Although I do not have a roof rack to store my snowboard, if I had one it would have been easy to hook up because the

With its plastic storage bin covering the back cargo area, the Forester comes prepared to get dirty. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

Forester already comes standard with locking roof rack cross bars. The 2.5XT is ready for the mountain straight from the lot. I also found it quite handy that the trunk is equipped with a plastic storage bin on top of the standard full-size spare tire, making it easy to clean up any excess dirt left behind from my boots or board. Like I said, the Forester is prepared to get down and dirty as soon as you drive it off the showroom floor.

Speaking of driving it off the floor, when I needed that extra bit of zing to pass fellow commuters the XT responded in record time, 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds to be exact,

Due to its turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-litre, DOHC, 16-valve, 4-cylinder "boxer" engine, the Forester XT had no problems passing slower cars on the way up to the ski hill. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

due to its turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-litre, DOHC, 16-valve, horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder "boxer" engine. This 2004 model year is the first in which a turbocharged engine is offered. It produces 210 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 235 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. Although I had the optional 4-speed electronic direct control automatic transmission (4EAT), I was still able to feel the full potential of the torque when gearing down from Drive to 3rd gear. The pull was very noticeable but still comfortable; not jerky as some transmissions can be. The use of engine braking was ideal when descending down hills or just driving in traffic, not forcing me to tap on the actual brakes all of the time. But when needed the brakes come on strong. In the front, the 2.5XT features ventilated discs with twin piston calipers, and in the rear solid discs with single piston calipers. Also standard on the 2.5XT is the 4-wheel, 4-channel, 4-sensor ABS, an ideal system especially when driving in the snow.