Popular Subaru Forester Wins 2014 Motor Trend SUV of the Year Award

Baltimore, USA, 12/20/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

Automotive journalists and actual car buyers don't always agree on their favorite new vehicles, but in the case of the 2014 Subaru Forester, there appears to be mutual admiration. After recently being voted 2014 SUV of the Year by the editors at Motor Trend, the redesigned Forester attracted its best-ever monthly sales at dealerships in November. The Subaru Forester has now earned two Motor Trend SUV of the Year awards in six years, and the automaker has grabbed the title a record three times, including a nod for the Subaru Outback in 2010.

To secure its 2014 Motor Trend SUV of the Year award, the 2014 Subaru Forester had to top 11 other SUV contenders in a series of driving tests along highways, back roads and dirt roads. Motor Trend praised the efficient new continuously variable transmission (CVT) that comes standard on the Forester 2.0XT to provide a sporty drive in both on- and off-road loops. Editors also tested the Forester 2.5i, which returns up to 32 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg in the city when its buyers opt for the CVT. As in past Motor Trend testing, Subaru's signature symmetrical all-wheel drive helped keep the vehicle poised on all surfaces. Other criteria for the SUV of the Year award included design, engineering excellence, safety and value.

"The Subaru Forester manages to be fuel efficient, spacious and comfortable on the road while also providing excellent off-road performance," said Greg Ryland, general manager of Russel Subaru, a Baltimore Subaru dealership. "The Forester has been so popular this year because there simply aren't any other compact SUVs that can offer the capability you'd expect from a larger utility vehicle without costing you extra at the gas pump."

With 13,410 units leaving dealerships in November, the Subaru Forester earned its best-ever month with a 135 percent sales increase over November 2012. The Forester has also claimed the top-selling spot in Subaru's lineup through 11 months of 2013, just ahead of the Outback. More than 1 million Forester models have been sold in the United States since the SUV was first introduced in 1997, with more than 11 percent of that tally coming in 2013 alone. Year-to-date, Subaru's overall sales have risen by 28 percent compared to the same period in 2012, totaling 384,511 units.

About Russel Subaru:
Serving Baltimore area motorists for years as part of Russel Automotive, Russel Subaru offers its adventurous Subaru customers a diverse inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles backed by stellar customer service at every turn. Dedicated to maintaining lifelong relationships with Maryland Subaru lovers, Russel Subaru offers free loaner cars, free lifetime car washes and free shuttle service to every one of their customers. Browse their inventory online at www.russelsubaru.com or in person at 6624 A Baltimore National Pike in Baltimore, MD. They can also be reached by phone at 866-980-7196 and found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RusselSubaru.