"Small but mighty" is practically the Subaru Forester's slogan -- but not an uncontested statement, thanks to a crowded segment of compact-crossover competitors. The Forester consistently comes out at the top of its class thanks to its above-average off-road capability, affordable price, reliable construction, and flawless safety record.
However, even that's not enough to exempt it from informal competitions. Relatively recently, the critics at Consumer Reports pitted the Forester against its rivals equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). We should not that the Forester is the







