The Subaru Forester has continued to serve the photography team and me well. Though someone recently referred to it as a "mommy mobile," other staff members often snag it at lunchtime to tote 5 people to the nearest favorite eatery. While I would never argue it's the sexiest vehicle on the road, the "mommy mobile" comment does speak to its understated appearance, which is reinforced by its maroon, aka Venetian Red Pearl, paint. Our previous long-term Forester came in a delightful Marine Blue Pearl, and my own mother purchased a Satin White Pearl '14 Forester, both colors I find preferable to the maroon. But for better or worse, it never calls attention to itself and easily blends in with the crowd of other vehicles on the road.
One thing that does catch my attention on the Subaru, however, is the interior rear shoulder trim behind the C-pillar. Most of the Forester's interior is black, including the doorsills of both the front and back doors. The sill of the small window behind the C-pillar, however, is the same light grey as the headliner. Perhaps this was a decision made to minimize the number of pieces of plastic needed to make the frame around that small window. Every time I look over my right shoulder to check my blind spot, it looks like another vehicle is pacing me there. This of course makes me double-, and sometimes triple-check to make sure I'm not about to change lanes into some light-colored car, SUV, or motorcycle. Very frustrating.
Despite these small downsides, the Forester's hauling capacity never ceases to come in handy. I recently made a trip to IKEA to purchase a mattress and a few other household items. I folded the second row down, and that (albeit rolled-up) mattress fit right in with room to spare. If it hadn't fit inside the cabin, I was prepared to tie it down to the roof rack. Thankfully, it wasn't necessary, as I would have dreaded driving home on the freeway with a mattress strapped to the roof. But that might have made for a more interesting update.
Drive 2014 Subaru Forester Prototype Quick Drive 2014 Subaru Forester
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