It's a nice looking vehicle, but nothing amazing. I think they used a dull color to present it in.

That's visible as well; look how much higher sits the car in 1st pic...

better then the X3 god yes

Nice... ummm no... i like the interior for its simplicity but hate the design

the exterior is both boring and bloated at the same time... glasshouse way to big... if it had a higher shoulder line and less glass i think they had a winner... perhaps im just to use to seeing coupes these days

still.... much better then the X3 altho i prefer the mule X3 recently spotted...

I love it but it needs a chrome strips on the grill to unbland it I reckon (probably will be on High spec models aka Eos & Passat).

While not many people like the air vents (due to cost saving intiatives) I think VW did a good job, can't wait to see it in person

Alwing the two different front bumpers are called


"Trend & Fun" and "Street & Style" (S&S has 18 degree approach angle).



"Track & Field" (T&F has 28 degree approach angle and comes with electronic differentials for the Muddy).

I just love that they have a manual, thats gotta be one of the first modern SUVs I have seen with a manual transmission, sweet.

Other than that, I think it looks really sweet. I would definately buy one if I was in the market.

It is a handsome enough vehicle, nothing shocking. Then again there are so many things you can do with a such a vehicle configuration. It could have come out looking like the Acura RDX, with its large SUV proportion unhandsomely shrunk to fit a smaller body, it looks a mess.



The only thing I see here as a potential problem is not having a V6, but then again the CRV doesn't either. Still though the old 3.1 V6 would have fit nicely here. I can see why the 3.6 wasn't used, to spare the Touareg.

M

A V6 version might come later on although the 2.0 TFSI engine is enough IMO.

Many (if not most) SUV's are available with a manual transmission in Europe, nothing new there.

figures as much, the closest thing I ever see in the US is the random old pickup or maybe an old Jeep with a manual.

I like this a lot. Y'know why? Because my wife will love it.

Given that she has the task of driving the Forester around during the week to keep mileage and fuel spend low... whilst she may enjoy the drive, visibity and practicality of the thing, she doesn't care much for the image. See, my wife's a VW girl and she loves the brand. Interestingly, she won't be seen dead in a Touran MPV bread-van though.

Here's a great car with solid, handsome lines and unmistakable VW DNA. She's going to love it and we'll still have a nice family soft-roader for the weekends and holidays if I can't convince her to go for a new 2008 Forester Turbo! Track and Field pack looks good and I suppose the Haldex-based AWD system will be all we ever need off the beaten track.

Interior is a major disappointment however, its fussy and dated looking Golf Plus fascia is somehow incongruous with the rugged yet civilised looks of the exterior. I would've preferred the straight Golf dash which is more squared off and lends itself better for some "tough looking bits".

Pricing is a key. If they price this much higher than a CRV and RAV-4 (like Land Rover did with the Freelander 2 over here) then it'll be yet another unattainable so-called people's car...