2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium

Pros: Very quiet, Roomy, Great Suspension, Best AWD system, SUV of the Year by MotorTrend and ConsumerReports

Cons: Notchy Manual Transmission, Weak 4-speaker system in the Premium Trim which is easily solved by a simple after-market speaker upgrade. I spent $150 for high quality speakers. Everything else in the car is way above par compared to competition's SUVs.

Summary: I was deciding between a CR-V, RAV-4, and then unexpectedly test drove the Subaru. As soon as my wife and I drove the car we knew we had a winner. The comfort and room in the car was the major selling point. Even tough CNET may like the CR-V's techy interior, it's engine loudness and performance is way below the Forester's. Toyota RAV-4 in V6 is a good alternative. However overall the Forester is the better car in terms of safety, features, room, MPGs, and driver satisfaction. CNET's review confirms that they should focus on reviewing technology and not cars.