The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has announced that the Forester 2.5 XT is the "Best New SUV" of the 2004 model year. The new, turbo-charged Forester was competing for the "best" designation with the Buick Rainier V8, Dodge Durango, Lincoln Aviator, Nissan Pathfinder Armada, and VW Touareg.

"The Forester XT is a combination of passenger car comfort, off-road capability, and now with the addition of the turbo - high performance," said Jim Kenzie, president of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards Board of Directors. "It was gutsy to place this vehicle in the SUV category with off-road capability. It obviously was put to the test against the bigger trucks which makes me ask, why do we need truck based SUVs when there are vehicles like the Forester XT to choose from?"

AJAC conducts its annual Car of the Year over a four-day period at the Shannonville Motorsport Park near Belleville, Ontario. There, qualified AJAC journalists assess cars and trucks in ten categories under real-world driving conditions. Vehicles are assigned scores according to both objective and subjective criteria including quality, performance, styling, occupant environment, noise/vibration/harshness, vehicle dynamics, safety, price, and, in the case of trucks and SUVs, off-road capability and cargo capacity.

"Subaru is delighted to accept this award from AJAC. We are dedicated to the idea that it is possible to design and build a vehicle that combines all the best features of a car and an SUV," said Norio Osakabe, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Subaru Canada, Inc. "We believe drivers can have the confidence and versatility of an SUV, without giving up the handling and convenience of a car. We think a vehicle can be fun as well as functional. The Subaru Forester may just be the best proof that owners can, indeed, have it all."

The Subaru Forester 2.5 XT will now compete for the title of 2004 Canadian New Truck of the Year. The Canadian Car and Truck of the Year will be announced on February 11, 2004, at the official opening of the 2004 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Ontario.

More information on AJAC's comparative test and performance data, as well as the actual "Best New" vote results, is available on the AJAC website at www.ajac.ca. Detailed information on the turbo-charged Forester 2.5 XT can be found at www.subaruforester.ca.