Posted Friday, March 17, 2017 at 12:07am

2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring First Test

No one buys a crossover based solely on how quick it is. But if it’s quicker than its competitors and has one of the most spacious cabins in its class, there’s reason to be impressed.
Last year, we tested a 2016 Subaru Forester with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine delivering 170 hp. It ran from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, or on the slower side of the competition. Equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine making 250 hp, our 2017 Forester tester did the deed in just 6.8 seconds. Essentially, it creamed four-cylinder competitors we’ve tested in the past few years including other models with similar power outputs such as the 2017 Ford Escape EcoBoost AWD, which clocked a time of 7.3 seconds, and the 2017 Kia Sportage SX Turbo AWD, which hit the mark in 8.1 seconds.