2014 Subaru Forester Photo Gallery

XT adds more aggressive bumper cover, but (unlike in the past) no scoop.

The new Forester's exterior wouldn't have been leading edge a decade ago. Chunky front overh

XT upsizes wheels to 18s, but they still don't fill the wheel openings. High stance for off-road

Much sleeker, but some find the new Escape over-styled.

Probably the new Forester's most stylish angle. But this isn't saying much.

Materials are good, but the ambiance nevertheless lags due to functional, dated design.

For good and for bad, the instrument panel could hardly be more conventional.

A whole lot more going on inside the Escape. But too much? And less roomy.

Simple, easy to understand and use controls--except for the nav.

Partial cloth upholstery with white stitching attractive. Seats supportive, if not luxurious.

Rear seat photo of tested car didn't properly record. Plenty of room, but no vents.

Competitive cargo volume with the rear seat up.

Best-in-class cargo volume with the seat folded.

New turbocharged flat-four-cylinder engine is smaller, but more powerful and more efficient.

It's a Subaru, what did you expect to see?

Good traction in the snow. Winter tires still advisable.

Longer nose, bulkier body sides than the sleeker 2009-2013 Forester.

"Functional shape" puts it in the best light. Could be worse.

Slight up-kick in belt line after the doors a rare concession to aesthetics.

This is worse. Both aesthetically and functionally.

Limited adds leather. But much hard plastic remains.

Engineers could have penned this somewhat dated, simple-to-a-fault design.

Clear conventional gauges and three big knobs for HVAC.

Most controls are easy to use. This is the exception.

Drift-o-meter. Yellow bars indicate operation of the traction control, stability control, or ABS.

Highest average for the trip from school to home. Typically 23-27.

Comfortable seats.

Rear seat roomiest in class, comfortably high, and reclines.

Official cargo space with the seat up is 34.4 cu. ft., a few below Honda and Toyota.

Official cargo space with the rear seat folded is a class-leading 74.7 cu. ft.

There's a horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine somewhere beneath that intake. No cover needed.