After owning a Forester, I can't imagine ever being without one. Features most important to me in a car: safety, practicality, versatility, and comfort. The Forester delivers on all counts. While I wouldn't recommend any serious off-roading in it, it can handle just about anything else confidently, including Michigan's snow and ice. It also has great driver visibility because of the way the pillars are designed. It's versatile as well: you can carry 5 adults comfortably along with some cargo in the rear, or you can fold the rear seats down for tons of cargo space. There's even room for the dog! Overall, I love this car. It's been very reliable.