised a vehicle that could handle rougher terrain like an SUV but still offer the comfortable ride of a regular car.
What Subaru delivered was essentially a tall, all-wheel-drive estate car. But it wasn't just any estate car; it came with a distinctive personality thanks to the unique, rhythmic thrum of its flat-four engine. While the flat-four engine was a signature Subaru trait, the overall concept wasn't entirely revolutionary. Back in 1984, Toyota had a similar idea with its Tercel estate, which offered a comparable blend of practicality and all-wheel drive, albeit with a more conventional engine.
The high-roofed Toyota Tercel estate has since faded into automotive history, but the Subaru Forester has not only endured but evolved. While the original concept was quite distinct, the Forester's journey has seen it gradually shift its identity.
Subaru's second-generation Forester, launched in 2002, largely stuck to the successful formula of its predecessor, proving particularly popular in the United States. However, the automotive world's undeniable gravitation towards the full SUV form factor eventually influenced the Forester. By 2008, it had begun its transition, and today's Subaru Forester is, in essence, much more in line with what we typically recognize as an SUV on the road.
But it's that original 1997 model that truly sparks nostalgia. The real magic, for those in the know, lay in its hidden heritage. The Forester shared its fundamental underpinnings with the Subaru Impreza – a car that, when equipped with a turbocharger and expertly prepared by Prodrive, became a legend on the global rally circuit, clinching three World Rally Championships with legendary drivers like Colin McRae, Ari Vatanen, and Carlos Sainz.
Essentially, the Forester was built on the same platform as this stage-conquering machine. It inherited the same chassis, the same distinctive boxer engine, the same all-wheel-drive system, and the same low center of gravity. This shared DNA was a significant factor in its appeal.
This underlying rally pedigree went a long way in making up for the Forester's taller stance. While its interior wasn't quite as performance-tuned as the hardcore Impreza STIs and WRXs, it was still more than capable of delivering a thrilling and grin-inducingly quick experience on winding roads, especially when the turbo kicked in. The Forester's rugged, two-tone exterior, with its robust appearance, offered little hint of its athletic capabilities, and its cabin was no different.
Inside, it was pure late 20th-century practical Subaru. The dashboard was dominated by 50 shades of grey plastic, with the only visual break coming from diagonal stripes on the upholstery that looked rather haphazard, as if someone had dragged a rake across them. The seats themselves were also grey. For those who opted for the top-of-the-line models, there was a touch of color – the air vents and center console were framed with what was described as burr walnut. Ironically, this faux wood trim, despite the car's arboreal name, clashed rather uncomfortably with the rather utilitarian seat fabric.
But here's where it gets controversial: Was this blend of practicality and hidden performance a stroke of genius, or did the utilitarian interior and the subtle hints of rally prowess create a dissonance that some found jarring? And this is the part most people miss: could the Forester's unassuming exterior have actually been its greatest strength, allowing drivers to surprise unsuspecting sports cars on a spirited drive?
What do you think? Did the original Subaru Forester live up to its "SUV Tough, Car Easy" promise, or was its rally-bred heart a secret it couldn't quite keep hidden? Share your thoughts below – do you agree with this nostalgic look back, or do you have a different take on this unique 90s family wagon?
