2008 Subaru Forester Exterior Review [ 2009 , 2007 ]
Exterior - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Subaru Forester's exterior styling is seen by many reviewers as bland, and greatly detracts from the SUV's appeal. New Car Test Drive concludes, "Forester isn't likely to turn a lot of heads."
Kelley Blue Book describes the Forester as "basically a very tall wagon with some added ground clearance." Though The Auto Channel says that the Sports XT maintains "a stealth factor," Cars.com asserts that, altogether, "Forester may not impress the neighbors."
Standard on all trim levels of the 2008 Subaru Forester are raised roof rails with crossbars (150-pound capacity). While the 2.5 X L.L.Bean Edition, Sports XT and XT Limited are equipped with a standard sliding-glass power moonroof, only the XT trims are outfitted with aluminum-alloy hood scoops. Although these are functional, the Washington Post says: "There is something odd, downright ugly, about an air scoop atop the hood of a family wagon. It looks as if the designers are caught in an endless purgatory between adolescence and adulthood." MSN agrees, calling the exterior feature "cartoonish."