CROSSING ON OVER; 2009 Subaru Forester arrives in our long-term fleet.(NEWS)

Byline: ROGER HART

WITH THE crossover segment growing so rapidly, it seemed like a good idea to add one of the newest such vehicles to the AutoWeek long-term test fleet. And while there were numerous to choose fromthe Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Acura RDX among the many our decision was cemented after driving the 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited around Catalina Island off the Califor-nia coast ("Double Time, AW, March 31).

On that drive, we were sold on the Subie's new boxy design, which might not make it the prettiest vehicle in the parking lot, but it is highly functional.

The Forester is larger than the previous version, with a longer wheelbaseby nearly four inchesallowing not only for a smoother ride but also for more space in the back seats. A new double-wishbone rear suspension gives the car a lower floor in the cargo area, meaning that you can haul more stuff and get it in and out more easily.

Also impressive is the Forester's ability to climb up and down steep and rutted dirt roads that would be difficult to walk up. In fact, we'd bet the Forester can reach places beyond the imaginations of 99 percent of the vehicle's buyers, though a few staffers might challenge its limits over the next 12 months.

The double wishbones help with on-road handling, as do a wider track and a change in wheel camber to maintain a better tire-contact patch on the road. Lifting the throttle mid-turn will get the rear end to swing out.

In testing, the Forester performed its best through the slalom with the power kept onthough its best speed of 41.2 mph means that it is considerably less nimble than the similar Acura RDX, at 43.1 mph.