Subaru Forester

The Forester is a genuinely useful wagon, with passenger and cargo space and a view. Engines are a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (with a six-speed manual—our choice—or a CVT) and a 2.0-liter turbo/CVT combo. Despite its comfort-biased suspension tuning, standard all-wheel drive contributes to surprising pace on winding roads and takes the Forester farther off the pavement than most in its class. The turbo is the rally car for mountaineers, kayakers, and alpine postal services.