September 30, 200421 yr I was just reading thread on Foresters taking 1st place in the crash tests, but..... Is the Forester really an SUV????? I have one and I love it dearly but I really don't consider it an SUV. If they gave us a dual range tranny (like Aus) I might be able to think of it as a "Mini SUV" But as is I have a hard time thinking of a Forester as an SUV Thoughts... Glenn 82 SubaruHummer---pure assalt vehicle--- 01 Forester---small AWD wagon---
September 30, 200421 yr It's classified as a small SUV, along with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. I think people forget what SUV stands for: Sport Utility Vehicle. I would think this means the vehicle needs to be relatively "sporty". There's nothing "sporty" about a Chevy Suburban or Hummer H2 That's just my opinion though.
September 30, 200421 yr I was just reading thread on Foresters taking 1st place in the crash tests, but..... Is the Forester really an SUV????? I have one and I love it dearly but I really don't consider it an SUV. If they gave us a dual range tranny (like Aus) I might be able to think of it as a "Mini SUV" But as is I have a hard time thinking of a Forester as an SUV Thoughts... Glenn 82 SubaruHummer---pure assalt vehicle--- 01 Forester---small AWD wagon--- It's a mini-SUV in the same category as the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. It was one of the first "crossover" vehicles. ~Howard
September 30, 200421 yr I was just reading thread on Foresters taking 1st place in the crash tests, but..... Is the Forester really an SUV????? Remember a Forester is just a impreza with a raised roof. Since a impreza is a car.... but a CRV is a civic with a raised roof...
September 30, 200421 yr I think people forget what SUV stands for: Sport Utility Vehicle. I would think this means the vehicle needs to be relatively "sporty". There's nothing "sporty" about a Chevy Suburban or Hummer H2 4-wheeling is a sport, isn't it? It's done for fun and challenge. By that definition, a Jeep Wrangler is "sporty". Not sure about the utility - Wranglers aren't so good for hauling your family and loads of stuff, but they sure are fun. A Suburban definitely isn't "sporty", but it is utilitarian. Good for big families, hauling boats, work trucks, plowing snow, etc. I don't know how the H2 would fit in. I think folks buy them to make up for other shortcomings. Just my two cents....
September 30, 200421 yr I agree that 4-wheeling is a sport, and I would most definitely classify a Wrangler as an SUV, in fact, I'd say it's about as pure an SUV as there is on the road right now...
September 30, 200421 yr Hmm, Forester... Sport, yes. Utility, yes. Vehicle...yes! Next question?? ;-) It's probably better off in the BMW X5 defined category: SAV A for "activity"
September 30, 200421 yr Far as I can tell its classified as a 'light truck'. It's always listed in parts books under 'trucks' or 'light truck/suv' sections.
September 30, 200421 yr Far as I can tell its classified as a 'light truck'. It's always listed in parts books under 'trucks' or 'light truck/suv' sections.The manufacturers get import, tax and emission/safety standards breaks on 'light trucks'. Pity they don't actually make a pickup truck version of the Forester. For THAT I would break my hard and fast "never buy a new car" rule. I love Subarus, I NEED a light pickup, not a heavy hauler, just around the house and toy hauling.
September 30, 200421 yr The manufacturers get import, tax and emission/safety standards breaks on 'light trucks'. Pity they don't actually make a pickup truck version of the Forester. For THAT I would break my hard and fast "never buy a new car" rule. I love Subarus, I NEED a light pickup, not a heavy hauler, just around the house and toy hauling. It's still a light truck/suv tho. Plenty of people call their oversized minivans trucks/suvs I doubt the US would just take their word for it; I'm sure they had to prove it was a light truck/suv to get classified as one. Otherwise what would stop everyone from exploiting that and classifying all their imports as truck/suv ?
September 30, 200421 yr Here's some real data... http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:4H8ZdYCc1R8J:www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/cert/mpg/fetrends/r03006-a.wpd+subaru+forester+%22DOT%22+classification&hl=en It's a "small utility" vehicle. The Baja is a "small truck"
October 1, 200421 yr Here's some real data... http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:4H8ZdYCc1R8J:www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/cert/mpg/fetrends/r03006-a.wpd+subaru+forester+%22DOT%22+classification&hl=en It's a "small utility" vehicle. The Baja is a "small truck" And it's a darn good "small utility" vehicle! ~Howard
October 1, 200421 yr Author S Small U Utility V Vehicle? It's a small AWD Wagon! How is it more utility than the Outback? Which is not a utility vehicle? There both small AWD Wagons! Not SUV's
October 1, 200421 yr S Small U Utility V Vehicle? It's a small AWD Wagon! How is it more utility than the Outback? Which is not a utility vehicle? There both small AWD Wagons! Not SUV's I think both the OB and Forrester are S Sport A Activity W Wagons Borrowing from all schools of thought.
October 1, 200421 yr Read the classification criteria and you'll understand why vehicles are catagorized differently.
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