Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures owner satisfaction with vehicle quality after the first 90 days of ownership, the Subaru Forester received 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), which measures owner satisfaction with performance and design attributes of a vehicle, the Subaru Forester received 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

Predicted Reliability – The current Subaru Forester was a redesigned model for 2009, and had not yet been included in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). Based on the historical performance of the Forester in the Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability studies, the 2010 Subaru Forester receives a Predicted Reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Fuel Economy – The 2010 Subaru Forester is equipped with a 2.5-liter, horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine (also called a flat-four, or boxer) driving all four wheels through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. This engine is rated to deliver 20 mpg in the city regardless of transmission choice. With a manual, its rated to deliver 27 mpg on the highway and with the optional automatic the EPA says it will return 26 mpg on the highway. There is a turbocharged variant of this engine available, paired with AWD and the automatic, and it’s rated to get 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

Our review vehicle, the Forester 2.5XT Limited with the turbocharged engine, averaged 18.2 mpg in mixed driving with a city emphasis. Combined with the Forester’s standard 16.9-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 305-mile range between fill-ups of premium unleaded. To be fair, we frequently exercised the Forester’s turbocharged engine, and would expect most owners to get better fuel economy than we did.

Safety – According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2010 Subaru Forester receives 5-star crash-test ratings for the driver and front passenger in a frontal impact, 5-star ratings for front and rear occupants in a side impact, and a 4-star rollover rating.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) called the 2009 Subaru Forester a “Top Safety Pick” and gave the SUV a “Good” rating in the offset frontal impact test, a “Good” rating in the side impact test, and a “Good” rating in the rear impact test. For 2010, the Subaru Forester should retain Top Safety Pick status, because it also receives a “Good” rating in the roof crush strength test, which becomes a variable in which 2010 models must excel to receive the top safety honor.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2010 Subaru Forester consumes 15.6 barrels of petroleum annually, with a carbon footprint rating of 8.3 tons of air pollution per year. The Forester with the turbocharged engine consumes 16.3 barrels of petroleum annually, with a carbon footprint rating of 8.7 tons of air pollution per year.

Because the 2010 model had not yet been rated with air pollution scores by the EPA when this review was published, we looked at 2009 data. In 2009, the Subaru Forester’s national air pollution score was a 6 out of 10, and in the California and New England regions, it received an air pollution score of 9.5 out of 10 thanks to its Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) rating. The EPA said this PZEV rating applied to both engines offered in the Forester, and Subaru says the PZEV engines are available nationwide – not just on the West Coast and in New England.