AgencyPower Agency-Power-Exhaust-Titanium The Subaru Forester, is a tall, all-wheel drive Compact Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) manufactured since 1997 by Subaru — and is marketed as a compact crossover. Originally introduced to the United States in 1998, the Forester shared its platform with the Impreza up to the third generation and now features a hybrid platform of the Japanese Impreza wagon and the rear platform of the U.S.-spec Impreza sedan.[1] The Forester was designed and built with four-wheel drive (AWD) as standard equipment.