The Forester is not a flashy vehicle. It isn't a Mercedes, or a BMW, or a Land Rover. It isn't a Lexus or Honda or Toyota or really any of the well-known brands. The company that makes it has a really industrial sounding name that you would associate with a steel foundry and not, probably, a car line. Fuji Heavy Industries isn't going to impress anyone. But they make a heck of a car. Their cars are equipped with an unusual engine, called a "boxer." Think of it as a V-4 where you keep opening the V until the engine is flat, with the pistons facing each other. This makes the engine sit low in the car, giving it tremendous holding power on turns. With it's standard 4-wheel drive -- for which it is renowned -- it goes in snow. With its high ground clearance, it goes through puddles. But for me, the best part is that it becomes obvious that the engineers understand what is helpful. Open the hood, and you see that some things in the engine compartment are yellow. Those are the things you can maintain. The oil fill, brake fluid reservoir cover, coolant and even washer fluid covers are all clearly marked. What's really amazing is, of all things, the oil filter. It's right up front, and on top of the engine. If you've ever watched a mechanic try to get to the oil filter on a conventional engine, you know it involves getting an arm up from under the engine and finding the filter, at which point dirty oil spills out. On the Forester (and other Subarus) you can change the filter without getting dirty by just unscrewing it, letting the oil go into the cup surrounding the filter, and then screwing in a new one. Another feature I liked was that the place where the windshield wipers stay is heated, so that they don't stick and it helps them to clear your window.

What I like about the vehicle is that it is a partial emission fuel car. It is fuel efficient so I do not have to pump gas twice a week compared to other cars. It is an all-wheel drive, which helps keep traction within a snow and never have to worry about skidding. It is also a very compact midsize SUV, which makes it easy to drive in and out of New York from my work to home. The brake pedal of the car differs with every car, but this car has very smooth braking compared to other cars I have experienced. In some cars, the brake is very stiff, and you need to apply force. But with the Forester, the brake will respond to whatever force you give to it, same goes with the steering wheel and gas pedal. All in all, the car is also at a suitable price. With some dislikes, the A/C is not very powerful enough to cool or heat the whole car.