LOST POTENTIAL. Review on Chevrolet Forester

Its a suprise why the Forrester hasnt done well in India. Its potentially the right packet for India. But if potential was anything to go by V V S Laxman should have been a regular fixture in the indian team.

Lets look at the positives first. This baby can dance. Few machines in India can handle like the forrester. Every minute you spend on its steering wheel, one devotes it to self flattery and comes out thinking they have improved leaps and bounds in their driving talents. Every time I see a hairbend or turn, the later I want to take it, such is the confidence it exudes (also a pair of airbags upfront helps). This despite being a SUV (kinda). The Engine is easy to rev and the ride quality brilliant. Its pretty spacious too. The package looks so enticing, can handle bad roads, great to drive, and pretty safe too.

Now for the real picture. The boxer engine is a great piece of engineering, the cylinders lying flat and parallel to the ground contribute to lower centre of gravity, one of the major reasons for its excellent handling, the mass is lower down on the front axle.

But the problem with boxer units are that they are rev crazy, and you have pathetic torque at lower engine speeds. Its quite regular for first time forrester drivers to stall the engine a few times, a humiliation on the road especially after parting with the heavier side of 10lacs. Its a mojor bane in city traffic, why some of our highways also have crawling traffic.

Once you start to enjoy the engine, its a revelation, as long as someone else is footing your PETROL bill. Its not that its thirsty especially for a softroader, but be prepared for lighter wallets especially when one begins to tharsh the engine.And oh boy the service expenses are not what youd really look forward to. Its expected for something thats fully imported. What dissapoints is GMs service is at times found wanting and parts are not always in stock.

Its a neat looking car, not offensive, neither impressive. To most of the general publics untrained eye it resembles a Tata Estate, ..A TATA ESTATE....People buy these vehicles to impress too and the flash and size of vehicles ike the CRV, Endeavor etc..etc... The interiors are nowhere near flexible or feature packed as the CRV. It will drive better than a CRV anyday, its main rival. But in terms of Posh, Size, Practicality and brand value the Forrster has no chance. And there is no need to mention what Hondas petrol engines are like.

Give me a Forester to drive anyday, I'll be happily obliged to take the keys from you. But to buy one, at that price maybe with a decent Common rail diesel engine, leather interiors or the petrol at atleast 3-3.5 lacs less.

GM is going through rough times in its major markets and rumors of bankruptcy are in the air. Perhaps if it concentrates on polishing of unfinshed stones like the forrester, there are brighter times ahead.