2004 Subaru Forester XS

There used to be a poster of Ted Turner wearing cowboy boots and a charming cocky grin, saying, "I was country before country was cool." The Subaru Forester could borrow that expression and say, "I was crossover before crossover was cool." The Forester may have invented that style of semi-SUV in 1998, before the word came along. Now the new crossover vehicles are finding their own identities, including higher performance, but the Forester isn't letting them get away. The new 2004 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT (T for turbo) brings 210 horsepower to the table and a dazzling 235 pounds-feet of torque for exhilarating acceleration performance. The rest of the Forester line continues to offer reliability, fuel efficiency, cargo room, safety, and its time-tested all-wheel-drive system. Extensively revised for 2003, the second-generation Forester is roomier and more upscale than before. It has comfortable, highly supportive seats. On the road, the Forester offers excellent handling and brakes. It's a better vehicle on treacherous roads than an SUV.