SF · 1997–2002
A taller wagon before 'crossover' was a marketing category.
Built on the Impreza platform but with a raised roofline and ride height, the original Forester predates 'crossover' existing as mainstream industry vocabulary — the source material is careful to describe it as 'credited as one of the first crossovers' rather than the sole originator, a hedge this profile preserves. US-spec power came from a 2.5L DOHC EJ25D boxer four: 165 hp at 5,600 rpm, 162 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm, with 2.0L EJ20 and turbocharged EJ20T options in other markets.
Global; began as the 'Streega' concept (Tokyo Motor Show, November 1995), reached Japan February 1997 and the US as a 1998 model, with the production version's US debut dated January 15, 1997 at the Detroit auto show.
CoverageGeneration tracer-bullet · 23 July 2026
Powertrain
Engine options
| Engine | Years | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| EJ25D (US) | 1997–2002 | 165 hp at 5,600 rpm | 162 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm |
Configuration
Trims and transmissions
Marketed at launch as 'SUV tough, car easy' — more car-like proportions and driving manners than the truck-based SUVs dominant at the time.
Identify & buy
Identification and ownership notes
The original taller-wagon silhouette (rather than a conventional SUV shape) is this generation's clearest visual identifier; the shape shifted toward a more conventional crossover-SUV look only starting with the SH generation.