Outlander or Forester what to choose. Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander Crossovers: Dirty Dancing

Not so long ago, and we still have a couple of questions for the car - in particular, for smoothness. Therefore, we once again took the "Forester" already in Moscow, and in addition we captured, which again experienced another modernization. Is it a worthy opponent?

What's new in them?

Despite all the external similarity with its predecessor, this Subaru Forester- a truly new generation! Another platform, another, more rigid body, another interior. Although from the outside it is easiest to identify it only by the C-shaped taillights.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Subaru Forester

But it is not easy to determine the updated Outlander - it differs from the car of the 2015 model only in different LED optics, slightly different bumpers and a radiator grille and new wheels. And “our” Mitsubishi stands out with an enlarged rear spoiler - this is the privilege of the Ultimate package, the top one for the 2.4 engine.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Subaru Forester

We chose the Subaru with a two-liter engine, and we did it consciously - the Forester is produced in Japan, so it has no price advantage over the Kaluga Outlander. Subaru in the Elegance ES configuration (ES is a set of EyeSight driver assistance systems) costs 2,329,000 rubles, and a more powerful Outlander costs 2,240,000 rubles. However, if you abandon Eye Sight, then a similar Forester will cost 2,209,000 rubles, so in the end - almost parity.

Surprises inside

As soon as you get into the Forester, you immediately begin to regret the lack of local production, which would help it cost a little less. Cool interior! Pleasant materials, well-grouped buttons, a lot of places for little things, informative devices and surprisingly “transparent” visibility - you instantly find a common language with the Forester.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Subaru Forester

Mitsubishi meets with coolness - this salon is 6 years old, and even at that time it surprised with a modest finish and literally darkness: before, half of the buttons, including power windows, were not illuminated in it, and now they are all 4 automatic. But there is almost no place for small things, there is nowhere even to stick the phone, and the only USB connector is covered with an uncomfortable plug.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Subaru Forester

During the update, Mitsubishi changed the front seats - they are now more comfortable, but Subaru has better seats. And the Forester's interior is also more spacious - it is wider in front and behind, the roof is higher. And if there is parity in legroom, then Subaru also offers a good solution - divided pockets in the backs of the seats. So in terms of cabin Forester wins unconditionally.

Surprises on the go

Mitsubishi seems to be much faster - it reacts vividly to the gas, accelerates cheerfully from medium speeds and generally encourages active driving in every possible way. The Subaru, on the other hand, is remarkably calm in SI-Drive's I mode, and the S selection sharpens the responses a bit. And the degree of emotions in it is lower.

But emotions are one thing, and measurements are another. Moreover, according to the passport, a Forester with less powerful (150 hp versus 167) and less high-torque (196 Nm versus 222) should be ... faster - 10.3 to hundreds instead of 10.5 for Mitsubishi. Therefore, we connect the Racelogic GPS device, start and record the data.

And the results were amazing! Yes, up to a hundred Mitsubishi is a little faster - an average of 10.75 seconds versus 10.87 for Subaru, and then ... Forester leaves - acceleration to 120 km / h was 14.92 versus 15.28 seconds. So everything is really created by sensations - Mitsubishi has worse sound insulation, which is especially noticeable on studded Bridgestone tires, and sharp responses to the gas give a false impression of dynamics.

I did not really like the smoothness of the ride - especially on sharp bumps. But it is surprising that in Moscow the crossover has changed! No hard blows at the joints, hatches or potholes - everything melts in the depths of the shock absorbers, and you can not slow down at all in front of speed bumps. Here it is - the power of 17-inch wheels with fatter tires (there were cars on "18-shki" in Georgia).

But it is interesting that after the final update, the Outlander finally got a normal suspension - before we had complaints about excessive rigidity, but now it is calmly walking at the pace of the Forester on broken roads. True, the suspension works noisier, and shocks from bumps are transmitted to the steering wheel. In addition, the stabilization system, as before, "grabs" the car after the passage of speed bumps. However, the progress of the Outlander is obvious.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Subaru Forester

And the all-wheel drive here is set up more recklessly - Outlander willingly throws rear axle under traction on slippery surfaces, while the Forester can go out at the same speed (in Subaru, you need to load the front more heavily). But if we talk about off-road, then the transmission and electronics (imitation of wheel locks) work a little more efficiently and softer in Subaru - and it’s not even necessary to activate X Mode.

Well, both crossovers go on winding roads, but the Mitsubishi brakes alerted the "smoke" after several passes along a small serpentine. And this is on studded tires. In efficiency, the pads have not lost much, but a so-so bell. And on a straight line, the Outlander notices the ruts and begins to “crawl” in them. It is worth praising Subar's EyeSight system - both the adaptive "cruise" and the auto-braking system work very gently and adequately.

The effect is astounding: the cars ahead of the lane seemed to be blown away by the wind. However, if you watched the film "Alexander Nevsky" and remember the "facial expression" of a German knight in a helmet of the 13th century, you will quickly understand what it is about. Imagine that you saw in the rearview mirror about the same thing, but only the size of the entire rear window ...

Teutonic, excuse me, "physiognomy" Mitsubishi Outlander is the best suited to the Russian translation of its name - a foreigner. And if under the hood he has a 2-liter gasoline engine so beloved in this sector (well, how can you not remember the CR-V!), then the Forester (that is, the Subaru Forester) with mechanical box transmission will be almost an ideal analogue for comparison with the "Outlander". Not only are the purpose, dimensions, engine size, basic equipment and its price close, but the drive scheme is the same: for both it is constant on all wheels with a symmetrical center differential, blocked by a viscous coupling. Unlike most competitors, which have one or another magical device that connects rear wheels when slipping the front.

Both cars got us with a fairly rich equipment. outlander-in Sport equipment for $ 29,790, which includes, in addition to the two front, two more side airbags, climate control, roof rails, some additional small decor inside and out, as well as cast 16-inch wheels with 215/65 R 16 tires. Subaru Forester - about that the same thing, but also plus a radio, cruise control and a huge sunroof, and the wheels are not 16-, but 15-inch. But also cast, with 205/70 R 15 tires. If it had additional headlights in the bumper, then the “maximum” VR equipment costing $31,490 would have turned out.

And now - important point. When we arrived to pick up the Outlander, we found it had off-spec, but very nice 17-inch Duemila wheels with perfect road Pirelli tires P6000 225/50 ZR 17. And we must admit that later these wheels had a certain influence on our estimates.

inner thoughts
It is unlikely that anyone will doubt that outwardly the Forester is not as expressive as the Outlander. On the other hand, not everyone recognizes the expressiveness of "Foreigner" adequate to his image. However, if you consider the main function of the appearance of the car to be the establishment of the status quo among the neighbors downstream, then by purchasing the Outlander, you will definitely not lose.

It’s more difficult with the inside - you exist in it, but here there is something to think about. Do you like the trendy minimalism of The Outlander, or do you prefer the classic look of The Forester? Does it seem to you a solid black "wood-like" overlay on the hard plastic of the Mitsubishi panel, or does Subaru's soft overlay and "titan-look" console look more expensive? There are also quite objective things. For example, it should be noted that the Forester allows a leggy driver to sit comfortably, while the Outlander provides more legroom for those sitting in the back. As well as a few more "salon" and "luggage" observations, which you will find in the captions to the corresponding illustrations.
Outlander met the Moscow ring road with violent reactions to the rounded ruts, pierced by studded tires in the asphalt of the extreme left lane. However, this is the normal behavior of a car shod in wide low-profile rubber, and we did not draw any special conclusions from this. Unless you urgently wanted to write an article about the advisability of using spikes in the city.

It seems that new times have come for Mitsubishi engine builders. You will not find any traditional "pickup" in the region of 3500-4000 rpm - the characteristic is "smoothed" surprisingly. The engine confidently "pulls" already from low revs, followed by absolutely uniform acceleration in the entire range, right up to the very "tops". And the fact that the Outlander's engine retains the ability to accelerate its massive body even after 6000 rpm helps a lot when overtaking.

The drill clarity of the movements of the gear lever contributes to intensive acceleration, but it’s not worth driving too much: the lever will begin to “rest”. With the help of the ancients automotive world, it is easy to make sure that this sluggishness is on the conscience of the synchronizers, which means that it is clearly not necessary to force the switching speed. To avoid…

Subaru Forester is much more willing to "accept" acceleration in the middle - so much so that the acceleration is felt by the whole body. But it is inferior at the highest (after 5500 rpm) and clearly loses at the smallest: your desire to "crawl at idle" (for example, in a traffic jam) drives it into seizure tremors, which can only be relieved by adding speed or using the clutch pedal. However, you can use a downshift.

After the Mitsubishi, the shifter seems vaguely dangling here, but don't jump to conclusions from that first impression. For in terms of its ability to quickly switch, this box is quite worthy of the well-known three-letter combinations most often used in conjunction with the Subaru brand (meaning WRC, WRX, STI. - Ed.).

At the highest speeds, it is noticeable that the Outlander's engine is more powerful - above 160 km / h, the "Forester" is gaining less zealously. However, this is not the most practical observation - on multi-lane highways it is often not necessary to slow down, and on other roads normal people do not drive so fast.

But the essence of the car is in the wheel
Although on these cars - they could, and without much stress. We must pay tribute: the driving stability of both is excellent, regardless of the quality of the roadway. Unless, of course, we do not count the described reactions of wide-profile tires to the mentioned ruts and other screw tricks of our road profile. However, after 120 km / h you stop noticing them. And all sorts of bumps and Outlander, and Forester "swallow" completely indifferently - and not only at high speeds. And the turns are "written" - like a compass on paper.

We remember the previous generation Mitsubishi Outlander as a driver's car, although not particularly comfortable. It's time to test the model new generation, and in comparison with Renault Koleos and Subaru Forester.

Appearance new Mitsubishi Outlander has changed dramatically. The design has become more modern, but has lost even a hint of aggression, which was famous for its predecessor. Now he is a well-fed, respectable family man, calm and balanced. The Subaru Forester looks like a hard worker, while the Renault Koleos looks like a dude, especially in orange, like our test car.

Technically, the new Outlander is built on the previous platform and remains the same in terms of dimensions. Almost. It has become shorter by 1 cm, if it is important to someone. At the same time, outwardly, the crossover seems noticeably larger than its predecessor due to rounded shapes. And its curb weight, on the contrary, decreased by 75-95 kg, depending on the modification.

The engines are old but modernized. They are now more economical and can "digest" the 92nd gasoline. Buyers are offered two gasoline atmospheric power units with a volume of 2 and 2.4 liters, developing 145 and 167 hp. respectively. On all modifications, a continuously variable variator is used as a transmission. The version with a 2-liter engine can have both full and front-wheel drive, and the “older” model is exclusively all-wheel drive. Prices for the new product range from 969,000 to 1,439,990 rubles for basic configurations.

Renault Koleos has been produced since 2008 and on Russian market sold only with all-wheel drive. By the way, there is not much French in it - the platform was inherited from Nissan Qashqai, and the crossover is made in Korea. Engines - 2-liter turbodiesel with 150 hp. or 2.5 liter gasoline unit, developing 171 hp Three transmissions are offered at once: for gasoline versions, a 6-speed “mechanics” or a variator are possible, and a 6-band “automatic” relies on a diesel engine. Prices - from 999,000 to 1,258,000 rubles for basic configurations. In 2011, the model went through a planned restyling, having received an updated front end. In fact, this was basically the end of the updates, with the exception of minor cosmetic changes in the cabin and the new Cayenne Orange corporate color, which our test copy was painted in.

Subaru Forester against the background of rivals looks like an old man, although the same age as the “Frenchman”. The next generation model has already been revealed to the world, but until it goes on sale, the old version will have to take the rap for it. In 2011, the Forester had a restyling, in which the crossover received a slightly retouched appearance and new engines of 2 and 2.5 liters with a capacity of 150 and 172 hp. respectively. But the turbocharged 2.5-liter unit remained unchanged - it produces 230 or 263 hp. depending on modification.

For the most powerful 263-horsepower version, only a 5-band is offered automatic transmission, and the rest of the options are content with a 5-speed “mechanics” or a 4-band “automatic”. The most affordable Forester costs 1,088,200 rubles, and the most expensive one generally plays in another league - at least 1,787,200 in Russian currency. However, at the end of the “career” of the model, dealers delight buyers with good discounts.

We have collected equivalent gasoline modifications with all-wheel drive for testing. Mitsubishi Outlander is equipped with a 167-horsepower 2.4-liter engine and CVT, Renault Koleos - a 2.5-liter power unit with 171 hp. and a CVT, while the Subaru Forester has a 2.5-liter boxer developing 172 hp and a 4-band automatic.

Inner world

The interior of the Outlander has changed for the better compared to its predecessor. If earlier there was practically no soft plastic in the cabin, now the upper part of the front panel is pressed through when pressed with a finger, and it looks quite premium. The design is serious and the ergonomics are basically okay. Unless turning on the seat heating with the keys located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe central armrest, it makes you very distracted from the road. But in general, the new Outlander in terms of the interior puts rivals on the shoulder blades.

The new Outlander is built better than its predecessor

There is less soft plastic in Renault Koleos, and it looks cheaper. And the ergonomics of the French crossover is specific - until you figure out the navigation or “music”, a lot of time will pass. And the branded “renoshnye” seat heating buttons at the ends of the seat bases will not become a problem only for the owner with a long experience in driving cars of this brand. Subaru with ergonomics full order, which can not be said about the design and quality of finishing materials. Everywhere hard, booming plastic and a complete lack of zest, only new devices with beautiful graphics slightly enliven the interior.

But in terms of seat comfort and driving position, there is no better car in our test than the Forester. The recliner has a great profile, and the driver sits low, almost like a passenger car. Landing in the Outlander is typically “jeeper”, high, and the flat seat, devoid of lateral support, is not conducive to turns attacks. In Koleos, the driving position, like ergonomics, is specific. And the point here is not in the high, approximately like that of the Outlander, the placement of the chair, but in the very low front panel. Because of this, devices steering wheel turn out to be almost at the level of the knees, while the “steering wheel” is located in a sloping bus style. As a result, you sit as if on a stool, which is facilitated by a comfortable, but flat chair.

On the second row, the unconditional leadership for Outlander. Space is plentiful in all directions, but most of all compared to rivals here is legroom. Even sitting behind a tall (190 cm) driver, rear passenger 180 cm tall feels very at ease. In Subaru, under the same conditions, there is noticeably less space, although the passenger does not reach the front seat with his knees, while the Forester's sofa is located lower than that of its rivals.

Koleos has the least space. The rear passenger's knees are dangerously close to the hard plastic tables in the backs of the front seats (the other two competitors don't have tables). And Koleos is the only car in our test that has ventilation deflectors in the central pillars, and air is supplied to them by a separate fan, and the rear passenger himself can choose the intensity of the airflow: strong or weak. The convenience of the sofas of the three cars is approximately equivalent, and all have adjustable backrests.

By size luggage compartment Mitsubishi Outlander is again in the lead, and it significantly outperforms its rivals. Due to the new kinematics of folding seats with a separately raised cushion, it was possible to gain an extra 323 mm in length with the second row seats folded down compared to its predecessor, which already had a rather big trunk. But Renault is no slouch either. Although he is not ready to boast of significant volume, but he folds the back of the front passenger seat, so that the length of the transported items can be even greater than that of the Outlander. However, Subaru, whose trunk, although inferior to Mitsubishi in terms of volume, and Renault in terms of transformation capabilities, is unlikely to disappoint its owner.

Fight of characters

If you look at the passport data, then Renault will be the leader in terms of acceleration dynamics. And this despite the fact that its curb weight is more than 100 kg more than that of rivals. In reality, the dynamics of Koleos and Outlander are almost identical. Both crossovers are equipped with stepless variators, in connection with which they accelerate smoothly like a trolleybus, gently responding to pressing the accelerator pedal. Both have a pseudo-manual mode that allows you to simulate gear changes, but, by and large, there is no need for it. Unless you get tired of listening to the howls of the engine during intense acceleration, when the variator maintains the maximum torque. At the same time, both in terms of volume and timbre, the motors are also very similar - neither one nor the other can be called a melodic “voice”.

Koleos feels great in the city

Subaru, equipped with the old 4-speed “automatic”, does not feel like an outsider at all. On the contrary, when starting from a place, it seems to be much more powerful than its rivals. It's all about the very sharp settings of the accelerator pedal - he moved his right foot a little, and the crossover literally rushes forward. And he does it so zealously that in traffic jams he gets nervous, dangerously “jumping” onto the car in front.

As the speed increases, the effect of sharpness disappears, and the Forester becomes comparable to rivals in terms of accelerating dynamics. As for the gearbox, it is not a champion in “rate of fire”, although it does its job reliably. But what an engine sound! A rough, hoarse “opposite” growl cannot be confused with anything. In a word, our competitors are approximately equal in overclocking dynamics. At the speeds allowed by the rules, the capabilities of their engines and transmissions are quite enough, but these crossovers will not become leaders in traffic light races. However, their owners are unlikely to be upset by this.

If Subaru's accelerator is set too sharply, then Renault's brakes are set up in a similar way. When you touch the Koleos brake pedal for the first time, the car seems to hit an invisible barrier and nod sharply, as if you are braking on the “floor”. You get used to such excessive sensitivity not at once. But, having adapted, you rejoice at the accuracy and excellent predictability of the slowdown. After that, the brakes of rivals, especially Mitsubishi, seem to be “wadded”. However, you rebuild back much faster and you understand that the rest of the brakes are also in order, both in terms of information content and efficiency.

The “longest” (3.6 turns from lock to lock) steering at Subaru. And at the same time the most accurate and informative. At whatever angle the wheels are turned, the driver always knows what is happening to them. Mitsubishi has a “shorter” steering wheel - 3.3 turns from lock to lock, but the feedback is not so good, and the car reacts lazily to the movements of the hands of the driver. The “sharpest” steering of the “Frenchman”. His "steering wheel" makes only three turns from lock to lock. Everything is in order with information content, but traditionally for Renault cars the steering wheel in the parking lot is unnaturally light, and in motion it returns too zealously to the zero position, as if on a tight spring. But in city traffic, it is Koleos that feels the most lively and maneuverable car - girls like these. Competitors, on the contrary, seem somewhat heavy-weight, especially Mitsubishi.

The “Frenchman” rides like a tightly pumped up ball, which is also traditional for this brand. Its chassis is elastic and quite comfortable overcomes most of the bumps, but shakes on the cracks and joints of the asphalt. Mitsubishi and Subaru are similar in terms of ride. Their suspensions are softer than those of Renault, and they go through large bumps more comfortably, but on the same cracks and joints, the crossovers shudder with their whole body, like real SUVs with heavy wheels. In terms of sound insulation, the Outlander is among the leaders - the rumble from the tires almost does not penetrate into its interior, and the interior panels are “silent”. In Koleos, there is almost no tire noise either, but extraneous squeaks are heard in the cabin, most of which come from somewhere behind. The Forester has the same problem, exacerbated by a noticeable hum from the tires.

On the highway, the Outlander keeps its course confidently and calmly, not reacting to rutting and other road disturbances, however, in gentle turns on the steering wheel feedback is no longer enough, which makes the driver tense up. The French crossover, on the contrary, slightly “walks” left and right on a straight line, although it also does not react to rutting, and on a high-speed arc, thanks to a good stabilizing force, it feels quite confident. At the same time, nothing bothers the Forester driver - under any conditions, the crossover moves unshakably and pleases with excellent feedback.

And on a winding country highway, the Subaru Forester is generally out of competition. Despite the “long” steering wheel, it is this crossover that allows you to drive fast and enjoy it.

By manageability Subaru is the best in our test

boxer motor provides the car with a lower center of gravity, which gives the crossover almost light handling, which is especially noticeable against the background of rivals. At the same time, the chassis perfectly dampens road waves, on which Mitsubishi, for example, begins to sway noticeably up and down, which is why passengers with a particularly sensitive vestibular apparatus may experience seasickness.

If steep turns are added to the undulating road, then the Outlander driver will have to slow down, as the buildup will be accompanied by strong rolls. Let's add to this "cocktail" slightly slow reactions to the turn of a not very informative steering wheel and mediocre grip properties of tires, and the "portrait" of the new model is ready: this is a family car for leisurely movement in space. Needless to say, the previous Outlander was the exact opposite? However, why rush headlong on a crossover? Most predecessor owners wanted more comfort, and they got it.

Surprisingly, the Koleos suspension resists undulating roads just as well as the Subarovsk one, however, in terms of cornering behavior, the “Frenchman” is already closer to the Outlander - strong rolls and slow reactions to control actions. But this is if you scorch, and with a calm ride, Renault, as in the city, pleases with good maneuverability and good feedback.

If you drive off the asphalt onto the dirt road, the Subaru chassis will work even more smoothly - even go to the rally track! That is, the worse the road, the greater its advantage over rivals. Wherein Mitsubishi suspension in terms of energy intensity, it is very similar to Subarovskoy, but even here there are rolls and buildup, not to mention slow reactions to steering actions.

In these conditions, Renault, when the speeds are not so high, handles more interesting and faster than the Outlander, but its stiffer chassis shakes riders more on bumps, although it does not come to frank discomfort. True, while driving like this, an unpleasant creak comes from the Renault trunk, but it cannot be compared with the cacophony of metallic sounds from the empty Subaru trunk. And Mitsubishi, on the contrary, is silent as a partisan.

Which crossover to choose? The question is ambiguous. They are completely different, and therefore it is a matter of personal preference. The Subaru Forester is perfect for those who appreciate the most polished driving performance and ready to put up with the Spartan interior for this. On Renault Koleos it is most convenient to move around the city, and its specific appearance and interior can attract the fair sex. Mitsubishi Outlander is the highest quality, quietest and most comfortable, it has the most spacious saloon and trunk. In other words, the choice is up to the buyer.

Better balance consumer qualities possesses Outlander

Subaru Forester

2.5 L, 171 HP, CVT, Trend Sport

RUB 1,590,000

Mitsubishi Outlander

2.0 l, 145 hp, CVT, Instyle

RUB 1,269,990

TULA REGION. RUSSIAN CHERNOZEM

“All last night it rained like a wall, almost a month's worth of precipitation fell,” the local radio host reported at the moment when we turned off the asphalt towards the “estate” of one of our colleagues. He immediately somehow became sad: he knew how everything could end, but he didn’t say a word to us. Apparently, he was afraid that we, frightened of difficulties, would turn back.

In the meantime, we are rolling along a smooth grader, admiring the open spaces. Freshly plowed fields are alarming with huge puddles. Everyone knows: it’s not easy to drive through the muddy black soil. The sun is hot - you see, by the evening everything will dry up. But we don't have time to wait!

A colleague gives a signal - by turning off the stabilization system, we turn into a soggy rut. Deep! The Outlander often scrapes its bottom on the ground, but the Forester is not noticed in this. Cars crawl from side to side, scattering clods of dirt around, but they go. Wheels now and then start slipping - toothy tires would be preferable here. And these, purely highway, instantly blurred, and now the Mitsubishi has become a prisoner of the black earth bog. We put on our boots and disembark. Yep, sit on your belly. From putting the 4×4 transmission into constant all-wheel drive no sense. It also makes no sense to twitch in the "forward-backward" mode. Pulled up - and pushed out together. Subaru didn't even need help.

On the road again. In a rut, you can feel: the Outlander variator is working at its limit. You press, you press the accelerator, and the engine speed almost does not grow, it is no wonder to stall again. And after all, he got stuck - he had to go through the swamp at a pace, but the Mitsubishi did not have time to gain enough speed. This time it was not possible to get out on our own - I had to pull out the Forester. Once, and you're done!

It feels like Subaru doesn’t care at all - rushing forward like a tractor! It goes easily, with a margin, like a slightly soaked primer under the wheels. The most interesting thing is that its variator does not give up in deep mud - it regularly transfers traction to the wheels and allows you to accelerate linearly, without delays. Even after forty minutes of such a ride, he was not at all tired, he continued to act with the same efficiency. Great unit! Its amazing performance is explained, apparently, by the rejection of the V-belt transmission (Mitsubishi has just such a one) in favor of the V-chain, which better tolerates loads. Believe me, off-road it feels like hoo.

The colleague encourages: now, they say, we’ll go up the hill, and there it’s a stone’s throw to the dacha. It's easy to say, because he is on the Forester, and my Outlander got up in the middle of the slope and refused to go further. I roll back. After a decent acceleration, I still took the height - and I see how the Subaru is rolling down. Good for him: there is an electronic assistant downhill. Mitsubishi does not have this; however, we ourselves know how to slow down.

But the main hurdle lies ahead. The river, usually a meter and a half wide and ankle-deep, overflowed during the night - you have to force it. The Forester went first. He raised a wave in front of the bumper, and she tore off the number with ease. Okay, we spotted it just in time. With the trailing "Outlander" - it happens! - Exactly at the same place, the same incident happened.

While looking for rooms, water leaked into the Subaru salon, and it arrived quickly. In an instant they got ashore, and here is the long-awaited dacha. We've arrived! We put the Forester nose down so that from drainage holes everything leaked out in the box. Well, they themselves accelerated the process by scooping out. While they were engaged in drainage, the car hummed and groaned with all its components and assemblies, like a disgruntled dog that was taken out for a walk in bad weather. After about ten minutes, extraneous noises subsided, the air was filled with a much more pleasant chirping of birds. It was worth the hassle for this.

FIVE HOURS EARLIER. DMITROVSKY POLYGON

Crossovers spend most of their time on land, so we let them fan out on the asphalt of the landfill. From the very first meters behind the wheel of the Forester, one feels: it is imprisoned for active driving. Harsh suspension regularly translates every crack in the coating into the cabin. At the same time, the energy intensity of the chassis is impressive: it seems impossible to bring things to a breakdown. At high speed, the car becomes more comfortable, as if hovering over patches of asphalt. Nothing leads her astray - a monolith! Just the case when more travel - less holes. The steering settings also pleased: sensitive, informative, with instant responses. Even at speeds well over a hundred, the Subaru remains in complete control. And the motor is missing. Whole car.

"Outlander" showed completely different habits. Its suspension perfectly isolates the interior from road trifles, but on larger bumps it shakes more than in the Forester. Blows are transferred to the steering wheel. The steering wheel is very light, feedback is missing, and zero is missing as a class. In running corners, the Mitsubishi is not as strong as the Subaru, which is why you automatically cling to the steering wheel. It’s better not to rush - with a leisurely ride, you like the Outlander more than with an active one. Moreover, the duet of the noisy high revs The 2-liter engine and CVT does not have to recklessness. To spur the car, he constantly fiddled with the paddles on the steering wheel. I think after a month or two of operation I would have polished them to a shine.

THE DAY EVER. MOSCOW

It so happened that I had never dealt with the new Outlander before, so I view its interior with predilection. After the dull interior of its predecessor, it looks more interesting, there is something to catch the eye. It looks great like a center console suspended in the air, slightly turned towards the driver. Good devices with a color display in the middle. I appreciate the visibility. The quality of the plastic is not bad, but the leatherette on the door panels looks too cheap. There is not enough attention to detail: the bottom of the trays and niches are not rubberized, the buttons are made roughly, the handbrake is located on the passenger side, there is no case for glasses. But I was pleased with the space in the second row - you can cross your legs! And the floor tunnel is small. It is a pity that the doors do not open wide - it is inconvenient to sit down.

Sitting in the Outlander, you immediately understand that it is cheaper than the Forester: the finish is inexpensive. Yes, and in other nuances, savings are felt.

I haven’t ridden the new Forester either, but I look at its interior without much interest. After all, it is exactly the same as that of the well-known Subaru-XV crossover. Everything is familiar: cool seats, a grippy steering wheel, spectacular instruments, the arrows of which, after turning on the ignition, like in sports cars, shoot to the extreme position and return back. Visibility, however, is worse than in the Outlander.

And all the same, it is more comfortable in the good-quality Forester cabin - it is felt that this is a more expensive car. It has better finishing materials, “music” sounds richer (“Harman Kardon”, by the way). Such an element of luxury as an electric tailgate did not go unnoticed. The trunk itself, however, is not as spacious as that of the Mitsubishi. And there is less space on the back sofa. But there can be no talk of tightness.

AFTER TESTING. EDITION

When placing the marks after the tests, I caught myself thinking that there was nothing special to remember about Mitsubishi. The Outlander did not leave a trace in my soul, an ordinary car. Spacious, comfortable, but no more. But the Forester evoked much more emotions: bright, dynamic, with good cross-country ability. A trip on this one is not forgotten for a long time (especially in the Tula mud!). But forcing the ford was not in vain - the audio amplifier, hidden under the front seat, burned down, having scooped up water. The “music” was good, it’s a pity it didn’t play for long. But even this moment did not spoil the overall impression. One memory of the Forester will be more!

READY FOR OFF-ROAD?

Measuring ground clearance "Subaru":

pretty surprised - 225 mm! Not every SUV has one, not to mention crossovers. And in the back of the Forester, we intended even more - 235 mm. Given the small overhangs and a serious ramp angle, the geometric cross-country ability of the "Forester" should be recognized as excellent. It is a pity that the Japanese limited themselves to this and did not protect the engine compartment with a metal plate. But in general, the bottom is even, without protruding elements.

The manufacturer should also be reprimanded for the front towing eyes: too narrow to get to them is inconvenient:

Mitsubishi liked the towing eyes both in shape and location:

The ground clearance of the Outlander is much less, but its 200 mm is still good result for a crossover. Especially since on metal protection engine compartment the manufacturer did not save:

The front and rear overhangs are larger than those of the Forester. Geometrical cross-country ability worsens the spare wheel under the bottom - its fastening clung to the ground all the time, grass was stuffed there.

SO DIFFERENT CVT

The endurance of the variators was also checked on the high-speed ring of the training ground, along which they drove with maximum speed. Already after 10 km, Mitsubishi started having problems: the transmission groaned plaintively, the engine speed dropped, and a suggestion to reduce speed was displayed on the instrument panel (photo 1).

Confrontation Impreza WRX STI and Lancer Evolution are no longer new. Now the competition between Subaru and Mitsubishi has spread to the crossover segment. The new Forester even looks like the popular Outlander XL! Although Subaru has not grown as much as its rival. Can Forester make up for this with technical excellence?

Introduced in 1997, the Subaru Forester marked the beginning of a special class of high-capacity vehicles. The specific model was between all-wheel drive station wagons and SUV crossovers, it was distinguished by “passenger” habits. The successful initiative was continued by the second generation of the Forester, but the newest Forester, created on a platform shared with the Impreza, changed the traditions a bit, becoming conceptually similar to most of its classmates. The car has “grown up”, approaching the dimensions of the Mitsubishi Outlander XL, built on the Lancer platform. Although the representative of the "diamonds" still remained larger in all respects: 10 cm longer, 2 cm higher and wider. But Subaru boasts grown by 25 mm compared to its predecessor ground clearance- 215 mm (Mitsubishi has the same indicator), and on the top version 2.0XT it is 225 mm.

Drives

Like most modern crossovers, two "Japanese" have in their arsenal completely independent suspension. Differences only in the design rear suspension. The Outlander has an advanced multi-link layout, while the newer Forester, as before, has a double-lever layout. Staying true to itself, Subaru continues to use exclusively boxer cars in its cars. power units. This arrangement provides a low center of gravity. For the Forester, four-cylinder engines of 2.0 liters (150 hp) in the "atmospheric" version and 2.5 liters (230 hp) in the turbocharged version were prepared. Later, a naturally aspirated 2.5 liter will also appear. The engines are equipped with an AVCS (active valve control system) variable valve timing system, which made it possible to achieve better fuel efficiency and power output. Forester will be equipped with both a conventional 5-speed manual gearbox and a 4-band "automatic" with the ability to manually switch Sportshift. Traditionally, Forester has a permanent full drive with an equal distribution of torque between the axles.

The Outlander XL takes a completely different approach to power plants. There is a choice between a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder and a prestigious 3.0-liter V6. A 5-speed "mechanics" is available only in the simplest configuration. For other versions, a 6-speed INVECS-III CVT with manual Sports Mode.

Mitsubishi flaunts its AWC (All Wheel Control) system, which combines a Multi-Select 4WD all-wheel drive transmission with electronic control torque distribution, as well as an integrated dynamic stability control system and traction control. Using the manipulator on the center console, you can manually change the drive modes: 2WD, 4WD or Lock, the Forester does not have the ability to select a mono-drive mode.

Mirror reflection

But the concept of creating interiors is very close. In the salons of both cars, elements of soplatform passenger models are widely used. The Forester is reminiscent of the Impreza hatchback with its instrument cluster, dashboard shape, and even the climate control unit. The interior of the Outlander in general terms is also very similar to the "Lancer" in many elements, but the high dashboard makes it more individual.

What awaits them?

After getting acquainted with the characteristics of the new Subaru Forester, it becomes clear that with the second Outlander generation the confrontation will turn out to be serious. Due to large Mitsubishi sizes definitely more spacious. His bet on a larger volume is also visible in the motors. However, Forester does not give up, adhering to the traditional principle: forcing and turbine is better than increasing. And the low center of gravity should make the car more stable at high speeds compared to a competitor. The question of price remains open. So far, there are no official data on Forester. But, most likely, with all the differences between Subaru and Mitsubishi price base versions will be close. Outlander 2.4 has a minimum price of $34,500. Perhaps, the Forester will also be brought up to this mark, the current generation of which with a 2.0-liter engine starts at $29,000.