"The Subaru trudged through rather inclement weather this weekend without issue," notes assistant Web producer Carlos Lago. "It felt composed and confident through the rain, regardless of speed. I hit a major downpour on Highway 101 along the coast, but the water and wind didn't affect the Subaru. As everyone around me applied brakes and hazard lights, I maintained my speed. There was no shake, not even a hint at trouble. Further, the Forester just kept on truckin' while forging L.A.'s poorly maintained streets, which turn into shallow rivers during rain. It didn't matter how high the water appeared, or how far the splashes shot above as I drove through pool after pool. This SUV is like a Glock handgun -- it doesn't matter what situation you're in, it just works."

2009 Subaru Forester
Months/miles in service 5/11,745
Avg econ/CO2 21.99 mpg/0.89 lb/mi
Unresolved problems None
Normal-wear cost $0