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Subaru Forester Luggage Test | Packing up our long-term family crossover

Our 2019 Subaru Forester long-term test car has been a pack rat for many of us on staff at Autoblog. We’ve stuffed in camping gear, tires, landscaping supplies and much more over a number of months. However, we havenÂ’t given it a proper luggage test until now. West Coast Editor James Riswick has tested a number of compact crossovers that the Forester competes against with his own set of luggage: Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. But since our long-term Forester lives in Michigan, weÂ’ll be using the same set of luggage that weÂ’ve used for all other midwest luggage tests. HereÂ’s what weÂ’re working with: Two carry-on suitcases sized (24 inches long, 15.5 wide, 10 deep); one carry-on suitcase (21.7L x 13.7W x 9 D); one medium-size suitcase you have to check (24.5L x 16.8W x 11.5D) and two larger, full-size suitcases (33.8L x 21.5W x 13D) and (28.1L x 18W x 10.5D). This generation of Forester and its more traditional crossover shape means it has a great deal of luggage capacity for its overall footprint. Sunroof-equipped models (like our Touring) come in at 33.0 cubic-feet of space behind the back seat. If you skip the sunroof, you gain 2.4 cubes, but the space at the top of the ceiling is generally pointless unless youÂ’re chill with zero rearward visibility. Our Touring model comes with a nice powered hatch that can be opened via the fob, interior button, exterior lid button or a kick motion under the bumper. The kicking is generally reliable, but has frustrated on occasion with a refusal to accept our kicks. The cargo cover that comes standard is a little tricky to operate and feels a little flimsy. Strangely, there are two pieces of fabric that must be pulled taut. The more standard, larger piece that covers most of the cargo area can be yanked forward and slot into a neat groove, but the piece on the other side of the roller must be delicately placed in a couple slots right near the rear seats. If youÂ’re too short, you might be forced to climb into the cargo hold to get it right. For the record, this piece exists because of the back seat's reclining functionality and ensure there isn't a gap between the upright seat and the cover. Now, letÂ’s chuck some suitcases in it. All three carry-on suitcases and the medium suitcase fit neatly tucked under the cargo cover. ThereÂ’s oodles of room in front of them, which ended up being plenty for the fancy bag (22L x 8.8W x 12D).

2015 Subaru WRX

Every time I drive a Subaru WRX, I wish one of my parents had taken some weird, top-secret spy job that would have forced us to relocate to Finland when I was a kid. I could have learned the art of rally-style car control as a young lad, and in my adult life, sought out a dangerous/rewarding/awesome career as a professional WRC driver.
Never was that more clear than on the launch program for the new 2015 WRX, where Subaru pointed us down a long, somewhat treacherous stretch of road in the tree-lined mountains of northern California. Quick elevation changes were met with blind turns and washed-out shoulders, not to mention rogue bits of snow, ice and gravel that lined the apexes of nearly every turn. Here, I couldn't stop grinning, my co-driver and I switching between second and third gears, with precise steering inputs and judicious braking keeping us safely on the road and not plummeting nose-first into the trees. And the WRX simply devoured each inch of pavement with a ferocious poise that made me remember why I have loved this car so darn much.
But this sort of 100 Acre Wood perfection isn't the only way to experience Subaru's darling WRX. After a long stint of driving back down the California coast on Highway 1, I realized that Subaru's line about this being the best-driving WRX yet wasn't just a bunch of PR mumbo-jumbo. Of course, it isn't without a few compromises...

Listen to the new 2022 Subaru BRZ's flat-four going flat-out

Subaru's second-generation BRZ is clearing its throat before its official debut. While its design remains hidden, the Japanese firm released a video that lets us hear the new coupe's flat-four engine sing for the first time. Most of the video was shot from the driver's point of view, which is a clever way of keeping the sheetmetal largely out of sight. It allocates more screen time to America's picturesque wilderness than to the car, but the sound of an engine racing from turn to turn and footage of smoking tires breaks the National Geographic vibe. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Industry chatter suggests the exhaust note comes from a version of the 2.4-liter flat-four that powers the Ascent, among other models. In the BRZ, it will likely send about 220 horsepower to the rear wheels via either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional automatic. Nothing suggests there will be a turbo under the hood, at least not at launch. Subaru could release a more powerful variant a little bit later in the production run. Earlier preview images show the second-generation BRZ will wear bigger headlights than the current model, though the C-shaped LEDs inspired by the engine's flat layout remain. It also looks like the grille will again be positioned low on the front fascia. Spy shots confirm its proportions haven't drastically changed, it still wears the archetypical proportions of a nimble rear-wheel drive coupe, but the rear lights are much sharper than before. While it's difficult to tell for sure, we think fewer curves and more creases will be the coupe's main design theme. Subaru will unveil the second-generation BRZ online this Wednesday, November 18. Sales will start shortly after, and deliveries will begin during the first half of 2021 — in the United States, at least. Subaru confirmed the BRZ will not be sold in Europe, partly because making it compliant with strict emissions regulations would be far too expensive. Toyota has kept its lips sealed about its variant of the car, but we expect to hear more about it after the BRZ's debut. As of writing, we don't know if the next 86 will again be twinned with the BRZ, or if it will land with a brand-specific design, mechanical modifications, or both. It will also arrive in showrooms during the first half of 2021. Related: Subaru Coupe Performance