Standing out from the Crowd
by Haney Louka
Compact SUVs like this 2026 Subaru Forester make up the largest segment of new vehicle sales in Canada. This is not surprising: the popular people-haulers pack a lot of utility into a practical, high-value footprint. So how, then, can a carmaker stand out in the crowd? The folks at Subaru make a convincing case that they’ve got this figured out.
Subaru has been selling the Forester in Canada since 1997. At that time, the compact SUV was a new concept that quickly gained a following.
We’re now looking at the sixth-generation Forester which went on sale last year. That redesign propelled the model to its best sales year ever in 2025, and strong sales have continued into this year.
Uniquely, power comes from a flat-four “boxer” engine with a character that’s all its own. Competitors are all sporting more conventional inline-fours, some of which are turbocharged.
But it’s the all-wheel drive system that is Subaru’s biggest flex. Marketed as “Symmetrical AWD”, it holds a major advantage over most of its competitors in the segment in that all four wheels are fed power all the time. The default power distribution is 60 per cent front/40 per cent rear and is adjusted as driving conditions warrant. Lesser setups send power to the front wheels only until they slip, then react to the traction deficit by diverting power rearward.
There is a real advantage in knowing that the power of all-wheel drive is available at all times, even in the slickest conditions. There are cornering and handling subtleties that instill a sense of confidence in the person behind the wheel. And confidence behind the wheel is a legitimate safety boost.
And from behind the wheel, there’s plenty more to like. The Forester is taller than its peers, lending an airiness thanks to what feels like acres of glass around the passengers. Clear, analog gauges eschew higher-tech digital clusters in favour of clarity and simplicity. That doesn’t mean there’s a tech void here, though. The battle for screen size superiority continues unchecked. In the Forester’s case, the centre dash area is dominated by an 11.6-inch display in a portrait orientation, once again bucking the trend followed by others. Controls are clear and intuitive and the user interface is built for function, not distraction.
During our 600-km round-trip to Northwestern Ontario, we found the Forester to be comfortable, both in the context of seat support and ride quality. There’s a quiet, relaxed— but not floaty—attitude as the Subie cruises down the road. With wireless phone connectivity and the 11-speaker Harman Kardon system of our Sport model keeping us company, the time flew by while the Forester sipped fuel at an average of just 7.3 litres per 100 km.
It’s not easy standing out from the compact SUV crowd, but Subaru’s got this locked down with the 2026 Forester.
Pricing for the 2026 Forester starts at $37,010 for the Convenience model and tops out with the Hybrid Premier at $51,510.
To learn more, visit Jim Pattison Subaru on Regent at 1496 Regent Avenue West or Jim Pattison Subaru South at 55 Fultz Boulevard in Winnipeg, and take the 2026 Forester for a test drive!
