Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium Manual

Reasonably fun to drive with six-speed manual transmission

At 2.5-liters this crossover’s engine puts out a respectable 170 horsepower, the same as a 1995 Ford Contour V6. Torque is a little more at 174 lb-ft. Add it all up and there’s enough thrust for borderline-brisk acceleration, though the big boxer’s off-kilter thrum probably makes the vehicle seem faster than it really is.

A six-speed manual transmission adds to the driving enjoyment. Ripping through the gears is a lost art these days and the Forester is happy to humor members of the old guard with slick gear changes and smoothly rev-matched down shifts. If three pedals are 50 percent too many a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a $1,500 option on the 2.5i Premium model. The CVT is standard on higher-trim Foresters and exclusively offered on models with the up level 2.0-liter turbo engine.