AWD Confidence and Everyday Safety in Bel Air, MD

Jones Bel Air Subaru - AWD Confidence and Everyday Safety in Bel Air, MD

If you are researching compact SUVs that feel secure year-round yet effortless in daily driving, one feature pairing stands out: Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. These two systems are foundational to the Forester’s easy confidence, helping you tackle sudden weather, slick neighborhood streets, and weekend adventures without the stress. In this guide, we break down how these technologies work together and why their thoughtful tuning is so helpful for families, commuters, and explorers who want capable, predictable control.

Unlike systems that shift power after slip is detected, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is always engaged. Its balanced, longitudinal layout improves stability and traction from the start, with power routed to all four wheels. That design supports even weight distribution and a secure on-center feel. Add Active Torque Vectoring for composed cornering, and you get a vehicle that feels steady and connected on everything from crowded main roads to winding byways. EyeSight® builds on that foundation with driver assist features designed to help you maintain safe space and awareness, especially during the moments when distractions and congestion can creep in.

• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive: Always-on traction that supports balanced handling and steady confidence in changing conditions.
• X-MODE® with Hill Descent Control: Added traction logic and low-speed downhill support on select trims for rough or slippery terrain.
• Active Torque Vectoring: Brake-based torque management that helps the SUV turn more precisely and feel more composed in corners.
• EyeSight® Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control: Helps maintain set distance, centering assistance, and smooth acceleration and braking support.
• Available Automatic Emergency Steering: Works with pre-collision braking support at low speeds to help avoid obstacles when conditions allow.
• Available 360-degree Surround View Monitor: A top-down view that makes tight parking and close-quarters maneuvering easier on select trims.

EyeSight® uses dual-color cameras to monitor traffic movement, optimize cruise control functions, and prompt you to react sooner. In slow-and-go congestion, it can help you ease forward with fewer abrupt inputs. With available features like Automatic Emergency Steering and Reverse Automatic Braking, low-speed parking is less nerve-racking. Pair those with the available 360-degree Surround View Monitor and an available 180-degree Front-View Monitor on the Wilderness trim, and the Forester becomes exceptionally approachable for city streets, tight garages, and trailhead lots.

For all-weather readiness, X-MODE® is a standout. When traction gets variable—think wet leaves, slushy shoulders, or muddy access roads—X-MODE® optimizes throttle, transmission mapping, and the all-wheel-drive system to keep you moving predictably. Hill Descent Control adds low-speed braking support on steep grades, maintaining a consistent crawl without riding the brake pedal. Because these systems are integrated with the Forester’s standard chassis tech—Vehicle Dynamics Control, Traction Control System, and four-wheel independent suspension—the result feels fluid, not intrusive. You remain in command, with intelligent systems working quietly in the background.

Inside, the technology support continues with SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia and available 11.6-inch screen, putting essential apps front and center with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. If you value intuitive visibility while parking or backing out of a busy space, consider adding the available Surround View Monitor and Reverse Automatic Braking. For families, those features turn daily errands into calmer routines.

Jones Bel Air Subaru is serving Bel Air, Hunt Valley, and Owings Mills with thoughtful test-drive routes that let you feel these systems at work—on local roads you already know. If you want that extra layer of everyday calm, this is where the Forester shines: steady traction, clear visibility, and assist features that respect your inputs.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How does Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive differ from on-demand systems?

It is always active, sending power to all four wheels from the start for more balanced handling and consistent traction, rather than reacting only after slip occurs.

Is EyeSight® standard and what does it include?

Yes, EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology is standard and includes features like Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control, pre-collision braking support, and lane centering assistance; additional features like Automatic Emergency Steering are available on select trims.

Which features help with parking and tight spaces?

Available 360-degree Surround View Monitor, available 180-degree Front-View Monitor on the Wilderness trim, Rear-Vision Camera, and available Reverse Automatic Braking help with close-quarters maneuvering.

Can the Forester handle light trails or winter roads?

Yes. With standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, available X-MODE® with Hill Descent Control, and up to 8.7 inches of ground clearance—9.2 inches on the Wilderness—the Forester is built for mixed conditions.

What if I want to compare trims and options?

We can walk you through features by use case—commuting, family hauling, or trail days—and set up back-to-back drives so you can feel the differences in steering response, visibility, and assist features.

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