Auto Trends

The 2009 Subaru Forester -- Motor Trend Magazine's Sport/Utility of the Year.

MotorTrend Magazine’s 2009 Sport/Utility of the Year has been announced and the Subaru Forester is the winner, beating out twelve other contenders for the prize. Yes, consumers still want their SUVs and the Forester gives buyers every reason why they might buy one: the vehicle is compact, strong, well made, economical, and affordable.

“We are proud and honored to receive this award for the Subaru Forester,” said Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president, Subaru of America. “The previous Forester had become a byword for practicality and durability and we knew the 2009 Forester had a tough act to follow. So, we made the new Forester bigger, more powerful and more economical than ever—while retaining its legendary reliability and safety, only in a more complete package. The improvements to the new Forester are also being reflected in consumer demand, with sales up 32% over the previous year.”

With a sticker price of $19,995, the price reflects a $1200 drop compared to the 2008 model. Its all-new platform is now 103 inches long, an increase of 3.6 inches which Subaru says helps to improve ride and interior space, particularly rear legroom. In addition, the automaker says the 2009 Forester offers improved hip and shoulder area room.

Powered by a 2.5L I4 engine producing 177 h.p., buyers can upgrade to a powerful 244 h.p. turbocharged engine for optimum power. The Forester comes equipped with front, seat-mounted side, and side-curtain airbags and ABS. Stability and traction control systems with a roll-over sensor is offered standard across all Forester models.

The Forester was recently awarded a four-star rollover rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which also gave the car its highest rating of five-stars for frontal and side impact crashes.

For more information about the Forester visit www.subaru.com.

(Source: Subaru of America, Inc.)

Just for the record, the Hyundai Azera is not a luxury car. That’s okay with most buyers as the Azera offers many of the luxury appointments of a car in a class above Hyundai, while offering Hyundai value and quality. Loaded to the gills, the Azera is a complete five passenger sedan, stacked with all of the stuff that drivers prize in cars costing thousands of dollars more.

Introduced in 2006, the Azera was the flagship sedan for Hyundai until the Genesis was introduced during Fall 2008. Considered by most to be a premium sedan, the Hyundai Azera’s main competition includes the Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne, and the Lincoln MKZ.

Among the improvements made for the 2009 model year is improved steering and suspension, new blue interior lighting, chrome interior accents, a more distinctive chrome grille, redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels and iPod®/USB and auxiliary inputs. An LG in-dash navigation system, introduced during the middle of the last model year is also present.

The standard engine for the Azera is a 3.3L, DOHC V6 that produces 234-horsepower and 226 lbs.-ft. of torque. Optionally, buyers can choose an all-aluminum 3.8-liter, DOHC V6 engine, which delivers 263-horsepower and 257 lbs.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy for the smaller engine is 18 mpg city and 26 highway, while the larger engines delivers 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Both engines are paired with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Safety is a key element contained within the Azera as the sedan earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) top crash test ratings for frontal offset impacts. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Traction Stability Control (TSC) are standard with every Azera model. Moreover, safety minded customers will enjoy the sedan’s independent double-wishbone front- and multi-link rear suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and the antilock braking system (ABS) that includes brake assist, and electronic brake force distribution (EBD), which automatically adjusts the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle’s brakes for optimal performance under poor road conditions, speeding, loading and other potentially hazardous situations.

For drivers accustomed to enjoying a wide range of luxury appointments, the Azera doesn’t disappoint. Interior volume is excellent, offering even more space than the BMW 7-Series, while rain-sensing wipers, power adjustable foot pedals and power folding side mirrors with turn signal indicators is available on the Limited version.

Standard luxury includes, dual front automatic climate controls, electrochromic auto-dimming mirror, power seats for driver and front passenger, as well as woodgrain and metalgrain interior accents. By choosing the Premium package, buyers will get leather seating surfaces, heated front seats and a power sunroof to go with the standard amenities.

Warranty coverage is excellent and includes Hyundai’s five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance and seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage. Furthermore, Azera buyers receive 24-hour roadside assistance coverage at no extra charge for five years (no mileage limit), a service that also includes emergency towing, lockout service and limited coverage for trip-interruption expenses. There is no deductible on any of this coverage.

With a base price of $25,695 for the Azera, the sedan is priced thousands of dollars less than competing models, proving once again that price and value go hand in hand with every upscale Hyundai model.

Copyright 2008-2012 — Matthew C. Keegan is the owner of a successful writing and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several websites and is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport a retailer of quality aftermarket parts including body kits.

Photo Credit: Hyundai Motor America